Journeys of a Catholic Poster Girl

All right, bibliophiles everywhere…gather ’round for the first bookshelf installment from my “empire” (that’s what B XVI calls his library, so I figured I could adopt it, too.).

On tap for today are two books by George Weigel, Catholic theologian extraordinaire–I love his stuff. Whenever you pick up on of his books you know you are in for a load of insight, humor, and good Catholicism explained in simple, yet eloquent, terms. He writes about Catholicism in a way that makes you want to stand up and yell, “Yeah, I’m glad I’m Catholic!” He draws you into the beauty and Truth of the faith. This is true in all his books, but especially Letters to a Young Catholic (which is the first one I’m reviewing here).

LTAYC (we’re into abbreviations ) was published in 2004, so it’s not exactly ‘new’, but a paperback version has come out and I bought it about a week ago. The book is part of a larger “letters to a young…” (artist, lawyer, conservative (!) are just a few of the titles in the series), and Weigel has written it as a series of 15 or so letters that derive from particular Catholic spots of worship or pilgrimage. The “big spots”, like St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, and Chartres are here, but we also have Flannery O’Connor’s home town, The Old Cathedral of Baltimore, and a parish in North Carolina. Each of these places is a link to a particular part of Catholic tradition, piety, or doctrine. For example, St. Peter’s talks about the “grittiness” of Catholicism; Chartres, beauty; The Old Cathedral, freedom, and how Catholics should think about it. His approach is fantastic, because he draws you in with the history of the place you’re visiting very vividly (as it should be, considering he’s been all these places), then he takes you into the meat of the letter. The book covers many and sundry topics of the Catholic world: homosexuality, women in the priesthood, the Eucharist, the sacraments, how Catholics view “stuff”, male and female in the Catholic Church, the Catholic imagination, and many other topics, written in Weigel’s accessible yet lyric style. It’s a book that’s very hard to put down. You don’t have to be “young” to read it, but it is geared specifically for people probably ages 16-26, and Weigel very often mentions the “young people” or “youth” of the Church in his letters, especially when talking about JP The Great and World Youth Days. Weigel places a great deal of emphasis on how this generation of Catholics can have much influence on the Church and the world as a whole. If you are a young person, this book leaves you energized and enthused about the work there is to do. If you are older, it should give you confidence about the next generation of Catholics. This would make a fantastic Christmas gift to any Catholic youth on your list (especially for college students, I think), or anyone who just loves George Weigel.

The second book, God’s Choice: Benedict XVI and the Future of the Catholic Church, is a more “scholarly” work in the vein of Weigel’s international best seller Witness to Hope: A Biography of JPII. The book recounts the last days of JPII, neatly capsulizes the accomplishments and failures of his papacy, the ceremonies in Rome, and the conclave itself that elected Benedict XVI, as well as the challenges the new pope may face during his papacy. It’s a very well paced book, with lots of inside information; since Weigel is the NBC Vatican analyst and was on television a great deal during the death of JP II and the interregnum, all the way through B XVI’s installment Mass, he alone has a lot of insight, and can get information from many other people he knows in the media. It is, as I said above, deftly written and highly accessible, with a great pace that moves you through the events that occurred last April with detail and insight. I especially enjoyed the chronicle of JP II’s work, including his encyclicals, his travels, and his major accomplishments. I thought it was a great summary of a monumental papacy. There is also a brief biographical sketch of B XVI (although I’d recommend the Pope’s own work, “Milestones”, if you’re interested in his life) that brings the man to life for those who have not read or listened to him before (I would highly recommend reading his prolific book output–he’s written so many that you will definitely be able to find some of his titles at your local bookstore). The politics of the vote — although no one can be exactly sure what happened in the conclave– are also fascinating to read and study.

Both of these books are well done and deserve to find a wide audience. They’d both make great Christmas gifts, and will further your knowledge and appreciation of our faith, as well as give you great hope for the future of the Church. Enjoy!

Yesterday was an anniversary of sorts. Not the kind of anniversary that Hallmark has cards for (at least not yet), but a pretty important one, at least for moi. Yesterday was the four month anniversary of my double (or, as they say in medspeak ‘bilateral’) lung transplant. I can hardly believe it’s been four months already, and the difference is remarkable.

A lot of people ask me that question: “what’s it like with new lungs?” Well, first of all, I haven’t become a different person in my personality or attitudes (at least not yet); having someone else’s organs inside me hasn’t morphed me into her. I guess the closest thing I can tell you is to imagine yourself with only about 1/3 of your lungs working–like climbing Mt. Everest with your nose clipped shut and no oxygen. Something like that (although I’ve never climbed Everest, and don’t plan to). I measured everything in distance–how many steps here, do I have to take the stairs, oh I have to climb stairs on the way back *in*, etc. That’s not such a fun way to live your life. I was luckier than a lot of people–I only waited about two months, was never on full-time supplemental oxygen, and worked right up until my transplant (I was at work the Friday before–I was transplanted on a Sunday). But I was also lucky that I even got the organs in the first place. 18 people die in the U.S. every day because not enough organs are available: “there but by the grace of God, go I”. Seriously.

So I’m going to make a plug here. This weekend is national Donor Sabbath weekend, where pastors/priests/religious leaders are encouraged to discuss organ donation with their congregations, in the hopes of both raising the number of donors in the U.S. and dispelling a lot of myths about donation, as well as letting their congregations know how their particular church/synagogue/mosque stands on the issue. I’ve done the legwork for you; here’s what the CCC has to say:

2296 Organ transplants are in conformity with the moral law if the physical and psychological dangers and risks to the
donor are proportionate to the good that is sought for the recipient. Organ donation after death is a noble and
meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity. It is not morally acceptable if the
donor or his proxy has not given explicit consent. Moreover, it is not morally admissible directly to bring about the
diasabiling mutilation or death of a human being, even in order to delay the death of other persons.

So there you have it–a “noble and meritorious act”. No matter what TV might tell you, the donation community is very much against the killing of people just for organs. It must be a donation–that’s the point. In a lot of states, you can do this when you renew your license; in Ohio, the BMV has a special section on its website where you can sign up to be an organ donor. Lifeline of Ohio (the organ procurement/awareness agency in my state) has a website where you can sign up, too (www.lifelineofohio.org). You can even (at least in Ohio) designate exactly what organs you would like to donate, if the idea of donating your eyes or skin or something creeps you out.

Do it. Please. It’s not hard, and, well, to be frank, you’re not going to be using the organs anyway. Donors can be all ages; I know mine was a 50 year old woman. Since my transplant occured, I’m in my church choir, singing much better than before, because I actually can control my breathing to support the music. I’m working for the State, I’m writing this lovely blog for all of you folks. I’ll be able to play with my cousins come the holidays. I can do things with my family and I’m here to amuse my friends with stories and to plan our social lives. I thank God every day for this great gift I’ve gotten, and that a lot of people who need it won’t get to receive because they’re just aren’t enough organs to go around. I’m a daughter, sister, friend, co-worker, granddaughter, godmother, cousin….think about those people in your lives. I know that most of us would go to no end to save the life of their sibling, child, relative. Do it for someone else’s family.

Life is a great thing that God has given all of us. Please consider donating your organs so that others can continue to enjoy life after you’ve gone. Be sure to tell your family so that they know of your decision. It doesn’t cost anything, and you will bring unimaginable joy to so many people, not just the recipient. When I went back to work on Monday, so many people told me how happy everyone was to hear that the operation had gone well and I had gotten my transplant. My family, as you can imagine, was ecstatic. My friends were thrilled (although one of them commented that now they’ll “never be able to shut me up”).

We’re coming up on Thanksgiving. I know that my family has a LOT to be thankful for this year. Please consider donating the greatest gift you can give someone else during this holiday season.

photos: top: my best friend, Tiffany, and I celebrate her twenty-fourth birthday, 1 1/2 months post transplant.
bottom: the family Christmas 2005 picture: me, my brother Bryan (20), and my sister Melanie (16), almost 3
months post transplant.

Today’s Columbus Dispatch (my hometown paper) had a little blurb article from AP about the highly-awaited Vatican document on homosexuals and the priesthood, which is due out Nov. 29. Once again, it amazes me how the press never quite seems to “get” the idea that the Vatican isn’t here to make sure that the Church is “tolerant”, but to make sure that the Church sticks to Church teachings, which were given to us by Jesus, the Bible, and Tradition. (I would say these are all better authorities than the local P.C. trends…)

The article says that the document will proclaim that ” practicing gays, those with ‘deeply rooted’ homosexual tendencies or those who support gay culture cannot be admitted to the priesthood.” (from an Italian daily) Um, not to be a bit flippant, but OK…this isn’t new. If you want to be a priest, methinks you should be “in line” (as we say in politics) with the party line. You know, support the Vatican, the Pope, the Catechism, all that good stuff that makes us Catholic. And if you’re openly gay, then you’re openly flouting all those things, and you’re essentially telling your congregation, “hey, I don’t have to follow the rules, so you don’t either!” Not the kind of example we want to be setting. The Church says that homosexual actions are gravely sinful. Now, OK, all of us are sinners. That’s a fact. But I don’t think priests should be openly committing gravely sinful actions and be priests. That just strikes me as wrong. There’s also the ancient Catholic idea that “stuff” (that is, physical matter) matters. A priest is acting in persona Christi–in the place of Christ, as Christ–when he celebrates Mass. The relationship between Christ and his Church is nuptial in nature; the Church is the spouse, Christ the groom. This Catholic understanding of male and female isn’t going to work too well in a homosexual setting. (For more on this, read George Weigel’s incomparable Letters To A Young Catholic) We are who God created us to be, and we can’t change that. We also cannot change what God has ordained to be so–that is, that practicing homosexuals cannot be priests. (Heck, practicing anythings can’t be priests….we’ve got that whole celibacy thing going on, for heterosexuals, too!)

The document also says that Bishops, spiritiual directors of seminaries and superiors of religious orders must “verify that the candidate practices celibacy and has no ’sexual disturbances that are incompatible with the priesthood.’” Yeah. I think we can all get on board with that, right? I hope so. If you’ve read Michael Rose’s Goodbye, Good Men (if you haven’t, get it!), you know that this is a long time coming, with all the crazy things seminaries did in the 1960s and 1970s to get priests who were not, as we said above, “toting the party line” into the priesthood, and heavily discouraging or outrightly discriminating against priests who were actually faithful to the Pope and Magesterium and didn’t buy into the P.C. Catholicism stuff.

I think that this new policy will change the priesthood for the better. We Catholics need to know that our priests are actually teaching–and living–Catholic doctrine. I don’t expect my priests to be perfect (none of us are). But I do expect them to teach me what the Church really teaches, and not what they wish the Church teaches. This was vividly seen during the 2004 Election; I know of priests who would preach in their homilies that abortion is not “the only issue” in an election, that we must consider other things. While this may be true, it was also a veiled reference to the, um, CINO (Catholic-In-Name-Only) candidate (whom we all remember with such fondness). This flies in the face of Vatican statements, as well as statements from U.S. Bishops. Sure, it’s not the “only” issue in an election, but it’s a darn important one. Life issues always are. And yet we have priests who are advocating for the other side. There are priests who believe women should be ordained, and tie that theme into their homily on the Immaculate Conception! (Yes, this actually happened in a parish in my neighborhood) Now, the Blessed Mother was many things, but I’m sure she wouldn’t've been the one leading the charge for women’s ordination. But that’s another column.

Yes, the howls will emerge, once this document is released, that the Church is “out of fashion” and “medieval” and “discriminatory” and all that stuff we’re used to hearing (imagine if the press called anything that any other religion did these things….hm…). But the Church has endured now for over 2,000 years. The Gates of Hell will not prevail against it. I think we can handle a little bit of press mudslinging. And God bless B XVI for having the guts to release this document. The Church needs solid guidance, and he’s just the man to give it to us.

I know it’s early for Advent (well, OK, one week) but this is an Advent reflection I wrote for this year’s Advent Evening of Reflection at my parish. It’s gotten a good response so far, so I’m posting it here for all of you–hope you enjoy it! It’s written from the perspective of Mary as she waits for Jesus to be born:

I’ve been waiting for this season ever since the Angel appeared to me that mysterious spring night in the quiet of my room. But in a way, it seems as if I’ve been waiting much longer, for my people have awaited the birth of this child ever since Abraham. The Messiah has finally come to us! He is residing inside of me…and I wait for His appearance, not only as His mother, but also as one of His followers.

I wasn’t afraid to say “yes” to the angel—I knew that if this was truly God’s work, then it was good work, and I would give my consent to have it done through me. I am not a special, gifted girl; I’m just the daughter of two devout Jews, who was raised in the Jewish faith and has tried to live it faithfully every day of my life. Yet the angel called me “blessed” and “full of grace”; even Elizabeth called me “the mother of her Lord”. And yet I am not frightened, even as these accolades are heaped upon me. I feel undeserving, of course, for it is God who is working the miracle that is taking place; I am simply the vessel for His plans for both myself and, with this Child, the salvation of my people. I am so happy to be able to serve God in this way. My waiting is clothed with excitement and eagerness to fulfill the mission God has given me. I am sure that it will not be an easy one—God hasn’t been known to do that. Did he not ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son? To have Moses lead his people through the desert? I know that there will be many trials and sorrows along this path. Indeed, there have already been some, like when I tried to explain to Joseph what had happened to me. At first he didn’t believe me, but I know that God worked upon his heart to accept the miracle that will affect both of us so deeply. He is waiting, just as I am, for this child to be born. I also feel tremendous joy, for the baby that resides in me will be the source of so much grace and happiness for so many. God has “looked upon me in my lowliness”; imagine, that He would choose someone like me—a young girl from a small village—to help Him in His works. The thought astounds me.

As I wait, I something think that this task is too large for me. God is entrusting me with the raising of His Son! Am I up to the task? I have never been a mother before, and now I am to be a mother to the greatest Child of all. The thought can be daunting. But then I remember that this is God’s work, and His plan, and because of that He will grant me whatever graces I need to be a good mother to His son. God would not entrust me with a task I could not handle. If He has faith in me, then that is all I need to rest and reassure my spirit, as I wait for this child to come.

All this waiting has also made me excited. My mother says she was excited when she was pregnant with me, and it increased as she waited for me to come. So now I grow in excitement as the time nears. There’s nothing more exciting than new life coming into being, and this will be especially so—my first child, but also the Son of God, our redeemer, coming in the world for us. That thought alone is enough to make me marvel at the wondrous work of God, and how good He is to us. This child will change the world, and yet, at the same time, he’s still my little baby boy, my child, who will change my life forever. And He will change my life in so many ways! I will watch Him grow and learn, and, with Joseph, teach him our religious faith, which will be such a joy for us. But as He grows, I know He will teach me, as well. I wait for that! It seems like there is so much to wait for, to look forward to—not just the birth, but His whole life, and how that will affect not only myself and Joseph, but also so many others; people I cannot even begin to name or know. That’s probably the best part about this waiting time—imagining what wonderful fruit will come of this blessing God has given me, and the whole world, as God gives us His son. What better way could He express His love for us?

There’s going to be a lot of book posts around here these days, so I thought I’d give you a heads up on what’s coming:

–Letters to a Young Catholic, by George Weigel
–God’s Choice, by George Weigel
–The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis
–The Interior Castle, by St. Teresa of Avila
–the Jeweller’s Shop, by JP the Great
–The Confessions, by St. Augustine

Yeah, I know…”light” stuff! But I’ve got to keep my brain busy. So look for these, if you’re interested in books. I’ll try to post some non-bibliophile stuff for the rest of you, too!

photo: some of my 400+ books in my library…once an English major, always an English major….