Pastor’s Corner — January 1st, 2023
An Additional Confession Time Now Offered at Parish: Tuesdays at 7PM
Hearing confessions is one of my favorite things to do as a priest. There’s nothing quite like standing in the person of Christ granting forgiveness and reconciling people to God. And we hear a lot of confessions here at St. Pat’s. In fact, we intentionally offer confessions several times a week at different times of the day so that more people, even non parishioners can come. Before COVID, we had Tuesday evening confessions available. I’m happy to announce this weekend that with the help of a retired priest, we are now adding Tuesday evening confessions at 7pm as one of the times we offer confessions at St. Pat’s. So now we hear confessions Tuesdays (7pm), Wednesdays (4:30pm), Thursdays (4:30pm) and Saturdays (8:30am and 4:00pm usually with two priests).
Congress Passes the So-Called “Respect Marriage Act”
Last month the U.S. Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act and our President signed it into law. Eventually, I think this law could have big consequences. So how are we to think about this Act as Catholics? In his article, Congress Dishonors Marriage, Archbishop Cordelione of San Francisco writes succinctly on why true marriage matters in society and how we understand religious freedom in light of the ever expanding definition of “marriage.” The first part is worth quoting at length:
“The union of husband and wife is unique: Together they make a baby, and their marriage is the best way to ensure that that baby grows up with both mother and father. Marriage is a good thing. Society needs this institution.
Until a few years ago, virtually every culture in existence recognized the unique stake society has in affirming these unions. Even cultures that condoned sexual relations outside the bond of marriage—including between people of the same sex—never confused these relations with marriage. And today, after five decades of consistent social science data showing the devastating social ills resulting from fatherlessness, you would think Congress would want to do something to put the family back together. Instead, last week, it took a decisive step in the opposite direction.
They call it the “Respect for Marriage Act.” It passed both Houses of Congress and now goes to President Biden to be signed into law. It requires the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages as legitimate. Its cheerleaders celebrate it as an advancement in equality, liberty, and respect. But equality and liberty for whom? Respect for what?
Certainly not for children. The best thing we can do for children is give them a married mother and father in a stable, life-long, low-conflict relationship. Parents in other-than-optimal situations who make great sacrifices to do their best for their children deserve our esteem and support. But the lack of a father or a mother is always a loss. Paradoxically, many of those who advance and applaud this legislation claim to be fighting to help the poor, while undermining the one thing that most protects children from ending up in poverty: marriage and family unity. Do you want to help the poor? Then put the family back together, based on the life-long marital commitment of husband and wife. Anything else is sheer hypocrisy….”
…Another deceptive technique in the act: It claims that the view that marriage is uniquely between a man and a woman is somehow a religious belief. However, acknowledging the basic social good of marriage is not a question of faith, but of reason. Religious faith gives a deeper, spiritual understanding to this basic social good, but it certainly is not necessary to come to acknowledge it. Reason alone suffices for that.”
Suffice it to say, I hope that it’s becoming clearer to more people that when our culture loses its Christian faith, it doesn’t just lose its faith; it also loses its ability to reason as well. It reveals the rather unpopular paradox of Christian history: it’s precisely faith in Jesus Christ that paved the wayof the restoration and brilliance of human reason. That’s why we shouldn’t be surprised that as people increasingly reject the God of Jesus Christ as the source of reason, that our culture will continually descend further into the darkness of error and more people will suffer.
I encourage you to read the rest of the article as it ends with a note of hope on how we can respond in this moment.
Masculinity and Fatherhood
About a month ago, my priest fraternity just got done reading the book, Priestly Fatherhood: Treasure in Earthen Vessels by Jacques Philippe. This short book, while primarily meant for priests, speaks deeply about the fatherhood of the priest. Reading this stirred up in my heart some of the most potent memories of why I wanted to be a priest in the first place: to be a spiritual father for the people of God. In fact, it’s the spiritual fatherhood of the priest that makes me so happy about being a priest.
Recently I read an excellent short article (from one of my favorite Catholic commentary websites) that speaks about the relationship between masculinity and fatherhood. In our confused culture, what it means to be a man has been so misunderstood and politicized that we often lose sight of what it’s about: fatherhood. The truth is that all men are destined to be fathers in one way or another, even those who have no biological children of their own. In addition to the love for their spouses, men are called to self-less sacrifice for their children, protecting them and providing for them, forming them to use their freedom for love, and helping them take risks to develop confidence as daughters and sons of God. In imitation of God the Father, fathers are called to love their children in such a way that one day their children can one day become responsible mothers and fathers with families of their own. I encourage you to read this short article if you have time.
“Catechism in a Year” Podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz Begins Today
A quick note: starting today, Fr. Mike Schmitz is launching his “Catechism in a Year” podcast with Ascension Press. In 2021 Fr. Mike hosted the very popular “Bible in a Year” podcast which helped people dive deeper into the Word of God. I know many of you have gone through Bible in a Year and found it very fruitful. I would highly encourage you to follow along with Fr. Mike this year as he reads through the Catechism, prays, and offers a brief reflection on the passage. Each episode is relatively short but powerful. You can sign up at ascensionpress.com or subscribe via any of your favorite podcast apps.
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias