November 2013 by St. Anthony Messenger

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CONTENTS

ST. ANTHONY

❘ NOVEMBER 2013 ❘ VOLUME 121/NUMBER 6

Messenger ON THE COVER

COVER STORY

John Besh is known around the world as a master of authentic New Orleans cuisine. But this married father of four knows that a simple meal shared with loved ones is better than any five-star dish.

30 Big Faith in the Big Easy Husband, father, philanthropist, and TV star: Chef John Besh knows the ingredients to a happy life. By Peter Finney Jr.

Photo courtesy of WYES

F E AT U R E S

16 Day of the Dead: A Communion of Saints

2 Dear Reader 3 From Our Readers

Catholics the world over keep this tradition of honoring ancestors and departed loved ones. By María de Lourdes Ruiz Scaperlanda

6 Followers of St. Francis Father Daniel Callahan, SA

8 Reel Time

22 Homeless like Me

Short Term 12

A lesson learned from the other side of a snap judgment By Alicia von Stamwitz

24 Welcome Home, Soldier

D E PA R T M E N T S

10 Channel Surfing Back in the Game

As we help soldiers return to civilian life, sometimes it’s best simply to listen. By Richard B. Patterson, PhD

12 Church in the News 36 Editorial Catholics and Politics

44 Year of Faith Faith Lived in the Church

38 EMT Priest Msgr. Emmet Nevin ministers to both body and soul. Text and photos by Gregory A. Shemitz

48 Fiction: Handshake of Peace A war story with a happy ending By Marie Anderson

46 Living Simply 54 Ask a Franciscan Are the Knights of Columbus Anti-gay?

56 Book Corner World Religions and Contemporary Issues

58 A Catholic Mom Speaks Dear God . . .

60 Backstory

ST. ANTHONY M

DEAR READER

essenger

Power of Forgiveness

Publisher/CEO Daniel Kroger, OFM

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to forgiving someone is the nagging feeling that this person is not sufficiently sorry for the pain caused and has not made adequate reparation. We tend to see forgiveness first as a gift to the person who is forgiven—rather than as a self-gift to the person doing the forgiving. St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231) understood this temptation perfectly. A mother of four and a widow at the age of 20, she resisted her in-laws’ attempts to deprive her and her children of their royal status. Although she could easily have allowed herself to be consumed by anger and resentment, Elizabeth found a way to live truthfully (defending her rights) and yet in a forgiving way. She refused to be consumed by hatred. In one story, her husband, Louis, encountered the compassionate Elizabeth carrying bread wrapped up in her cloak. When he asked to see what she was carrying, she opened the cloak and roses fell out. She became a Secular Franciscan. After providing for her children, she spent her last years caring for the sick. Canonized four years after she died, Sts. Elizabeth of Hungary and Louis IX of France are the patrons of the Secular Franciscan Order. Her feast is November 19 on the Franciscan calendar. May we imitate her readiness to forgive!

Chief Operating Officer Thomas A. Shumate, CPA

Director of Content Creation and Services Jennifer Scroggins

Editor in Chief John Feister

Art Director Jeanne Kortekamp

Franciscan Editor Pat McCloskey, OFM

Editor Emeritus Jack Wintz, OFM

Managing Editor Susan Hines-Brigger

Associate Editor Christopher Heffron

Editorial Assistant Sharon Lape

Director of Marketing, Sales, and Internet Barbara K. Baker

Advertising Fred Limke

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ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER (ISSN #0036276X) (U.S.P.S. PUBLICATION #007956 CANADA PUBLICATION #PM40036350) Volume 121, Number 6, is published monthly for $39.00 a year by the Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist Province, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-6498. Phone (513) 241-5615. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio, and additional entry offices. U.S. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: St. Anthony Messenger, P.O. Box 189, Congers, NY 10920-0189. CANADA RETURN ADDRESS: c/o AIM, 7289 Torbram Rd., Mississauga, ON, Canada L4T 1G8. To subscribe, write to the above address or call (866) 543-6870. Yearly subscription price: $39.00 in the United States; $69.00 in Canada and other foreign countries. Single copy price: $3.95. For change of address, four weeks’ notice is necessary. Writer’s guidelines can be found at Franciscan Media.org. The publishers are not responsible for manuscripts or photos lost or damaged in transit. Names in fiction do not refer to living or dead persons. Member of the Catholic Press Association Published with ecclesiastical approval Copyright ©2013. All rights reserved.

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

FROM OUR READERS

New Country, Old Customs I read Maureen Pratt’s September article, “Immigration Reform,” because the subject is very important to me. Both of my parents came to America from Ireland, and my father brought over many nieces and nephews after his arrival. At that time, immigrants had to be coming to someone and had to have a job waiting. They could not come and be provided with food stamps and welfare and live off the taxes of the hardworking people. I, personally, know two people who still refer to where they came from as “my country.” Contrary to that, my father, when telling us stories of his young life, would always say, “In the old country.” His hat would be taken off and there would be a tear in his eye when the American flag passed by at a parade.

What’s on Your Mind? Letters that are published do not necessarily represent the views of the Franciscan friars or the editors. We do not publish slander or libel. Please include your name and postal address. Letters may be edited for clarity and space. Mail Letters, St. Anthony Messenger 28 W. Liberty St. Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498 Fax 513-241-0399

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He truly became an American. Language is another problem. Many of my friends’ parents came from non-English-speaking countries. Yet the parents immediately learned English. There was often an elderly grandparent at the home, and the foreign language had to be spoken there. But people spoke English everywhere else. It seems now that, even if our new immigrants know English, they speak their foreign tongue everywhere. Our school system has failed them because, instead of teaching children to speak English before starting first grade, they bring in foreign-speaking teachers to teach in the children’s language. Everyone is proud of their roots and enjoys knowing about their ancestry, but that is one’s past. We should love and embrace this country. Theresa Pinto Naples, Florida

Stop Shortchanging Women! Thank you for publishing Phyllis Zagano’s September article, “I’d Like to Say: It’s Time for Women to Be Deacons.” So much harm is done by our Church’s discriminatory recruitment practices. Why can’t we recruit the best and most devoted Catholic men and women—married or not— for all positions within the Church? The Church would gain more talented staff, more contributions to do the Lord’s work, and more attendees. The Church seems blind to what is so obvious to most good Catholics. When we are asked to pray for more priests, most of us pray that the discrimination stops now. When women are accepted as equals in our Church, there will be no shortage of fantastic priests—and our discouraged daughters may return to the faith of their mothers and fathers. Mary Courteau Burnsville, Minnesota

The Role of Women Phyllis Zagano’s provocative title to her September article triggers a provocative question: Can women be cardinals? One hundred years ago, no country had a woman as president or prime minister. No university or college had a woman as its president. Today, dozens of countries and dozens of universities and colleges are headed by women. The great Scripture scholar Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, SJ, in the interview published the day after his death— as he requested—stated that the Catholic Church is “200 years out of date.” It is conservatism, whose motto seems to be “nothing must ever be done for the first time,” that keeps women from being cardinals in the Catholic Church. You don't have to be a priest to be a cardinal. Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli, secretary of state of Pope Pius IX, was not a priest. Pope Leo X was made a cardinal as a teenager. So why not women? Larry N. Lorenzoni San Francisco, California

The Gay and Straight Debate John Feister’s sadly misleading September editorial, “Gay Marriage Is Not Going Away,” is a huge disservice to readers seeking the Catholic Church’s position on homosexual unions. Mr. Feister writes, “Yet we’ve known gay couples who could teach us heterosexual couples a thing or two about taking care of each other, and our families.” By using the phrase “gay couples,” Feister is directly acknowledging two individuals engaged in an unholy relationship. By saying that said individuals can be a source of advice or counsel is terribly misleading to readers of any faith. To do so implies that their behavior can be justified by other merits. We wouldn’t say Nov ember 2013 ❘ 3

that about unmarried couples living together, polygamous couples, or adulterers. Christians everywhere are called to gently rebuke sinners as their salvation is at stake. You and I may have gay friends or gay family members, but as we read in the Gospel, Christ said: “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division . . . a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father” (Lk 12:51-53). Jennifer Bioche Marion, Iowa

God Made Us All I appreciated John Feister’s editorial about homosexuality, and September’s “Ask a Franciscan” on the same topic—both refreshing takes on a difficult issue. I think the Church and society are evolving and will come to welcome all in time. Certainly a domestic partnership that allows for gays to be full partners for legal reasons does not compete with marriage or diminish it in any way. God created all of us and wants the best for all of us, too. It’s time to reconcile and stop pointing fingers. We all come with our baggage to the same God. He doesn’t discriminate. Val Pendzick San Diego, California

which show that, without our own original birth records, adopted adults have little or no recourse with regard to crucial information which directly affects them and their biological offspring. It’s also impossible to do genealogical research, as discussed in “Channel Surfing.” Heffron emphasizes, correctly, the importance of knowing where you come from, who you come from, and the sacrifices made for future generations. As he says, “These are big questions, and finding the answers can be a holy undertaking.” Adopted persons are systematically banned in all but 15 states from this holy undertaking due to outdated, incorrect, and myth-loaded theories. Gretchen Traylor Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

Party Lines I just read John Feister’s September “Backstory” about the criticism you

--=

received for your articles on Sister Simone Campbell and Bill O’Reilly. I believe this illustrates the amount of single-issue Catholics we have today. In most cases, they rationalize all the remaining social issues present in our society today. As a conservative Catholic, my main issue with “social-justice Catholics” is their narrow view as to who is asked to take care of our neighbor. I find nowhere in the Bible where Jesus tells us Caesar is to take care of them. I believe Jesus calls us, as individuals, to take care of the poor. I believe it would be very helpful if you have an article from someone in the political middle that could make a chart on the two major political parties. Which party will do the least harm to my children and grandchildren? Cesar Gonzalez Troy, Michigan

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The Rights of the Adopted

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I thoroughly enjoyed and agreed with Christopher Heffron’s September “Channel Surfing” about the TLC series Who Do You Think You Are? I never missed an episode when it was on mainstream television, and I feel compelled to comment now. As an adopted person, and the parent of an adult adoptee, I wish the Catholic Church and Catholic Charities would support the release of original birth certificates to adopted adults. This became an issue during World War II when most states closed these records even to the rightful owner: the adoptee. Since 1998, there has been an increasing movement to change this legislation, due to current studies

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F O L L O W E R S O F S T. F R A N C I S

The Iron Friar

two years later. After six years, he professed f parishioners at St. Joan of Arc Parish in his final vows and was ordained the followToronto have trouble finding their pasing year. tor, Father Daniel Callahan, SA, they While he was ministering in South Cenmight want to look outside, or in the water, tral Los Angeles, his sister and brother-inor on a bike. law invited him to do a triathlon. Father For Father Dan, a Franciscan Friar of the Dan had never done one Atonement, exercising is a and hadn’t trained, but figgood way to connect his ured he could swim, run, physical and spiritual and bike, so why not? health. He says it’s also a Soon after his time in Los wonderful time to pray, Angeles, Father Dan was pointing out that even assigned as chaplain at St. Jesus went off into the Joseph’s Addiction Treatdesert to pray. “It’s my ment and Recovery Center desert,” he says. “It’s a in Saranac Lake, New York. place to go and be with the It was at a triathlon in Lord. I can talk to God, Lake Placid, New York, that and God can talk to me.” Father Dan began celebratIn fact, it was in a swiming Mass for the athletes. “I ming pool where he had was one of the athletes and his conversion experience. preached in a way that Father Dan began searchwould bring the race into ing for his spiritual home. the Gospel,” he says. He visited Graymoor, the Father Dan’s running helps his parish. Father Dan has done 18 home of the Franciscan Fritriathlons, most recently one in Montars of the Atonement, in Garrison, New Tremblant (Quebec, Canada) on August 18 York, in 1978 and joined the community

Father Daniel Callahan, SA

STORIES FROM OUR READERS Misplaced File

Learn more about St. Anthony and share your story of how he helped you at AmericanCatholic.org/ Features/Anthony.

6 ❘ Nov e mbe r 201 3

St. Anthony has always been there to help find lost things. It has happened to me several times. Once I was working as a branch manager of a bank in a small town in southern Tamil Nadu, India. I misplaced the envelope that contained several important documents sent by my head office. I was completely distraught. I searched all over the place, but could not find it. After the office hours I went to St. Anthony’s Church in my town for the weekly novena services and prayed intensely. While I was praying, a vision of an office file, which was similar to the one I was going through that day, came to me. I could not understand at that time. But on my way back, it again came to me and I immediately rushed to my office. I had gone through several files that day and replaced all in the file rack. I started searching the file rack and found the envelope in one of the files! —Joseph, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

St An t h o n yM e s s e n g e r . o rg

Click here for more information on the Iron Friar.

ST. CLARE

Spiritual Advisor Popes, cardinals, bishops, and laypeople sought Clare’s advice about how best to live as followers of Jesus. St. Agnes of Bohemia, a Poor Clare from a royal family, was one of them. She wrote to Clare several times and between 1234 and 1253 received four letters full of sound advice. St. Agnes of Bohemia experienced the same pressures that St. Clare did to accept permanent sources of income through lands that could be rented out. Gospel-based poverty seemed too risky. They both persevered. –P.M.

CNS PHOTO BY MICHAEL ALEXANDER, GEORGIA BULLETIN

of this year. Before his second Lake Placid triathlon, he suggested to Father Arthur Johnson, CASAC, CEO of St. Joseph’s, that they could make money off his runs. Johnson responded, “What are we going to do, call you the Iron Friar?” Father Dan said, “Perfect.” This Iron Friar also has used his races to help out his parish, where for six years he has been pastor to 3,000 parishioners. Through the Iron Friar Foundation, he has helped fund a restoration of the church’s bells and the stained-glass windows, and renovations of the church’s washrooms. All of the money raised goes back into the parish, says Father Dan. He says running provides him with an opportunity to be accessible to people who may not connect with him on a faith level, but as an athlete. He appreciates the opportunity “to be able to meet them and bring them around to a deeper awareness of who Jesus Christ is, and to help people wake up to the presence and reality that we have so immediately available to us because of God’s love and humility.” —Susan Hines-Brigger

tal Digi as Extr

To learn more about Franciscan saints, visit AmericanCatholic.org/Features/Saintofday.

S T. A N T H O N Y B R E A D

Fr an ci s can M e di a. o rg

Send all postal communication to: St. Anthony Bread 1615 Vine St. Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498

Nov e mbe r 201 3 ❘ 7

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The National Shrine of St. Anthony is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Consecrated in 1889, it includes a first-class relic of St. Anthony and serves as a center for daily prayer and contemplation. The Franciscan friars minister from the shrine. To help them in their work among the poor, you may send a monetary offering called St. Anthony Bread. Make checks or money orders payable to “Franciscans” and mail to the address below. Every Tuesday, a Mass is offered for benefactors and petitioners at the shrine. To seek St. Anthony’s intercession, mail your petition to the address below. Petitions are taken to the shrine each week. To post your petition online, please visit stanthony.org, where you can also request to have a candle lit or a Mass offered; or you may make a donation to the Franciscans or sign up to receive a novena booklet.

REEL TIME

W I T H S I S T E R R O S E PA C AT T E , F S P

Short Term 12

PHOTO BY BRETT PAWLAK, COURTESY OF CINEDIGM

SISTER ROSE’S

Favorite Films about

Caregivers My Left Foot (1989) The Elephant Man (1980) Iris (2001) Marvin’s Room (1996) Dying Young (1991)

8 ❘ November 2013

Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr. star in the critically acclaimed independent film Short Term 12. Somewhere in America, a dedicated staff of young adults works at a group home for atrisk teens. All the young people in the home have issues, as does Grace (Brie Larson), who cares for the young people with her own tenacity and passion. Marcus (Keith Stanfield) is a good-natured African American kid about to turn 18 and age out of the system. Grace and her coworker (and live-in boyfriend), Mason (John Gallagher Jr.), try to be there for Marcus as he prepares to celebrate his birthday and leave the only home he has known for several years. Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever) arrives at the group home and announces that she doesn’t want to get close to anyone because she is leaving soon. When she walks away and through the gate, the staff cannot stop her once she leaves the property. Grace runs after Jayden and walks with her to her father’s house. When the young lady returns, Grace suspects that there is abuse going on. Writer/director Destin Cretton’s Short Term 12 is a small, touching film about grace and redemption that survives on generosity and

love in a place most people wouldn’t think twice about. This is one of the very best films of the year. Not yet rated, R ■ Some coarse language and brief sexuality.

Closed Circuit After a terrorist attack in London, a large market along the Thames is destroyed and many are killed. A suspect named Farroukh (Denis Moschitto) is arrested as the mastermind behind the attack, and his alleged accomplices are killed. Two attorneys are appointed to represent Farroukh in the case: Claudia SimmonsHowe (Rebecca Hall) and Martin Rose (Eric Bana). Claudia is to represent the accused in closed, secret hearings that will decide which evidence can be shown in the trial or even to the defendant so he can assist in his own defense. Martin is to defend Farroukh in open court. Neither lawyer is to speak to the other, which is challenging since they had an affair in the past. Both lawyers have handlers—Nazrul (Riz Ahmed) and Devlin St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

CNS/FOCUS FEATURES

Eric Bana and Ciarán Hinds are in over their heads in director John Crowley’s thriller Closed Circuit. (Ciarán Hinds)—and they know a lot more than more than they are saying. Closed Circuit is well acted by a capable cast, and well directed by John Crowley. But the film abruptly stops, leaving audiences to wonder if they’ve just seen an enhanced version of the BBC’s spook show MI-5 or if the filmmakers decided to just let the credits roll. A-3, R ■ Language and violence.

owned by Jews were then divided up among the villagers, including Franciszek and Józef’s father. As the two brothers unravel the mystery of what happened, they face their own prejudices, guilt, and grief—as individuals and, in a way, standing in for their father and a nation. Aftermath, which seems to be based on the 2001 book Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community of Jedwabne, Poland, caused much controversy when it was released. In fact, theaters in Poland would not play it, though it won an award at Poland’s prestigious Gdynia Film Festival. While it is true that many Catholic-Polish people aided the Jews during World War II, not all were blameless. Aftermath is a timely film because of reemerging anti-Semitism and racial prejudice in Poland and throughout Europe that calls out for awareness and for justice wherever it exists. The film is in Polish with English subtitles. Not yet rated ■ Mature themes and peril.

Aftermath

Fr anciscanMedia.org

CNS PHOTO/SONY PICTURES CLASSIC

It is almost the year 2000. Franciszek (Ireneusz Czop) returns to Poland after 20 years of living in Chicago. He makes his way to a small village and the family farm run by his younger brother, Józef (Maciej Stuhr). Franciszek did not come home when his parents died, but when Józef’s wife and children showed up at his door in Chicago, he has come home to find out what is going on. The village has turned against Józef because he has been doing strange things such as digging up large stones from the roads around the village and around the bell tower of the local Catholic church. The younger priest sides with the townspeople who are ready to commit violence against Józef for his behavior. But the older priest, who is on the verge of retirement, supports Józef. The stones in question are headstones taken from a Jewish cemetery that no longer exists. Everything in the story goes back to World War II when the Catholics in the village turned against the Jews after a visit from the Gestapo, herding them into a farmhouse and setting it on fire. The farms

In the controversial Polish drama Aftermath, Ireneusz Czop plays a man forced to confront his family’s past.

Catholic Cl assifications A-1 A-2 A-3 L O

General patronage Adults and adolescents Adults Limited adult audience Morally offensive

■

The Catholic News Service Media Review Office gives these ratings. See usccb.org/movies.

■

Find reviews by Sister Rose and others at CatholicMovieReviews.org.

November 2013 ❘ 9

CHANNEL SURFING

WITH CHRISTOPHER HEFFRON

UP CLOSE

Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m., ABC I hate the term “broken family.” That seems a slap in the face to single parents who keep themselves and their children distinctly unbroken, thank you. But divorce is still a painful reality for many people in this country, and television producers have wised up and offered a crop of shows that reflect it. One of the boldest new programs to tackle single parenthood is ABC’s smart, poignant Back in the Game. It stars Maggie Lawson as Terry, a recently divorced mom who, along with her son, moves in with her father, a gruff ex-baseball player played by James Caan. What sets this show apart is the very real way the characters, particularly Lawson and Caan, relate to each other. He was emotionally absent in her youth; she’s still hurting from old wounds. Though it boasts a strong ensemble cast, the MVP of this series is Lawson. As the smart, tired mother trying to keep her head above water, Lawson’s portrayal is convincing. And Caan shines as a man who cannot hide the soft interior beneath a weathered shell. Channel surfers take note: this show can sometimes border on crass, but the writing is crisp and the message is strong. Life is a game with a lot of innings. If you get knocked down, dust off the dirt and play ball.

The Goldbergs Tuesdays, 9 p.m., ABC As someone who grew up in the ’80s, I can remember the DayGlo outerwear, teased hair, and REO Speedwagon on the car radio. But that doesn’t mean I want to relive any of it. The Goldbergs, about a flawed family of five in the ’80s, has a good heart, but tries too hard to milk laughs from nostalgia. The strongest players in this show are the always funny Wendi McLendon-Covey as the domineering matriarch and Sean Giambrone as her perpetually annoyed husband. They’re deft comedians, but even their efforts can’t save it. I was hoping for a retooling of The Wonder Years, but it’s not.

Snake Salvation

Tuesdays, 9 p.m., National Geographic “They will pick up serpents. . .” (Mk 16:18). Biblical literalists claim that snake handling is a religious right. In fact, a handful of Pentecostal churches in West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, and elsewhere still practice the custom, and adherents usually contend with the law in order to practice it. National Geographic’s fascinating reality series Snake Salvation, about an Appalachian family trying to uphold a century-old tradition, shows what can happen when the long arm of the law threatens the scarred arm of a snake handler. But this show isn’t a sensationalistic treatment of a “crazy” religious custom. It’s a fair examination of beliefs and practices that differ from our own. Tolerance—even among Christians—is always in order.

Maggie Lawson is a single parent starting a new life for herself and her son in ABC’s Back in the Game. 10 ❘ November 2013

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

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CHURCH IN THE NEWS

❘ BY SUSAN HINES-BRIGGER

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Pope Addresses Tough Issues in Interview

The September 19 edition of the Jesuit journal La Civiltà Cattolica contains a 12,000-word interview with Pope Francis in which he calls for a “new balance” between proclaiming salvation and teaching morality. In a groundbreaking interview in August with one of his Jesuit confreres, Pope Francis addressed such issues as the perils of overemphasizing Catholic teaching on sexual and

medical ethics, the reasons for his deliberate and consultative governing style, and his highest priority for the Church today, reported Catholic News Service (CNS).

Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, editor of the Italian journal La Civiltà Cattolica, conducted the interview. It was also the basis for a 12,000-word article published September 19 in the US magazine America, and was simultaneously published in other languages in other Jesuit publications. “We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage, and the use of contraceptive methods,” the pope said. “It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time. The Church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you.” Of the Church’s pastoral ministry, he said, “We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the Church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.” Other topics the pope addressed during the lengthy interview included Church governance and the challenge of finding a more visible

Date for Papal Canonizations Set

1 2 ❘ Nov ember 2013

CNS

Pope Francis announced that he will canonize Blessed John Paul II and Blessed Pope John XXIII as saints in a single ceremony on April 27. That date, which is Divine Mercy Sunday next year, was predicted by many who see Pope Francis as strongly emphasizing God’s mercy and readiness to forgive. According to the Associated Press, analysts have said the decision to canonize them together was aimed at unifying the Church, since each has his own admirers and critics.

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

N E W S B R I E F S N AT I O N A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L

CNS/NANCY PHELAN WIECHEC

The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) issued new rules for Catholic military chaplains, that they cannot be forced to witness or bless a same-sex marriage, nor are they allowed to take part in any marriage-counseling retreats that are open to gay couples. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, head of the AMS, sent the rules to chaplains on September 18. Chaplains are also barred from taking part in a funeral for a Catholic if that participation “would give the impression that the Church approves of same-sex ‘marital’ relationships.” A priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was arrested on September 26 in Maryland on charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and aggravated indecent assault. Father Robert L. Brennan is accused of abusing a northeast Philadelphia boy between 1998 and 2001. Father Brennan’s priestly faculties have been suspended since 2005. Brazilian rancher Vitalmiro Bastos de Moura has been found guilty for a fourth time of masterminding the 2005 assassination of US-born Sister Dorothy Stang. He was sentenced to 30 years. Stang, a Sister of Notre Dame

role for women in a Church with an all-male priesthood.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Defends Record on Sex Abuse In a letter to an atheist Italian mathematician, published in the Italian Fr ancisca n Media .org

de Namur, had worked with the people of Brazil for nearly four decades until she was murdered. Moura had been tried three previous times regarding the case. In 2007, Moura was sentenced to 30 years, but was given the option of a retrial, in accordance with Brazilian law, since the sentence was more than 20 years. In the second trial, in 2008, Moura was found innocent. That verdict was overturned in 2009 by the courts of the state of Para. In 2010 Moura was once again tried, found guilty, and sentenced to 30 years. But the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled that Moura’s attorneys did not have enough time to prepare for the 2010 trial and ordered him to be tried again.

CNS/LUNAE PARRACHO, REUTERS

A new permanent panel of eight cardinals from various parts of the world met with Pope Francis October 1–3, then went to Assisi for Francis’ historic visit there on October 4, the feast of St. Francis. The pope announced the advisory council in April and named Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Mariadaga, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, as its leader. The first task of the Council will be to devise a reform of the Roman Curia, which has been riddled with troubles in recent years. This process will require a “long discussion and require discernment,” Cardinal Rodriguez told Toronto-based Salt and Light Television. Boston’s Cardinal Seán O’Malley is one of the eight council members.

Excelsis Fine Fragrances recently released its newest fragrance—”Francis.” CEO Frederick Hass said he wanted to evoke Pope Francis’ “humble and down-to-earth” character with the cologne, which mainly consists of bergamot and sandalwood. “I didn’t want to get anything too flashy,” said Hass. “So I wanted something subtle and dignified and relatively simple.” Hass founded the company in 2005, after obtaining a recipe for Pope Pius IX’s cologne, and has gone on to create other papal scents like “Benedictus” in 2006. An exhibit featuring nearly 250 objects from the life of Junipero Serra is showing at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, in San Marino, California. “Junipero Serra and the Legacies of the California Missions” delves into the life of the Franciscan friar who established nine of the 21 missions in present-day California. Serra is sometimes called the state’s “founding father.” The exhibit coincides with the 300th anniversary of Serra’s birth, and runs through January 6, 2014. For more news, visit AmericanCatholic.org.

daily La Repubblica, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI defended his handling of allegations of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy, reported CNS. He also challenged the mathematician’s view of total reliance on science for meaning. Piergiorgio Odifreddi, a prolific science writer, authored the 2011 book

Dear Pope, I Write to You. The book, presented as a letter to Pope Benedict, proposes the superiority of a worldview in which belief should stem only from things that can be understood and empirically known over worldviews that include belief in things that cannot be fully understood or known. It also posed a series Nov ember 2013 ❘ 1 3

1 4 ❘ Nov ember 2013

harsh, but that “frankness is part of dialogue.”

Number of Priests on the Rise After years of declining numbers, more men are currently enrolled in

CNS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

of provocative arguments concerning the sex-abuse crisis. In response to Odifreddi’s unspecified comments on his record on clergy sex abuse, Pope Benedict wrote, “I never sought to conceal these things.” He said he met Odifreddi’s comments “with deep dismay.” Pope Benedict said he read Odifreddi’s book “with pleasure and benefit.” But he also politely criticized the logician’s total reliance on scientific facts for meaning as well as his neglect of and lack of explanation for very real and observable phenomena such as freedom, liberty, and evil. “A religion that neglects these fundamental questions remains empty,” he wrote. Pope Benedict ended his letter by saying his criticisms may have been

A study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) shows that the number of priests is on the upswing.

graduate-level studies on the way toward ordination in the United States than in nearly two decades, reported Religion News Service. Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) released the findings, which show a 16 percent increase in the numbers since 1995 and a 10 percent jump since 2005. Directors of seminaries credit encouragement from bishops and parishes, and the draw of both Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. They also cite the growing feeling that the Church has faced the worst of the sexual abuse crisis that unfolded in 2002. Other numbers from CARA show that annual ordinations are back up to the 1995 levels of 511 new priests. That number is still far below the record number of 994 in 1965. A St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

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16 ❘ November 2013

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

CNS/DAVE CRENSHAW, EASTERN OKLAHOMA CATHOLIC

Day of the Dead A Communion of Saints Catholics the world over keep this tradition of honoring ancestors and departed loved ones. BY MARÍA DE LOURDES RUIZ SCAPERLANDA

CNS/MIKE CRUPI, CATHOLIC COURIER

rom my grandmother Josefita I learned that the communion of saints is real, not some exotic superstition too mystifying to believe. Every November 1 and 2, for the feasts of All Saints and All Souls—el Día de los Muertos— Josefita’s Caribbean home altar grew both in size and in candlepower, intermingling the holy and the personal: saints’ holy cards, prayers, flowers, and photos of deceased family members. Her personal memorial echoed the larger one celebrated at our parish, where we gathered together to honor and remember the dead and thank God for their lives, followed by a family visit to the cemetery.

Not What It Looks Like Coming together to remember and celebrate is a very Catholic idea, as is thinking of death as a joyous occasion—the essence of Day of the Dead observances. But to non-Hispanic Catholics, the ornate human skeletons typically used as decorations may seem macabre, even morbid, and more reminiscent of Halloween decor or a Tim Burton film than of a spiritual celebration. Except el Día de los Muertos is not a Latino Halloween. These skeletons, or calacas, are traditionally depicted joyous rather than grisly or ghoulish. And they are characteristically shown in festive clothing, dancing or celebrating, to indicate a happy afterlife. Fr anciscanMedia.org

(Opposite page) Father David Medina, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Tulsa, Oklahoma, prays before a cross made from candles during an el Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, event at the parish. (Above left) At the parish, candles and miniature skeletons adorn a shrine to a deceased family member.

(Above) Alicia Jacobo prepares for Mass at her home in Brockport, New York, on All Saints’ Day. The Jacobo family built altars for both Our Lady of Guadalupe, right, and el Día de los Muertos, left. Altars built for the occasion often include photos, candles, flowers, and food that the deceased would enjoy.

November 2013 ❘ 17

A man prays for his relative who is buried at a public cemetery in Navotas City, north of Manila. More than 80 percent of the Philippines’ 94.9 million people are Catholics and observe All Saints’ Day (November 1) with visits to the cemetery to offer prayers for the dead.

CNS/CHERYL RAVELO, REUTERS

CNS/ROMEO RANOCO, REUTERS

(Above) A boy drinks as he sits on top of a grave at a public cemetery in Manila, Philippines.

18 ❘ November 2013

CNS/ERIK DE CASTRO, REUTERS

(Right) Filipinos share a meal in front of the tomb of a family member. All Saints’ Day is celebrated as a family reunion occasion across the predominantly Catholic country.

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

CNS/MARIANA BAZO, REUTERS

A Guatemalan youth flies a traditional kite during Day of the Dead celebrations in the cemetery of Santiago Sacatepequez, a village near Guatemala City, November 2. Families cover the graves of departed loved ones with flowers and fly kites in the cemetery to help the departed loved ones’ souls get to heaven.

A Worldwide Custom Similar celebrations and rituals celebrating the lives of ancestors appear in ancient cultures in Asia and Africa, stretching as far back as the Egyptians, and foreshadowing Catholic understanding of the communion of saints. Whether the Mayas in Central America, the Incas in South America, or the Aztecs in Mexico and Guatemala—the Day of the Dead is predominantly celebrated in countries with heavy indigenous roots, who customarily welcomed back the deceased for an annual encounter with their loved ones. There is no way to describe a typical el Día de los Muertos since each country—and even each region or town—has its own specific traditions. In the Philippines, the feast of Todos los Santos (All Saints, November 1) is a holiday resembling a festive family reunion at the cemetery. Fr anciscanMedia.org

The public holiday of Finados (Day of the Dead) in Brazil is celebrated on November 2 with visits to churches and family graves. Building and flying giant kites at the gravesites is the highlight in Guatemala. For food, families make fiambre, an elaborate salad dish made only for this day every year. The all-encompassing dish, with over 50 ingredients, varies from family to family, with recipes passed down from generation to generation. Tradition calls for families to share their unique fiambre with other families on the Day of the Dead.

A National Holiday In Mexico, where the feast has perhaps the highest prominence, el Día de los Muertos is a national holiday. The home altars are decorated with candles, crosses, and images of the Virgin Mary, and covered with ofrendas, favorite items November 2013 ❘ 19

Moses Lopez and Melanie Medrano, students at St. Procopius Catholic School in Chicago, perform a traditional Mexican dance in celebration of el Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

CNS/DAVID MERCADO, REUTERS

CNS/KAREN CALLAWAY, CATHOLIC NEW WORLD

tal Digi as Extr

Click here to learn more about this custom.

20 ❘ November 2013

A man stands next to the grave of his relative during a Day of the Dead celebration at a cemetery in La Paz, Bolivia. Bolivians bring a feast of dollshaped homemade breads, fresh fruit, coca leaves, and flowers to the graves of their loved ones.

of the deceased. El Pan de muertos—bread of the dead—is shaped like bones or calaveras, skulls. Pre-Christian traditions taught that the scent of the person’s favorite foods, along with the fragrance of flowers and incense, invites the deceased to return. While the souls inhale the scents, the tamales, mole, and atole are for the living to enjoy with others. In some parts of Mexico, after cleaning and decorating the graves, families spend the night of November 1 at the cemetery participating in a festive celebration of food, live music, Mass, and remembering—telling stories of their ancestors to the children. In the United States, observance of el Día de los Muertos has spread thanks to MexicanAmerican communities, where traditional celebrations at parishes and school blend culture and Church tradition, often incorporating into the celebration specific aspects of their immigrant experience. Variations aside, what all Day of the Dead observances have in common is a joyous encounter with the communion of saints, reminding the living that death is the next step on our journey into the fullness of life. A María de Lourdes Ruiz Scaperlanda is an award-winning journalist, blogger, and retreat facilitator living in Oklahoma with her husband of 31 years. Learn more about her at mymaria.net and daybydaywithmaria.blogspot.com. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

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like Me A lesson learned from the other side of a snap judgment B Y A L I C I A V O N S TA M W I T Z ne cold winter afternoon, I sat blue eyes glimmered with fear, stop“Didn’t you see how that one lady down on a metal folding chair ping me cold. I hesitated and then looked at me?” I said crossly. “Like I in the basement of St. John’s Epis- instinctively backed away. What is she was going to bite her!” copal Church in St. Louis, Mis- so terrified of? I wondered. Pearl studied my face before answersouri, to catch up with Miss Pearl. The answer hit me like a slap: me. ing. “Honey,” she said carefully, “before I’d volunteered at this inner- She had taken me for a homeless you get to know us, of course you’d be city shelter for over a year, and I looked woman, and she was afraid of homeless afraid. You’ve got to concentrate on forward to my conversations with people like me. No one had ever looked how the little girls are trying to do the Pearl, a widowed grandmother and at me with pure, raw fear. It stung. right thing, like they’re your own guardian of four children. Her life had I slunk back to my seat and watched daughters, and you’ve got to try to be been hard, but she was a strong, friendly.” Christian woman who radiated joy She was right, of course. Not and calm in the oftentimes chaotic, only that, Pearl was gently regloomy shelter. minding me that I, myself, had When the front door buzzer been the recipient of her kindsounded, the manager on duty flew ness and acceptance. How many out of her office. times had I glided through the “Move these tables back and find shelter doors bearing my good a seat, please,” she called. “The intentions like a badge? How Girl Scouts are here!” many gifts of questionable value Moments later, a dozen unihad I deposited at her feet? formed girls filed into the room, My face reddened, but Pearl just flanked by two mothers. As the chuckled softly and reached out to shelter manager welcomed our vispat my hand. “You are my friend,” she said simply. “You’re all right.” itors, they stood stiffly in front of The author of this story, Alicia von Stamwitz, poses Psychiatrist Carl Jung got it the beige cinder-block wall. One with her friend, Miss Pearl. right: “That I feed the hungry, mother balanced a bulging canvas bag of donations on her hip. as the visitors placed their donations on that I forgive an insult, that I love my I tried to catch her eye, gesturing a folding table and backed away. It was enemy in the name of Christ—all these toward a table near me where she could understandable that they did not dis- are undoubtedly great virtues. But what lay down her burden. She seemed not tribute the secondhand clothes and if I should discover that the least toys; residents were invited to approach among them all, the poorest of all the beggars . . . the very enemy himself— the table and pick one item each. Click here for more But our visitors’ discomfort was clear; that these are within me, and that I l a t Digi as information on programs neither the girls nor their mothers min- myself stand in need of the alms of t x E r for homeless people. gled with us. Their duty done, they my own kindness?” Pearl passed away over 10 years ago, departed quickly. but her words have stayed with me. She Pearl of Wisdom helped me see that no gift is as precious After they left, Pearl said cheerfully, as human kindness. It is a gift anyone to understand, so I rose from my seat “That was nice.” can give and receive—in every time I was astonished. Surely Pearl had and season. and crept closer, smiling and stretching out my hands to lift the heavy bag noticed how the women and children May it begin with me. A kept their distance. I thought the whole from her arms. Sensing my approach, the mother thing had been quite awkward, even Alicia von Stamwitz lives in St. Louis, where she is an independent consultant and freelance writer. turned abruptly to face me. Her steel- demeaning.

22 ❘ November 2013

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Welcome Home, Soldier As we help soldiers return to civilian life, sometimes it’s best simply to listen.

B Y R I C H A R D B . PAT T E R S O N , P H D

wasn’t a very good soldier. I was referred to as “Hawkeye,” which may give you a clue about my attitude. I was a child of the ’60s and had marched in peace demonstrations. There is even a picture of me in my college yearbook wearing my ROTC uniform and sporting a peace button. I’d thought about claiming conscientious-objector status but didn’t feel that would be honest, given the frequency of fights I’d been in. So I entered the Army and served as a psychologist. I enjoyed my work but didn’t like being a soldier. After four years of active duty, I was glad to get out.

24 ❘ November 2013

Now almost 40 years later, I am ministering to many warriors. I consult with several seeking healing from posttraumatic stress disorder and have evaluated many more to assess their therapeutic needs. More than a few of these warriors shared not only the horrors they experienced, but also the spiritual questions and struggles those horrors created. When I first started meeting with these warriors, I would often end our conversations with a standard “Thank you for your service.” Several were honest with me and let me know that they disliked this common comment. One soldier observed, “It makes us feel St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

CNS PHOTO/LISA JOHNSTON, ST. LOUIS REVIEW

separate, unconnected from everyone back here. Like what we did has nothing to do with most Americans.” Indeed, if we are honest, we really don’t want to know what these men and women have gone through. We’d just as soon not listen. It’s much easier to distance ourselves with a “Thank you for your service” and then be about business as usual. But our thank-yous miss the mark. It turns out many warriors aren’t as interested in gratitude as they are in being understood.

Seeking Forgiveness In the late 1960s, we had a much greater investment in peace, an investFr anciscanMedia.org

ment known as the draft. We males were all faced with the possibility of entering into combat; our thinking about war and peace was far more personal. For many of us today, war is more theoretical, something in which others (primarily people from lower economic strata) participate. Many news sources have censored the horrors of Iraq and Afghanistan, so those actions feel even more foreign. It is easy to take an attitude of separateness from these warriors: “Thanks very much and have a nice day.” I have heard much about burned bodies, children fired at or run over,

David Hempfling (center), an Iraq veteran who was a specialist fourth class during his time in the military, stands with his family and waves during the “Welcome Home the Heroes” parade in St. Louis in 2008. The ceremony drew thousands of people to welcome home soldiers from the war in Iraq.

November 2013 ❘ 25

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battle buddies blown to pieces before a warrior’s eyes. I have sat with men and women who can’t forget the smell of blood or burning flesh. Out of such unimaginable horrors have come dark nights of the soul for many warriors. Some can’t forgive themselves, such as one warrior who voices guilt because he came back with all his body parts. Other soldiers feel out of place now in churches where they once felt at home. Thus, another soldier told me, “I can’t go to Mass anymore. I’ve killed, and the Church says, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’” Some feel beyond God’s forgiveness. Others simply don’t care anymore, having left the God of their understanding on the battlefield. I‘ve talked to several soldiers who nonetheless seek comfort in spiritual communities, wanting more than anything some solace and a sense of belonging. The reception they receive is not always helpful. One man told me that, upon entering a Catholic church, another parishioner who knew him slightly walked up and asked him, “How many people did you kill?” Such appalling insensitivity reflects a type of voyeurism. Some people want to hear the stories but not the pain.

Grasping for Reasons

What these soldiers have taught me, more than anything, is that they have a great need for people to listen without passing judgment. tal Digi as Extr

Click here for more information on programs to help returning soldiers.

26 ❘ November 2013

What are some of our warriors’ spiritual struggles? Many struggle with the why? question: Why did I survive and my friend didn’t? I recall the anguish of a man who did not go on a mission because of being sick. His friend took his place and died in an IED explosion (improvised explosive device), sitting in the exact spot where the young soldier would have been. He is haunted by the thought, It should have been me in that seat. Some who hold to a belief in God may tell themselves that God must have spared them for a reason, but then struggle with discerning what that reason is. Somehow, they say, figuring out that reason is a way to atone for a death for which they feel responsible. One senior non-commissioned officer with whom I spoke had a healthy St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

attitude, in that regard. He’d been on five deployments to Iraq, had been nearly blown up numerous times, had been near-electrocuted once, and was still here, believing that God had kept him alive for a reason. When I asked him whether figuring out that reason was becoming a problem, he answered, “You know, if something I tell some young soldier keeps him alive when he’s over there, then I figure that was the reason.” He wasn’t looking for some great worldchanging purpose; he was just touching a few lives in small but significant ways. Sadly, many surviving soldiers don’t have that officer’s clarity. They either rack their brains trying to figure out that purpose or feel guilt because they simply want to be left alone. Some soldiers who ask why are trying to make sense out of senseless horror. Maybe they saw children run over trying to avoid a landmine. Maybe they watched a friend be burned alive in a flaming vehicle. “How can a loving God permit such things?” one soldier asked. Many soldiers carry a great burden from having killed. Be aware that most of these soldiers know that it was killor-be-killed, but they find no comfort in such notions. I recall one soldier telling me that he had to inventory the belongings of a man he’d just killed. He still remembers the photos that man had of his wife and children. In that instant, the man wasn’t so much an enemy anymore. I have met only a very few soldiers who took pride in having killed the enemy. But they are left wondering what kind of person they are now that they have killed. Some fear no longer being loved in God’s eyes. Then there are those soldiers who come back from combat no longer believing in God. As one man told me, “After what I’ve seen and done, the idea of God just doesn’t work anymore.”

The Need for Listening How, then, can we help these spiritually wounded warriors? Most of the warriors I’ve met are tough, hardened Fr anciscanMedia.org

individuals, even those I’ve met who were barely out of their teens. These people are not looking for pity. They are, first of all, looking for confidence that they still have value and can still contribute. Many simply want to find a job. Most warriors feel very much out of place upon their return. They have had a level of experience that causes them to feel very disconnected, even within their families. Many turn to religious settings, hoping to find at least a spiritual home. Spiritual communities then are faced with making our soldiers feel welcome without overwhelming them. Most soldiers don’t want to be fussed over. Many simply want to quietly slip into a service, usually toward the back, and often leave early to avoid crowds. That desire to slip in and slip out, however, relates more to the effects of trauma and should not be taken to mean that they don’t have a need to connect. What these soldiers have taught me, more than anything, is that they have a great need for people to listen to them without passing judgment. Some of these soldiers may indeed need professional help, but first and foremost, they simply want to tell their stories and be heard. For many, the experience of meeting someone who is willing to let them talk is new. Listening is hard for many of us. We want to fix things or set people straight or tell them that if they only pray or think about something else or go for a long walk, everything will be fine. But most of these warriors aren’t looking for advice. If you take the time to listen to a veteran, you may hear things that are horrifying. I think of a man weeping as he told me of seeing his best friend on fire in a vehicle and being unable to do anything to help. I think of a soldier watching an Iraqi man walk up to a camp gate and set off a bomb, such that all that remained of him were scattered body parts. I think of a soldier coming upon the body of an Iraqi boy he’d befriended, that boy apparently executed because of suspicion he helped the enemy. These war-

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Easing the Grief What can listening accomplish? I’ve come to see that, through someone’s listening, soldiers can experience a conversion, perhaps the realization that they are more than their war experiences. The conversion may be finding some forgiveness and, through that, the realization that they have seen enough of war. I’ve come to see that listening can help these soldiers to grieve. I don’t believe anyone can go through combat and not experience some sort of painful loss that needs to be grieved. There is clearly the grief for lost comrades. For others, there is grief over a lost idealism, even innocence. And many grieve for the person they were before deployment or even a lost faith. Our wounded warriors have much to offer to us as well, especially in spiritual domains. I find that my belief in nonviolence has grown since engaging in these conversations. I’ve long had a theoretical belief in the evils of war, but having heard much about its impact on the human body and spirit, I’m convinced at a different level. What war does to people in body, mind, and spirit cannot be tolerated any longer. Yet I have also learned that there is no place in a Christian ethic for judgmental thinking. For example, I’ve dealt with many Vietnam veterans who were judged harshly for their participation in that war. These are people who came home hoping to heal, only to be judged as baby killers and shunned. Many suffered the traumatic aftereffects of war privately and with shame. In contrast was a man who recalled returning from Vietnam as a young Army captain to no welcoming committee, no yellow ribbons. He was walking through the Phoenix airport alone when an elderly woman stopped him, shook his hand, and said, “Welcome home, Captain.” He burst into tears as he shared this healing moment. Finally, I’ve been taught some powerful lessons about faith. Not every soldier lost his or her faith on the

Fr. Roderick knows the importance of making a personal connection, and his experiences illustrate how the Church is at work in all generations, using all forms of media to reach the world for Christ.

riors know such stories are horrifying. There is power in finding someone willing to listen.

Through someone’s listening, soldiers can experience a conversion, perhaps the realization that they are more than their war experiences. battlefield. Some found it. Others drew upon that faith to get them through both war and its aftermath. One man, whom I deeply respect, summed it up for me as I expressed concern about how he was doing. He looked at me, patted my shoulder, and said, “As long as I have my Bible, and a good friend I can talk to, I’ll be OK.” Such straightforward clarity, given what this man has been through, is truly humbling for someone, such as I, who spends a lot of time arguing with and questioning God. So I encourage everyone to reach out to these wounded warriors. Help them feel welcome. Help them feel that there is a place for them in your spiritual community. If they indicate a desire to talk, take the time to listen to their spiritual struggles. Just listen; don’t try to fix. This will be a far more meaningful way of saying, “Thank you for your service.” A Richard B. Patterson, PhD, is a widely published psychologist in El Paso, Texas. His latest book is Turtle on the Fencepost: Finding Faith through Doubt (Liguori Publications). St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

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Big Faith in the Big Easy Husband, father, philanthropist, and TV star: Chef John Besh knows the ingredients to a happy life.

HE FIGHTER PILOT in Ted Besh epitomized a man who knew that preparation and precision were matters of life and death. Ted’s 20/20 vision was more than a physical gift. He had a plan for everything and everyone, especially for his six children and what they would make of themselves. But as Ted rode his bike one day in 1977, a drunk driver smashed into him and left him paralyzed. There was no plan for this. Ted’s son, John, was just 9 years old at the time, and the boy who attended St. Margaret Mary School in Slidell, Louisiana, saw his own world rocked. For over two years, while Ted convalesced in a rehab hospital, and his wife juggled to keep the kids together and care for her husband, John shuffled from house to house with friends whenever his mom was on an extended hospital visit. Periodically, during his convalescence, Ted would come back home and John’s job was to cook for him. “It was just some crazy concoction that I’m sure tasted absolutely disgusting,” John recalls. “But, as a kid, just throwing things together for him would make him so happy. I connected right then that food equals happiness.” John Besh is 45 now, and he and his wife, Jenifer, have four sons of their own. That aro30 ❘ November 2013

matic equation—food equals happiness—has delighted thousands of people across the globe. Besh operates nine restaurants, is the author of two cookbooks, and appears regularly on national television as the fresh face of indigenous south Louisiana cooking. But as a Catholic who takes his faith seriously, Besh says he sees a deeper purpose in his life’s vocation of bringing people together around the family table. “I’m going to issue a disclaimer,” Besh told an intimate crowd of Catholics and people of other faiths who attended a recent “Spirituality in the City” lunch at Immaculate Conception Church, a Jesuit-run parish in downtown New Orleans. “I am a stumbling human being. I am solely at the mercy of one very merciful and loving and living God. Faith is a gift I’ve been given— just being born of incredible parents with an incredible attitude toward life. I have parents with a phenomenal attitude toward stewardship.” Ted Besh always told his children to pursue their passions, and, yes, to always make a plan. When Ted saw his son’s eyes light up in the kitchen, he took note. Despite his disability, he brought his son to a book signing by Paul Prudhomme, whose blackened redfish had become an international sensation. “Paul Prudhomme took the time when I St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

COURTESY OF WYES

BY PETER FINNEY JR.

was 11 to talk to me about being a chef,” Besh says. “He was bigger than life in every way, shape, or form. I knew then that I wanted to be like Paul Prudhomme.” But right after graduating from St. Stanislaus High School in nearby Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, “I was sent away to reform school with the Brothers of the Sacred Heart,” Besh jokes. He enlisted in the Marines. “That was just another step of trying to be like Dad,” Besh says. “But the interesting thing is, before food was cool, before cooking schools were cool, my dad would do his research and point me in the right direction. He would tell me, ‘This is where you want to go to school. Let’s make a plan on how you’re going to do that.’”

Calm after the Storm

COURTESY OF BESH RESTAURANT GROUP

32 ❘ November 2013

COURTESY OF MAURA MCEVOY

With signature dishes that include shrimp toast rissoles, oyster spaghetti, and seafood-stuffed flounder, Chef John Besh’s Borgne is one of New Orleans’ go-to restaurants for authentic, Louisiana cuisine.

Besh may have joined the Marines on a teenage whim, but he stayed rooted in his Catholic faith. Because there were few priests to go around, he volunteered to be a minister of Communion, carrying the Eucharist inside his flak jacket along with his machine gun, hand grenades, and chewing tobacco. “I don’t chew tobacco anymore,” Besh says, smiling. After being discharged from the Marines, Besh followed his father’s careful plan and trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, where he graduated in 1992. He also studied at the Romantik Hotel Spielweg in

Germany under Karl Josef Fuchs, and in southern France under Alain Assaud. After his apprenticeships, Besh returned to New Orleans with a plan. He became hugely successful, recognized by Food & Wine in 1999 as one of the “10 Best New Chefs in America.” “Then you get on your high horse,” Besh says. “It’s like, ‘I want to be a famous chef. I want to be a chef with a TV show. I want to be a chef that can create food that nobody can recognize and, truth be told, nobody wants to eat.’ You just want to say you went to the restaurant.” That is, Besh says, “until Hurricane Katrina.” Besh had just finished paying off his investors who helped him buy his first restaurant—Restaurant August in downtown New Orleans. But everything he had planned was either sideways or submerged. “Maybe it was the Lord in my life saying, ‘Slow down. What’s really important? Why is it that you cook?’ It wasn’t audible, but I heard, ‘Why is it that you St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

Apple & Pear Tart with Walnuts Serves 8–10 Use whatever combination of apples, pears, and even quince that you have on hand. I like to leave the skin on some of the fruit to add texture to the tart. Basic Sweet Tart Dough (see recipe to right) 3-4 Gravensteins, Honeycrisps, or other tart apples, peeled, cored, and cubed 2 Bosc pears, cored and cubed ½ cup dark brown sugar ½ cup butter (1 stick) cut into pieces ½ cup walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. On a well-floured surface, roll the Tart Dough into a large oval a little less than ¼ inch thick. Transfer onto a baking pan. 2. In a large bowl, toss the apples and pears with the walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Add the butter and toss again. 3. Mound the fruit and walnut mixture on top of the dough and wrap the dough over the fruit, covering most of it. Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 1 hour. Remove and cool a bit before serving.

For Basic Sweet Tart Dough Makes enough for at least 1 large tart This is Edel’s famous recipe, an easy dough that I keep on hand in the freezer so all I have to do is pull it out and 30 minutes later I have a perfect French pâte sucrée. Sugarcookie sweet and crumbly, it lends itself to any sweet pie or tart recipe. I like the feel of making the dough by hand, but use a food processor if you prefer. ½ cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into pieces 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling ⅓ cup sugar ¼ cup milk 1 egg 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon salt 1. In a large mixing bowl, cut the cold butter into the flour until the flour has the consistency of semolina. Add the sugar, milk, egg, zest, and salt and mix by hand until a crumbly dough is formed. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least an hour before using, or freeze for later use.

—From Besh’s 2013 book Cooking from the Heart: My Favorite Lessons Learned Along the Way by John Besh/Andrews McMeel Publishing

do what you do?’ And then it hit me: I could use all the resources that I have to make a difference in our world.” A few days after Katrina, Besh broke into the city to secure whatever cooking equipment he could scrounge from his restaurant. Then, for the next several months, he set up soup kitchens and feeding stations around the area to serve first responders and returning homeowners. “I knew we were definitely going out of business,” Besh says. “I thought, Well, we’re going down in style. We’re going to go out at least being good people. “I was compelled at that moment to use my talents to make the world better.” On one trip to Mississippi to hunt for supplies, Besh and Alon Shaya—his Jewish friend, executive chef, and partner—ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere. “We’ll just pray about it,” Besh recalls, noting the irony of a Catholic and a Jew praying in Mississippi for deliverance. Besh remembers the chain saw in the trunk, which they had used to clear the road. Fr anciscanMedia.org

“The chain saw is just about out of gas,” Shaya told him. “OK, God, you’re in charge,” Besh said, rolling up a magazine to make a funnel for the small mixture of chain saw gas and oil. “That mixture got us about 90 miles, after we had already run out of gas,” Besh says. “Now I’m sure there’s a scientist in here who says there’s a reason for this.” Besh knows better.

The Family Table The way Besh sees it, in his book My Family Table: A Passionate Plea for Home Cooking, sharing a family meal around the table is a sacred event. “The family table in the home is the altar. That’s the place that ties us together,” he says. “It’s the place that keeps us firmly rooted. Maybe we can even humble ourselves to say we’re blessed to have this bread, blessed to have this food. One reason New Orleans is really special is that we’ve held on to our faith, to our families, and to the family table.” Besh says that his wife, Jenifer, will someNovember 2013 ❘ 33

Building Futures

times give him a silent but swift kick in the shin when he tries to break in on one of his son’s problems to solve it. “The family table is where the walls come down a little bit,” Besh says. “Our defenses settle. That’s where my wife is smart enough to tell me, ‘Just let them talk. This is good stuff.’ You never know what tidbit you’re going to receive.” Just like the lessons Besh received from his father. “I think his faith, drive, and determination

are the keys to my success,” Besh says. “The little bit of success that we’ve had is because of being raised with that understanding that life isn’t always going to go the way we might want it to. We can’t control everything. “But, in the end, if we’re living to sit with God, hopefully that perspective allows you to make the most out of many different situations. We understood how faith played a role in my dad’s life and in our lives. That helped shape my life.” Besh carries his father’s torch whenever he

COURTESY OF CHEFS MOVE

OHN BESH believes in paying it forward. The celebrated chef’s commitment to stewardship is highlighted by the John Besh Foundation, which offers each year a pair of Chefs Move! scholarships to minority students from the New Orleans area to attend the International Culinary Center in New York and then return to New Orleans to share their talents with some of the most discriminating palates on the planet. Beyond identifying and encouraging his next protégé, Besh also employs eager young adults with challenging histories in many of his restaurants.

The scholarship includes: full tuition to nine-month culinary or pastry program at the International Culinary Center, accommodation for the nine months of the program in New York City, air travel to and from New York, a laptop, and job placement assistance while in New York, and a paid eightweek internship within the Besh Restaurant Group after completion of New York City program. Cofounded by Jessica Bride, the Chef’s Move! scholarship, according to its website, is designed to diversify kitchen leadership by providing minority applicants the opportunity to learn the culinary ropes and to become leaders in restaurants and communities. The John Besh & Bride Mayor Scholarship provides two fully paid scholarships, one in culinary arts and one in pastry arts, for minority recipients from New Orleans to attend the International Culinary Center in New York City. The program at ICC is nine months and is followed by a two month internship with the Besh Restaurant Group. The scholarship covers the following: once the internship has finished, Chefs Move! graduates stay and work in New Orleans for at least two years so that their advanced culinary skills benefit the local area. The scholarship committee hopes that their graduates will choose to continue working in New Orleans for at least five years after the program so that they may become leaders in the kitchen and leaders in their community. —Christopher Heffron

John Besh poses with future great Calvin Virgil, one of the 2012-2013 recipients of the Chefs Move! Scholarship.

34 ❘ November 2013

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

COURTESY OF MAURA MCEVOY

All in the family: John believes that the dinner table is as much about strengthening familial relations as it is about feeding bodies. He and his wife, Jenifer, are the parents of four boys, including (left to right) Jack, Luke, and Drew.

sits down to eat with his family. The price of fame and out-of-town appearances means less time at home, but Besh makes sure every day at home counts. He converted part of his expansive house on Bayou Bonfouca in Slidell into a commercial kitchen, complete with TV lights, so that he could tape a show and play dad on the same afternoon. Besh says the grace and power with which his father lived after his life-changing accident gave him an example of how to submit to, and redeem, inscrutable suffering. “Sure, he got angry. And when you’re angry, you’re angry at God sometimes,” Besh says. “But we also had a great relationship growing up where we talked a lot about faith, and we talked about what he was going through. We had wonderful dialogues, and I began to understand how faith played a role in his life and in our lives. We always had the idea that we were all going through this together. I’d like to pass on to my sons a little bit of what I was given. And the gift I was given was really centered on the family table.”

Food Equals Happiness The family table parallels with Besh’s Catholic faith. “These moments bring me back to what our religion was founded on,” he says. “It’s the holy Eucharist we celebrate every Sunday. It’s food and the table—the altar. That’s the place that keeps us firmly rooted.” Besh says My Family Table: A Passionate Plea Fr anciscanMedia.org

for Home Cooking is filled with “subliminal Catholic messages,” particularly the sense of “bringing people to the table.” “And at that table should be a parent,” Besh says. “If you can have two parents there a couple of nights a week, that’s even better. This is the foundation of what our entire society should be. I know that families come in so many shapes and sizes these days, but I’m advocating that coming together as a family to break bread is what it’s all about. “That’s one reason New Orleans is really special,” he says again. “We’ve held on to our faith and to our Click here for more families, and we’ve held on to information the family table. We have the Chef John Besh. only indigenous urban cuisine left in America because we adhere to these values.” Since his early Pythagorean theorem days of “food equals happiness,” Besh has created a new equation that brings life with his father back to its lowest common denominator. “His favorite meal is ‘seafood anything,’” Besh says with a laugh. “You give him trout with crabmeat on top and he’s happy.” So, distilling life to its savory essentials, “crabmeat equals happiness.” No wonder they call south Louisiana God’s country. A

tal Digi as t Ex r

Peter Finney Jr. is the executive editor of the Clarion Herald, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. November 2013 ❘ 35

EDITORIAL

Catholics and Politics If we want candidates of integrity, shouldn’t we be persons of integrity, too?

tal Digi as t Ex r

“There aren’t enough Acts of Contrition to get a politician into heaven.” That’s my dad’s long-standing declaration when it comes to politics and its players. It’s a cynical position to take, but I’m not convinced it’s untrue. Historically, politics isn’t a place where honor and honesty run amok. I learned that the hard way. Bill Clinton was the first president for whom I voted. I remember watching The Arsenio Hall Show in June 1992. Clinton, with his Ray-Ban sunglasses, jammed with the show’s band on his saxophone. I didn’t yet know his platform, but I was won over by his interest in reaching out to younger voters. Then came the Monica Lewinsky scandal six years later. My fondness for Clinton, needless to say, took a hit. I gained something from that experience. Perhaps we invest too much hope in our politicians. Or we expect our politicians to be a moral cut above the rest. But that’s folly. They can let us down. Duplicity, however, isn’t tied to one party. Click here for more For every resources on faith Anthony and citizenship. Weiner, there’s a Larry Craig. You can’t scold John F. Kennedy for his extracurricular activities without doing the same to Richard Nixon for his sins. These are murky waters, but they’re not impassable. In this national off-election season, when tensions aren’t running as high, it’s wise to regroup and consider this.

Do Your Homework According to the Pew Research Center, in 2012 Catholics made up 25 percent of the electorate. A closer look at Catholics and party lines yields some interesting stats: in 2012, 50 percent of white Catholic voters 36 ❘ Nov e mbe r 201 3

leaned Republican; 41 percent Democrat. Sixty-three percent of Hispanic Catholics identified as Democrat, while 28 percent leaned right. And six of the nine Supreme Court justices are Catholic. Catholic voters have a lot of pull. It’s our responsibility to elect officials whose initiatives reflect our beliefs. But before we act outward, we must look inward. • Ask yourself what matters to you most? Immigration? Same-sex marriage? Health care? Researching and ranking your priorities is a good way to cast an informed vote. • Do more. Sometimes voting isn’t enough. If you are staunchly pro-life, volunteer at the grassroots level. Work to overturn the law. Follow that up with a vote for a candidate whose beliefs mirror yours. • Separate Church and State. We are not electing religious leaders. Our politicians should act morally, but they are not our moral guides. As Catholics, we have that in Pope Francis and other Church leaders. No politician could do that job better. It’s important to look at our own lives before embarking on this civic duty. We want people of integrity to hold public office, but are we persons of integrity?

The Big Picture For guidance, let’s consider Pope Francis, who’s proving to be a game changer. He sent shockwaves when he urged Catholics to look at the big picture when considering issues such as homosexuality and abortion. “The Church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. We have to find a new balance,” he said, “otherwise even the moral edifice of the Church is likely to fall like a house of cards.” We can take a similar approach to elections. When considering candidates on the local and national levels, we have to look at the whole platform, the whole person, and not just one angle. Politicians—those in office and those who seek it—are people fashioned by God, prone to sin. But so are we who elect them. St An t h o n yM e s s e n g e r . o rg

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38 â?&#x2DC; November 2013

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

EMT

Priest Msgr. Emmet Nevin ministers to both body and soul. TEXT AND PHOTOS BY GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

When he’s not ministering at his parish, St. Paul Church in Congers, New York, Msgr. Emmet Nevin can be found helping the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps (SOAC).

Fr anciscanMedia.org

SGR. EMMET NEVIN has a unique way of relaxing when he takes time off from his duties as pastor of St. Paul Church in the hamlet of Congers, New York. This 66-year-old priest unwinds by swapping his black clerical garb for a navy blue uniform and serving as an emergency medical technician (EMT) with the local ambulance corps. “It’s challenging and different from my normal routine as a priest. That’s why I like it,” explains Msgr. Nevin, who leads a 2,000-family parish located near the western banks of the Hudson River. “I also feel that it’s a very good use of my time. “Cardinal [Timothy] Dolan has said it’s healthy for priests to have diversions. A lot of my priest-friends golf, which is great. That’s their relaxation. I’d rather [serve as an EMT] than hit a little white ball around a golf course all day long.” Msgr. Nevin volunteers with the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps (SOAC), whose headquarters are a 15-minute drive from St. Paul’s rectory. As an EMT, he is trained to monitor vital signs, perform CPR, administer oxygen, immobilize broken bones, and dress wounds. November 2013 ❘ 39

(Right) Msgr. Nevin greets parishioners at St. Catharine of Alexandria Parish in Blauvet, New York, where he was pastor for 11 years. (Below) Even when responding to a call, Msgr. Nevin says he is never “off duty as a priest.” He is aware that his presence can be a source of peace and reassurance for the ill or injured.

“I enjoy it,” says Msgr. Nevin, a priest for more than 35 years. “It gives me a chance to take care of body and soul.”

Familiar Territory

“It’s challenging and different from my normal routine as a priest.” —Msgr. Emmet Nevin

Msgr. Nevin, who was appointed pastor of St. Paul’s this past summer, is familiar with the territory in which he serves as a priest and first responder. He grew up in Blauvelt, a town a few miles south of Congers, and was pastor of St. Catharine of Alexandria Parish in Blauvelt for 11 years prior to his arrival at St. Paul’s. He also spent 22 years as a weekend assistant at another Rockland County parish, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Tappan, while working fulltime at Monsignor Farrell High School on Staten Island, the last 10 as the school’s principal. “The chances are pretty good that when I go into a home [as an EMT], if they’re Catholic, they’ll recognize me,” he says. “For some of them, I was their paperboy.”

Service in Action In addition to his service as an EMT, Msgr. Nevin is a member of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team of Rockland County (DMATNY4), one of 70 such teams across the nation that provide emergency medical care during disasters of any origin. DMATs primarily respond to emergencies in their region but can also be deployed by the federal government to assist in other parts of the country. In 2005, Msgr. Nevin’s team was sent to 40 ❘ November 2013

Louisiana following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. After arriving in Baton Rouge to 115-degree heat, he witnessed the aftermath of the “worst destruction” he has ever seen. During his two weeks in the region, he celebrated Mass and presided at interdenominational prayer services in his role as chaplain. He also served as a mentalhealth officer, monitoring the psychological status of fellow team members. His experience in Louisiana led Msgr. Nevin to train for his certification as an EMT. “The reason I initially got involved with the ambulance corps is because I wanted to become a better responder for the disaster team,” he says. “In reality, I haven’t been used in that role because I haven’t been deployed again since.” Msgr. Nevin is aware that his presence can be a source of peace and reassurance for the ill and injured. He is also mindful that he is never “off duty” as a priest, even when he is covering a shift with SOAC. “I carry my [holy] oils in my pocket, just in case I walk into the ER and someone asks me to anoint somebody,” he says. “There are a lot of opportunities for that. “It’s always by request,” he adds. “I don’t anoint everybody because I know they’re Catholic. It’s a personal, private thing. If they ask that of me, I’ll say, ‘Sure.’ It can be very nice St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

for the family to see that, and very comforting to the person who asks.” Conversely, Msgr. Nevin is never off duty as a first responder. He carries a bag with emergency medical supplies in the trunk of his car, and is prepared to take action if he comes across an auto accident or other event where people need medical assistance.

Balance and Discipline While his schedule can be overwhelming at times, Msgr. Nevin has learned to manage it. Initially, after receiving his EMT certification, he worked 12-hour ambulance shifts, from 7 p.m. on Saturday to 7 a.m. on Sunday, every other week. It eventually caught up to him, as he found fatigue setting in. In recent years, he has limited his Saturday duty to six hours, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Overall, he averages 3035 hours a month with the ambulance corps. “I found that it did impact my Sundays,” says Msgr. Nevin, who has the services of two associate pastors to help him cover a Saturday evening Mass and five Sunday liturgies. “Sundays are pretty full. I really like to see the people at all the Masses, whether I’m celebrating Mass or helping give out Communion. There are Baptisms and sometimes there’s Fr anciscanMedia.org

a Sunday afternoon wake. I was finding that I Glenn Albin, SOAC’s assiswas dragging at times. You get a call at 4:30 in tant chief of operations, the morning and by the time you come back, and Msgr. Nevin take it’s hard to fall asleep. You’re done. It was stock of medical equipbecoming too tiring. That’s why I cut it back.” ment in the ambulance. In addition to serving as a pastor and EMT, Albin is a former history Msgr. Nevin is the vicar of the Rockland student of Msgr. Nevin’s County vicariate of the Archdiocese of New from South Orangetown York. His primary role in that position is to help Middle School. oversee the 18 parishes, five elementary schools, and other archdiocesan entities within the vicariate’s 174 square miles. “It’s a full schedule,” Msgr. Nevin admits. “It takes a lot of discipline and a lot of organization. Being a high school principal prepares you for that. All pastors have to be careful with their scheduling. The more you multitask, the more you have to Click here for more be very organized.” ital information on Msgr. Nevin. Dig as The physical demands of his Extr work as an EMT require Msgr. Nevin to keep his six-foot, 215pound body in tip-top condition. His daily workout regimen includes lifting weights and taking a brisk sixor seven-mile walk through the neighborhood or local mall. A treadmill in the gym at SOAC headquarters is also at his disposal. November 2013 ❘ 41

(Right) As an EMT, Msgr. Nevin, seen here demonstrating an automated chest compressing machine, is trained to monitor vital signs, perform CPR, administer oxygen, immobilize broken bones, and dress wounds. (Far right) Msgr. Nevin says he has nothing against golf, but he prefers to spend his free time serving as an EMT.

“Jesus is the one who came to serve rather than to be served.” —Msgr. Emmet Nevin

Msgr. Nevin’s EMT skills receive high marks from Glenn Albin, SOAC’s chief of operations and the priest’s frequent crew partner. “They’re excellent,” says Albin, a paramedic and registered nurse who helped train Msgr. Nevin. “He really took to the craft. He went about it in a very methodical way. While in class, you could see his mind was constantly working. You could hear him talking through each step. “He cares about his patients,” adds Albin, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish. “His documentation is excellent. He makes sure that the ambulance is always prepared to go out on a run.”

Caring for Bodies and Souls Before responding to a call, Msgr. Nevin makes a point to say a prayer. “I always ask for a higher power to assist me, to keep my wits about me, to be as sharp as I can, and to do the job I have been trained to do.” Even though he says working with the ambulance corps helps him to relax, there are situations that are stress-inducing. “Any call where you’re keeping a person alive with CPR and assisted breathing can be very stressful,” he says. “Their life is hanging in the balance. You don’t know if you’re going to reignite that spark or not. “When someone is having a medical crisis, it’s really in the hands of God. Maybe we can do stuff with our skills to reverse that or turn it around or give them more time to get to the 42 ❘ November 2013

hospital. The more desperate the case, the more stressful it becomes for everybody. We do everything we can.” SOAC has a roster of 70 volunteer EMTs, drivers, and administrative staff, with members coming from a variety of backgrounds and faiths. Msgr. Nevin says everyone works as a team and covers for one another, especially when personal obligations arise. That spirit of cooperation is especially evident during religious holidays, when Jewish members sign up for shifts on Christmas and Easter and Christians work on Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. “I lit the first Hanukkah candle in [the ambulance headquarters’] window one year because I was the one on duty,” says the priest, smiling at the recollection. In the meantime, Msgr. Nevin continues caring for the bodies and souls of the people in his community. He says he hopes that his work as a priest and EMT will inspire other people to offer their skills as volunteers. “I speak a lot about how Jesus is the one who came to serve rather than to be served,” Msgr. Nevin says. “Everyone has gifts that they can really use on behalf of their parish or their community. Many do, but many more could, if they really thought about it. To give of your time and talent on behalf of other people is very Christ-like.” A Gregory A. Shemitz is an award-winning independent photojournalist based in Stony Brook, New York. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

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YEAR OF FAITH

❘ BY PAT M C CLOSKEY, OFM

Faith Lived in the Church “The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: ‘I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness’” (Jn 12:46).

44 ❘ Nov e mbe r 201 3

Born to a journalist father and a socialactivist mother, Dorothy Day (18971980) became a journalist and a Catholic and, in 1933, cofounded, with Peter Maurin, the Catholic Worker movement and newspaper. She ended a common-law marriage in order to be baptized with her daughter, Tamar. Dorothy had earlier aborted a child, a decision she very publicly regretted. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults describes her life as “dedicated to seeking holiness, defending life, and promoting social justice and peace.” Her autobiography is entitled The Long Loneliness. Her faith-filled letters and journals have been published. Her cause for canonization was begun by the Archdiocese of New York in 2000.

Faith begins a journey at the service of justice, love, and peace, preparing us to feel “at home” in the heavenly city that God provides. “Faith is no refuge for the fainthearted, but something which enhances our lives.” It is based on “God’s faithfulness, which is stronger than our every weakness.” Faith affirms the dignity of each person, offering the possibility of forgiveness and strength amid suffering. The pope mentions St. Francis of Assisi and the leper, as well as Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata’s service to the poor. The Blessed Virgin Mary remains a model disciple. The encyclical’s full text is available at vatican.va. It is also condensed in our October 2013 Catholic Update. A Pat McCloskey, OFM, this magazine’s Franciscan editor and “Ask a Franciscan” columnist, also edits Weekday Homily Helps and is managing editor of Catholic Update.

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIE LONNEMAN

he quote above is from Light of Faith, the first encyclical by Pope Francis (released last July). Pope Benedict XVI wrote most of it for the Year of Faith that closes on November 24, the feast of Christ the King. Faith can illumine every aspect of human existence. Pope Francis writes, “I have taken up his [Pope Benedict XVI’s] fine work and added a few contributions of my own.” Chapter 1 opens with “We have believed in love,” based on 1 John 4:16. The call of faith requires listening and then acting, usually in a new way, as Abraham and all of Israel did. The Old Testament promises converge on Jesus (God who uniquely entered human history). Union with him nourishes our faith. “Unless you believe, you will not understand” (from Is 7:9) is the title of chapter 2. Faith leads us into God’s truth, far from fanaticism. Such a faith can dialogue with all cultures because it prepares us to enter into God’s dialogue of communion. St. Paul’s quote “I delivered to you what I also received” (1 Cor 15:3) begins chapter 3. Believers in every age instinctively share the light of faith. The sacraments greatly assist this process. The Eucharist connects us to Jesus’ saving gift that opens up our future. Faith shapes our daily decisions. Chapter 4 is entitled “God prepares a city for them” (Heb 11:16).

D O R O T H Y D AY

Prickly Prophets O God of mercy and compassion, You raise up prophets to Comfort the afflicted and Afflict the comfortable. Inspired by the example of Dorothy Day, Help us to recognize your Divine image in every person Whom we meet today on our Faith journey.

Click here for more on Dorothy Day.

tal Digi as Extr

St An t h o n yM e s s e n g e r . o rg

The Advent of Christ Scripture Reflections to Prepare for Christmas Edward Sri For many of us, the Christmas story has become almost too familiar, causing the profound, even shocking, mystery of the incarnation to be overlooked. But what if you were hearing it for the first time? These events would signal something new: the dawning of the longawaited Messiah. This Advent, put yourself in that ancient world. With an entry for each day of Advent and the Christmas season, this collection based on Dr. Sri’s Dawn of the Messiah will help you discover spiritual treasures in the Gospels and gain a fresh understanding of the coming of Christ. Item # T36651 | ISBN 978-1-61636-651-3 | $12.99

Advent with St. Francis Daily Reflections Diane M. Houdek One of the most beloved saints in history, Francis of Assisi had a special insight into the importance of the Incarnation. From his love of the humanity of Christ, to his celebration of the first Christmas crèche at Greccio, Francis is an ideal guide for prayer and reflection during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Advent with St. Francis: Daily Reflections is written in a simple and engaging style that will draw readers in to the life of Francis as they grow in their faith and spiritual practice through the inspiration of this beloved saint. Item # B36705 | ISBN 978-1-61636-705-3 | $3.99

The Little Way of Advent Meditations in the Spirit of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Fr. Gary Caster The Little Way of Advent focuses on St. Thérèse’s Little Way, as well as her deep insights into the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Fr. Caster shows the connection between the innocent child and the crucified Savior, thus providing for a rich Advent experience. The Little Way of Advent provides material for each Sunday in the A, B, and C cycle, one for each weekday in Advent, and—as an added bonus—one for every day in the Christmas season. Item #T36169 | ISBN 978-1-61636-169-3 | $12.99

Preparing for Christmas Daily Meditations for Advent Richard Rohr Advent is a time to focus our expectation and anticipation on “the adult Christ, the Cosmic Christ,” who challenges us to empty ourselves, to lose ourselves, to surrender. Preparing for Christmas offers daily meditations, prayers, Scripture readings, and questions for reflection for each day of Advent. Item # B36478 | ISBN 978-1-61636-478-6 | $8.99

Rediscover Advent Matthew Kelly From the author of the bestselling book Rediscover Catholicism comes an inspiring new way to rediscover Advent. These timely and inspirational words will help renew your enthusiasm for being Catholic, while encouraging you to delve more deeply into the spirituality of the Advent season—a perfect companion for individual reading or for group study. Item # B36164 | ISBN 978-1-61636-164-8 | $8.99

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LIVING SIMPLY

❘ BY ROBIN DAVIS

Ways to Avoid Holiday Overindulgence

he holidays mark an extended season of great joy from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, packed with celebrations big and small. Unfortunately, with the gettogethers comes the tendency to overeat. Here are five tips for staying healthier during the holiday season.

Go green (or red or orange) Look for the vegetables on the menu and buffet tables, preferably ones that aren’t covered in heavy sauces (and skip the dip). Add salads and veggie trays to your own entertaining menus.

Get nutty A handful of nuts can be more filling than the same amount of pretzels or chips. Just be sure to stop after one handful.

4 6 ❘ Nov ember 2013

3 4 5

Sip switch Alcoholic drinks are often high in empty calories. Try alternating a glass of water for every alcoholic drink—and sip, don’t chug.

Eat first Enjoy a small meal before the party. That way you won’t arrive famished and be tempted to eat too much.

Move it Organize a family walk after the big Thanksgiving meal. If you’re going to a nearby party, walk. And if it’s not close, choose a parking place farther away so you’ll burn a few more calories before and after.

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

Robin Davis has been a food writer for almost 20 years including serving as restaurant critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. She is currently the food editor at the Columbus Dispatch. She is the author of Recipe for Joy (Loyola Press).

Spinach Salad with Pomegranates and Walnuts Makes 4 servings This gorgeous salad with green leaves studded with the ruby-red arils of pomegranates makes a great addition to the holiday table. In addition, it’s also packed with good-for-you ingredients, a plus for your body during a season typically marked with indulgence. 1/4

Whisk pomegranate juice, vinegar, mustard, and honey in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in oil. Place spinach in a large bowl. Add enough dressing to coat. Toss. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and walnuts. Fr ancisca n Media .org

cup pomegranate juice 1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice 2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 tsp. honey Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup olive oil 6 cups baby spinach, stems removed 1/3 cup pomegranate seeds (see Note) 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted Note: To remove seeds, called arils, from pomegranate, cut fruit into quarters. Place in a zipper-top plastic bag. Squeeze air out and seal bag. Gently bang bag on the counter to release the seeds. Remove seeds and pith.

Nov ember 2013 ❘ 4 7

Handshake T of Peace A war story with a happy ending FICTION BY MARIE ANDERSON

4 8 ❘ Nov ember 2013

HE GROCERY STORE across the street from St. Joe’s was crowded with post-Mass shoppers. Lucy hadn’t eaten breakfast. She felt empty. Everything looked good. She stopped by the meats and scowled at the rib roasts. “Buy One, Get One Free,” proclaimed the sign. “I don’t need two roasts,” she muttered. She hadn’t meant to be heard, but another shopper looked at her a little too long. His eyes narrowed as though he were seeing something offensive. She recognized him from church. He’d been seated across the aisle from her, next to a pretty blonde woman. During the handshake of peace, she’d seen them hug each other. “Those the real deal?” he asked. He pointed at the dog tags around Lucy’s neck, his finger St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

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so close she backed away. Short brown hair hugged his scalp. A scar etched a crescent under his left eye. Mind your own business, Lucy thought. But he was wearing a Chicago White Sox T-shirt (her father had loved that team), and a gold cross on a chain around his neck, so she answered his question. “My dad’s. Vietnam.” “That’s good. I mean, then you have a right to wear them.” She frowned. Who are you, she thought, the dog-tag police? “Sorry.” He rubbed the scar under his eye. “I can see I’ve offended you. It’s just that you see rappers wearing dog tags now. Teenagers. Celebrities. They don’t have the right.” She stared at him. Her on-again, off-again boyfriend, the front man for a local rock group, Fr ancisca n Media .org

wore dog tags when he performed at clubs— authentic tags he’d bought on craigslist. “I’ll let you get on with your shopping,” he said. He grabbed his cart and moved off. She felt her posture droop as she watched him walk away. He moved fluidly, with perfect posture. I’m here for groceries, she told herself, not to hook up with a potential stalker—even if he is cute. Not my type anyway, she decided. Her type apparently was a dog-tag junkie whose only soldiering happens in video games. Not like her father. Lucy fingered the dog tags while she considered the roasts. Maybe two smallish ones. No. There was no room in her freezer for the extra roast. Her freezer was crammed with boxes of single-serve frozen meals. Since her father’s death from leukemia last year, groNov ember 2013 ❘ 4 9

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cery shopping had gotten a lot simpler. And lonelier. “I don’t want to buy two roasts either.” Lucy looked up. The man was back. His cart held only a quart of milk. His blue eyes were the color of his faded jeans. “Why can’t the store just offer one at half price?” he asked. Lucy nodded. “Did you see the russet potatoes? Today it’s buy one 10pound bag, get the other free. Maybe I could use up the first bag before they went soft, but the second bag? No way.” Stop babbling, she silently scolded herself. Twenty-six is too old to get flustered when a good-looking guy pays attention to me. “Those the original silencers?” He was looking at her dog tags again. “Excuse me?” “The black rubber around your dog tags. Vietnam was when American soldiers were allowed to place rubber silencers on their tags so the enemy couldn’t hear the metallic clanking.” “I know what silencers are. I’m just wondering why you’re grilling me about these tags. I mean, you’re wearing a White Sox tee, but it’s not my business whether you’re a true fan. And you’re wearing a cross, but it’s not my business whether you go to church every Sunday.” He blushed. “You’re right. But for the record, I am a Sox fan, and I do go to church. As a matter of fact, I saw you at the 10 o’clock Mass.” “I saw you, too,” she said. “With a pretty blonde.” “That wasn’t a pretty blonde. That was my sister.” Lucy laughed. “So sisters can’t be pretty blondes?” “Not from a brother’s point of view, I guess.” “And to that,” Lucy replied, “I can only say, ‘Oh, brother.’” “I’m staying with my sister until I’m able to find a place that I can afford on a new teacher’s salary.” He waited a beat, but Lucy said nothing. She knew that now she was supposed to ask him where he was teaching, but there was something she found unsettling about

him, even in spite of his good looks. There was something serious in his face, intense in his eyes. Her father had had the same intensity, eyes that had seen too much, eyes that could suddenly explode into rage or glaze from drink, eyes that drilled, a mouth that flatlined. “You go to St. Joe’s?” he asked. She nodded, felt her own face heat at the tiny lie. She rarely attended Mass anymore. She used to go with her father every Sunday, from the time she was little until she’d left for college. The 10 o’clock Mass. Third pew from the altar. Afterward, she’d stand next to her dad while he lit two candles in the back of the church. “For my brothers,” he’d murmur as he lit the first candle. He’d remove a $5 bill from his wallet and drop it into the box. “For your mom and baby sister,” he’d say to Lucy as he lit a second candle. He’d give Lucy another five and she’d push it through the payment slot. His brothers were the soldiers on his team who’d defoliated the perimeters of military bases in Vietnam with Agent Orange, a herbicide containing dioxin. The $10 he paid for the candles every Sunday came from what he called his Orange money. Ten years after the war ended, he received $180,000 as part of a class settlement from the chemical companies who’d manufactured and sold Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. It turned out they’d done so with full knowledge of the serious health risks. Lucy blamed her dad’s chronic leukemia and alcoholism on Agent Orange. She also blamed it for all the miscarriages her parents had endured until finally she’d been born. And the two deaths in a car accident when Lucy was 10, her mom behind the wheel, driving Lucy’s baby sister somewhere. The baby was severely disabled with spina bifida. Broad daylight. Good weather. But her mother had crashed into a tree. Leukemia. Miscarriages. Spina bifida. Her mother’s depression over the miscarriages and the final baby, born wrong. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

Lucy blamed Agent Orange. And the war. She vowed she’d never get involved with a soldier.

“

hey have good sermons at St. Joe’s?” He was smiling at her. The smile transformed his face. He wasn’t just cute, Lucy realized. He was really cute. “The music is beautiful,” she said. His mouth wasn’t smiling anymore, but his eyes were. Lucy felt certain that he was a man who didn’t smile much. “So I’m guessing you don’t like the sermons,” he said. He moved back to let a woman with a nearly full shopping cart get easier access to the rib roasts. Lucy watched the woman briskly select a pair of roasts and move off. “She probably has a big freezer in her basement,” Lucy said. “Guess that’s something I’ll have to get if I ever hope to take advantage of these buy-oneget-one-free deals.” “Hey,” the man said. Another smile transformed his face. “How about we team up right now? One of us pays at checkout for the double items, then we divvy up afterward.” Lucy moved the dog tags back and forth on the chain around her neck. “I don’t know,” she said. She looked at his hands to make sure there was no wedding ring or telltale pale skin where a ring would be. Only his right hand rested on the cart handle. His left hand was in the pocket of his jeans. “I’m not married,” he said. “Never have been.” “Then why are you hiding your left hand?” He sighed. He removed his left hand from his pocket and placed it on the handle of the cart. She blinked. “Oh!” she gasped. Then she coughed to disguise her reaction. His left hand was wrong. Its skin was rough and mottled. And most shocking, there was nothing between his thumb and fifth finger. Just squat stubs of scarred flesh over the knuckles. “War injury,” he said. He lifted his

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damaged hand. “Sorry if it scares you.” “It doesn’t scare me,” Lucy said. But it did. A damaged soldier, like her father. She’d suffered the damage war had done to her father, the collateral damage to her mother. “Happened in Afghanistan,” he was saying. “I was in the National Guard, walking back to base from patrol. A little girl ran up to us. Held up a bowl of dried apricots. ‘For you, for you,’ she said. She had such a sweet smile. She was wearing this huge Hello Kitty

ANSWERS TO PETE AND REPEAT 1. The family is now eating ham instead of turkey. 2. Mom is wearing a cross. 3. It’s nighttime. 4. The stuffing has become a cranberry mold. 5. Pete has one more button on his shirt. 6. The candle has burned down lower. 7. Sis has a pigtail. 8. A fold has been removed from a curtain.

So that his work might continue...

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T-shirt and long skirt. She couldn’t have been more than 10 years old. I grabbed a handful of apricots, walked on. I turned around, lifted my left hand to wave goodbye. A bunch of the guys were around her. She blew up.” Lucy felt dizzy. Why was he telling her this awful story? They were strangers to each other. She didn’t even know his name. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. He shrugged. “Turns out there was an improvised explosive device strapped to her waist under the T-shirt. Some guys were killed. My buddy lost his eyes. I guess I was lucky. The only damage is my scar and my hand.” Only visible damage, Lucy thought. She looked at her wristwatch. “Oh! I’ve got to get going. I’ve got people coming for dinner.” She felt the lie warm her cheeks. “It was nice meeting you.” He extended his undamaged right hand. “I’m Leo.” “Lucy.” She quickly shook his hand. “Nice meeting you.” “Too much information, I guess.” He sighed. “I’m sorry I dropped all that on you. I guess I figured your dad being a vet . . . .” She shook her head, began pushing her cart away. “It’s OK, really,” she said over her shoulder as she moved up the aisle. “I really do have to get going.” Her heart pounded. When she got to the checkout lanes, she pushed her cart with its few items off to the side and left the store. As she drove home, she reassured herself: dodged that bullet. But all week she thought about Leo. She saw his ruined hand as she listened to her students perform their scales on her piano. She recalled his clear blue eyes as she decorated cakes at the bakery. Her heart quickened when she remembered how the two smiles he’d offered her had transformed his face. She wondered where he was teaching. A new teacher, he’d said. Her father, too, had been a teacher. High school US history for 20 years, until his chronic leukemia had sidelined him, then killed him.

On Thursday, when her sometimeboyfriend texted her, suggesting that she come to the club where his band had a gig, she deleted the message without replying. On Saturday evening, she joined her girlfriends for a movie, but then begged off going for drinks afterward. She knew a late night would make it harder to get up before noon on Sunday.

n Sunday morning, she found herself pulling into St. Joe’s parking lot for the 10 o’clock Mass. She was early. The parking lot was half empty. Inside the church, she stood in the back, scanning the pews. She saw Leo in the same pew he’d been in last week. Her stomach jumped. There was no pretty blonde sister sitting next to him. She went to the rack of candles and lit one. “For all the soldiers,” she whispered. She took a $20 bill from her purse, dropped it into the payment slot. She lit another candle. “For those who love the soldiers,” she murmured. She clasped the dog tags around her neck. “And for those who will love them.” She walked up the aisle and slipped into the pew behind Leo. During the handshake of peace, when he turned around and saw her, his eyes widened. He didn’t return her smile. She extended both her hands. He hesitated, just a moment, then placed both his hands in hers. His hands felt warm. His expression was cold. “Peace be with you,” she said. He lifted his eyes from their hands to her face. At last he replied, “And with you, too.” “Grocery shopping after church?” Her heart was beating so fast. His hands still filled hers. He nodded. “You?” She nodded. And then, at last, he smiled. A

Marie Anderson is a widely traveled and widely published freelance writer who lives in La Grange, Illinois, with her husband and three children. Her most recent story in this magazine was “Innuendoes” (March 2013). St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

POETRY The Savings Game

Providence

Shots I take with high arc and backspin drop down the hole as if geometric justice were being served.

Newborn day augurs tidings, renewed vim, proffered hope amid crevices, acmes, valleys, hidden spots, voila! there: pure light, solace, comfort without seeking, like Elijah finding God in whisper.

Shots I take in this lonely gym are shots I take in lieu of committing sin. In this gym I hear the voice of God as if spiritual justice were being served.

Prelude: Orpheus and the Moon I walked in lamplight ’neath the waning moon and whispered silence to the whispering dawn and silence only whispered back the moon and my silence filled the whispering dawn And in the whispers I heard the dawn like a mockingbird cry for the fading moon.

—Herman Bush

—Herman Sutter

A Generous God The tiny treasures; Pleasures without measure form: A Generous God!

—B.G. Kelley —Jeanette Martino Land

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ASK A FRANCISCAN

❘ BY FATHER PAT McCLOSKEY, OFM

Are the Knights of Columbus Anti-gay? I recently heard that the Knights of Columbus spent over $500,000 on anti-gay literature. Where is this hatred of gays coming from? Also, can my local pastor refuse me Communion at Mass if I tell him that I am a member of Call to Action? As a Knight of Columbus and the chaplain of its Council 1683, I receive considerable K of C literature. I would describe none of it as antigay. As an organization, they accept the Catholic Church’s teaching that homosexual people are to be respected and not discriminated against. Their public policy link at kofc.org reflects this.

Are you referring to efforts by the Knights of Columbus, through articles and ad campaigns, to keep marriage legally defined as the union of one man and one woman? In fact, that is its current legal definition in 39 states. That definition was reflected in the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) signed by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996. Last June, the US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that DOMA was unconstitutional. Marriage is any society’s most basic institution because it is the foundation of the family. Not every marriage will be blessed with children, but every child benefits from having loving parents of each gen-

der. In certain circumstances, others may substitute for a child’s biological parents, but being raised by a mother and father is clearly ideal. It is neither hatred nor bigotry to point this out. Regarding your second question, I am not aware of any diocese that indicates membership in Call to Action as disqualifying a person properly disposed from receiving Communion during Mass. There is no directive on this from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. People sometimes make such bans on their own authority. On the other hand, receiving Communion is not the time to make some statement other than

ANDREJS PIDJASS @ NEJRON.LIVEJOURNAL.COM

Where Did He Get His Learning? In Acts of the Apostles, we find sections where St. Peter waxes eloquently about theology in his sermon on Pentecost (2:14–36), his preaching in Solomon’s Portico in Jerusalem’s temple (3:12–26), or his defense before the Sanhedrin (4:8– 12). Peter and John defended themselves a second time (4:19–20). When Peter was arrested a third time, he again spoke for all the apostles (5:29–32). He later answered the challenge that he should not have baptized Cornelius the centurion (10:34–43 and 11:4–18). He explained why Jewish Christians should not be obliged to follow the law of Moses completely (15:6–11). How did this simple fisherman, who on Good Friday denied knowing Jesus, get all this so soon? Was it the power of God? Acts of the Apostles several times explains Peter as being inspired by the Holy Spirit. We can easily understand Acts as a “you are there” text, but what

5 4 ❘ Nov ember 2013

the Pontifical Biblical Commission indicated in its 1964 instruction “On the Historical Truth of the Gospels” probably applies here also. New Testament texts are the third stage of a process that began with the historical events of Jesus’ life and ministry, followed by the later preaching by the apostles and others about Jesus. Mark, the oldest of the four Gospels, reached the form in which we know it 30 or more years after Jesus died and rose. Matthew, Luke, and John followed. Acts of the Apostles may have been written as many as 50 years after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Peter didn’t learn his theology at the foot of Jesus’ cross; he wasn’t there. Peter learned his theology through tears over betraying Jesus and the joy of being forgiven by him. The apocryphal story of Peter meeting the risen Jesus coming into Rome as he was fleeing Nero’s persecution suggests that St. Peter was learning and relearning his theology right up to being martyred for his faith in Jesus.

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

one’s belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

‘Is Every Encyclical Infallible?’ I know that the pope’s infallibility is not a personal trait but is part of his office as the successor of St. Peter. Even so, is every encyclical infallible? The short answer is no. Vatican I’s decree “Eternal Pastor” taught: “The Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, when discharging the office of pastor and teacher of all Christians, and defines with his supreme apostolic authority a doctrine concerning faith or morals that is to be held by the universal Church, through the divine assistance promised him in St. Peter, exercises that infallibility which the divine Redeemer wishes to endow his Church for defining doctrine concerning faith or morals.” Infallibility is a guarantee that neither the pope teaching individually as the Church’s supreme pastor nor the pope teaching in communion with the whole college of bishops can mislead the faithful on an issue essential to salvation. Encylicals remain very important teaching documents. No pope since 1870 has designated an encyclical as an exercise of papal infallibility, which requires three conditions: 1) the subject is a matter of faith or morals, 2) the pope must be teaching as supreme pastor, and 3) the pope must indicate that the teaching is infallible. Since 1870, the only such teaching is the 1950 definition by Pope Pius XII of Mary’s assumption. Some people have argued that every canonization is an infallible statement, but that opinion is not official Church teaching. Recent encylicals have been addressed to the whole Church, but the 2013 edition of Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Almanac lists 288 encyclicals since 1740, most of them written to bishops of a single country. Many of them were drawn up for the anniversary of a saint, a Holy Fr ancisca n Media .org

Year, or another Church event. Pope Leo XIII wrote the most encyclicals: 86 between 1878 and 1902. Blessed John XXIII broke new ground when he addressed Peace on Earth (1962) to the usual audience and added “all people of good will.”

Sins against the Holy Spirit What did Jesus mean when he said, “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Mt 12:31–32)?

impenitence, apostasy. Exegetically, the likeliest view is ‘persistence in consummate and obdurate opposition to the influence of the Spirit’ [citing J.A. Fitzmeyer, The Gospel according to Luke]. “Theologically, the last interpretation may offer hope for the salvation of people who lack an explicit faith in Jesus Christ yet who are implicitly open to his saving power through their trust in the Spirit, who is less sharply defined historically.” God cannot make a rock so heavy that God cannot move it; there cannot be a sin beyond God’s power of forgiveness. A

Father Pat welcomes your questions! Send them to: Ask a Franciscan, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498, or Ask@FranciscanMedia.org. All questions sent by mail need to include a selfaddressed stamped envelope. This column’s answers can be searched back to April 1996 at StAnthonyMessenger.org.

In the New Jerome Biblical Commentary, Father Benedict Viviano, OP, writes: “Historically, this sin has been understood in various ways: presuming to attain salvation without faith and love, despair of salvation, obstinacy in sin or error, final

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BOOK CORNER

❘ BY CAROL ANN MORROW

World Religions and Contemporary Issues What Our

How Evolving Views on Ecology, Peace, and Women Are Impacting Faith Today

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Can You Drink the Cup? Henri J. M. Nouwen

Reviewed by MICHAEL DALEY, a teacher at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduate of Xavier University, Cincinnati, where Brennan Hill was among his professors. Daley’s most recent book, edited with Bill Madges, is Vatican II: Fifty Personal Stories.

Are Reading

Heretics G. K. Chesterton My Life on the Rock: A Rebel Returns to the Catholic Faith Jeff Cavins My Sisters the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir Colleen Carroll Campbell The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection Translated by Benedicta Ward

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THE CARICATURES religious traditions suffer are plentiful: narrow-minded, detrimental to the earth, prone to violence, oppressive toward women. Yet, in his new book, World Religions and Contemporary Issues, Brennan Hill, emeritus professor of theology at Xavier University, asserts that religions have an invaluable role in responding to the problems of our times. The book begins by considering what religion is. Broadly speaking, though somewhat elusive to define, religion involves three things: observance, commitment, and conversion. Narrowly focused in on itself, this could lead and has led some religious expressions to become separate and private, shut off from the world. Hill’s goal, however, is to show that religions, rather than being sources of disunity and distraction, can actually energize persons of faith in healthy ways. In this sense, they can assist in personal and communal searches for the truth.

The body of the book examines five major world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: their beginnings, communities, sacred writings, beliefs, and worship. This basic knowledge of various religious traditions becomes all the more important as we continue to see a global society evolving right before our eyes. Unlike other similar books, however, Hill ends each of these chapters by examining every tradition in light of the contemporary issues of ecology, peace, and women. What he says about Hinduism (and India) specifically can be applied to the other religions generally: “. . .[I]t is challenging to participate vigorously in industrialization and prosperity, yet still be committed to environmental concerns. It is difficult to promote the sacredness of all life and ahimsa (nonviolence) while engaged in a nuclear arms race. It is not easy to balance the hierarchical and patriarchal structures of Brahmanism with modern democracy or the contemporary women’s movement.” Hill doesn’t dismiss the tensions or conflicts that arise in the world religions when it comes to these three contemporary issues. More important, in his study, when religions and their followers exploit the environment and women or advocate violence, it is often due to a misuse or manipulation of that tradition. Rather than have to leave a tradition to speak and act on behalf of the earth, peace, and women, Hill encourages believers to see the positive resources for justice within their own religion. Though short and, as a result, potentially overlooked, the book’s final chapter is not to be missed. The topic is interfaith dialogue. It’s one thing to read this book, but I believe Hill’s deeper goal is to get people of different faiths to encounter one another. This chapter gives readers the tools with which to do just that. Each chapter has vocabulary, discussion questions, a bibliography, and YouTube clips to enhance the reading experience. World Religions and Contemporary Issues is a helpful, clear, engaging, and relevant introduction to world religions and their connections with contemporary issues. St . A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r

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The Road of Hope A Gospel from Prison By Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan New City Press 219 pages • $16.95 Paperback The author, a Vietnamese cardinal who was imprisoned for 13 years and lived as a refugee for eight years, wrote 1,001 daily reflections smuggled from his prison cell. These passages reveal a captive who thought not about his own perils, but about living the Gospel. Books featured in this column can be ordered from

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A CATHOLIC MOM SPEAKS

❘ BY SUSAN HINES-BRIGGER

Dear God . . .

’m mad at you. Over the past year you’ve given me more than my fair share of struggles, sadness, loss, and pain. And I’m not happy about it. In fact, if one more person tells me that you won’t give me more than I can handle, I’m going to lose it. If that’s actually the case, though, then you must think I’m a lot stronger than I am, and it’s not fair. Why not somebody else? Why so much? Why me? What good does praying do when bad things keep happening? Obviously you’re not listening. I go to Mass and I feel nothing. I pray . . . nothing. No comfort, no solace, no peace. Where are you? —Susan

“

58 ❘ Nov e mbe r 201 3

There, I finally got that off my chest. I think for far too long I’ve been afraid to say that. I think a lot of people would be. Questioning God? Being angry at God? You just don’t do that. And I thought that, too. I have been well versed for years in the idea that we must always be completely in step with God. But recently I realized that it’s OK not to be sometimes. It’s completely normal, and God can handle it.

In Good Company But if I feel alone in my frustration with God, I’ve got some good company. A few years ago everyone was

floored when it was revealed in the book Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta that Mother Teresa had experienced what is known as Dark Night, or “a dark night of the soul” as it is often called. The book contained Mother Teresa’s letters and writings, and in those writings, she spoke of feeling abandoned by God and struggling to maintain her prayer life. Mother Teresa was beatified on October 19, 2003, so maybe there’s still some hope for me to be redeemed. But what exactly does it mean to experience “a dark night of the soul”? Does it mean that one has St An t h o n yM e s s e n g e r . o rg

MOTHER TERESA’S DAILY PRAYER Dear Jesus,

Click here for more information and articles on Mother Teresa.

tal Digi as Extr

Help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine. Shine through me and be ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARY KURNICK MAASS

so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others. Amen.

completely turned his or her back on God? The answer is no. It is most well-known as a feeling of abandonment by God. It often goes much deeper than just that, though. In the 16th century, St. John of the Cross, friend to St. Teresa of Avila, first developed the concept and explained it as not being able to pray anymore. Those in the midst of such an experience lose the joy of the spiritual journey. But they hang on tightly to their commitment to Christ. The experience is often associated with mystics, which I certainly am not. But I can connect with the

underlying message of this struggle. The August 2011 issue of Catholic Update, “Mother Teresa’s Dark Night,” by Phyllis Zagano and C. Kevin Gillespie, says: “The most disorienting part of Dark Night is the painful loss of God. While the experience of the loss is real, echoing other losses, the soul is also invited to give up all ‘knowledge’ of God— all analogy, all experience, all understanding, in order to be freed to meet God. “Letting go of ideas of God means letting go of ideas of self, and that combined loss brings crisis.”

Still Struggling I totally get that feeling: the feeling that, no matter how hard or how much I pray, my pleas are ignored. But I also still have that commitment to God. After all, if I weren’t still on board with my faith, why would I even bother being mad at God? And the example of Mother Teresa, that she was able to go through this experience yet still maintain a loving and close relationship with God, gives me hope that God and I will be able to work things out. Until then, the words of Mother Teresa resonate with me: “I do not know how much deeper will this trial go—how much pain and suffering it will bring to me. This does not worry me any more. I leave this to Him as I leave everything else.” I’m not there yet, but God and I are working on it. A

Do you have comments or suggestions for topics you’d like to see addressed in this column? Send them to me at “A Catholic Mom Speaks,” 28 W. Liberty St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498, or e-mail them to CatholicMom@FranciscanMedia.org.

PETE AND REPEAT These scenes may seem alike to you, But there are changes in the two. So look and see if you can name ILLUSTRATION BY TOM GREENE

Eight ways in which they’re not the same. (Answers on page 52)

Fr an ci s can M e di a. o rg

Nov e mbe r 201 3 ❘ 59

BACKSTORY

“

hese scenes may seem alike to you . . .” Halfway through the past century, the St. Anthony Messenger

editors began publishing what many today consider the maga-

zine’s hallmark: “Pete and Repeat” (p. 59). It was Father Victor Drees, OFM, working with assistant Marie Frohmiller and a new assistant editor, Mary Lynne Phillips. Apparently Father Victor had spotted a similar feature in a German Franciscan magazine and copied it freely. The art originally PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER HEFFRON

came from that magazine. Mary Lynne would come up with a rhyme that matched the image, about Pete, a hapless postWorld War II stranded sailor. Over the years Mary Lynne, now Rapien, would sometimes create the rhymes at her dinner table, with help from her growing family! In the 1970s, illustrator Tom Greene was recruited and has been illustrating Pete ever since. In recent years, now-managing-editor Susan Hines-Brigger (initially in the footsteps of retired managing editor Barbara Beckwith) creates a rhyme each month to accompany Greene’s illustration. Then someone in our art department, typically Karen Sempsrott, takes to altering the image for the second frame of missing stuff. When I first started here, this all was done with an artist’s knife. Now, of course, the image is scanned, then altered digitally. One ground rule: leave body parts alone! Pete changed over the years, from the goofy sailor to a young lad who never got older. Sis (about the same timeless age) came along, and Karen, most recently, introduced Scruffy, the dog. Both add to the challenge. Some years ago, when printing changes allowed us to go from black-andwhite to full color, some of you reminded us to keep the puzzle color-blind friendly. Researching for the introduction to our small book of “Pete and Repeat” puzzles (see our website), I found that ours wasn’t the first use of the Pete and Repeat tagline. Famed silent-film star Fatty Arbuckle incessantly recited a joke about Pete falling off the boat. Over the years there was also a repetitive parrot toy, a few drinking bars, and a rock band. “. . . But there are changes . . .” A big change happened to the puzzle in the past six months or so. Can you find it? Let me know at JohnFeister@ FranciscanMedia.org.

6 0 ❘ Nov ember 2013

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

ILLUSTRATION BY TOM GREENE

Editor in Chief

REFLECTION

The law of harvest

is to reap more than you sow.

Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit, and you reap a character. Sow a character, and you reap a destiny. © SEBASTIAN DUDA/FOTOLIA; BACKGROUND © GALYNA ANDRUSHKO/FOTOLIA

—James Allen

ST. ANTHONY M 28 W. Liberty Street Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498

essenger

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