iFaith: Sanctifying technologies

First Published: Wednesday, 21 July 2010

Rather than discuss technologies strictly limited to the iPhone or iPod Touch, I felt it was perhaps time to discuss some other valuable electronic resources that are perhaps more widely available.

Our Pope Benedict XVI, in the footsteps of his venerable predecessor Servant of God Pope John Paul II, has been continually vocal about encouraging the sanctification of communications technologies and their use in the building of the Kingdom of God.
iPhone applications are but one of a variety of inventive ways that people across the globe have taken up this challenge.
One other such way is the Podcast. Podcasts are akin to radio programmes that are easily download onto whatever digital media player is in use (iPod, mp3 player or otherwise) and listened to at one’s leisure and over and again if so desired.
There is an incredible amount of interesting, educational, and entertaining material available for download for free. 

A number of Catholic organisations are making use of this platform to provide reliable Catholic news, spiritual formation, Church documents, Catholic apologetics and prayer resources to people across the globe.
Radio Vatican itself has been broadcasting over the internet and uploading its radio onto iTunes for some time now. News updates are available for free daily download as Podcasts through the iTunes store or directly from their website.

Other Podcasts that I’ve found particularly valuable include AirMaria: a Podcast produced by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate which includes homilies from daily Masses as well as more academic lectures and feature presentations about current events or areas of Church doctrine; and, Audio Sancto, produced by a number of priests from the Fraternal Society of Saint Peter, is yet another source of quality Catholic formation with a complete archival library of homilies from priests since 2003. In all, there are over 432 sermons available for download on Audio Sancto – and it is being added to each week, so there is a whole lot of quality listening to be done and formation to be had.

Even some within the hierarchy of the Church are utilising this as a means of formation. Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, has had until recently a weekly Podcast that is still available for download. It has a plethora of informative tidbits and lessons on Church teachings and particularly clear unfolding of the work of the late, great, Servant of God Pope John Paul II available for download.
There is a lot out there. So, whether you’re interested in Catholic news, Apologetics, catechesis, reading (or listening to) papal encyclicals, or getting into the mind of a Curial official, it is definitely worth having a scout around the iTunes Podcast store to find something that suits you. Happy listening.
Ave Maria!

read it from the source: The Record

National Council of Priests misses the mark

ABC Religion & Ethics coverage of the Australian National Council of Priests in Parramatta seems accurate - and it is indeed this accuracy that somewhat frightens me.  Read the story here


Journalist Noel Debien reports: 

"I heard calls for a third Vatican Council, married priests, discussion of women priests, warnings of church implosion, calls for cardinals to be elected by bishops, as well as public criticism of Cardinal Pell's appointment to Sydney"  

Unfortunately it really isn't surprising to hear this kind of trash being pedaled in the more senior members of the clergy here in Australia, who for lack of clerical garb often look more like librarians than religious.  Just a quick look at the keynote speakers for the conference.  Bishop Geoffrey Robinson and Fr Donald Cozzens   Alarm bells anyone!? 


However, there is some comfort to be found in the story's title "MUTINY RUMBLINGS AMONG SENIOR AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC CLERGY"


Yes, I added the emphasis on the 'senior', but it makes my point very clearly:
Amongst young Catholics who are active in their faith there a nasty little quib that is often aimed (tongue in cheek, of course) at those who voice those opinions cited above quoted.  It goes along the lines of 'Don't worry.  Those liberals will be dead soon.'
Not wishing any harm to anyone (and please don't read that into the short quote that I've used), but it seems that those kinds of ideas (those that contradict the Church's consistent teaching), are only able to gain ground amongst those who are somewhat older.  Younger people often get sucked into that kind of liberal Catholyc thinking right before they leave the Church while those that remain tend to be stalwart supporters of the Pope and other solid bishops (like for example George Cardinal Pell - who many at the NCP gathering seemed keen to criticize).


Hence the cry of orthodox and savvy youngsters.  It's an underhanded jab at a generation of teachers and 'catechists' who have diluted the faith to a point where there's nothing to pass on, but, it's a nasty cry coupled with the hope that, in the future, only those who want to be Catholic will be so, and they will be the ones who will be teaching it to future generations.  But, let's not forget those who pedal such liberal ideas.  They are in need of our prayers.


Ave Maria!

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

It was exactly one year ago today that I was enrolled in the confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Every day since then I've worn the scapular with pride. It serves as a constant reminder of my devotion to Our Blessed Lady.
It's kinda funny (or is it just simply sad) that I lived 24 years, in a Catholic family, attending Catholic schools, and even a Catholic University (where I studied Religious Education - both as an undergraduate and post-graduate) and had never even heard of such a thing as the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel!
I was totally unaware of the existence of such beautiful devotions in the Church, and I deem the actions of having theses devotions from me as being almost criminal - this is something I obviously feel quite strongly about, but perhaps I will address it in a later post. I can just thank the Lord that I was brought to a place where I was able to have been told about this wonderful devotion and learn to appreciate it.
Below is a Prayer to Our Lady of Mt Carmel along with some information on the scapular etc taken from http://airmaria.com/2010/07/15/our-lady-of-mount-carmel/
Enjoy!

Ave Maria!
Tom

Prayer to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel: O Mary, Queen and Mother of Carmel, I come today to consecrate myself to you, for my whole life is but a small return for the many graces and blessings that have come from God to me through your hands. Since you look with special kindness on those who wear your Scapular, I implore you to strengthen my weakness with your power, to enlighten the darkness of my mind with your wisdom, and to increase in me Faith, Hope and Charity that I may repay each day my debt of humble homage to you.

May your Scapular bring me your special protection in my daily struggle to be faithful to your Divine Son and to you. May it separate me from all that is sinful in life and remind me constantly of my duty to imitate your virtues. From now on, I shall strive to live in God’s Presence, and offer all to Jesus through you. Dearest Mother, support me by your never-failing love and lead me to paradise through the merits of Christ and your own intercession. Amen.

A bit of history on Our Lady of Mt. Carmel:

The apparition of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the patroness of the Carmelite Order, begins with St. Simon Stock. St. Simon lived in England and was born in the twelth century. Tradition has it that he lived in the trunk (stock) of a tree and this is how he came to be called. After joining the Carmelite Order he went to Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land, later returning to England. St. Simon was the superior of the Carmelites at age 82 in 1247 from Aylesford, England. He would live to be 100 years old!

It was in 1251 on July 16th that Our Lady of Mt. Carmel appeared to St. Simon with the brown scapular in her hand and holding the Christ Child. She said to him:

“Take, beloved son, this scapular of thy Order as a badge of my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special sign of grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant.”

The brown scapular continues to be the most popular of all scapulars. The apparition was approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587.

Another brief explanation of the scapular is given as follows: The Brown Scapular is a Roman Catholic devotion to Mary under her title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is worn as a sign of love and devotion for the Mother of God. The Carmelite Order, to which the Scapular belongs, originated on Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land and the Scapular is itself a reflection in miniature of the habit (scapular: a sleeveless outer garment falling from the shoulders) which the monks wear as a sign of their vocation and devotion. Over the years the scapular, at least for lay people, became much reduced in size to but small pieces of wool cloth suspended front and back.