Lenten Curiosities: Unusual Foods from Days of Abstinence

Hey everyone,

As we inch closer to Lent this year, with Ash Wednesday landing on February 14, it strikes me how this season not only unites us in spiritual practices but also in some rather unique culinary traditions. Today, let’s take a delightful detour and explore the quirky and sometimes downright strange foods people have consumed during days of abstinence in Lent.

1. Pretzels: A Twist of Faith

Starting with something familiar, did you know that pretzels were traditionally associated with Lent? Originating in Europe, these twisted breads were made simply with flour, water, and salt - aligning perfectly with the fasting rules. Their shape, believed to represent arms crossed in prayer, makes them a staple with a deep spiritual significance.

2. Fasting Bread of the Middle Ages

In medieval times, particularly in Europe, a special 'fasting bread' was often consumed. This bread, far from our usual loaves, was made with unusual ingredients like peas and beans, adhering to the strict Lenten prohibitions against certain foods.

3. Capybara: Swimming through a Loophole

In parts of South America, there's a fascinating history of eating capybara during Lent. Due to a peculiar classification by the Church centuries ago, this large rodent was considered fish, thus making it acceptable for consumption on days of abstinence. It’s a quirky example of how cultural and geographical factors influenced Lenten practices.

4. Barnacle Geese: A Fowl Fish?

Similarly, in medieval Europe, the barnacle goose was classified as a fish by some Christian scholars. This bizarre classification stemmed from a belief that these geese developed from barnacles - a theory that, while scientifically inaccurate, allowed people to eat them during Lent.

5. Ale and Beer: Liquid Bread

In some monastic communities, particularly in Germany, monks brewed special beers for Lent. These were nutritious, hearty brews, often referred to as 'liquid bread.' They provided sustenance during fasting and were a creative adaptation of Lenten restrictions.

6. Vegetable Lamb: A Botanical Oddity

Lastly, there's the curious tale of the 'vegetable lamb,' a mythical plant believed in medieval times to grow sheep as its fruit. While it never made it to the Lenten table (for obvious reasons), it’s a whimsical example of the lengths to which people went to reconcile dietary restrictions with their need for sustenance.

As we embark on our Lenten journey this year, these historical tidbits remind us of the rich and diverse tapestry of our faith. Lent is not just a time for spiritual reflection but also a period that has inspired creativity and adaptability in various cultures around the world. Whether you're sticking to traditional Lenten fare or exploring new culinary avenues, let's embrace this season with the joy and curiosity it deserves.

Until next time, keep the faith and maybe experiment a bit with your Lenten menu - who knows what interesting traditions you might discover!

Where in the Holy Scriptures can we find the foundations for the Lenten practice of fasting and penance?

With Lent soon approaching – starting in less than three weeks on February 14 – it's a great opportunity to reflect on the scriptural underpinnings of our Lenten traditions, particularly fasting and penance. It's like piecing together a beautiful mosaic from the Scriptures that illuminates our path to Easter.

The practice of fasting is deeply rooted in the Bible, with Christ Himself setting the precedent. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read about Jesus fasting for 40 days and nights in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2). This period of Jesus’ fasting, a time of solitude and deep communion with the Father, forms the bedrock of our Lenten practice. It's as if each year, through our Lenten fast, we join Christ in the desert, seeking to deepen our own spiritual communion.

Then there's the profound teaching of Jesus on fasting in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:16-18, Christ instructs us on how to fast – not as a public display of piety, but as a private act of devotion. His words guide our Lenten observance, reminding us that our fasting is a personal journey of faith, seen not by others, but by our Father in heaven.

The concept of penance, too, finds its scriptural roots in the calls for repentance throughout the Bible. The Book of Joel, for example, implores us to "return to the Lord with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning" (Joel 2:12). This heartfelt return to God, marked by fasting and sorrow for sins, echoes the very essence of Lent.

As we count down the days to Easter, let’s remember these scriptural foundations of fasting and penance. They’re not just ancient texts; they're living words that guide us each Lenten season as we prepare our hearts for the glory of the Resurrection. It's a journey we take together, supported by the wisdom of the Scriptures.

History of Lent in the Church

As we find ourselves here on January 25, 2024, with the Lenten season just around the corner, beginning on February 14 this year, I thought it would be a fitting time to embark on a historical exploration. Let's take a stroll down the memory lanes of our Church's past to uncover the origins of Lent. This journey is not just about tracing our roots; it's about deepening our understanding and appreciation as we prepare to enter this sacred season. So, gather around, and let's travel back to the earliest days of our Lenten traditions, connecting our present with the rich tapestry of our faith's history.

Our first stop is in the era of the Didache, one of the earliest Christian documents, dating back to the late first or early second century. It's like a window into the practices of the earliest Christians, showing us their dedication to fasting, though it doesn't explicitly mention a 40-day Lenten period (Didache 8:1). It's fascinating to think how these early believers, much like us, sought to live out their faith through such disciplines.

Moving forward to around 180-190 AD, we encounter St. Irenaeus of Lyons. In his correspondence with Pope St. Victor I, he discusses the variations in the fasting period before Easter (Eusebius, 'Church History', V.24). This shows us that while the practice was widespread, there wasn't yet a uniform way of observing it. Imagine being part of those early discussions, shaping a tradition that we continue today.

The pivotal moment comes with the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. This council, which was crucial in defining key aspects of our faith, also sheds light on the Lenten practice. While the council's main focus wasn't on Lent, subsequent canons, like those from the Synod of Laodicea around 363-364 AD, reference a 40-day period of preparation for Easter, echoing Jesus' 40 days in the desert.

And in the early fourth century, St. Athanasius of Alexandria, in his Easter letters (Letter 4, 330 AD), urges his flock to observe a 40-day fast. It’s moments like these that connect us directly to the traditions we uphold today.

Isn't it amazing to think about how our Lenten journey ties us back to these early Christians? Each year, as we embark on our 40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we're participating in a practice that's been a cornerstone of Christian life for centuries. It's a beautiful reminder of our shared faith and heritage.

Can Catholics FAST on a Feast Day or Solemnity? e.g. Solemnity of the Annunciation

Please pay close attention to the question I am asking: 

Can Catholics fast on a feast day or solemnity?

I ask you to pay attention because it's a question for which an answer is very difficult to find! Whenever I search for it on Google, it inevitably brings up the minimum requirements for fasting in the Church. It seems very few people ask about the permissibility of fasting on a feast day.

Most of the questions revolve around whether one is permitted to forego fasting on a particular day.

So, again I ask: can Catholics fast on a feast day or solemnity? In other words, are Catholics even permitted to fast on a feast day? It is wrong, inadvisable, etc? Let's talk about it.

Although I could not find a direct answer in the Catechism or in the Code of Canon Law regarding this, I was able to find some other sources which address this question.

St. Francis of Assisi
On a particular blog, I found a quote by St. Francis of Assisi. The version found there states:

When the question arose about eating meat on Christmas Day, because it fell on a Friday.  St. Francis replied to Brother Morico, "You sin, Brother, calling the day on which the Child was born to us a day of fast. It is my wish," he said, "that even the walls should eat meat on such a day, and if they cannot, they should be smeared with meat on the outside."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life
Chapter CLI

From this quote, it seems clear that one of the Church's greatest saints was greatly opposed to fasting on a solemnity.

Catechism and Code of Canon Law:

These two sources, rather than discuss whether one is permitted to fast on a feast or solemnity instead lays out fasting requirements and indicates that fasting is not required on these days:

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday.

So Canon 1251 addresses whether one is obligated to abstain from meat on a Friday which is also a feast or solemnity, but it doesn't address whether one is allowed to fast on such a day or if it would be wrong.

Is it advisable to fast on a feast day?

Unless I hear otherwise, I am a proponent of avoiding fasting on a solemnity or feast day even if it's on a Friday during Lent. By fasting on such a day, it seems we are missing the point. Jesus himself fasted for 40 days and nights but also tells people that fasting at certain times would be inappropriate.

Matthew 9 (14-15): The Question About Fasting.

14

g Then the disciples of John approached him and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?”

15

Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Feasts and Solemnities are times of celebration and joy, very similar to Sundays during the year. Although Lent is a penitential time, there are glimmers of joy even in this season, and we should not neglect those.

I feel that this is also partially about obedience. Sometimes pride can sneak into our fasting efforts. Some people may continue to fast on these celebratory days just to show they are able to or to "challenge" themselves. But again, I feel this is the wrong approach. Fasting is about growing spiritually closer to Jesus Christ our Savior. It's not about some personal achievement or accomplishment.

Today is the feast of the Annunciation, a day on which Mary was proclaimed to be the Mother of God. It is truly a time of great celebration and joy. To fast and deny ourselves on this day would seem inappropriate.

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section!

I hope you continue to have a blessed Lenten season!

"Instead of fasting from food, fast from..." and other nonsensical phrases

Something I've heard a lot in recent years is the expression that goes something like "This Lent, instead of fasting from food, fast from criticizing others (or judgment, meanness, anger, etc - the list goes on).

They may also say what to feast on, such as love, kindness, etc.

There is nothing wrong with this except the unnecessary contrasting of fasting from food with fasting from other actions and activities. They are hardly mutually exclusive concepts, as though you must choose one or the other.

In fact, fasting from food helps us in fasting from other vices which is why we are told to do so. If fasting itself had no beneficial effects or in fact makes us more judgmental, angry, jealous, etc, then why would Christ have implored us to do so? Remember, Jesus doesn't say if you fast, he says when you fast. Fasting is presupposed to the point where not only does he not have to tell people to do it or start doing it, he tells people how to do it correctly and points out those who do it wrong.

I find it highly misguided and inappropriate in our current time to set up this false dichotomy when speaking to people in our current era who have generally neglected fasting almost completely. When people do "fast", it is usually the mildest form of it. I once heard a woman say that she is fasting from one particular type of chocolate bar during Lent. Not chocolate in general, but one specific bar, such as Peanut Butter M&Ms or something. I'm sure St. Francis of Assisi is looking down from heaven in awe of this level of self-denial.

I don't say these things in order to toot my own horn or say that I'm superior. I won't even mention what I may or may not be doing during this or other Lents. One of my prompts in writing this comes from my own reflection that we should make Lent a little more strenuous than usual so that we can grow spiritually during this season of penance. My point is that in an era where the practice of fasting has almost completely vanished, it seems odd that priests and others would implore us to leave behind fasting from food and to choose other sacrifices instead.

In my readings, I've been looking at what some Christians undertook as fasting for many centuries. They would give up all meat and animal products, many would only eat one meal a day after 3pm (and sometimes later). During Holy Week itself, many would subsist on bread and water alone. These practices weren't considered extreme and unusual, they were the norm in many places and for many people. In that bygone era, perhaps it would have made sense to remind these people to fast from other vices as well, or to even warn people not to go too far so as to damage their health. But such warnings seem almost silly in our time. It would be like speaking at an obesity conference and telling participants to focus on eating enough.

On the level of communication itself, we live in a time of imprecision. People throw around terms interchangeably without attempting to be precise. In my opinion, this has had the effect of rendering people less able to express specific ideas and has damaged theological and philosophical discussions. My point in mentioning this is that we shouldn't be using the term "fasting" in reference to things other than food. It's unnecessary and confusing. The English language especially has a very wide vocabulary and resorting to a specific word for use in other purposes seems unnecessary. It also waters down the concept of fasting. If fasting can mean refraining from not only food, but anger or jealousy or rudeness, then it takes away the idea that fasting from food is necessary and helpful. People start to believe that fasting from anything is the equivalent. The truth is Jesus specifically mentions fasting many times. He doesn't lump it together with various other practices. This highlights its importance.

Instead of "fast from anger", just say practice patience. Instead of "fast from criticism" say show mercy or show compassion. Instead of "fast from rudeness", perhaps say "show meekness". Not only is it more accurate, it is phrased in the positive. We don't just fast from pride, we pray for an increase in humility, for example.

Leave fasting as its own separate category. There are many spiritual fruits to be gained from this practice and watering it down is not the right thing to do in this era. Fasting is not an end in itself but rather a means to an end. By denying our bodies, we can focus more on the spiritual and growing closer to God.

This Lent, let's "fast" from watering down concepts and finding the easy ways out. I hope you have a blessed and fruitful Lent in anticipation of Christ's death and glorious resurrection and ascension at Easter.

Happy Lent Everyone

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. What are you all going to do? Try to challenge yourselves. When Easter rolls around, you want to be proud of what you've accomplished in terms of penance as well as growing in spirituality and holiness. Don't let this Lent go by without making a big effort. God bless!

Happy Easter 2021! God Loves You.

I would like to wish a very happy and blessed Easter to all my readers and everyone around the world.

A holy priest yesterday had a great homily which I can summarize as follows. God worked throughout the history of mankind towards our salvation. Starting all the way back to Adam, God made covenants with his people. The Jewish people awaited the coming of the Messiah for centuries and generations. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others prophesized His coming. Everything led up to Jesus, his birth, and ultimate death and resurrection. The eternal sacrifice and covenant.

At times things seemed dark, full of despair and darkness, yet there was always a plan for those who trusted in the Lord. Think of the Passion. The Apostles may have thought "well, this is it. We thought Jesus was the savior, but now he's crucified." They may have given up in despair. But that wasn't the end. Jesus rose again, in the most joyous event in human history - the Resurrection, Easter.

The same God who brought about the salvation of the whole world is there to bring about our own salvation. Despite the darkness we sometimes encounter, we must trust in the Lord. He is ready and waiting to make us part of salvation history. If you are experiencing your own passion, remember that God has a great Easter planned for you. Happy Easter to all my readers and to people everywhere!

Happy Holy Thursday

 

Happy 500th Anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines!

Happy 500 Year Anniversary of the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines.

Apparently there is some debate as to where precisely the Mass took place. The government seems firmly convinced that the location was Limasawa, and this seems to be the majority opinion. Others believe the site to be Masao in Butuan as the location.

Either way, everyone agrees it was celebrated for the first time on March 31, 1521 and today is the 500th anniversary. It was actually Easter Sunday on which it was celebrated.

Magellan and the sovereign ruler of the island Rajah Kolambu made a blood pact. I was surprised to discover this involved each person cutting their wrists and pour the blood into a drink such as wine to both drink. Wow. They did this and exchanged gifts.

The first Mass was celebrated by Father Pedro Valderrama. After Mass, they planted a large cross known as Magellan's Cross. This cross still exists to this day, but some claim the original has been lost. Others say the original is encased in a larger cross as people were chipping away pieces of it. Why would someone chip away a piece of such a cross? Do they not realize the damage they are doing?

In any event, the Philippines has become a very Christian country, and is one of the great successes of Christianity in Asia!

Here is a video published today, March 31, 2021 marking the event:

Pet Peeve About Lenten Fasting - Probably not what you think

Happy Ash Wednesday.

As we begin the Lenten Season, I have a pet peeve about recent messages we receive during Lent concerning fasting. There is a new trend whereby the local parish or a priest or even just a friend on facebook will say something like "This Lent, instead of fasting from food, try fasting from [fill in the blank]"

A list of what can fill in the blank could be quite lengthy.

They'll say "Instead of food, fast from:

• Saying mean things to people
• Being impatient
• Complaining
• Grudges
• Speaking excessively
• Etc

The list is virtually endless. The basic point is instead of giving up food, give up one of these other things.

The problem is this would all make a lot more sense if fasting was more prevalent to begin with. If everyone was already fasting from food, but maybe needed work in other areas, then this would be a great message. There is a purpose to fasting from food. It can draw us closer to God spiritually and remind us of our dependence on Him. It can help us relate better to our neighbor who lacks food, shelter, clothing, or just has financial insecurity in general. It can help us mortify our flesh and help take our focus away from the physical and put it on the spiritual.

So there are a lot of spiritual benefits to fasting. It's probably the #1 go-to for mortification of the flesh and detachment from created things. So it should be the primary sense of the word "fasting" when used in the context of Lent.

I'm not against telling people to fast from other negative things or to fast from good things in order to grow spiritually. There is nothing wrong with that. But it seems we have completely jumped over the original and primary meaning of the word in order to broaden it to other uses.

Without fail each year around Lent, there will be an insert in the bulletin saying the message above. "Instead of fasting from food, fast from..." It has been like this for years. A much better message, in my opinion, would be to discuss the spiritual benefits of literal fasting and perhaps offer guidance in how to do so most effectively. After this has all been explained, perhaps go on to explain how we can fast from other things as well and how the ultimate purpose of fasting is to draw us closer to God.

There has become an almost false dichotomy when it comes to fasting. EITHER you fast from food or you go a "step further" and fast from anger and jealousy, etc.

I could be wrong, I have no idea really, but it seems fewer people are fasting from food in any context. Few Catholics now fast from flesh-meat on Fridays even though that requirement has never been abrogated:

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

People will commonly say "Oh they got rid of no-meat Fridays during Vatican II." That's simply not the case. The rule of not eating meat on Friday has remained. The only difference is that people are allowed to substitute not eating meat with some other practice of charity. Are people even aware of this?

Many saints fasted very regularly, especially on Fridays. It was common practice. Now, fasting has fallen to the wayside for the majority of people. Jesus Christ himself says "When you fast", not "If you fast":

Matthew 6: 16

“When you fast,* do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

18 so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you. 

Fasting was just considered a normal part of life for the Jewish people, and continued to be so for Christians all through the centuries. It's for this reason that Jesus actually presumes that people are fasting. His job now is to instruct them more specifically on what they must do. It is only recently that people have abandoned the idea of fasting altogether. So it makes no sense at this time of confusion and laxity in observing these customs that our religious leaders never speak about the practice of fasting and instead focus on other "forms" of fasting.

I want to just reiterate that I am not tooting my own horn here, I'm not saying I'm good at fasting at all. I'm just saying we should hear more about literal fasting. Instead of 95% of messaging being about "other forms of fasting", it should be maybe 80-20: 80% of messages about fasting and 20% about other forms.

One last thing: part of the issue is that many of the alternate forms of fasting have other, more precise word attached to them already. "Fasting from anger" is called patience. "Fasting from judgment" means being merciful. "Fasting from talking too much" is called the virtue of silence. We don't need to use the word "fasting" to describe these virtues, they have their own names already. As an interesting aside, check out this thorough list of virtues prepared by Fr. Chad Ripperger.

Having said that, I hope you have a great and spiritually fruitful Lenten Season. Happy Ash Wednesday!

Catholics Be Like ... On Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras)

From Catholic Memes (https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMemebase/):

Back to plain old "Ordinary" time....or are we?

There is some confusion as to what the term ordinary time means in the Catholic Church. I think I always assumed, and many still do, that it means nothing "extraordinary" is happening. But that's not really accurate. In fact, when the Church calls the period of time "Ordinary", it simply refers to ordinal numerals.

According to Wikipedia:

In linguistics, ordinal numerals or ordinal number words are words representing position or rank in a sequential order; the order may be of size, importance, chronology, and so on (e.g., "third", "tertiary"). They differ from cardinal numerals, which represent quantity (e.g., "three") and other types of numerals.

The other type of numbers are called cardinal numerals which would be used for things like quantities and amounts. So it makes sense that the weeks are numbered in the Church this way.

Today, Monday, January 11, 2021, is called the first day of Ordinary Time. We have begun a new season. Something I cannot seem to explain is that although today is the first day of ordinary time according to the calendar, it also says that this coming Sunday, on January 17, is the "second Sunday of Ordinary Time". Very confusing. If today is the first day of Ordinary time, that would mean yesterday was presumably not included.

In fact, yesterday is the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord. According to the calendar and the archbishop this morning, today is the first day of the liturgical new year, and therefore yesterday would not be included. I am very confused. If anyone knows what is going on, please let me know.

The basic idea behind ordinary time is that there are two major periods in the Christian calendar: Christmas and Easter. We prepare for these two major periods with Advent and Lent, respectively. Ordinary time is basically the period of time outside of these. The longest period of continual Ordinary Time is between the end of Eastertide and the beginning of Advent which in 2021 will be approximately 188 days, depending on how it's supposed to be calculated. In other words, more than half the year.

It's important to note that all Masses are equally important and extraordinary in that sense since the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Savior comes to us at those times. Also, even during ordinary time, there are major solemnities, feasts, etc. 

Why does Ramadan get so much publicity?

Ramadan is a time of year when Muslims fast during daylight hours. It happens once a year and lasts around 28 days. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, each year it is 10 or 11 days earlier than the year before. After Ramadan, the next day is Eid, where there are great feasts in the Muslim world. I remember 7 or 8 years ago when Eid was around the same time as Christmas, but this year it will be in September. But something has struck me as funny, and a little bit disconcerting. People seem more aware of Ramadan than Lent. Lent, of course, is the Christian time of penance, fasting and almsgiving. But I find people are more familiar with Ramadan than they are with Lent.

A couple of examples will illustrate this point. I was speaking to a friend of mine at a party one time. I told him that at the time it was Lent. He seemed a little confused as if he wasn't really familiar with Lent. This person was born in Quebec, the most Catholic province in Canada, and is a completely bilingual white man. I indicated that Lent is a time of fasting and so on for Christians, and as though a light went off inside his head, he exclaimed, "Oh, like Ramadan!" It seems to me, it should have been the opposite. He is not Muslim, and although he himself would probably not consider himself Christian, his heritage surely is.

A second example is of another friend, who is also a white Canadian. Although he himself cannot speak French, he has French ancestors (from France), but mostly of Canadian origin. He dated a Muslim girl for several years. They broke up. Later he started dating a Christian girl. One night the topic of Ramadan came up because it had recently started. He perked up. He became interested becuase he said he normally participates in the fasting, not for religious purposes he says, but for the beneficial effects fasting can have on a person, such as self control. He was concerned however, because his new girlfriend was quite Christian and he felt that participating in Ramadan might give her a bad impression. Interestingly, he failed to consider Lent, which would be wholly acceptable to her, regardless of her particular denomination since he would be imitating Christ. My hunch is that he had never even heard of Lent.

But how do these examples exist? In Canada, about 77% of the population considers themselves Christian, and around 44% call themselves Catholic. Compare this to the less than 2% who are Muslim. I think there may be several reasons for this occurrance. One of the main reasons is something I wrote about in a previous post and it has to do with self-hatred. We as a society seem to hate ourselves. The closer we approach our own culture, religion, way of life, historical values, and even skin colour, the more we want to lash out in angry vitriol. Yet, at the same time, we feel compelled to be overly consiliatory when it comes to other cultures and religions. Statement: Christianity is against abortion. Response: "Well, don't tell me what to do about my body! And how dare the Church try to tell me anything! What about when *insert random, unrelated, exaggerated incident(s) from the Church's past*?" But then tell someone about cannibals in a foreign country and say that's morally wrong and people will once again lash out, but this time in defense of that culture. Response: "How dare you try to push your imperialistic ambitions on these poor innocent cultures that are living how they have lived for centuries! Don't push your morals on them! You're worse than they are for judging them!"

What makes this situation even more surprising is that there is good reason to believe that Ramadan is just a Muslim version of Lent. Mohammed came into contact with Christians, albeit nonorthodox ones, and from them took many Christian ideas and changed them in certain ways. He also took pagan beliefs and incorporated them into Islam. The idea of Ramadan came directly from Lent. In the time when Mohammed got his idea, Christians had a very strict regiment during this penitential season, even stricter than Muslims now. There was little or no eating during the day, eating meat was prohibited, including derivatives such as butter, cream, etc. Also, there was much prayer. Mohammed didn't just take the idea of Lent and turn it into Ramadan, he also took many other ideas from Christianity and modified them. He took the idea of monks praying 7 times a day and changed it to Muslims praying 5 times a day. He took everything he wrote about Jesus, the New Testament, and the Old Testament from the Christians he met, including the idea that only Christ and Mary were sinfree their entire lives. He took the ideas to a certain extent. He did not accept that Christ died on the cross for our sins, and fulfilled all of scripture and thus removed the necessity for another prophet (since Christ fulfilled all prophesy). He could not accept this, because this would mean he was no longer a prophet and that he would simply be a follower. So, Mohammed changed things as he saw necessary to give himself his own self-title of prophet. As a warlord, Mohammed spread his message by the sword. Having said this, I believe Muslims worship the same God (although they have an incomplete concept of him), and I believe many Muslims are good people. But we must also not be afraid of the truth.

Somehow, out of a sense of political correctness, we feel compelled to act as a defense lawyer for all "others", while feeling a similar obligation to denigrate our own culture. I'm not saying we should be disrespectful or encourage racism or prejudice. I'm just saying we need to stand up for ourselves, love ourselves, love our culture, our religion, our way of life. We must respect others as well, but not at the expense of our own self-respect.

It is just so very ironic. If someone speaks about 9/11, it is considered terrible to mention anything about Islam, and if someone does mention that the hijackers were Muslim, it is quickly and emphatically followed up with statements about the peaceful nature of "most" Muslims. However, it is considered completely alright to bring up anything about the Church's history when opposing her in some way. I've read articles written for top newspapers in the United States that have been along the lines of the Catholic Church is opposed to abortion, but how dare they speak out against abortion when there was a sex abuse scandal! Or The Catholic Church does not allow women to be priests. How dare they do this, considering all the stuff that happened during the sex abuse scandal! Or The Catholic Church opposes gay marriage. But why not use that money to pay off sex abuse victims instead! Imagine using the same logic when it comes to Muslims. As in "Muslim countries are against same-sex marriage. How dare they! Remember 9/11!" It would seem completely illogical, and it would be! It seems logic is not necessary when bashing the Catholic Church.

I believe it is high time that we put away our self-loathing and rediscover a love for our culture and heritage. There are innumerable things to be proud of when it comes to being Christian, and specifically Catholic. The Catholic Church furthered the idea that scientific laws were rational and that science is possible because everything is not as it is right this moment because God is specifically willing it to be that way (i.e. everything is a miracle). The Catholic Church founded the university system we have today. The Western study of astronomy started with the Church. International Law came from the Church. We built innumerable schools, hospitals, and other places which provide social services. We've campaigned for the poor and abandonned. Monks gathered and transmitted knowledge from the ancient world to our own. You may say others have done this also to some extend, but none come anywhere near the Catholic Church. It is the largest chartible organization on the planet. 22% of hospitals in India are Catholic, even though only 2% of the population is. 50% of AIDS victims in Africa are cared for by Catholic organizations. There are many more statistics like these.

Let us spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and his Church!

Christ's Crown of Thorns

I believe Christ's Crown of Thorns represents several things, and the things I mention is not an exhaustive list. I saw a painting which showed the thorns and branches of Christ's as being very long. Then I realized it meant Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. His crown branches off and we partake of him in his glory. We are the body of Christ.

I also realized that the thorny crown is a paradox just like the life of Christ. Christ's suffering and death on the cross purchased for us the greatest reward. When Jesus brought our sins to the cross, he suffered more than anyone else ever could. Yet it was through this suffering that we could partake in the beatific vision. The cross represents all of this very well. The crown of thorns is painful, causing Jesus to bleed and to suffer, yet through his suffering he is rewarded and we the human race are rewarded. We receive a gift greater than can be had by any king, we receive eternal salvation. Pain and redemption are inextricably linked, and the crown represents the victory and our eternal salvation.

I would like to share a very powerful hymn. The words were written by St. Bernard of Clairveaux, a saint and doctor of the Church.

Should we emphasize Christ's suffering or his resurrection?

A friend of mine a few days ago asked if I believe it's accurate to say that Catholics focus on Christ's suffering and death while Protestants focus on the Resurrection. At first I somewhat agreed with him, but I later had more time to think about it and put it into perspective and I developed a few thoughts on the issue.

I think it would be more accurate to say that Catholics do focus on the suffering and death of Christ, whereas this element of Christ's life is overshadowed in Protestant thinking by his resurrection, which they focus on almost exclusively. Of course this will vary from group to group within Protestantism.

Catholic spirituality places a lot of emphasis on Christ's suffering. This can be seen by our devotions. The Stations of the Cross give a 14-step analysis of Christ's trial, suffering, and death of the cross. This was introduced by St. Francis of Assisi. Around this time, around 800 years ago, more graphic representations of Christ's crucifixion became common. Francis of Assisi was the first person to receive the stigmata, which are the wounds of Christ. The Mass, the main worship of Catholics, is called a sacrifice. We present Christ's body and blood to be eaten by the Christian community, just as Christ did at the Last Supper. We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, which recount five major events of Christ's suffering, and are: 1) His agony in the garden of Gethsemene, 2) Scourging at the pillar, 3) Crowning with Thorns, 4) Carrying the Cross, 5) Crucifixion and death on the cross. We devote an entire season called Lent to align ourselves to the suffering of Christ and be freed from our material desires. Fridays of the year are designated as sacrificial days. In the past, this meant not eating meat on Fridays, but now this can be substituted by another act of penance. There are many more examples of the centrality of Christ's suffering in our theology.

But this emphasis on Christ's Passion is not unnatural, and no devotion will ever go further in the portrayal of Christ's suffering than the amount he actually suffered. Christ suffered more than any person in history, not merely because of the brutal scourging and crucifixion, but because he bore our sins and became the paschal sacrifice of humanity. We should be on our knees praising God for this each and every day.

We believe in Christ ON the cross. The cross without Christ is empty, barren, it does not accomplish our salvation. But our salvation was accomplished by Christ ON the cross. This is where Earth was united with Heaven. Many people say they have an empty cross because Christ conquered death and that he rose from the dead and that he is not on the cross anymore. But if you are showing an empty cross to indicate that Jesus is not on the cross, it would be more accurate to show an empty tomb because that's where Jesus rose from the dead. The point of the crucifix and cross as a symbol of our faith has always been that Christ died for our sins and the cross is where this was accomplished.

It is also important to remember how lovingly and fully we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Lent is 40 days (46 if you count Sundays), but the Easter Season is 50 days until Pentecost. We celebrate Advent, the preparation of Christmas, but of course, we also celebrate Christmas itself with much joy. We have the Sorrowful Mysteries as I mentioned above, but we also have the Joyful and Glorious mysteries. We call the Mass a sacrifice, but we also call it a celebration.

The reason for this is we believe suffering and joy are two sides of the same coin. When we suffer, we do not just do it to hurt ourselves, we do it to unite ourselves more fully with Christ. By doing so, we give up our attachments to worldly possessions and material satisfaction and become more aware of our relationship with God.

This reminds me of one of my favorite parts of the Passion of the Christ movie. Jesus has been scourged almost to death, his body is wounded beyond recognition from the sadistic treatment he has received, he is bloody, and now he is made to carry his cross. His can barely stand up and falls several times. His mother sees him and is overwhelmed with grief. She rushes to his side where is face down, on his knees, with his cross above him. He is coughing up blood. He says to his mother, "See, I make all things new". This was very powerful for me. Christ did not say "I am suffering a lot" or "I am defeated", but rather he is making all things new. We are washed with the blood of Christ. He is renewing the world. What we see as weakness, Christ sees as strength. What we see as suffering, Christ sees as redemption. Saints have often spoke of the paradox of the cross. As we often say at Mass, "In dying you destroyed our death, in rising you restored our life."

I could go on for many more pages, because this is the essence of our spirituality. But to summarize, I would say this: We cannot separate Christ's resurrection from his suffering and death on the cross, no more than we can separate his human and divine natures. Therefore to ask which we emphasis more is a false dicotomy. Celebrating one or the other exclusively would contradict the message of Christ. As Fr. John Corapi says, we cannot have the crown without the cross.

Easter Vigil with Pope Benedict

This is a great little video about Pope Benedict at the Vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday. Five catecumens were baptized. Praise the Lord for all those who receive the waters of new life from Christ our Lord!

Happy Easter - Christ is Risen

Hi everyone,

Happy Easter to you and your family! Christ is Risen today, Alleluia! Enjoy this day and say a prayer to thank Jesus for his sacrifice on the cross.

Ask and it is Given

Please allow me to apologize for not posting here in a couple of days. Here is my next post. Please tell someone about me! :)

There is so much truth to everything spoken by Christ in the Gospels. Sometimes we do not even realize how true it is, and like an onion, what appears on one level can be looked at more deeply to reveal even deeper truths. One of these is being revealed to me over the past several weeks and months. The lesson is "ask and it is given". This is truer than you may first believe.

I have some friends, and a few are very close to me. My girlfriend is my best friend. The other day for the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, I invited my friend to come with me. He is not Catholic and had never been to a Catholic Mass. He didn't attend church services with his family either. But I decided to invite him anyway. To my surprise, he came! Also, I invited my Muslim friend, and again to my surprise, she came as well. They both came along with my girlfriend. This was truly a great blessing. I asked, and they came. It was given.

Many times we do not realize the power of this. We shy away from asking people questions for fear of the answer, but if you never ask, you will not be able to get a positive answer either. I decided to try this again with another friend. He recently went through a rough time and broke his marriage engagement because of something his fiancee had done. He was hurting and wanted to meet some friends. So last night I met with him, along with some other friends. Today, I called him and asked if he'd like to go to Good Friday service. He said he would not be ready in time, so I asked about the Stations of the Cross tonight at 7. He said if he did not have a meeting he would go.

In none of these cases was it obvious that they would go with me. I, in fact, would have assumed each time that they would reject the idea. I would have placed my money on that bet, but I would have lost every time.

Get out there and as John Paul II said, "Be not afraid"!

Final Push during Lent: Do something big

I hope your Lent has been going well. Mine has had its ups and downs, but I would say this is one my best so far. I am going to try to do something a little extra for the lsat week of the Lenten Season before the great Feast of Easter, the most important day of the Christian calendar. Easter should truly be a celebratory time. Like the end of a race. You will feel much better if you put your all into the race and did well at the end, than if you did not put any effort throughout. Therefore, let us do something for Christ near the end of Lent. Something that may seem hard. Whatever you are doing now, do a little more.

For example:

If you gave up meat on Fridays, give it up for Monday as well.
If you go to Mass daily, pray the rosary also.
If you donate $20 to church each week, donate $40.

That's one example from each of the 3 Eminent Good Works: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. Of course the first is technically abstinence from meat, but you can also try eating less as well to fulfill fasting. Perhaps this year you can also consider eating little or nothing for Good Friday. Of course the Church has prescribed minimum requirements, but rather than simply fulfilling those, why not try going above and beyond and doing something difficult.

It would be very hard to beat the Black Fast. This was practiced by Catholics many centuries ago, and sounds very very difficult, almost impossible. It is as follows (source: Catholic Encyclopedia):

In the first place more than one meal was strictly prohibited. At this meal flesh meat, eggs, butter, cheese, and milk were interdicted (Gregory I, Decretals IV, cap. vi; Trullan Synod, Canon 56). Besides these restrictions abstinence from wine, specially during Lent, was enjoined (Thomassin, Traité des jeûnes de l'Eglise, II, vii). Furthermore, during Holy Week the fare consisted of bread, salt, herbs, and water (Laymann, Theologia Moralis, Tr. VIII; De observatione jejuniorum, i). Finally, this meal was not allowed until sunset.

This is a very ancient form of fasting. The sheer difficulty of this fast make is nearly prohibitive for most. I think once you get to this level, you are sacrificing a lot for Christ. Remember though, it is not our suffering, fasting, prayers, or almsgiving that get us to Heaven or make us holy. Only Christ can do this. We must enjoy ourselves to his Passion - why not this Lent?

Ash Wednesday is Today: Day of Repentence

For Christians, and specifically Catholics, today is Ash Wednesday and marks the first day of Lent, a time of repentence and fasting. Today is especially marked for fasting, as only one full meal and two smaller meals not equally the one meal in size are permitted to be eaten. Also, Catholics are obligied to abstain from meat.

At mass today, Catholics will receive a cross on their foreheads using ashes. This comes from the Biblical practice of people covering themselves in ashes as penitents. Also, a mark on the forehead represents ownership, so a cross represents that we are servants of Christ.

The following information is very valuable, and is from Jimmy Akin, from Catholic Answers Live:

On the first day of Lent, this signing is done with ashes because they are a biblical symbol of mourning and penance. In Bible times the custom was to fast, wear sackcloth, sit in dust and ashes, and put dust and ashes on one's head (cf. 1 Sam. 4:12; 2 Sam. 1:20, 13:19, 15:32). Ashes also symbolize death and so remind us of our mortality. When the priest uses his thumb to sign one of the faithful with the ashes and says, "Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return," he is echoing God's address to Adam (Gen. 3:19; cf. Job 34:15; Ps. 90:3, 104:29; Eccles. 3:20). This phrase also echoes the words at a Catholic burial, "Ashes to ashes; dust to dust," which is based on God's words to Adam in Genesis 3 and Abraham's confession, "I am nothing but dust and ashes" (Gen. 18:27).

Catholics are not required to have their foreheads signed with ashes. It is, though, strongly advised as a visible spiritual reminder that encourages us to adopt an attitude of prayer, repentance, and humility.

Neither is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation. Holy days are either commemorations of particular events (such as the birth of Christ), particular people (such as Jesus' earthly father, Joseph), or important theological concepts (such as the Kingship of Christ). Ash Wednesday does not commemorate any event and could be said only indirectly to commemorate a Person (Christ), since it is the beginning of preparation for the greater celebrations of Christ's saving work that follow. However, attending Mass is a fitting way to mark the beginning of penitential season of Lent. Also, it is a day of fast and abstinence.