My wife and I were traveling. Which gave us an opportunity to participate in Mass at at a small wood-frame country church typical of a rural parish. It had been recently renovated and expanded. including a fresh coat of some pastel, off-white color on all four walls.

This is a photo of a different church, but it shares the same beige interior.

As I knelt, praying after Communion, contemplating the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle; the crucifix hung above it on a vast expanse of identically bland wall rising up to the high peaked ceiling. Something was missing. Plain monochrome interiors may represent the authentic original style of country churches. Perhaps so. But the simplicity of early American churches was more a reflection of scarce resources at the time than of preference. When Catholics have had the means, they have turned to color. As soon as Americans could afford it, they built beautiful, ornate churches, like St. Alphonsus in Baltimore.

Even those gigantic gray structures of the medieval Gothic cathedrals once burst with colors. 

Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens 

They were drained of their vibrancy during the Protestant revolts and the French Revolution, but researchers and restorations are bringing the colors back.

Eastern and Southern churches never lost their colors.

When Christ Consecrated Marriage, He also Consecrated the Feast

Last weekend, our parish celebrated the 25^th anniversary of our pastor’s ordination. We did it in the most Catholic of ways – with celebration of the Mass and with a party.

During the wedding feast at Cana, Christ consecrated Marriage; instituting the first of the seven Sacraments. He also consecrated the wedding feast as something if not sacramental, at least something good and holy. For His first public miracle, Jesus replenished the wine. He used the same power He would use to raise Lazarus from the dead and to restore sight to the blind – to bring wine to a party. I don’t describe the miracle this way to make light of it, but to illustrate how essential feasting and celebration should be to our Catholic life. Christ’s first miracle was at a party. In an almost literal sense, the Christian religion began with a party. His birth was announced with a song. Many of His parables are set at feasts or celebrations. How many times do the Gospels describe Jesus sitting down to eat and drink for a purpose. A book should be written about Jesus’ uses meals and feasts in the Gospels.

The liturgical calendar provides a balance and rhythm that is tuned to our human nature. Singing, dancing, eating, and drinking in a community of friends and family is as old as humanity. People naturally enjoy getting together and celebrating. The Church calendar has a balance of feasts and fasts that imitates the balance of sacrifice and celebration in the life of Christ. Feasts mark the passage of time and changing of the seasons. We express our identities by celebrating local patron saints, Marian feasts, Eucharistic feasts as well as by wearing ashes, fasting, and abstaining.

G.K. Chesterton put it more poetically, “Because a man prayed and fasted on the Northern snows, flowers could be flung at his festival in the Southern cities; and because fanatics drank water on the sands of Syria, men could still drink cider in the orchards of England.” G.K. Chesterton, “Orthodoxy”

Just as important as giving us reasons to celebrate, the Church gives limits and direction to our celebrations – it helps to keep them in bounds, as it were. Without some sort of restraint, our celebrations would quickly turn into self-indulgent excess. Consider what Mardi Gras becomes when it is separated from Lent. Within the Church, we have a wholesome community with whom to celebrate. God created us to enjoy good things. And celebrations are good things. I think they are even more than just good. They are necessary; because they bring people together – a rather important prerequisite to a healthy community. The Church is where we come together to worship God as a community. And feast days give us wholesome reasons to celebrate as a community. The God Who created us to enjoy food and wine and song also gave us rites, rituals, traditions, and a calendar to bound them and direct them at Him, rather than at our selves; making our feasts a form of worship, in a certain sense. To the best of my knowledge, Catholicism is the only religion with blessings for beer.

This is not just a superficial plea for more parties in the parish hall. I think to not publicly express the exuberance of our faith is a lost opportunity to strengthen the parish community and a missed chance to evangelize to those outside of it.

People outside the Church are turned off by what they perceive to be the dolorous life of the faithful—filled with ashes, abstaining and fasting. But they are attracted to the drinking and dancing of Carnival, Mardi Gras, and Fasching. They don’t understand that the feasts and fasts go together. They celebrate the feast and ignore the fasts. Outside of their proper context, the celebrations have deformed into excesses while the fasts have been forgotten. But, in the end, Mardi Gras leaves revelers empty and aching – despair; and leaves them out of the immense joy of the resurrection at Easter. I think a good St. Patrick’s Day party is worth its weight in green beer if it is the crack in the wall that draws a Mardi Gras reveler in to experience the true joy a Christian feels in both the Lenten fast and the Easter feast and maybe exchange his mardi gras beads for some Rosary beads.

If a Christian wants to observe the feast festively, he has few options outside of the pub. Absent a parish event, people looking to have some wholesome green beer on St. Patrick’ Day or wear a silly mask on Mardi Gras or drink champagne on New Year’s Eve must join the pagan feast or not celebrate publicly at all. I say take the celebrations back. Put them in their proper context. Give folks an alternative to Bacchus and Dionysus at the bar with pasta dinners and step dancing in the school gymnasium.

Does this mean that successful priests must add DJ or MC to their responsibilities? Heaven forbid! Of course, if the parochial vicar can swing dance, or the pastor can sing tura lura, they certainly needn’t keep their lights under a bushel.

No, the most vital thing we need from our priests is sound liturgy and teaching. Pastors have the added burden of leadership and responsibility of overseeing administration. The next most important thing, I think, is presence. I know our priests make every effort to be present to the sick, infirm and dying, and I bless them for it. I think they need to be present for the parish community, particularly if it seems sick or infirm. An old Army saying: “The troops do well what the boss checks.” “Actions speak louder than words.” Leaders express what is important to them through their time and attention. And the most basic action, if our priests want our community to be close-knit is their presence. They probably don’t realize – and the most humble of them realize least of all – that their mere presence at a parish gathering sends a clear message that the event – and the people there – are important. No singing, dancing, or rapping required. It was enough for Christ to be at the wedding at Cana for Him to sanctify marriage. It was His presence that enabled His first public miracle.

But in order for our priest to be there; there must be a place to be. And they cannot be everywhere. That’s where we come in. Christ is the mystical head of the Church. Our pastor is the material head. Heads need hands, arms, legs, and sometimes strong backs to actually put on the feasts. And butts in chairs and on dance floors to actually begin to form a community for our priests to support with their presence. I know I’ve gotten lazy (I would say “busy”) about participating in the parish events that we do have. But I also believe that if I’m going to exhort my fellow parishioners to help our priests form the tight knit community we will need to be to attract others and to weather the coming storms and to help each other in our journey to God, I need to practice what I preach.

See you at the next fish fry!

Catholicism is a joyful faith. “we should thank God

for beer and Burgundy by not drinking too much of them.” - Orthodoxy

Notes on the Schismatic Episcopalians

Recently the Archbishop of Canterbury held a meeting of primates. The outcome surprised me just a little. He seems to have given the African bishops more consideration than the Moderns in North America expected. In typical Anglican style, he managed to water things down to half-measures. I just expected them to go half-way to the Episcopal position, rather than the orthodox position.

http://www.anglican.ink/article/inside-canterbury-primates-gathering

But was unsurprising was the purple prose of the response of the lavender leadership of the American church. In fact, Fr. Longenecker pegged it precisely:

Seven Ways the Episcopalians Will React to Suspension

1. Sentimentalism

2. False Martyrdom

3. Pride

4. Self Righteousness 

5. Propaganda 

6. Counter Attack

7. Schism 

Same playbook as the Nuns on the Bus.

Proud Episcopalians Defiant

Didn’t take long for his predictions to come true. I really think trading ACNA for the Episcopal Church would be a great deal for the Anglican Communion. But if that doesn't work out, the Tiber is fine, folks dive in. We'll keep the Light on for you.

As an aside, if the Episcopal Church separates from Anglicanism and ACNA re-unites, what does that do to property disputes between the EC and breakaway churches in the US?

"Truth, What is truth?

Chop-Shop Pads “their Bottom Line”

Conservatively, Planned Parenthood could be taking in between $5,897,754 and $22,935,710 annually from selling aborted babies’ body parts.

Not quite the half billion dollars they get in taxpayer money, but that'll buy a couple Lamborghini's.

Parts ain't parts when they are babies' hearts.

2/3 of Americans Favor Taxpayer Bailout for Abortion Business Selling Murdered Baby Parts. Really?

By: Matthew Clark (Diary)  |  September 29th, 2015 

No. Not really. But the deceit is useful for them, so it is propagated.

As are other lies. And when liars lie, they use statistics.

WaPo: Three Pinocchios for Planned Parenthood’s “3 Percent” Abortion Lie

Planned Parenthood is “misleading,” “using meaningless and incomplete comparisons to make their argument, and the public should wary . . . .”

By: Matthew Clark (Diary)  |  August 12th, 2015 

But the lie continues to circulate where it is useful and the audience is ignorant. Like Congress, for example.

Stand Fast Thou' the Wall is Breached!

From USA Today a few days ago:

Obama: Don't use religion to deny constitutional rights

The Oval

David Jackson, USA TODAY 7:21 a.m. EDT September 28, 2015

President Obama says he respects religious liberty, but it cannot be used to deny marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples who are entitled to them.

"We affirm that we cherish our religious freedom and are profoundly respectful of religious traditions," Obama said at a Democratic National Committee LGBT gala Sunday in New York City.

"But," he added, "we also have to say clearly that our religious freedom doesn't grant us the freedom to deny our fellow Americans their constitutional rights."

Obama appeared to reference the case of Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue gay marriage licenses, saying it violated her faith.

A federal judge had Davis jailed for several days because of her actions in defiance of the June decision by the Supreme Court sanctioning same-sex unions.

In his remarks Sunday to donors, Obama said gay marriage supporters should understand that the change "has been a whirlwind" for many Americans, and that there remains some "unease." The president said, "it's important for us to recognize that there are still parts of the country that are getting there, but it's going to take some time."

But that doesn't mean people can use religion to deny people their rights, Obama added -- and political candidates shouldn't encourage them.

"Even as we are respectful and accommodating genuine concerns and interests of religious institutions, we need to reject politicians who are supporting new forms of discrimination as a way to scare up votes," Obama said. "That's not how we move America forward."

Oh Lord, this makes my head hurt. Do you see? Religious Freedom isn't considered a constitutional right by these people, but gay marriage and abortion are. How do you even relate to someone so disconnected from reality?

And this is rich. Didn't he say, back in 2009, something about unifying the country and not being the president of this part or that part but of the whole country?

Except for those "parts of the country" who aren't with the program yet. And there is no alternative but to get on the Progressive bus. There is no room for deviation from the received truth of the Progressive Gnostics. "there are still parts of the country that are getting there," "there." Obama cannot conceive of valid opposing views.

Tolerance of opposing views to him means shutting down bakeries and bankrupting families simply because their faith conflicts with his vision. "it's going to take some time." he says.

Well, times up for Aaron and Melissa Klein 

The First Amendment, according to Obama, reads: "The Federal bureaucracy shall be respectful and accommodating to the genuine concerns and interests of religious institutions."

A little bit different from James Madison's version, to be sure. And wholly disconnected with the actual life of faith to which a truly religious person attempts to live.

Oh, and by the way, we do need to reject politicians who are supporting new forms of discrimination as a way to scare up votes. Politicians like him and almost every other Democrat who voted for the Affordable Care Act. The law that empowered the Secretary of HHS to force religious organizations, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, to pay for abortions and contraceptives. The people who supported SSM and are cheering; as religious people, colleges, and other organizations are buffeted with legal challenges for trying to live and work according to their faith.

I'm sure he is hopeful that his party will continue in power until the Catholic Church, the Baptist Convention, faithful Christians, and those other 'parts of the country' 'get there' or are crushed.

Thefederalist.com carried an opinion piece that is worth a read.

Taxing Churches Would Marry Church And State

"Saying government can tax religious organizations affirms the sovereignty of state over church."

Obama said that religious faith shouldn’t trump civil rights. He has it upside down, of course. But I doubt if he could see it any other way. He already assumes, I’m sure – as does Niose and others – that the state is sovereign over everything within its unlimited purview, including churches.

Beginning to feel like the Great Siege of Malta

Which was fought against overwhelming odds, but with faith in God.

But which the Christians ultimately prevailed, by God's grace.

Beginning to feel like the Siege of Malta

thefederalist.com carried an opinion piece that is worth a read.

Taxing Churches Would Marry Church And State

Saying government can tax religious organizations affirms the sovereignty of state over church.

Well, see Obama below, where he says religious faith shouldn’t trump civil rights. He has it upside down, of course, but I doubt he could see it any other way. He already assumes, I’m sure – as does Niose and others – that the state is sovereign over all within its unlimited purview, including churches.

Beginning to feel like the Great Siege of Malta

Which was fought against overwhelming odds, but with faith in God

But which the Christians ultimately prevailed, by God's grace.

Some Animals are More Equal than Others

From USA Today a few days ago:

Obama: Don't use religion to deny constitutional rights

 The Oval 
David Jackson, USA TODAY 7:21 a.m. EDT September 28, 2015

President Obama says he respects religious liberty, but it cannot be used to deny marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples who are entitled to them.

"We affirm that we cherish our religious freedom and are profoundly respectful of religious traditions," Obama said at a Democratic National Committee LGBT gala Sunday in New York City.

"But," he added, "we also have to say clearly that our religious freedom doesn't grant us the freedom to deny our fellow Americans their constitutional rights."

Obama appeared to reference the case of Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue gay marriage licenses, saying it violated her faith.

A federal judge had Davis jailed for several days because of her actions in defiance of the June decision by the Supreme Court sanctioning same-sex unions.

In his remarks Sunday to donors, Obama said gay marriage supporters should understand that the change "has been a whirlwind" for many Americans, and that there remains some "unease." The president said, "it's important for us to recognize that there are still parts of the country that are getting there, but it's going to take some time."

But that doesn't mean people can use religion to deny people their rights, Obama added -- and political candidates shouldn't encourage them.

"Even as we are respectful and accommodating genuine concerns and interests of religious institutions, we need to reject politicians who are supporting new forms of discrimination as a way to scare up votes," Obama said. "That's not how we move America forward."

Oh Lord, this makes my head hurt. Do you see? Religious Freedom isn't considered a constitutional right by these people, but gay marriage and abortion are. How do you even relate to someone so disconnected with objective reality?

And this is rich. Didn't he say, back in 2009, something about unifying the country and not being the president of this part or that part but of the whole country?

Except for those "parts of the country" who aren't with the program yet. And there is no alternative but to get on the Progressive bus. There is no room for deviation from the received truth of the Progressive Gnostics. "there are still parts of the country that are getting there," "there" there is only one place to get to,

Tolerance of opposing views to him means, not shutting down bakeries and bankrupting families simply because their faith conflicts with his vision. "it's going to take some time." he says.
Well, times up for Aaron and Melissa Klein 

The First Amendment, according to Obama reads, "The Federal bureaucracy shall be respectful and accommodating to the genuine concerns and interests of religious institutions."
A little bit different from James Madison's version, to be sure. And wholly disconnected with the actual life of faith to which a truly religious person attempts to live.

Oh, and by the way, we do need to reject politicians who are supporting new forms of discrimination as a way to scare up votes. Like him and almost every other Democratic politician who voted for the Affordable Care Act, which directed the Secretary of HHS to force religious organizations, including the Little Sisters of the Poor to pay for abortions and contraceptives; who supported SSM and are cheering as religious people, colleges and other organizations are buffeted with legal challenges for trying to live and work according to their faith.

I'm sure he is hopeful that his party will continue in power until the Catholic Church, the Baptist Convention, faithful Christians and those other 'parts of the country' 'get there' or are crushed.