Catholic Spotlight

Okay, it’s not the Christmas “season” yet, but those in the gift industry are already working with retailers on their Christmas merchandise orders.  I noticed on a recent trip to the Chicago Merchandise Mart that there are a number of very obvious seasonal ornaments and other decorative items that say “Merry Christmas.” One that you’ll see is a bright red ball with beautiful script that says “Just say Merry Christmas.”  I predict there will be much more merchandise along this line, in response to previous years’ efforts to quash this peaceful greeting.  The people will speak!

We’re coming into the most solemn week of the year in the Catholic Church - Holy Week.  If you haven’t been able to keep up with your Lenten resolutions, it’s not too late!  (”It’s never too late.” … would probably have been the comment of the workers in the parable, who came to work in the vineyard later in the day.)  Start a novena today — nine days of prayer to a particular Catholic Saint for his or her intercession for your particular intention.  Pray the rosary — only 20 minutes out of your 1,440 minutes of the day the Lord has given you.  Go to a weekday Mass.  Many Catholic Churches have extended Mass schedules during Lent.  Take a few minutes for prayer and thoughtful reflection on a particular Bible verse… maybe on today’s reading.  If you don’t have a good prayer book (maybe one that contains novenas, the rosary, and lots of other prayers and devotions), here’s where you can find any catholic prayer book you’re looking for.

Out and about these days, I notice that decorative, carved crosses are very, very popular in many stores.  You don’t see any crucifixes, though, except in religious goods stores (mostly Catholic).  When someone buys a decorative cross, it could be for a number of reasons — inspirational or religious affiliation, or for a friend who is not Catholic, or just because it has nice colors and fits into the particular design of a room.  Crucifixes, which used to be a staple in EVERY Catholic home (and often as part of a little corner table shrine), are purchased very specifically to express our Roman Catholic Faith.  I still like to give a really nice crucifix as a wedding gift for a Catholic couple – something that definitely won’t be on the department store gift registry and highly unlikely to be duplicated! 

I find it more than a little ironic, though, that carved/decorative crosses are so popular, and yet there are groups working in our country every day to remove religious symbols from the public square.  Could it be a subconscious rebellion to keep the cross in our midst, even if it’s in our own private space?

“Catholic” means universal.  And the Roman Catholic Church really is.  On a recent business trip to Chicago, I figured I would not be able to work in my Lenten commitment for daily Mass.  Two providential things happened, however.  The second day of my trip, while out on my own at lunch, I was given directions down a street where there were supposedly “tons” of resturants.  I didn’t find the “tons,” but one block down I did find a Catholic Church, where noon Mass had just begun.  The third day, while traveling back home, I was checking in for my flight when I heard an announcement about Catholic Mass being celebrated in the airport chapel in five minutes.  By the time I made it through security, I arrived a bit late, but still in time for a valid Mass attendance.  And I later came across the priest sitting at the airport information desk, when I was looking around for a certain coffee place.  He thanked me for coming to Mass, and I thanked HIM for being there to celebrate it. 

God is good, and He looks out for us and provides for us.  And I’m not talking about the coffee place, either.

I just finished reading a fiction book, “Next” by Michael Crichton (best-selling author of a variety of suspenseful books), and it’s both frightening and frustrating.  The world of biotechnology is moving so fast that it’s hard to keep up with what is really right and what is not right, according to the teachings of the Catholic Church, that is.  I often fall back on the philosophy that, just because we CAN do something, doesn’t mean that we SHOULD do it.  And, boy, does this book fit that statement.  We’ve got to stay grounded on what should and should not be done, tampering with human (and non-human) life, in spite of the emotional, well-intentioned (but often misleading and misinformed) statements of celebrities, and even “experts” in the field (which are often motivated by funding and self-serving objectives).  The Catholic Church is pretty clear on these things, regardless of what new developments come out in the future — distant and otherwise.

After I wrote the post on the Kansas diocese Catholic bishops’ letter, denouncing embryonic stem-cell research (specifically the government funding of it), I came across this story from the Catholic News Service (CNS): 

“In a recent essay on stem cells, 12-year-old Erik Massenzio managed to make the church’s teaching crystal clear: embryonic stem-cell use is morally unacceptable, while adult stem-cell use is acceptable and is saving lives now. The sixth-grader was writing from personal experience in “Adult Stem Cells Saved My Mom’s Life,” which took first place this year in a writing contest sponsored by the Respect Life Committee at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Sparta (NJ). Two years ago, Erik’s mother, Hedy, was diagnosed with leukemia. The outlook appeared bleak for her. But through an adult stem-cell transplant, which the young student describes in his essay, his mother was healed. Today, Hedy Massenzio is cancer-free. Erik said he “knew right away what to write about” when he and his schoolmates in grades 6-8 at Rev. George Brown School in Sparta were asked to write an essay on “How could a compassionate Catholic be against embryonic stem-cell research and yet support adult stem-cell research?” He said, “It was my mom that inspired me to write this essay.”

There is hope.

I read today where Kansas bishops (of the Catholic Church) have issued a pastoral letter advising that embryonic stem cell research is a crime against life, that compromises all of society without achieving any beneficial health efforts. Titled “The Exorbitant Price of Embryonic Stem-Cell Research,” the document was issued by the heads of Kansas’ four Catholic dioceses, in order to take a stand against government funding of embryonic stem cell research and to refute the “popular” arguments that are being promoted by the news media, celebrities, and some in the medical field (although you’ll find many in the medical field who would support the position that embryonic stem cells have not been proven to have any real therapeutic benefits — whereas there are other stem cells that have demonstrated some specific advances).

The Kansas bishops’ premise, in support of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church regarding the absolute respect for life, is that “it is never morally permissible to destroy one human life even if it is done in the hope of benefiting other human beings.”

Good for them — let’s hear of more of this kind of thing from dioceses all around the country.  Catholics need to know that this is the right position to take, even though it might be difficult for those whose dear ones are in need of cures for their illinesses.

Looking for a beautiful and special birthday gift?  May I recommend something that I love to give?  Birthstone rosaries and rosary bracelets.  They’re perfect for men (rosaries) and women (rosaries and rosary bracelets).  Even if they might already have a rosary, it’s very unlikely they’ll have one as special as a birthstone rosary.  And it’s always nice to have a couple of rosaries in the house (or an extra one in the car, desk, briefcase, etc.).  You can find literally hundreds of rosaries, including birthstone rosaries, at a one-stop catalog online.  You’ll also find thousands of other books and gifts and resources for Roman Catholic traditions and celebrations.

In the Catholic Church, First Holy Communion pretty much takes place year-round, due to the volume of children receiving their First Eucharist.  But springtime, and particularly May, is still when the bulk of the sacramental celebrations take place.  So — good news! — there’s still plenty of time to buy First Communion gifts.  If you’re not sure what to get, I can recommend a great gift guide.  You’ll find lots of terrific (and faithful) gifts for the young boy or girl on your list.  There’s even a wish list (like a gift registry), to help all the friends and family select the perfect gift for the special day.

Mother Angelica — an amazing Catholic woman, and the first woman to establish a global television network (EWTN), by the way — comes to us again through this inspiring collection of powerful insights, comic musings, and no-nonsense guidance for everyday living. Compiled by Raymond Arroyo of EWTN’s “The World Over,” Mother Angelica’s Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality contains never-before-seen interviews, private conversations, and recorded lessons not heard in over thirty years, to which Arroyo had exclusive access.  They capture Mother Angelica’s spunky spirit and profound wisdom at their zenith.  Great gift idea!