This morning when I woke up I noticed that Medjugorje was trending on twitter likely because one of the bishops that the Vatican under Francis has gone after is going there.
Nobody seems to have a neutral position on Medjugorje either they firmly believe in the apparitions or they don’t. The Vatican has not approved Medjugorje, which does not mean they never will, but they have not denounced it either. Catholic Answers has a pretty good summery of the Church’s position:
In 1985, Mostar-Duvno’s bishop Pavao Zanic determined that the apparitions were not authentic, i.e., not of supernatural origin.
In 1991, the bishops’ conference of Yugoslavia ruled that the supernatural character of the reported apparitions could not be affirmed. This is different than a definitive declaration that there is no supernatural character
No subsequent bishop who has authority over that area has overturned these rulings. As for the Vatican:
The Holy See, consistent with the rulings of the local bishops, has allowed pilgrimages to Medjugorje—and in May 2019 Pope Francis formally authorized them—provided they don’t present the reported apparitions as approved by the Church. The Holy See has also forbidden the faithful from participating in events where the reported seers present their reported apparitions as of supernatural origin (see this for more information).
Those who have experienced conversions—or a deepening of faith—associated with pilgrimage(s) to Medjugorje should know that the validity of their experiences does not hinge upon whether the reported apparitions are declared of supernatural origin. Indeed, the sacraments are valid at Medjugorje, and the Blessed Mother can—and does—fruitfully intercede for those who seekher sincerely, wherever that may be.
Emphasis mine
What it really comes down to in my opinion is this.
If you are seeking God, if you are praying faithfully, going to confession, receiving the sacraments, reading scripture and loving your neighbor as yourself then you have already found him, even if you don’t realize it.
There is a tendency among people in general and among those in the faith in particular to go “hunting miracles”. It’s not unnatural thing to do. Man always sees awe and wonder in the natural, man made and even the supernatural world. That just human, but to those who chase miracles hoping to find God it me tell you something.
Its been my experience that those chasing miracles are forgetting Elijah in the cave. The miracles of God are all around us. We just need to learn to notice them amongst the noise of the world and if you stick with prayer and the Sacraments you’ll eventually see what’s been around you all the time.
As for Medjugorje, if it’s not supernatural Christ and Blessed mother will do what they always do, make Lemonade of Lemons and if it is the Vatican will eventually approve it in God’s own good time.
If you want to go there, go ahead, if you want to stay away, that’s fine too just but keep in mind this advice from Christ:
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
Matthew 6:33
You don’t have to travel half way around the world to seek the kingdom of God. Worry about being a good and faithful Catholic where you are, anything else is just gravy.
Yesterday I talked about the mini-series Jonathan and Jesus today I watched it. Several takeaways from Part 1.
I mentioned in yesterday’s piece that Roumie has credits dating back with 2003. He commented that Harold Ramis told him it takes 20 years to be an overnight sensation and at the time he said that wasn’t going to be him. Reality just is.
I was not familiar with Dallas Jenkins previous short from 2013 Once we were slaves (retitled the two thieves) about St. Dismas on the Cross. Jonathan played Jesus in that short and Jenkins thought it be best film portrayal of Christ in film.
And this was five years before the Chosen.
That’s mysterious ways all over.
One of the things that happens in the 1st episode is that Roumie gets to meet the head of one of his favorite bands: “The Killers’ who are apparently one of the biggest rock bands of the 21st century and have been around for 20 years.
I had never heard of them until that moment.
Boy I’m old.
While in Italy they walk along actual Roman Roads dating back to the time of Christ and before.
Those Roman Roads were the internet of their times. They connected people throughout the empire in a way that was not possible previously because it made travel, trade and communication easier.
Those Roman Roads are one of the greatest single inventions in the history of mankind and it was across those roads that Christianity marched through the empire, at a time of general peace which made it possible.
Just a coincidence I’m sure.
If I had to choose the best moment of part one it was the visit with Alice Cooper who while I heard had converted to Christianity didn’t know that his family had been very Christian and that he came back to the faith late in life. He also talked about how he was told that putting his Christianity into his work would end his career, but of course it did not.
His description of what the price of incredible fame is the single best I’ve ever heard:
Fame is really dangerous, I mean, look what it did to Elvis. Here is a good example. If you take anybody and put him in the biggest mansion on the planet and say: ”You can have anything you want, you can have all the woman, you can have all the drugs, you can have food, you can have anything you want, but you can’t leave the mansion.” that person will find a way to kill themselves because they’ve lost the basic freedom be just to live. Elvis couldn’t go to the movies. Elvis couldn’t play pool, Elvis couldn’t go out for a drive. He was a prisoner of his own fame. He was that big. Michael Jackson. Everybody that achieved that type of fame died early, because it’s so unnatural.
Of course the most important and true thing he said was: ”It’s your relationship with Christ that is the most important thing no matter what situation you’re in.”
Abraham Lincoln: [speaking to a old freed slave who dropped to his knees before him] Don’t kneel to me, that is not right. You must kneel to God only, and thank Him for the liberty you will enjoy hereafter.
This trailer dropped from the folks at the Chosen:
In one respect this isn’t odd, you might recall from your movie history Cecil B DeMille’s silent movie King of Kings, the first movie adaption of the Gospels. It’s available at Youtube:
At the Turner Classic movies the lengths that DeMille took to keep things on the “right” path:
Cecil B. DeMille did not want to take any chances with the film. His two stars, ‘H. B. Warner’ and ‘Dorothy Cummings’ , were required to sign agreements which prohibited them from appearing in film roles that might compromise their “holy” screen images for a five-year period. DeMille also ordered them not to be seen doing any “un-biblical” activities during the film’s shooting. These activities included attending ball games, playing cards, frequenting night clubs, swimming, and riding in convertibles.
and Turner also reports that DeMille had some serious damage control to do:
Lead actor H.B. Warner, who played Jesus, was involved in an off-camera scandal with anonymous woman who was determined to blackmail Cecil B. DeMille by ruining the production. It is believed that DeMille paid the woman on the condition that she leave the U.S.
IMDB.com claims the woman was made to back off after being threatened with arrest. It also states that the pressure that Warner felt playing Christ was so intense that it brought back his drinking problem.
Now consider, this was one movie released in 1927 at a time when movies were not universal. Warner was already an established actor with a ton of credits behind him and decades of credits ahead of him (you might best remember him as Mr. Gower the druggist in It’s a Wonderful Life)
The Chosen has now been around for over four years. It has been seen by hundreds of millions all over the world. It is a global phenomena. Furthermore if you look at IMDB you will find that while Jonathan Roumie has credits dating back to 2001 you will see nothing in a significant staring role that might cause him to be memorable before the Chosen. His entire fames comes from playing Jesus and there are, I suspect, many particularly in a post Christian culture that have not known the Gospel before and are rediscovering faith for the first time, for whom he is the only Jesus they have ever known in their lives.
Imagine the pressure of playing the son of God under those conditions and add to that the aditional pressure when you consider Jonathan Roumie is a devout Catholic who is very conscious of the dangers of the sin of Pride and that his performance and how he carries himself in public could have a huge oversized effect on people trying to find God. An actor might worry about the effects of his words and actions hurting a production, a devout Christian would worry about his actions and their effect on souls.
And we haven’t even touched on those who despise this message and the messengers who deliver it, both natural and supernatural. I’ve written and spoken about how the clergy and particularly the higher ups are targets for the devil, that comes with the job. Jonathan Roumie is an actor. I suspect that Satan has painted a target on his back bigger than the one on any Bishop.
That he is able to function at all, let alone as a man of faith and devotion speaks volumes and by the time the final season of the Chosen has wrapped, if he didn’t have a complete understanding of redemptive suffering he’ll know it first hand.
I admire him for this task which I would not want for all the gold in the world.
I haven’t watched this documentary yet, but you can bet I’m going to.
Update: Apparently it’s in four parts and available on Amazon. Watching now
Speaking of Gold in the world this is the final day of Christmas and thus the final day of our fundraiser: We remain stuck $2345 away from our goal. I suspect we won’t manage that today but I’d be really delighted if we could get that number below $2000 before I get home. If you would like to help please hit DaTipJar below or to the left:
Today is Epiphany Sunday where we celebrate the visit of the three kings/Magi/Wise men of the east who followed a star to the baby Jesus the newborn king of the Jews.
The feast is traditionally celebrated on January 6th but is transferred to Sunday in the US. Depending on the vagaries of the Calendar the day can be celebrated as early as January 2nd (If Christmas falls on a Saturday) or as late as January the 8th (if Christmas falls on a Sunday).
Where it falls also determines how long the Christmas season lasts. The final day of Christmas is the movable feast of the Baptism of Jesus.
If Jan 6th is a Sunday Epiphany is celebrated on its traditional date and the Christmas season ends on Sunday January 13th with the feast of the Baptism of Jesus on Sunday
If the 6th falls on a Monday to Thursday it is transferred to the previous Sunday moving making The Feast of the Baptism of Christ and the last day of Christmas anywhere from Jan 9th to Jan 12th.
If it falls on a Friday or Saturday as it did this year it is transferred to the following Sunday (the 8th or the 7th). That becomes the Last Sunday of Christmas and the 1st Sunday of Ordinary time and the feast of the Baptism of Christ transfers to Monday (the 9th or 8th) making Monday the final day of Christmas season.
Thus this year we get the shortest possible Christmas season ending tomorrow. Next year with the 6th falling on a Monday we’ll get four extra days of Christmas. (Of course in the old calendar Christmas officially ended on Feb 2nd the feast of the presentation but I digress…).
The feast of Epiphany is extremely significant in the history of Christianity in several ways:
It’s another external confirmation of the message of the angel to Mary and the Dream of Joseph.
It is the first example of Christ being “a light of revelation to the gentiles.” (non-Jews).
The kings prostrating to Christ as Lord rather than as an equal signifies Christ as king of all.
It shows Christ has come both for rich & poor as only the rich could make the trip of the wise men
It sets the stage for the flight into Egypt as Herod, upon hearing of their coming attempts to slaughter the child in the murder of the holy innocents.
The gifts of Gold and Frankincense note Christ Kingship
The gift of Myrrh symbolizes his death
It has also led to a great Christian tradition the blessing and annual chalking of homes on the feast.
If you’ve ever visited the EWTN studios you likely have noticed chalk over all the doorways, If you visit the studio after today you will see the following:
20 C + M + B 24
The 20 and 24 of course representing this current year and the C + M +B representing St. Caspar (Feast day Jan 11th), St. Melchior (Feast day Jan 1st) and St. Balthasar (Feast day Jan 6th). It also (as Churchpop.com notes) stands for the Latin: Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates to “May Christ bless this house.”
This is traditionally done on the 6th but can be done on the feast day itself (I did my home yesterday). In order to do this properly you will need some white chalk which should be blessed an ordained Deacon, Priest or above and you may want some holy water than you can get at any Catholic Church.
There are also prayers to be said. These are the prayers from the conference of Catholic Bishops website the chalking is done at the conclusion of the prayers:
When all have gathered, a suitable song may be sung. The leader makes the sign of the cross, and all reply, “Amen.”
The leader greets those present in the following words:
Let us praise God, who fills our hearts and homes with peace. Blessed be God forever.
R/. Blessed be God forever.
In the following or similar words, the leader prepares those present for the blessing:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling place among us. It is Christ who enlightens our hearts and homes with his love. May all who enter this home find Christ’s light and love.
One of those present or the leader reads a text of sacred Scripture, for example, Luke 19:1-9:
Listen to the words of the holy Gospel according to Luke:
Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.> When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.”
The intercessions are then said:
Leader: The Son of God made his home among us. With thanks and praise let us call upon him.
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, with Mary and Joseph you formed the Holy Family: remain in our home, that we may know you as our guest and honor you as our Head.
We pray:
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, you had no place to lay your head, but in the spirit of poverty accepted the hospitality of your friends: grant that through our help the homeless may obtain proper
housing.
We pray:
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, the three kings presented their gifts to you in praise and adoration: grant that those living in this house may use their talents and abilities to your greater glory.
We pray:
R/. Stay with us, Lord.
After the intercessions the leader invites all present to say the Lord’s Prayer.
The leader says the prayer of blessing with hands joined:
Lord God of heaven and earth,
you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation
by the guidance of a star.
Bless this house
and all who inhabit it.
Fill them (us) with the light of Christ,
that their (our) concern for others may reflect your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
The leader concludes the rite by signing himself or herself with the sign of the cross and saying:
May Christ Jesus dwell with us,
keep us from all harm,
and make us one in mind and heart,
now and forever.
R/. Amen.
It is preferable to end the celebration with a suitable song, for example, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” or “We Three Kings.”
That’s the blessing I used this year. Last year I used this excellent blessing which you can find at Churchpop.com. As with the blessing from the USCCB the chalking takes place after the prayers
Priest/Leader: Peace be to this house.
All: And to all who dwell herein.
Leader: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.
After these prayers are recited, journey throughout your home and sprinkle each room with holy water–you can get some from your parish.
Afterward, you may continue with the blessing:
All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.
Leader: Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead and lead us not into temptation,
All: But deliver us from evil.
Leader: All they from Saba shall come.
All: Bringing gold and frankincense.
Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come unto Thee.
Leader: Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith may also attain the vision of Thy glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Leader: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee– Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.
All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.
Leader: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
It is also traditional to sprinkle each room with Holy water at the end. Again if you don’t have holy water you can get some at your local church.
If you’re only hearing about this for the first time today and you have a blizzard blowing out there and can’t get it done today, you have one more day of Christmas to fall back on and get it done. I highly recommend it as it reminds of you of God’s presence every single day in your home.
It’s the final two days of our Days of Christmas and we still have $2345 to go help us make it over the line by donating here
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