The CatholiCity Message
Volume XIX, Number 9 – September 21, 2015
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
For our new readers: over the past few weeks I've been writing more CatholiCity Messages than usual in my first-ever Kitchen Sink series, comprised primarily of items from notes I've been keeping for years. I welcome your comments, as always: hit reply and let your thoughts fly. In Part 3 today I'm sharing mostly short items; I guarantee a few surprises. So, boom, boom, boom, boom...
They Tried to Kill John Paul II Too
Homeland Security has disrupted a plot against Pope Francis for his visit to America. May angels protect him! In the meantime, how about a CatholiCity Citizen Survey? What are your thoughts on Pope Francis? Be frank, be succinct. I'll try to get back to everyone who responds and share some of your insights in upcoming Messages.
Praying for All the Buddy Boys
My son Buddy just moved to California to make his way in life and be near his sweetheart. He's friendly, crazy smart, articulate, a genuine math whiz, artistic, funny, hard-working—just brimming with talent. And he needs a real job. My deep concern for him must be shared by many of you with grown children (and spouses and relatives and friends) in need of a decent income. So let's pray for everyone we know who needs a good job fast, together, tens of thousands of us together...
Dear Saint Joseph, O husband of Mary, patron of workers, please help our sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, spouses, relatives and friends who need employment to find the most fitting job in accord with God's unfathomable plan, as soon as possible, even if extraordinary divine intervention is required. Guide their every thought and inclination and planned or chance meeting on the path to employment. O Saint Anthony, find these jobs for our loved ones; we trust you. O Saint Jude, help our relatives and friends no matter how impossible the particulars. Guardian angels, guide them. Mary, love them. Jesus, be with them. Amen.
My Growing Addiction
I love to listen to talk radio—especially conservative politics and sports. Yet lately I have been listening to more Catholic radio...and I suspect some of you (like me just a short time ago) might not even know if there is an EWTN affiliate station in your area. It's easy to find out.
Technology is the knack for arranging the world so that we do not experience it.
– Max Frisch
Difficult Financial Times Coming?
Some websites (I will not provide the links) are echoing an anonymous locutionist who claims Our Lady is warning that a major financial shock will occur when Pope Francis comes to America this week. Some Protestants websites are predicting dire financial disruption after the fourth "Blood Moon" on September 28, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. I could also refer you to a dozen articles on secular financial websites predicting the worldwide debt bubble could burst in September or October, months when securities markets have tanked in the past (and a dozen more articles by experts predicting good financial times ahead). I am not an expert in any of these three spheres; I honestly do not know what to make of these predictions, but if they come to pass, consider this amazing advice:
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life: what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body or what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the unbelivers seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things shall be yours as well.
– Jesus (Matthew 6, 25-32)
The Beating Heart of the Catholic Church in America
Is Franciscan University of Steubenville the most influential Catholic institution in the United States? I'm gonna say, yes. Yes, it is. And not just because of its holy, enthusiastic graduates; "FUS" has also directly inspired hundreds of thousands of young people through its exquisitely powerful summer conferences at their Ohio campus and around the country. They've just created an all-new website, and you really do want to click on this link for the pure excitement of the first ten seconds of video.
My Son Jude's Friends: the Scott Hahn Effect
I recently visited Buddy's older brother Jude, who just began teaching at a charter school in Phoenix, Arizona. Three of his four twenty-something Hillsdale College grad housemates (and several more guys and gals in their social circle) are former Protestants who recently converted to Catholicism. (Loved those guys, but apparently ardent Catholicism seems to have little effect on bachelor-spawned lack of housecleaning.)
Scott Hahn's famous conversion three decades ago (and perhaps the most popular Catholic recording ever made, still available for free as a Mary Foundation CD or stream) preceded a bubbling brook of hundreds of Protestant clergy becoming Catholic. That brook has now become a river of lay conversions as young Protestants meet and befriend the new, larger generation of informed, devout, and dynamic Catholics. Potential converts easily access thousands of effective conversion-oriented books and websites. No matter how dark the Culture of Death, the future for the Catholic Church in America is bright shining as the sun, as I lay out in detail in my free booklet on the subject. Take heart.
Where Hope Comes From
When I pray, especially after Communion, I connect with Jesus. This is precisely when I pray for you, every day. It has always been this way for me, since I was a little boy, which I attribute, as does the Church, to the supernatural graces and faculties of faith unleashed in my soul upon my infant baptism. Many of you have shared with me that my writing gives you hope; this is no surprise to me, because hope (and love) are the supernatural fruits of faith. So I am not hopeful as a result of some sort of purposefully positive or optimistic attitude; I'm hopeful because God gave me faith via baptism. So take heart, in the gift of your faith, my beloved friend.
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans. The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves, too. All sorts of things then occur to help that would otherwise have not occurred.
– William Murray
Imagine You Are Dead
At first glance, creepy, right? A friend of mine taught me an approach to prayer, especially before the Blessed Sacrament: imagine that you have died and are now standing before the risen Jesus in heaven. This allows you to be with Our Lord without the burdens, cares, and problems of this world—good or bad—coming between you.
40 Days for Life Begins Wednesday, September 23
Visit 40DaysForLife.com to find locations where you can fast and pray to end abortion with Christians all over the United States and many other countries.
Jesus Was Right There (Sort Of)
Although I wrote above of the simple faith given to me at baptism (thanks Mom and Dad!), I rarely "feel" my faith during day-to-day affairs. That is, until about two months ago, right after Mass, it was like Jesus was with me for an hour—an invisible person I could talk to as he sat in the passenger seat next to me while I drove home. So I talked to him, like he was there, because, well, it really felt like he was there. Maybe it was my imagination. Often I think this occurred, for the first and only time during my fifty-three years on earth, just so I could tell you. But I hesitated to tell you, because, well, I did not want it come off as prideful. Then I considered that some of you experience something similar now and then, or often, or all the time, and that faith manifests differently in all of us, which would not surprise me, because God designed us as unique beings. Have you ever discerned His presence in such a way?
The Cross is and remains the sign of the Son of Man: ultimately, in the battle against lies and violence, truth and love have no other weapon than the witness of suffering.
– Pope Benedict XVI
Joke of the Week
A man walked into a bar and ordered a beer. During his first sip he heard a soothing voice say, "Nice tie." He noticed the bar was empty except for himself and the bartender at the far end. A moment later, another voice said, "Beautiful shirt." He called the bartender over. "I must be losing my mind," he told him, "because I keep hearing these voices saying nice things but there's nobody in here but us." The bartender pointed to the bowl in front of the patron. "It's the peanuts," he explained. "They're ...complimentary."
The Sliver of God
At the daily Mass where I attend, I sometimes sit in the pews directly perpendicular to the altar (the side view). When the priest holds up the host during the consecration, it appears as a sliver, no more than a large thin coin. Can you picture it in your mind right now? Behold, therein, the Holy Trinity, the Creator of the Universe. "Look," I whispered into the ears of my toddler sons, "Jesus."
Did I Mention He's Artistic? (Or: We Love Giving Away Cool Stuff)
File Under: Clever As a Doorknob
Guys (and gals), ever wanna carry a Miraculous Medal or Saint Benedict medal in you wallet? I did, but they fell out—until I invented what I like to call the Medal Holder Thing in My Wallet. Take clear 2" packing tape, place the medal or medals on the sticky side, then overlay this with another strip of clear 2" tape. Clip to card size. Slip into wallet. Pray for fellow CatholiCity Citizens (optional).
A True Story
My mother was understandably confused when she saw a photograph of our family on the mantlepiece in the stranger's living room. Mom was there picking up my sister's classmate for a school event, but had never met this family personally. When Mom asked why it was there, the woman of the house, who had a number of children herself, told her my father had given them the photo. "We all love your husband!" She then explained how a few years earlier her husband had been diagnosed with inoperable terminal cancer and was given a few weeks to live. My father heard about the man and visited him on his deathbed in the hospital and prayed with him for a miraculous cure while they both clasped the True Cross in each others' hands. The next day, the man felt much better, and new tests were taken. The doctors were flabbergasted; all the cancer had disappeared overnight.
Be Tea Manly?
Last year, because of earlier-mentioned son Jude's example, I tried drinking tea, which I heretofore considered unmanly, me not being British and all. (How come all those guys all look like they've never done a pushup?) Tea, turned out to be, well, peaceful. 'has caffeine to keep me awake, yet is easier on my system than coffee. Still, I only drink black Lipton orange pekoe, which is decidedly not girlish. I imagine you longtime tea lovers are shaking your heads, "Bud is an idiot." Yes. Yes I am.
The Answer Is: Because I Caught Him
Organ playing, congregation singing. Picture this: along with over a hundred other first graders, I am seven, kneeling, the very last child at the end of the altar rail that went completely around the large sanctuary of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Verona, New Jersey, as Father John Morris makes his way down the line distributing First Holy Communion, altar boy in tow with that "just-in-case" paten in hand. After distributing First Communion to Jimmy Duffy, my best friend, Father Morris stepped in front of me...and although the details remain perfectly lucid in my memory, I still cannot figure out whether Fr. Morris missed my tongue or if I closed my mouth too quickly, but the Sacred Host somehow flipping into the air so fast the altar boy didn't have a chance to react!
Until I caught it against the ribs of my brand new suit, then calmly handed it back to Fr. Morris, who, nonplussed, placed it on my tongue. And so, after a fashion, you could say I received my first Holy Communion twice. Why will I never forget the Most Important Day of My Life?
Easy, Satisfying Takes-Only-Minutes Habit Allows God to Change You
Many of you examine your conscience every night, so you know: it's wonderful and necessary. Some of you remember me (or someone else) suggesting it, and how you thought, "Hey, sounds great, I should start doing that." Yet because we're all human (and the devil actively discouraged you in hidden ways) you might have forgotten to give it a try before going to bed that night. May I gently suggest that you write a note and leave it on your pillow as a reminder tonight and every night until it's a lifelong habit. You already know how: ask the Holy Spirit to go over your day with you, the good and the bad. Promise to improve. Your next day will be better. As much as any of the seven daily habits in Fr. McCloskey's powerful free booklet, nightly examination of conscience leads to immediate, powerful change. If you take one suggestion from today's Message, let this be it.
We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel versus the anti-Gospel. We must be prepared to undergo great trials in the not-too-distant future; trials that will require us to be ready to give up even our lives, and a total gift of self to Christ and for Christ. Through your prayers and mine, it is possible to alleviate this tribulation, but it is no longer possible to avert it. How many times has the renewal of the Church been brought about in blood! It will not be different this time.
– Bicentennial talk given in the United States by the future Saint John Paul II, then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Kraków, Poland
Save Souls with Christ Crucified in 420 Seconds
It takes around seven minutes to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a gift from Jesus through Saint Faustina. Most of you know it and I hope would be grateful for a gentle reminder to return to this powerful devotion if you've been remiss lately. If you want to learn it, I would love to send you a free CD which also includes the Rosary.
Hard to Believe...
...but we're down to the penultimate item, likely ample proof to you that some items should have languished in my notes forever. And now, our only lengthier item...
Macfarlane Family TV Vocabulary
Not to brag (so get ready for bragging), but I was a straight-A student in high school, captain of varsity baseball, basketball and football, and, as most of you know, was graduated (with honors) from the elite hyper-liberal University of Notre Dame before becoming a successful businessman and later, a popular novelist. All this the result of watching at least four or five hours of television every night for my entire childhood into young adulthood. Ah, you children of the Sixties and Seventies know exactly what I'm talking about. Insane, right? I also "ran around outside" (my mom's phrase) after school unsupervised for several hours a day, played sports whenever I could, and then read for hours past my bedtime. Sleep? Never enough.
To be clear: I do not advise parents to allow children to watch as much television as I did (while heartily endorsing kids running around outside unsupervised for hours). This brings us to my boys and I regularly enjoying select television dramas and movies. Our general rule is: No screens (tv, video games) before homework is done. Throw in sports practice most days after school, and well, there isn't much time for screens until well after dinner and shortly before bedtime. As my friend Ted Flynn told me the other day, "A tired boy is a happy boy."
In addition to movies and some shows being great conversation starters about deep stuff, science, politics, and culture, over the years we developed some fun television traditions, a few of which I share with you in hopes your family too might partake (that is, if you even watch TV):
"Sawyerizing." Announced out loud, as in "Look, they're sawyerizing So-and-So!" Sawyerizing is when an enjoyably evil or selfish character gradually transforms into a wimpy do-gooder. Named after James Sawyer from the series Lost, who was a lot more fun before he turned into a marshmallow during the final seasons.
"Walking Through Hallways with Flashlights." Announced out loud with scorn. Mistakenly believing it creates suspense rather than boredom, when writers or directors waste a minute or two by requiring characters walk down any unlighted corridor or path. Also applies when the lighting device is a fiery torch.
"He/she is a Gray Anderson." Named after a town father in the wonderfully apocalyptic and assuredly conservative Jericho (available on Netflix), this is any character who wields authority poorly, often with the best of intentions, inadvertently creating a mess, which then requires the nobler characters to save the day. On Jericho, I loved the guy. On others shows, Gray Andersons are just annoying.
The Fist Bump. Whenever anyone in my family correctly predicts beforehand what a character will say or do, or how a hidden plot line will twist or resolve (before the end of an episode or even the end of a series), they get a fist bump from the nearest family members when the prophesy comes true. Predicting lines of dialogue word-for-word get more enthusiastic fist bumps and verbal whoops. This is much more fun than it sounds, so give it a try.
Because the Kitchen ToolTub Was Such a Hit...And Latin!
(Que drumroll...) "Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Final CatholiCity Message Item!"
I am a big believer in not being a big believer in photo albums, because they tend to gather dust on shelves, and therefore, are rarely looked at, which, ergo, is contrary to the purpose of photographs. So I put my "photo albums" on the walls by using multi-photo picture frames. Ipso facto, when people stop by, Hey, look, pictures! (What's with the Latin, dude?) Then I came up with the idea of putting (relatively inexpensive) adhesive magnet strips on the back of a few dozen photos and then placing them on (relatively inexpensive compared to a few dozen picture frames) magnetic dry erase boards (and refrigerator surfaces). Am I creative or what? I'm telling you: five hours of television a day, every day. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.
(Literally, "After this, therefore caused this." Less literally: "What came before caused what happened next." This Latin phrase is famous for often being in error. That is, any of my mundane accomplishments came about almost certainly despite my having watched so much television, not because of it. Confession: I never studied Latin but like to look up stuff on the Interwebs.)
Hanging by a Thread: Kitchen Sink Part 4
Whew. Thanks for praying for my son to find a job and thanks for reading, however much, all, or little! I'm not sure if there will be a Part 4 of the Kitchen Sink Series—I have enough material to do two or three more parts—so that will depend on your feedback. In general, I've always deeply respected the honor of you allowing me to be a part of your inbox, and I don't want to overdo it. You remain in my heartfelt prayers, every day, after I receive Communion...
With Mary,
Bud Macfarlane
