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May 7, 2002
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A Closer Look: |
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Q U I C K S C A N |
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Also, because mail continues to pour in about my reflections on the "Child Sex-abuse Scandal," I will share a few more comments from readers. As before, I will share with you excerpts from some of the e-mails I received without giving away any of your names. I will add a few comments of my own, moreover, as we go along. In this way, I can at least interact with you by giving some general responses to your most appreciated feedback to Friar Jack's E-spirations. In the Rite of Confirmation, we ask God to send
the confirmands "the spirit of [1] wisdom and [2] understanding,
the spirit of [3] right judgment and [4] courage, the spirit of
[5] knowledge and [6] reverence. Fill them with the spirit of [7]
wonder and awe in your presence." This prayer names the traditional
"Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit." The biblical origin
of these seven gifts is found in Isaiah (11:1-3) where he is foretelling
the qualities of the Messiah. These seven gifts are the signs that the Messiah
will be guided by the Spirit. The relation of these gifts to the
sacrament of Confirmation becomes clear when we remember that the
word "Messiah" (Christos in Greek) means "anointed."
Jesus was "anointed," filled with the Holy Spirit at his
baptism. At Confirmation we are anointed with the Holy Spirit. Throughout
the Gospels we see how these seven gifts form Jesus' personality
and characterize his actions. Consider the wisdom expressed in his
parables; his understanding of the poor and the sick; his right
judgment when tested by the Pharisees; his courage to continue the
journey to Jerusalem where he surmised what fate awaited him; his
knowledge of God's will; his reverence for his heavenly Father;
his awe before the wonders of creation-the lilies of the field,
the birds of the air....The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are the
manifestation of the Divine Power active in the life of Jesus of
Nazareth.
The origins of Confirmation's symbols are many and diverse. One source can be found in the bathing customs of the Roman Empire. In our times, when you take a shower, you wash up and dry off. Drying off is understood to be part of the total shower. In the same way, the early Church saw Confirmation as a part of the Baptism experience. In Roman times, oil was a part of the bathing "ritual." A bath included both water and oil. The water ritual (Baptism) came to mean the washing away of sin, and the oil ritual (Confirmation) was interpreted to mean the sweet fragrance of God's presence: sanctifying grace. We know that sin cannot be removed except by grace
just as, for example, a vacuum cannot be removed from a container
without replacing it (the emptiness) with something. The two go
together. In the same way God's grace fills us with redemption and
salvation. This grace, this presence of God in us, is the Holy Spirit.
Confirmation is the Sacrament of the Holy Spirit.
The "special" clothes (called liturgical
vestments) worn for Confirmation were originally "ordinary"
clothes. The white garment (alb) that priests and bishops wear under
their other vestments was the garment that ordinary Romans in the
first and second century wore around the house during the day. When
they went out in public, they put on a tent-like colored garment
(chasuble) over the alb just as you might put on a jacket over your
shirt when going out. The tall, pointed hat (miter) the bishop wears
was originally just a hat. Little by little (in the 13th and 14th
centuries), it became a sign that the one wearing it is a "high
priest." In early days, priests and bishops got a special haircut
(tonsure) and a round spot was shaved off on the top of their heads.
The little round hat (zucchetto) kept their shaved head warm in
the winter Eventually, it too became a religious sign. The pope
wears a white one; the cardinals, red; bishops, violet. When other
priests wear one, it is black. "Since reading your insightful article about the pedophile clergy, I have discovered that a good friend has been put out to pasture. I was aware of the allegations when he was moved to our parish, and put in a position where he had no contact with youngsters, yet I stood up for him publicly saying "Hate the sin; love the sinner." I continue to find the behavior abhorrent but this is a good man who has ministered well to a vast number of people and who has been in remission for fifteen years. Now, because of the scandal being made public, he's gotten the door. For the young people with whom he had contact, its too little too late. For himself, he had done the appropriate therapies and was finally at peace with himself and the good he continued to do in the world. I don't know the "right answer"; I just feel that in this particular situation, a bit of sensitivity would go a long way. God help us all." "Just want to get my two-cents worth in here. I think it's time my Roman Catholic sisters and brothers in faith take a long and penetrating look at the whole notion of priestly celibacy. As you know, Father, it was not something instituted by Jesus but rather something that came along in the 11th century. My own feeling is that celibacy is a gift from God not given to everyone called to ordained ministry. It has baffled me or a long time why the Roman Catholic community holds on to it as a condition for ordination. I do not think this is what Jesus had in mind at all." (Signed, from the Lutheran side) Friar Jack responds: One thing that pleases me about publishing on the Internet is the ecumenical dialogue and brotherhood/sisterhood it seems to promote. We often receive helpful comments from members of other religious traditions. Thanks and God's blessing on you all! "I too am concerned about our hierarchy
who will be meeting in June to further explore this issue. What
weighs heavy on my heart is the breach of trust I feel some members
of the hierarchy have perpetuated on the people of the church. By
not addressing the issue of these priests who are mentally ill,
and moving them to different parishes, I wonder if some of those
attending the meeting should really be deciding future church policy...I
pray Christ continues to cleanse his church of all offenders as
he cleansed the temple 2000 years ago. I can find more forgiveness
in my heart for those who actually committed the sinful act than
I can at this point for those who hold higher church positions and
continually passed the buck on this behavior. May the peace of Christ
heal us all." |
What
are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
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A Message From Friar Jack
Welcome! I hope you'll enjoy all of the news about what's happening
at AmericanCatholic.org, as well as my "musings." By the
way, I am a real Franciscan friar. You
can find out more about me here. |
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May, the Month of Our Mother, Mary
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She Opens Doors: Marie Wilkinson
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Ask a Franciscan
This month Father Pat discusses vetoing
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100 Names of Mary
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Strength in Weakness
St. Paul tells us that weakness qualifies us to be a witness of
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Light to My Path." |
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Catholics and Muslims: Two Faiths, One God |
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Need a First Communion Gift?
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Your Family and the Internet
Read about how
you (and the pope) constantly discover more about communicating
our faith on this medium you are currently using: the Internet! |
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Theology of Mary for the Third Millennium
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If you want to know more, try our St. Anthony search engines.
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