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  • Kathleen Herbert 8:09 pm on June 12, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: current events, Fr. Robert Barron, , Word on Fire   

    Word On Fire 

    By Kathleen Herbert

    In my last article, I wrote about resources to help us learn more about what we as Catholics believe and why.  Ever on the lookout for such websites, I’d like to recommend another website that includes articles as well as videos and current events regarding the Catholic faith.

    Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, based in Illinois, cannot be easily characterized.   Endorsed by Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, Pope John Paul II’s biographer George Weigel and Professor of Theology and author Scott Hahn, Fr. Robert Barron’s website http://www.WordonFire.org is a bountiful aggregation of articles, video and audio podcasts, movie reviews, weekly sermons, television shows, a set of DVDs on the topic of Catholicism filmed in 15 countries around the world, as well as topics as diverse as Woody Allen to Thomas Aquinas to Bob Dylan. Want Father’s take on The Sopranos or No Country for Old Men?  As your mother used to say, “Look it up!”

    Have a question as to why Catholics go to confession, why the Church considers abortion murder, vampires ala Buffy or Twilight, heresies, hell, bin Laden or the sex abuse scandal, Fr. Barron takes on the topic with insightful articles or videos.

    Be forewarned. Once you visit the site, you’ll probably spend hours reading, watching, studying, pondering and then your attention is diverted to another topic where the process starts all over again.  The Community Forum is a place for readers to gather and talk amongst themselves on topics as diverse as the opinions of the members.

    The web is filled with websites; give WordOnFire a try. I’m betting you won’t be disappointed.

     

    • Tim 5:22 pm on July 25, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Discovered Father Barron froma Lisa Hendey podcast 2 years ago and I highly recommend his web site and podcasts. We started a men’s group last Lent that used his dvd workshop “Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues” and the guys really got something out of it

    • John Clem 1:12 am on July 15, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Another great clip today from The Catholicism Project about the Holy Eucharist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDVLBUK5FGw&feature=player_embeddedu00a0n

    • John Clem 6:00 pm on July 9, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Just ordered new book called The Church and New Media that features chapters written by both Father Barron and SQPN’s Lisa Hendey. u00a0I have written about this new book in my latest blog: http://www.calltoholiness.us/?p=208u00a0

    • John Clem 11:43 pm on June 29, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      For the Solemnity today of Saints Peter & Paul, Father Barron had released an exclusive clip regarding Peter & Paul from his upcoming Catholicism Project Video.nnhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8qUW7IxapdUu00a0

    • John Clem 11:11 am on June 16, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Great blog Kathy–I am a big fan of Word on Fire and Fr. Barron. u00a0I just wrote a blog myself this past weekend about his new Catholicism Project: http://www.calltoholiness.us/?p=148u00a0

  • Kathleen Herbert 8:11 pm on May 17, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: apologetics, , rapture   

    Apologetics…but Never Apologize 

    By Kathleen Herbert

    I happened to be talking with my neighbor the other day, a very devout Christian man, but whose denomination I’m not sure of. (I’ve noticed that the trend in some Protestant churches is to do away with their unique denominational names and instead rename their building something like Stone Bridge, Full Life, First Bible, New Beginnings and the like.)  But I digress….

    During our conversation, the subject of the Rapture came up and, if truth be told, I was at a loss at how to discuss this, other than to say that as a Catholic, it is not in our belief system that a certain portion of the population will suddenly be caught up and taken into the clouds. While we, as Catholics, don’t believe this, it is an important part of the teaching in his church.  The wildly popular Left Behind books, along with its varied series, speak to the widespread belief of the Rapture.  And so it got me to thinking.

    About the same time this conversation took place, my Pastor put an article in the weekly bulletin about why the Catholic Church does not subscribe to the Rapture theory.  A coincidence?  Some say it never is. Father Joe pointed his parishioners to an article in Catholic Faith Facts at http://www.catholic.com/library/Rapture.asp

    For more articles on why we believe what we believe, at http://www.Catholic.com, click on the Library drop-down menu, and choose and click on several sub-topics. The purpose of this Apologetics section is to inform Catholics about their faith.  “Apologetics” comes from a Greek term “apologia” from the first letter of St. Peter (3:15) where he says we should “always be ready to give a reason for the hope that lives within us.”

    My Bible Study group at the Rectory every Tuesday morning after the 8:30 Mass, is now studying the book of Matthew. One of the main themes in Chapter 10 is that, as Jesus sent his apostles and disciples out into the world, he told them to not be afraid.  Can’t you just hear Blessed Pope John Paul II’s voice saying, “Do not be afraid”?  And how Pope Benedict XVI instructs us of the importance of evangelization, evangelizing with new methods, even to the point that the “Church exists to evangelize.”

    Over the last 2,000 years, the Catholic Church was the number one messenger of Christ, but somewhere in the last couple of hundred, we’ve lost our edge so to speak. Even if we cannot change some one’s mind about their own belief, we should be prepared to at least defend our own. We agree we should always be prepared to share our Faith with others, and the only way to do this is to understand why we believe what we believe. If we don’t have sufficient knowledge, there’s no way we can share it.

    Have you recently, or in the past, been questioned on your Catholic beliefs? Were you able to answer the question with sincerity and gentle authority?  Did you know where to turn to get the answer?  We live in a wondrous time of information at our fingertips. With a little research, the answer is there for the learning.

     

     

  • Kathleen Herbert 8:36 pm on May 6, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: catechist, faith formation, religious education   

    Practice Makes … Catholic? 

    There are so many rich Catholic websites at our fingertips today.  One of the best I’ve seen is Catechist’s Journey with Joe Paprocki. If you spend a few minutes at this website, you’ll find that you need to spend hours to delve into its deep layers.

    Joe is first and foremost a catechist for the last 30 years, and holds a masters degree in pastoral studies, but he has also authored books for adults, both those discerning the Faith as well as for seasoned and/or returning Catholics. He currently serves as the National Consultant for Faith Formation with Loyola Press. Joe’s Resource List for fellow catechists, as well as dozens of Catholic links, make it an almost one-stop-shop for a large cross section of people.  If that weren’t enough, he holds Webinars on a regular basis that, even if you’re not a catechist with a formal class to teach, you and your own children will probably find them very useful. His recent short video promoting the Sacrament of Reconciliation is touching and heartfelt.

    As the author of several books, one in particular entitled Practice Makes Catholic, Moving from a Learned Faith to a Lived Faith explains the distinct practices that make us essentially Catholic. He says that the problem is that many Catholics don’t understand the “why” of our practices. In this book he articulates and expands on several key characteristics of Catholicism: a sense of sacramentality, commitment to community, respect for human life, a reverence for scripture and tradition and finding (or refining) an attitude of faith and hope.

    Whether you’re a Catechist yourself or merely searching for ways to enhance your experience at Mass, understanding and enriching your faith or learning a tidbit of information that may not have occurred to you, why not visit Catechist’s Journey and be pleasantly surprised at just what you may find there.

     

    • ljones 6:50 pm on May 19, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      u00a0I just ordered this book after participating in the “Practice Makes Catholic” webinar by Loyola Press. u00a0I second your recommendation to check out his blog, but also his books. u00a0I’ve read several and can’t wait for my copy of “Practice Makes Catholic” to arrive in the mail. u00a0

  • Kathleen Herbert 4:33 am on April 27, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Fr. Basil Cole O.P., Homiletic & Pastoral Review   

    Are You Holy? 

    By Kathleen Herbert

    Many Catholics feel a personal connection to Pope John Paul II. Now with his Beatification Ceremony on May 1, this beloved world leader takes a major step toward sainthood. There is little doubt he was a holy man. But holiness is not an easy thing to measure on a personal note. Perhaps we can take stock of how we measure up. How do we know whether we’re growing in holiness?

    In the latest issue of Homiletic & Pastoral Review, Father Basil Cole, O.P. has an article entitled “Formation of Novices and Seminarians: Nine Signs of Steady Growth.”  Fr. Cole, a Dominican theologian and scholar, sets forth a series of indicators of spiritual growth by which those preparing for the priesthood can be evaluated.  As it turns out, his list is a good tool for evaluating ourselves.

    Following are Fr. Cole’s indicators in the form of nine questions, which suggest the key areas in which we should look at ourselves:

    - Am I God-centered? This addresses the question of whether we think of ourselves as the center of the universe, in which case we are likely to be tense, negative and critical. We may discern progress in our path to holiness if we come more easily to see the good in others, to accept the dispositions of Providence cheerfully and to trust in God even in the midst of trials and temptations.

    - Do I take joy in serving others? There may be times when either our normal duties (or interruptions in our routine) demand that we occupy ourselves with tasks we do not particularly enjoy which are for the benefit of others. We are growing in charity if we find such services easier to perform over time, especially with a sincere desire to be of benefit and if we gain the ability to remain recollected and prayerful even when doing something we do not naturally enjoy.

    - Do I hate sin? As time goes on, if we are growing spiritually, we should be increasingly averse not only to great sins, but to lesser ones as well. We should be developing a progressively stronger resolve to avoid anything (including objectively innocent pursuits) which can be an obstacle to our union with God. And, of course, we should be actively seeking gifts of the Holy Spirit which are the opposite of the disposition to sin.

    - Is my conscience delicate? This is closely related to the previous point and refers to the need to become ever more sensitive in discerning what is displeasing to God. In the beginning, for example, we may wish to avoid sins against the the seventh Commandment, but think nothing of cheating on a test or on our tax returns. In time, true growth demands that we more clearly perceive any sinful attitudes at work in us. Then we will become more watchful, and we’ll also more easily distinguish between not only degrees of sin, but the difference between temptation and sin.

    - Am I humble? To use Fr. Basil’s own words, a sense of humility “means a submission to whatever God desires in the moment, even if it means being unknown or unrecognized.” Pride leads us to be calculating in all that we do in order to increase in stature before the world. But God wants our personal surrender to Himself and to those who, in each moment, represent His will.

    - Am I faithful in prayer? If we prefer to lose ourselves in a constant whirl of activity and find that we are uncomfortable being alone with God in the silence of our hearts, we’ll go backwards. Spiritual growth is marked by a growing willingness to put ourselves in the presence of God, even if we suffer from dryness or distractions during our prayer time.

    - Do my decisions reflect truth and prudence? As we grow spiritually, we should become more adept at knowing when to seek counsel, yet we should also be increasingly able to advise others or act quickly and decisively ourselves in ways that will still seem spiritually right, after the fact. We should grow in our capacity to size up each situation properly and to apply the right virtue and the right solution to each challenge.

    - Is my heart divided? Simply put, this question asks whether we allow various interests and attachments to conflict with our thirst for God or whether we are gradually developing a more ordered appreciation of all good things in, through and for God, in proper relation to Him. Especially with things we particularly enjoy, we should be praying and working to see them in the light of Christ.

    - Do I love the Church? To quote Fr. Cole, “the institutional Church is the unsullied Bride of Christ through which He gives Himself and His graces to a flawed people in need of enlightenment and purification from sin.” Each day, each moment, we should find ourselves loving the Church more wholeheartedly, despite her all-too-evident human flaws. If that is not happening, it’s a sure sign we’re backsliding.

    To me, this seems like an excellent set of indicators for self-evaluation. Each item is a tool for spiritual growth in its own right. And in the end, progress in every area is essential if we are to maximize the potential God has given us for union with Him.

    Let’s keep striving for holiness.

    REFERENCE -  http://www.hprweb.com/

     

  • Kathleen Herbert 1:39 am on April 26, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Missale Romanum, New Missal   

    The New Missal 

    Late last year, I drove over to my local Catholic bookstore looking for a Roman Missal.  Nostalgia had set in, and I wanted my own personal book to follow along at Mass. You know… the ones we had as young adults when everyone had their own in hand, complete with red, green, yellow, blue and black ribbons that helped you flip back and forth between the different parts of the Mass. Back then, mine had the Latin on the left side and the English on the right. But I digress…

    Rather than sell me what was soon-to-be an outdated version of the Missal, the clerk told me it would be better to wait until the new translation came in in 2011.  The new translation?  Pope John Paul II announced during the Jubilee Year 2000 that there would be a revised version of the Missale Romanum, but at the time, I wasn’t aware of it. Your Pastor, no doubt, is publishing Bulletin Articles and speaking to you about what to expect come the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011, when it will be implemented in the U.S.

    The USCCB has a more complete run-down on their website. Here you’ll find FAQs, sample texts, general resources, parish resources as well as the Committee on Divine Worship’s home page.  You’ll also have an opportunity to pre-order a Chapel Edition of your own, with shipment promised in the beginning of October.

    How long will it take you to not automatically respond “And also with you” or “It is right to give him thanks and praise” in response to the celebrant’s words?  After forty years of what may have become rote responses, this newer translation will soon become second nature. Let’s hope it will never become old hat.

    Any thoughts about this you’d like to share? Do you know any online resources that explain the new missal? Let us know in the comments!

     

    • Kr_herbert 4:56 pm on April 28, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      What a great resource page you’ve put together!

    • Joyce Donahue 12:37 pm on April 27, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Hi, Kathleen – I have assembled a web resource page with pretty much everything that is any good in terms of preparing for the Missal. You can find it at http://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/romanmissal.asp. The 2 explanatory videos from USCCB in the top left column are a really great place to start.nnJoyce Donahue, Diocese of Joliet, Religious Education Office

  • Kathleen Herbert 6:10 pm on April 18, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Christian Rap, Joe Melendrez, Rosary Rap   

    How About Rapping the Rosary? 

    This week I thought I’d change things up a little and write about music.  But not just any music.  I’m talking Hip Hop and Rap.  Yes…that kind of music.  But more specifically about a young guy by the name of Joe Melendrez, a Religion teacher, Campus Minister / Pastoral Associate at a College Prep Catholic high school in Southern California.  Joe has spoken to and performed for Confirmation classes and retreat groups, Rotary Clubs as well as appear on the Sirius Catholic radio show Busted Halo.  He has a unique style of getting the attention of his teen charges by teaching them (and getting them to want) to pray the rosary using Rap.

    Here is a 25-year-old guy who prays the rosary everyday. The story goes that way back when he was 15 years old, one of the parents in his carpool had the kids recite the rosary on the way to school. When Joe’s mind started to wander, he changed it up to help himself pay attention and stay focused. RosaryRap was born.  Then he began to rap the rosary in front of groups; one thing led to another, and now Joe Melendrez has recorded three Christian Rap CDs.  “I like to say that Rosary Rap was produced by the Holy Spirit, my manager is God and my public relations are managed by Jesus,” he says with a smile.

    Last year I had the privilege of attending a show in Los Angeles where Joe was a featured performer. The audience loved him, and before long, everyone from 7 to 77 was praying the rosary to a hip hop beat.  He assures us that saying the rosary this way “doesn’t break any rules,” and if getting kids to think about prayer means putting a beat to it, that’s a bonus. “Rap is just a way of putting lyrics together…a style of poetry with a beat.  If we associate it with negative things like gangs, drugs and being demeaning to women, maybe the way I use the medium can change what we think about rap.”

    Last month Joe was a keynote speaker at the annual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Youth Day in Anaheim, California; a venue which draws tens of thousands of Catholic followers from all over the world. Whether it’s the “Our Father” or an in-his-own-words spontaneous prayer, for Joe and for many of the kids in his classroom and at his concerts, Rap music opens the door to get young people to pray…and to get closer to God.

    You can find Joe Melendrez on iTunes, or go to rosaryrap.com where you can read his blog and listen to his music.

     

    • Skip Guinness 10:50 pm on May 20, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Iu00a0don’t rap theu00a0Rosary, I ‘run theu00a0Rosary’ check it out atnnSkip Guinness Learns How to Praynhttp://skipguinnesslearns.blogspot.com/u00a0

  • Kathleen Herbert 4:01 pm on April 1, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Breath Prayer,   

    Short of Time? Try a Short Prayer 

    Remember the prayers the nuns had you memorize?  Of course you do.  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, the Memorare, grace before meals and the rest. If you didn’t attend Catholic schools, perhaps you received your religious training from your C.C.D. teachers.  Some of you may be new to the faith after attending RCIA training. We are told to pray, but remembering to do so may be crowded out by our everyday obligations and lack of time. Making time to pray can be as easy as making time for a breath. And that’s something we all do. Enter the Breath Prayer.  Never heard of it? Many haven’t, but it’s as easy as, well….breathing. Choose a short prayer. Some examples might be (or make up your own as the situation dictates):
    • God come to my assistance
    • Lord make haste to help me
    • Lord Jesus, have mercy
    • My God, my all
    • Have mercy on me, Jesus
    • I belong to you, Lord
    • Bless the Lord my soul
    • Lord, I give myself to you
    • My Lord and my God
    • Lord, increase my faith
    • Not my will, but yours
    • Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
    • Our help is in the name of the Lord
    • Lord, do with me what you will
    • Speak Lord, your servant is listening
    • Lord, give me patience
    • Here I am, Lord

    After choosing a prayer, make it a goal to remain in God’s presence as you begin.  Think about the meaning of the words while you breathe in, and say the first part of the prayer; as you slowly exhale, say the last part of the prayer.  No hurry; no rush.

    Say your breath prayer throughout the day whenever you remember.  If you commute, perhaps say your prayer while you’re stopped at a red light.  Or if a negative thought about someone or something enters your mind, that’s the time to choose a prayer and silently repeat it to yourself until the negativity abates.  God does not want us to embrace negative thoughts and feelings.  Once you’re aware of them, gently say your breath prayer.

    Prayer can become as natural as breathing.  We’re all short of time.  Why not try a short prayer?

     

     

    • Kr_herbert 4:54 pm on April 28, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      I’m glad to hear you found the article helpful. God bless you (and say a little prayer for me?)

    • Medic02093 2:18 pm on April 26, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Thank you for this. I was just talking to my pastor about ways to make time for prayer. I will be adding the breath prayer to my daily life. God bless.

  • Kathleen Herbert 4:51 am on March 28, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Divine Office, Liturgy of the Hours, , Psalms   

    As for me, I’m going to the Office 

    By Kathleen Setina-Herbert

    As mentioned in a previous article, a few years ago, I decided it was high time that I get back on the path of praying regularly. Downloading the recitation of the rosary to my iPod, having several Catholic New Media apps on my iTouch or perusing iTunes’ Religion/Spirituality categories had become second nature to me. And somewhere along the way, in 2009, I learned that priests, religious and some laity prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as Divine Office or simply the Office. A little research and I found my starting point with the 1-volume Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours, which is an abbreviated version of a 4-volume set.

    The LoH consists of psalms, hymns and readings and, together with the Mass, is the official public prayer of the Church. With the internet at your fingertips, do your own research to see if this is for you. No need to get all crazy with it at first. Start slowly, perhaps with Morning and Evening Prayer, and then build from there.

    But be forewarned: praying the Liturgy of the Hours is addicting. Once you get into the rhythm of the LoH, there is a craving to pick up your device and download a week’s worth of recording or arrange the ribbons in your book. Your morning will not seem complete without saying the words “God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.” You’ll find familiarity and comfort in the words of the psalm–a poetic guide for worship, examples of emotion and honesty before God and a demonstration of the importance of meditation and prayer.

    With the New Media available to us nowadays, we can join in praying the Office with either hard copy, electronic copy or audio for your devices. To help you get started, here is a short list of references:

    http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sqpn-praystation-portable/id74072857

    http://ibreviary.com/new/

    http://www.universalis.com/

    http://divineoffice.org/

    Our Lord taught us to “pray without ceasing” and, though realistically, this may be humanly impossible, The Liturgy of the Hours can help sanctify your day and turn your thoughts to God. I think he would like that.

     

    • Tina Lewis 10:05 am on March 31, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Bravo! This is the best mini-introduction to the LOTH that I’ve seen and I’m with you 100%. God bless!

      • Kathy Herbert 3:30 pm on April 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply

        Thank you, Tina! When you find something good, it’s hard not to share it. My hope in writing about the Liturgy of the Hours is that others may look into it, pray it and love it as much as I do.

  • Kathleen Herbert 9:58 pm on March 16, 2011 Permalink | Reply  

    The Catholic Church Simplified? 

    Did you ever want to know more about the Catholic Faith? If you’re already a Catholic, perhaps you want to enrich your knowledge about certain topics. No need to go farther than your computer screen at http://www.CatholiCity.com

    This is a rich site which includes a Statement of Belief as well as Principles of Conduct and offers many types of media on a myriad of topics. Whether you’re in the market for a CD to listen to on your daily commute or to download to your device, a Catholic novel to read, current Catholic News & Commentary as well as a Resource section, it’s all here.

    Here’s a small fraction of what’s offered:

    CD’s and MP3′s:

    • John Corapi’s Amazing Story
    • The Eucharist Explained
    • The Rosary / Divine Mercy Chaplet
    • The Mass Explained
    • Confession

    Catholic Novels:

    • Pierced by a Sword
    • Conceived without Sin
    • House of Gold

    News & Commentary

    Literally hundreds of Catholic writers on current, searchable topics and opinions, including Culture & Politics, Faith and Morals, Family Life, Reviews, History, Pro-Life matters and more.

    Resources

    This is a fraction of the Resources list, but it includes: EWTN, USCCB (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops), Mass Readings, Voters’ Guide, Catholic Baby Names, Our Sunday Visitor, and (do I dare I date myself like this?…) The Baltimore Catechism just the way you remember it.

    And lest I forget, be sure to sign up for The CatholiCity Message. About once a month you’ll receive an entertaining, sometimes surprising and oftentimes quirky message containing commentary, reviews, jokes and unique information from its vast network of resources. Trust me, they will not share your email or personal information.

    Note: The Mary Foundation offers the CD’s and downloads free of charge, but an optional donation is always welcome. St. Jude Media offers its three novels for free as well, but also accepts donations. Shipping is free in the United States.

    On a personal note, one of my first forays into Catholic New Media was to this website. I ordered the CD from the Mary Foundation of The Rosary/Divine Mercy Chaplet. It also includes common Catholic prayers and a short history of the rosary. I had wanted to order one for my sister-in-law as well, but the company does not accept referrals. In other words, they won’t bombard anyone with material which that person has not personally requested. Nice. So I ordered two and sent one to her.

    I installed the rosary recitation onto my iPod and sometimes fall asleep listening to the beautiful voices drawing me into prayer. Somehow I know Mary doesn’t mind if I fall asleep before completing the entire rosary.

    So what are you waiting for? The Catholic Church Simplified is only a few mouse clicks away.

    As always, I welcome your comments.

     

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