Author: Christian Renaissance Movement

I used to think the greatest lie about same-sex attraction was that it meant that such people cannot marry. (Of course they can marry – someone of the opposite sex, just like anyone.)

I now think the greatest lie is something different… Sure, “it’s not sinful,” or “it’s not that bad,” or “well we can bless ‘the couple’ without blessing ‘what they do as a couple,'” etc. are great lies as well, but they are great in terms of the brazenness of the falsehood.

The greatest lie is that conquering the disordered desire to act in such a way is only good because it leaves one free of sin. While it is good to avoid sin, there is something else here…

When confronted by the Lord’s teaching on divorce, the apostles, you will notice, are shocked and resolve that not marrying is better… Not because of what they gain interiorly, but because of what they do not lose exteriorly… Exterior freedom, the ability to live one’s life as one pleases, untethered to the “ball and chain.” They perceive celibacy as good from selfish motives. They see it as better to be a perpetual bachelor.

The apostles were wrong, both about what makes celibacy better, and which of the two states of life as they saw them in that moment is better. It is better to marry than to “happen not to be married,” especially if one is intentionally unmarried out of selfish motives. I do not think that Trent’s declaration on virginity and celibacy (Session 24, Canon X) is to be read in such a way as to support the perpetual avoidance of responsibility and commitment as being better than the sacramental state of marriage; I think it intends “virginity” and “celibacy” as definite states of life which are conscious choices, and so “remaining” therein is also presumed to include a definite choice which is made for the sake of the Kingdom, not for the sake of “leaving one’s options open,” or else it merely speaks to the objective reality of the state itself regardless of its actual moral relationship to the one living in such a way; that is to say, it is better in itself, even if one’s reasons for pursuing it are selfish and even sinful. Correct me if I’m wrong.

The point is, to be “forced” to remain unmarried is actually a great gift. It opens up the life of celibacy to a person – not simply so they can take nice vacations whenever they want and don’t have to deal with the annoying and inescapable web of interpersonal and other problems that accompany practically every marriage, as nice as that is – but so that they are freer for contemplation and for the apostolate… They are freer to dwell alone with God, and they are freer to serve others for His glory.

Why do we never hear about such things?

…tempus fugit.

The motto of the Knights of Columbus is perfect for today: Remember death, time flies.

You are already a year older since the last All Souls’ Day.

Whoosh. There it went. A whole year.

Are you ready for the end? It IS coming. Be prepared, and go to confession while you still can. Do not be afraid of manifesting your shameful sins privately, when they can and will be forgiven – be afraid of having them on display before all the world on the Last Day, when they cannot be forgiven, and, in fact, you will not want them forgiven but will, like the Rich Man, simply complain about the punishment and never bother to manifest contrition, while Lazarus rests in peace.

We do not pray for souls in Hell, or in Heaven. We do pray for souls on Earth, and, today, we pray for all the souls in Purgatory, a terrible, awful, painful place – but a place with hope and charity.

Dies irae, dies illa…

All Souls’ Day is also a personally strange day for me, since for me it is not only a day for prayers and penances but also feasting – it is the anniversary of my Confirmation. So say a prayer for me as well!

Pan Hagioi – All Saints…

I didn’t make it to the Pantheon (“all the gods”) today. I was at the Lateran and then at home all day. But I thought I would share with you the account of the papal exorcism of the Pantheon, when it was being transformed from Rome’s epicenter of pagan worship into a church to bury and venerate the countless unnamed martyrs of the City.

Let me take you back in time… to the early 7th century…

“In 608 the Byzantine emperor Phoca gave [the temple] to Pope Boniface IV and there was organized an evocative ceremony to consecrate it to the Christian God.  On 13 May, 609 a huge crowd gathered near the Pantheon to witness the event. Chronicles recount chaos and chilling screams that were felt from within: the pagan demons were aware of what was about to happen. The doors were thrown open and the Pope, in front of the entrance, began to recite the formulas for the exorcism. The screams from the idols increased in intensity, and the commotion deafened the ears of the onlookers.  Fear gripped the crowd and no one was able to stand on their feet, looking and hearing that terrible spectacle. Only Boniface IV resisted and, undaunted, prayed and consecrated the Pantheon to Christ. It is said that the demons left the ancient temple chaotically and with a great din, fleeing from the open “eye” of the dome or from the main doors.  Once the ceremony was over, the Pope dedicated the building to the Madonna dei Martiri, in memory, perhaps, of the many Christians killed in honor of those filthy idols.”

Happy Feast of All Saints! All you saints, pray for us!

Instead of writing my own long post, which would be redundant, please see this great article from uCatholic on the Catholic origins of Halloween.

Even the Roman kids are starting to get into it… I was in a pharmacy on the outskirts of the city this evening, and probably 30 kids had come in and out to ask for candy by the time I got what I needed! Wild!

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Happy shopping…

Alas, for whatever silly reason, I have never gotten to participate, even partially, in any of the now-famous annual Summorum Pontificum pilgrimages. It is a gathering held over several days here in Rome each year to discuss and celebrate the traditional Latin rituals – Mass and other devotions, such as vespers.

It is not “the old Mass” – it is “the current Mass” too!

The pilgrimage ends today. Here are some highlights of last year’s pilgrimage:

Happy weekend… I am in my old apartment building in uptown Rome. Monteverde Vecchio.

Go find friends, have fun, and relax and pray this weekend… like me.

God bless you!

-Eamonn

I am back in the Apostolic Archives doing research for my doctoral work.

I say archival work is like fishing. Sometimes you get nothing. Sometimes a nibble is a big fish, sometimes you think you have a good catch but are reeling in a shoe.

Today I came across the handwritten notes of Pius XI’s first radio address. I thought I’d seen an image of them somewhere (maybe in a book?), but I can’t find the image online. And I learned today it is about $200 to get the permissions to put such an image online for you to view. Sorry. He had absolutely horrible handwriting anyway, like chicken scratch.

The video will have to suffice!

Here is something connected and a bit more watchable… Marconi set up the radio station in the Vatican Gardens for Pius XI, here is the inauguration.

I talk a big game. Sometimes I play games too. Most Thursdays during the school year I am playing soccer with some seminarian friends. It got me thinking – I should write about that. Lessons learned. Etc.

I’m also preparing for a 100-mile ultramarathon in April. I do a LOT of running. Loads.

So, I will start cataloguing random thoughts on the relationship between faith and athletics here, almost every Thursday. Stay tuned.

-Eamonn

Leaves turn brown in Rome
The Tiber keeps on flowing
We walk together.