Reflections: Ronald Davis

"Wait a minute, I'm not a bum, I'm a human being."

These are the words of Ronald Davis, a homeless man who was interviewed in a moving video that is currently going viral all over the internet. Ronald's words serve as testimony to the cruel, cold life that people like you and me endure everyday. These people are in our communities, on the streets we drive on every day, they may even be having a cup of coffee in the doughnut shop you stop in on your way to work. How immoral is it that we get to have a nice warm bed, a nice home, a job, and people just like Ronald have had all these stripped away and are struggling to survive?

What do we normally think of homeless people? In the interview with Ronald, the word bum was mentioned, along with the common "get a job!" phrase. We tend to not think too highly of homeless people. It is ironic that we see them everyday, but few of us stop to offer some aid, and fewer even look deeper into their situation. Sadly, most of us are the "get a job" sayers. However, think for a second. Who would want to hire a homeless person? They have no home, they drag with them the filth of street life, and who knows what history they have? What if they are some kind of serial killer? Yeah, didn't think so.

Homeless is simply a state of being. These are just ordinary people created by God, just like you and me. Just because they are deprived of a home does not take away their dignity as a human person. People like Ronald are fully capable in doing good for society, but what they need is not so much money or food, but rather, an opportunity.

Reflections: All Are Welcome!

Today I will reflect on an article by Cardinal Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York. In his article, Cardinal Dolan talks to us about the classic saying of "hate the sin, love the sinner." After reading the article, I would just like to elaborate on a few of his points.

First, Cardinal Dolan talks about the prominent issue in today's society known as abortion. He states "the Church loves, welcomes, and respects a woman who has had an abortion, and the man who fathered the child and encouraged the abortion...but would be united with them in mourning and regretting that deadly choice." In other words, the Church has a solid stance on its role in defending life and most importantly, creation. However, just because abortion is a mortal sin does not mean that anyone associated with the process is excommunicated from the Church. Rather, the fact that they have sinned greatly increases the need for the Church, her comfort, and her support.

Second, Cardinal Dolan also talks about the the Church's stance on homosexuality, stating "The Church loves, welcomes, and respects a woman or man with a same-sex attraction...while reminding him or her of our clear teaching that, while the condition of homosexuality is no sin at all, still, God's teaching is clear that sexual acts are reserved for a man and woman united in the lifelong, life-giving, faithful, loving bond of marriage." One of the main causes of dispute is the misunderstanding of the Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality. Homosexuals are in fact welcome in the Catholic Church. The Church respects them and sees them as people, just like heterosexuals. However, the Church hates the act of sexual intercourse between a same-sex couple. This goes back to the Church's role in defending life and creation, and since same-sex couples are not capable of yielding life, the Church cannot condone such an act.

Vocation: The Priesthood

Today's post will discuss the recent ordination of a Kentucky woman as a priest. In recent years, many have been questioning the Church's ordination of only males into the priesthood. Some take it as the Church is not open to women doing a "man's job," or that the Church is prejudice against females. However, there is a deeper question to be answered here. That question is "what exactly is a vocation?"

A vocation is something we are called to, not something we can easily pick and choose. When pertaining to the priesthood, a vocation is a call from God Himself. One of the biggest misconceptions in today's society is that the priesthood is simply a job that anyone can apply for. The priesthood is a vocation, not a job. Priests are called by God to serve him; to teach, sanctify, and govern. 

The main reason the Church has her current stance on the ordination of female priests is because Christ's Apostles were all men. Even then Christ was not prejudice against women, but rather, to much objection from the authorities, had women, such as Mary Magdalene, as disciples. 

The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano

How many times have we gone to Mass and thought? Is this really the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior? Or is the priest just saying that?

Back in the 8th century, after the death of Christ of course, occurred the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle in the entire history of the Catholic Church. In the small Church of St. Leogontian, a Basilian monk was celebrating Mass. Right as he consecrated the Eucharist, the host miraculously morphed into live Flesh and the wine into live Blood. The miracle has remained intact throughout the centuries, and can be seen even today.

How do we know this isn't a fake, you may ask? Well, a scientific investigation was conducted by Professor Odoardo Linoli with the assistance of Professor Ruggero Bertelli in 1970 and '71. Linoli was a Professor in Anatomy, Pathological Histology, Chemistry, and Clinical Microscopy. Their investigation yielded the following conclusions:

• The Flesh is real Flesh. The Blood is real Blood.
  
• The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species.
  
• The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart.
  
• In the Flesh we see present in section: the myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium.
  
• The Flesh is a "HEART" complete in its essential structure.
  
• The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).
  
• In the Blood there were found proteins in the same normal proportions (percentage-wise) as are found in the sero-proteic make-up of the fresh normal blood.
  
• In the Blood there were also found these minerals: chlorides, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.
  
• The preservation of the Flesh and of the Blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon.

The Eucharistic Miracle is the greatest of its kind in the history of the Church. To this day, it continues to deepen the faith of the members of the Catholic Church and persuade non-Christians to a second look at the Miracle of Jesus Christ. 

Works Cited

The Real Presence. Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association. Web. 8 May 2013. 

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/lanciano.html

Science, Intellect, God

Science and religion are often separated in contemporary society. Today, atheistic ideas regarding science as the sole means to the secrets of the universe run rampant. Through science, we can conquer disease, death. Our intellect allows us to uncover the secrets of the universe, create gadgets straight out of science fiction, bring new ideas to life. 

This idea is the complete opposite of what is true. Our intellect is a gift from God. It is through our intellect that we are able to learn and come to know our Holy Father. The gift of intellect allows us to take the crazy ideas that are given to us by God and bring them to life. 

For example, take recent advancements such as Google Glass, a gadget composed of computerized glasses. This idea popped straight out of science fiction on the big screen to a reality that exists in everyday life. A rather arrogant way of taking this accomplishment would be "Hey! I don't need God, we created this technology with our minds alone.Our minds can do anything!." The truth is, God gave us this new technology for a reason. We are called to use whatever gifts he presents us with in service of others. For instance, one way we could use this technology would be an app that would monitor blood pressure for those who have heart problems. There are endless possibilities for the usage of Glass, and all the other advancements as well.

Technology is an important part of our daily lives, and we often abuse the privilege of science and intellect that got us there. It is important to remember that it is God who got us where we are, and without God, we are nothing. Although technology and science are great, God is greater. Science is a gift from our faith in God. 

A History: The Catechumenate

Today let us take a look at the history of the Sacrament of Baptism. Back in the early days of the Church, those who wished to join were initiated through a process known as the Catechumenate.  Through this process, the Church would instruct in the teachings of the Faith and prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation. Over the years, it became tradition to Baptize these new members into the Church at the Easter Vigil, or the night before the commemoration of the Resurrection. In recent years, this same process can be seen in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA.

The Sacraments and Human Nature

Human nature is a strange thing. We consistently require a need for a physical representation. We are unable to fully believe on faith alone. We need evidence, proof. 

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that humanity is led by physical things, things that we can interact with through the five senses. God dispenses His grace through the sacraments. Although the sacraments each dispense spiritual grace, each has its own unique physical representation. For example, take the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Of course you could just go to the priest and say "Forgive me for I have sinned" and the priest would reply "You are forgiven" and we could all skip happily into the sunset. However, as humans, we need to feel forgiven. We need a sign to reassure ourselves that yes, God still loves me and He has forgiven me. As a result, we confess our sins to the priest, and he gives us absolution in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Another example is in the Eucharist. Sure, God could have just told us we are saved, but how long are we going to believe that? Instead, God sacrificed Himself on the Cross and instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist. We are able to remember His death and resurrection every time we go to Mass and relive the last supper, consuming the Body and Blood of Christ. 

We have events such as banquets and graduation ceremonies so as to have a tangible experience to our actions. Such applies to the sacraments. God has given a means to receiving His grace through a physical experience. It is through the experience that we build our relationship with God and continue on the path to greater holiness.