That’s a relief!

Thank heavens the White House cleared things up. 

A fashion manufacturer claimed that Michele Obama was carrying its $6000 purse the other day.  Of course, that would be a sad and pathetic instance of showing blatant indifference to the needs of the poor and turning up her nose in the face of so many people in the U.S. and elsewhere who are out of work, struggling to get by, or both.  (Sort of like the time in April she wore a pair of sneakers that cost over $500 — to a food bank!)

But don’t be troubled!  The White House has clarified matters.  The purse she was carrying cost only $875. 

Well, that makes me feel better.

Digging in

You know by now that Pope Benedict’s third encyclical, Caritas in Veritatis, appeared today.  It’s an interesting and sometimes difficult read.  I read through it today and look forward to spending some quality time with the letter in the days and weeks ahead. 

I also got a chance to peruse some of the commentary that’s already floating around the web.  I found these four in particular worth a look.  Of course, there’s probably some other good stuff out there that I’ve missed.

James Martin, SJ

John L. Allen, Jr.

George Weigel

reaction to George Weigel

The piece by Weigel (whose work I usually enjoy) was the very first one I found today.  My first reaction was to feel a bit of resentment at Weigel’s suggestion that he (and a few degreed Vaticanologists) know which sections of the new encyclical (or any encyclical) I should really pay attention to and which parts I can safely ignore because they were included so that the Pope could keep the peace in the offices at the Vatican.  The way Weigel casts doubt on sections of the encyclical that he clearly would prefer not to see in there is worth at least the raising of a dubious eyebrow.  But that fourth link I’ve provided above articulates this with such sharp wit — I laughed out loud in front of my screen several times.  (And one of the comments to the post made me chuckle, too:  “I think this may be the first time the historical-critical method has been used to tease out the “real” meaning of a religious document on the very day it was published.”) 

(UPDATE: Another strong reaction to the Weigel piece here.  The comments to it are also worth looking at.)

(UPDATE 2: Whoa. There is no shortage of people voicing their disappointment with George Weigel’s NRO piece.)

Of course, there’s no substitute for reading the encyclical itself.  Like so much of Benedict’s work, though, it’s not always easy reading.  (With this in mind, Pauline Books will soon be publishing my Your Guide to Caritas in Veritate: Charity in the Truth.  Keep an eye out.)

Brief vent

Yes, I did watch the death pageant today.  I confess to have been one of those moved by MJ’s death, having come of age in the 1980s.  But I was put off by today’s show — the exaggerated claims of his greatness, the odd (considering MJ himself) attempt to make it a “black” celebration, etc.

I was particularly disgusted by the way they shoved his daughter in front of a microphone — the same kid whose privacy he clearly worked so hard to protect over the years.  Was there anyone who wasn’t aware that he’d have strongly opposed having her up there?  Heck, she was clearly opposed to the whole idea.

Pier Giorgio’s Feast

My article “A Feast on the Fourth of July” appeared last year at Catholic Exchange.  It not only summarizes this great young man’s life, but also suggests the three essential element’s of his spirituality.

There’s a novena to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati in Saints for Our Times.

Miracles and Martyrs

Cardinal Newman’s is not the only cause that took a significant step yesterday.  The bulletin from the Vatican Information Service:

VATICAN CITY, 3 JUL 2009 (VIS) – Today, during a private audience with Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Pope authorised the congregation to promulgate the following decrees:

MIRACLES

- Blessed Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola (nee Juana Josefa), Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus (1845-1912).

- Servant of God John Henry Newman, English cardinal and founder of the Oratories of St. Philip Neri in England (1801-1890).

- Servant of God Angelo Paoli (ne Francesco), Italian professed priest of the Order of Carmelites of the Strict Observance (1642-1720).

- Servant of God Maria Alfonsina Danil Ghattas (nee Soultaneh Maria), co- foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem (1843-1927).

MARTYRDOM

- Servant of God Jose Samso i Elias, Spanish diocesan priest, pastor and archpriest of Santa Maria de Mataro, killed in hatred of the faith during religious persecution in Spain (1887-1936).

- Servant of God Teofilo Fernandez de Legaria Goni (ne Beniamino) and four companions, professed priests of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (PICPUS), killed in hatred of the faith during religious persecution in Spain in 1936.

- Servant of God Georg Hafner, German diocesan priest, killed in hatred of the faith in the concentration camp of Dachau, Germany (1900-1942).

- Servant of God Zoltan Ludovico Meszlenyi, Hungarian titular bishop of Sinope and auxiliary of Esztergom, killed in hatred of the faith at Kistarcsa, Hungary (1892-1951).

HEROIC VIRTUES

- Servant of God Engelmar Unzeitig (ne Uberto), German professed priest of the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill (1911-1945).

- Servant of God Anna Maria Janer Anglarill, Spanish foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Holy Family of Urgell (1800-1885).

- Servant of God Maria Serafina del Sacro Cuore di Gesu Micheli (ne Clotilde), Italian foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Angels (1849- 1911).

- Servant of God Teresa Manganiello, Italian laywoman of the Third Order of St. Francis (1849-1876).

Newman miracle a go

There it is:

July 3, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI clears way for Cardinal Newman to become a saint

Pope Benedict XVI today cleared the way for Cardinal John Henry Newman to become a saint.

The Pope issued the decree that allows the beatification of England’s most significant convert to Roman Catholicism.

***

The Holy See will now prepare for a high-profile ceremony to mark the beatification, after which the cleric, who died in 1890, can be known as Blessed John Henry Newman.

The ceremony is most likely to take place in Rome later this year but there is a small possibility it could be celebrated in Westminster, London, under the new leadership of Archbishop Vincent Nichols who has taken a close interest in the cause.

I’d say, contra this London Times piece, that it’s highly likely that the beatification will take place in England.  Though JP2 tended to do all the beatifications himself, and generally in Rome, B16’s standard practice has been to have beatification in the new blessed’s homeland, and to delegate presidership to the local prelate or the head of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Full story here.  And here.

Out of Print but In the Closet

Just a few weeks ago, I got an email from someone asking for a a bunch of copies of one of the first encyclical study guides I did with Pauline Books.  Back in 2004, I did companions to John Paul II’s encyclical on the Eucharist, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, and his apostolic letter on the Rosary, Rosarium Virginis Mariae.  Both guides are now out of print.  But the inquirer was interested in using one of them for some group study this summer and wondered if I had copies.  I had to tell her that I only had a few copies of both.  Then I called around and found a few more unsold copies, but even that was not enough.

Now this weekend, there I was cleaning out a closet and found a box full of them that I hadn’t realized were there!  I had plenty all along.  Talk about feeling stupid.  Oy-vay.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in copies of my Eucharist: The Church’s Treasure or At the School of Mary, they’re available.  They’re $6.95 each, plus $1.50 for shipping.  I also have copies of the newest encyclical study guide, Your Guide to Spe Salvi: Saved in Hope (6.95), as well as Saints for Our Times: New Novenas and Prayers ($12.95).  You can have a set of all 4 for $35.00, shipping included.  (I’ve added buttons for all of this to the bookstore page on my website.)

The three encyclical companions basically provide a guided tour of each document, providing explanations, illustrations, background material, questions for reflection, prayer prompts, and suggestions for living out the teaching.  I’ve received positive feedback from others who have used  them in group settings.  The Saints book includes basic biographical material, an original novena, and some supplementary prayers for each of the 18 (or so) saints and blesseds it features. (Most of them are so recently beatified/canonized that you will not find novenas to them anywhere else.)

Summertime’s a great time for spiritual growth.  (Plus, if you hop over to my website, you’ll notice one of our kids just graduated from high school … starts college in the fall … you know how that goes… every little bit helps.)

CiV Backgrounder

Today the Vatican officially set a publication date for Caritas in Veritate: Tuesday, July 7, at 11:30 am. 

CNS’s Carol Glatz has a good backgrounder today.  It includes a good explanation of Catholic Social Teaching and the encyclicals that have expressed it:

Instead of focusing on theological beliefs, the social encyclicals written by most modern-day popes have tried to shape the way Christians and all people of good will can better serve the common good. Each social encyclical was unique in that it sought to respond to the most pressing social realities at the time.

Also a good summary of the social encyclicals of the past 100+ years.   It’s important, because it’s the context within which this encyclical falls.

(Sidenote: I’m happy to see Evangelium Vitae included in the list of social encyclicals.  It’s often not, but I always do when I teach on the topic of CST.  It highlights that the abortion issue is a human rights issue, not simply a religious one.)

John Paul II cause takes a step

Yesterday, in a meeting at the Vatican, a group of theologian consultors for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints made a positive judgment about the heroic virtues of John Paul II, based on a report submitted to them.  This clears the way for a judgment to be made by the bishop and cardinal members of the Congregation.  They’re the ones whose positive judgment really counts, whose recognition of his heroic virtues would allow John Paul II to have the title “Servant of God,” with the next step being beatification.  A miracle attributed to his intercession would be necessary for that to happen.

As of 9:00 this morning, this is not being covered in English yet.   It’s reported today by the respected Vatican journalist Andrea Tornielli at Il Giornale’s website.

Also on the JP2 cause, be sure to check out my post “Karol and Wanda: A Primer.”

Seelos miracle coverage

There was a sudden spike in readership here today, and I wasn’t sure why.  Then I noticed on my WordPress stats that a ton of people had found their way here by searching “Francis Seelos.”  But why the sudden interest in him, I wondered. 

Turns out, the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Seelos miracle investigation is getting some increasingly significant coverage.  I noted below that AOL News had reported on it yesterday.  Now today, Fox News has picked up (via the AP).  Also, it was covered on a Baltimore station’s television news, and that coverage has been posted on YouTube:

For visitors who are interested, I summarize Seelos’ life and ministry here.  But don’t take my word for it; there’s a great Seelos website here.