Gargoyle Code

My new book, The Gargoyle Code is a book in the tradition of Screwtape Letters. A senior devil named Slubgrip instructs his insubordinate junior devil Dogwart as he attempts to tempt a mild mannered and complacent young Catholic. Meantime Slubgrip has to manage his own patient, an older ultra trad Catholic man. He also has to watch his back as there are plots by ambitious junior devils to supplant him and send him to the banqueting chambers of the Father Below...

The Gargoyle Code is not yet available on the website like my other books, so if you 'd like one of these 'hot off the presses' copies, please send me an email at dlongenecker@charter.net and let me know how many copies you'd like, and let me know if you'd like them signed. Then go to the 'Donate' button in the right sidebar of the blog and make a donation of $15.00. This covers the cost of the book ($11.95) and p+p.

Corporate Reception of Anglicans

All this talk about 'corporate reception of Anglican bodies into the Catholic Church.'

When are people going to get real? This is not going to happen, and even if the pastoral provision is extended and the Anglican Use is extended why does anyone imagine that a large number of Anglicans--corporate or otherwise are going to come into communion with the Catholic Church?

There are several reasons why not. First one is that any Anglo Catholic group in the USA or England would have to give up their beautiful building, their vestments, their organ, their candlesticks and chalices and altar hangings and statues and copes and monstrances etc etc.

 They'd have to say an Anglican Use Mass in the local Catholic Church wearing day glo polyester vestments or launch out and find new premises and buy new kit. The vast majority won't do that, and if they had the courage and faith to do such a thing they'd have taken the step and left the beautiful buildings behind already and become Catholic. Second thing is that their leadership would have to step down from being bishops. What give up the pointy hat and become pew fodder!? Not likely. Most of them would rather be big fish in a small pond. Thirdly, for all the ecumenical chit chat the Anglican and Episcopal churches would not hand over a thing--not one key to one building, no access to pension plans, not sharing of premises, no severance pay for clergy. Nothing. Does anyone seriously think that the Church of England or the Episcopal Church are going to come to some sort of agreement with Rome by which dissident clergy and people can just transfer over to Rome lock stock and barrel? 

But even if Rome provides some way for some breakaway Anglican group to come into full communion, all it would do is split that breakaway group. Those who want to be Catholics will accept it, but most Anglicans (even in the breakaway group) will just split off and join one of the other schisms or start another one. People on both sides of the Tiber should be realistic: most Anglicans (of whatever stripe) don't want to be Catholics otherwise guess what? They'd either be Catholic or be lined up to join their local RCIA.

So this is the underlying reason why it won't fly, and why most Anglicans won't buy it; and this is why: because they haven't already. Where are the Anglicans out there who can tell us what they want that Rome has not already provided? What is it? Married clergy? Got it. Their own liturgy? Got it. Their own buildings? Got it. What they really want is for Rome to say, "OK then. Your orders are valid after all. You are Catholic after all. You are priests after all. We were wrong. Your church can continue to exist and be like one of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches or be a personal prelature."

Well, that's not going to happen, and even if it did happen I'll tell you what the Anglicans would do: Most of them would stay put in their little Anglican schisms and smile and say, "See, we told you we were Catholics all along..." But because it's not going to happen they'll stay put anyway and keep saying, "However, I think I would like to respectfully disagree with the Holy Father, you see, I believe my orders are valid and I really am a priest."

Memorial of Pope Sixtus II

Sixtus and four deacons were arrested on 6 August 258 while celebrating the eucharist in the cemetery of Callistus. By order of the Emperor Valerian they were decapitated that same day.

Abbot Leo and Me

Interior, Quarr Abbey Church

It was the early 1990's and I was a country vicar on the Isle of Wight in England. One of my favorite haunts was the Benedictine Abbey at Quarr. I made my annual retreat there, used to visit with Fr Joe Warrilow, and Abbot Leo Avery was my spiritual director. By this time in my spiritual journey I had embraced (I thought) the essentials of the Catholic faith. My understanding of priesthood and the sacramental life in the Anglican Church was 'Catholic'. I was much influenced by Catholic spirituality and although I wasn't a card-carrying Anglo Catholic, I considered myself to be 'a Catholic within the Church of England.' I simply wanted to follow what C.S.Lewis called 'Mere Christianity'. In other words, I wanted to be part of the ancient faith in England, and it seemed right that the way to do this was to be 'a Catholic in the Church of England.'

I mentioned this in passing to Abbot Leo and he gently stopped me, "You know, I think it's marvelous that you want to be Catholic, but we Catholics define what being a Catholic is rather differently than you do."

"Yes?" I replied.

"Well, we think that at the heart of being Catholic is obedience to the teaching of the Holy Father."

"But I am obedient to the teachings of the Holy Father!" I protested. "In fact, it seems that I am more of a faithful Catholic than most Catholics I know! I follow the Pope's teaching in my marriage, I follow the teachings of the Catholic church in my celebration of the liturgy, in my prayer life and in my doctrinal and moral beliefs. I am obedient to the teachings of the Pope."

Abbot Leo smiled, "Yes, but what about the teaching of the Pope that to really obey the teachings of the Pope you have to be in full communion with him?"

Well, if Peter was the Rock, then I was between a Rock and a hard place.

Anglo Catholics to be Received?

Damian Thompson blogs at some length about the rumor that Forward in Faith (yes, that's yet another sub group of an Anglican sub sub group) are 'in discussions' with Rome about corporate reunion. Is it just me, or is this getting a teeny bit tiresome?

Damian has too many precious Anglo Catholic chums. He talks sympathetically about an Anglo Catholic friend who could not become a 'Roman' because of the awful liturgies and architecture in the modern Catholic Church. I'm afraid this is just the sort of Anglo Catholic we don't want. If he can't see the big issue of authority in the church, and simply come across with no conditions and without worrying himself about 'the right kind of liturgy' then he hasn't got a clue yet what it means to be Catholic.

Anglo Catholics should grit their teeth and get over it. I love beautiful liturgy, solemn worship and reverence at the Mass as much as anyone, and readers of this blog will know that I'm the first one to lament trendy guitar masses, goofy relevant homilies, politically correct liturgies etc.etc.etc. but the matter of converting to the Catholic faith is simpler and more fundamental and more important than the liturgy. They should remember Newman's observation that Augustine or Irenaeus, should they visit modern Britain, would visit the ancient churches, and soon find themselves in the tin hut in the bad part of town with the Irish immigrants because there they would find not the prettiest church with the nicest liturgy and the finest music, but there they would find the true church.

There is a matter of priorities. Being received into the Church humbly with no conditions is necessary. Fussing over 'proper liturgy' is like humming and hawing over which china teacup to rescue when your house is burning down.

Already Rome has given the dis-enchanted Anglicans just about everything they want: They have the offer of their married priests being re-ordained. They have the offer (in the US anyway) of their own Anglican based liturgy. They have the offer (in the US) of their own quasi- independent parishes, and yet the number who have taken up the offer of Anglican Use can be counted on two hands, and the number of former Anglican priests who have come in under the pastoral provision is surprisingly small. Instead, they either quietly compromise with the Anglican-ECUSA heresy or they tootle off and start yet another Anglican schism, then they write me indignant emails saying 'We are not a garage church you know...our Archbishop has a degree from Princeton..." Big whoop.

As my recent post said, "Be suspicious of anyone who makes a simple matter complicated." The matter is quite simple: If you really understand the claims of the Catholic Church and if you really are called to be a Catholic, then there's the Tiber. Swim it. 

Furthermore, the Catechism says not to is a serious sin.

Transfiguration

At the Transfiguration Christ's glory is revealed to the Apostles in the midst of Elijah and Moses because they were given the same grace: Moses on Mt Sinai, and then Elijah on Mt. Horeb (and did you know that Horeb is just another name for Sinai?) So Elijah went to the same holy mountain where Moses had encountered God. But their epiphanies were complementary. Moses beheld God in the earthquake, fire and thunder on the mountain. Elijah in the still, small voice. Both pointed to the coming of Christ the Tiger. He who comes with the power and majesty of God, but in the form of the meek and gentle Master. He is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God.

British Men UnManly?

Here's a curious article from the Daily Telegraph purporting that British men are being emasculated by their hard driving feminist 'partners'. Photograph above shows a British man.

It's good to know that American men (pictured top) are more manly and keep their wives in the proper place..."Keep rowin' honey, that fishin' hole I want is jes over yonder..."

More on the Father of Lies

From the combox:

I was ELCA Lutheran before converting to Catholicism. Even in the mid-90's I could see that the ELCA was sliding toward approval of homosex. I was a delegate to our synod with my wife and on the docket was a proposal to study homosexual issues. It was couched with the disclaimer that it is just a study and no one was approving of any homosexual acts, but when someone in support of it came up to the podium and harrangued us with the "First they came for the Jews" poem, my BS antennae went "boing". It sounded like the usual "just starting to dialog" stuff we always hear which I have since learned is code for: We-keep-talking-and-using-emotional-tyranny-until-you-unenlightened-rubes-cave. The measure was defeated barely, but I knew then that it was something that was going to continue to come up and that they could lose a hundred times, but only needed to win once. In the back of my mind the road map had only one destination: approval of homosex. Looks like Minneapolis will confirm this, but pray it won't.

Yes, this is one of the devil's tactics too. I was reminded of it when Richard Ballard gave me a copy of the Episcopal Church's newspaper. They were embarking on yet another 'Study of Human Sexuality.' This was the exact ploy I experienced in the Anglican Church. They will talk and talk and talk and talk and produce study after study until they 'convince' people. In fact all the 'studies' are simply different and more extravagant ways of lying. Who was it who said, "Distrust anyone who attempts to make a simple truth complicated." I always perked up my ears when I heard an Anglican theologian, bishop or priest saying with a patronizing smile, "Ah, yes, but it's not quite as easy as that now is it?" or "Truth is rarely black and white is it?"

G.K.Chesterton's quip, "The object of having an open mind is eventually to close it upon something." He might have said (and probably did) that a mind that is alway open must eventually be empty. I doubt very much whether we have discovered anything 'new' about human sexuality at all. What could we discover that we did not already know? In the area of homosexuality no one really seems to know for sure much more about the complicated genesis of the condition than they ever did. Theories abound, but no one is certain. Likewise with all the other bogus 'discoveries'. The only thing different about human sexuality from our grandparents generation is that they were discreet, modest and ashamed of their decadent desires and bad behavior. We are the opposite.

Todd Unctuous on a Tearful Reunion

Connect here for an article that sounds just like Todd Unctuous...

Father of Lies

You can always tell when the devil's at work because he uses idealistic lies. He uses catch phrases and slogans, and you know they're lies by looking at the results. One of the most famous modern lies is 'feminism' which encourages women to be more masculine. Another word is 'gay'. Take a look at the homosexualist sub-culture and it's anything but happy and carefree and innocent.

One of the more subtle lies is the word 'inclusive'. The Episcopal and Lutheran churches have, this summer, voted to allow practising homosexuals into the clergy and to endorse same sex 'weddings'. This was done in the name of 'inclusivity'. In an attempt to stem their plummeting numbers they want to be more inclusive and draw more people in. They don't seem to understand that their attempts at 'inclusivity' are exactly what is driving ordinary people away. People don't want to belong to the LBGTQCUSA. What is happening is just the opposite of inclusivity because the traditional Christians are driven out and all they'll end up with is a feminist-pro homosexualist sect.

And like the people who endorse yet more sex education in order to stop teen pregnancy, these people think they need more 'inclusivity' to stem the decline of their church. This is insane. It's like putting orange juice in the gas tank of your car because it won't go, then when the engine blows up you put orange juice in the windscreen washer reservoir, the engine, the brake cylinder and the glove compartment. Then when the car is a total wreck you scratch you head and say, "We obviously didn't put enough orange juice in the car. Maybe we should fill the trunk too."

How do people who call themselves Christians fall for such lies? First, they ignore the authority of the Catholic Church. (As we're discussing Protestants this is part of their underlying assumption) Second, they stop respecting and venerating the Scripture as the inspired Word of God. Instead they begin to use the Bible as a source of proof texts to support their preconceived notions. Third, they are charmed by the Spirit of the Age. Fourth, along with their blind allegiance They fall for progressivism--the idea that modern people are somehow smarter than people who lived before us. As a result, they fall for all the latest ideas believing that they are better just because they're new. Fifth, in line with philosophical trends that have been going on for hundreds of years, they assume that utilitarianism is a determinant. In other words, if it works it's right, this is extended to a shaky theory, 'If it looks like it might work it's right.' Finally, they are suckers for sentimentalism. If it 'feels bad' it's wrong. If it 'feels good' it's right. No tough calls here. They simply go for what is 'not hurtful.'

The mainline Protestant churches are not unique in this. They've simply adopted the spirit of the age. As this heresy grows Catholicism, on the other hand, will seem increasingly bizarre and dangerous. And that's when the persecution will begin.

Caitlin O'Rourke Writes

Guest blogger Caitlin O'Rourke is a member of St Bridget's, Church, High Dudgeon, New Jersey. Caitlin is eight years old.

It wasn't my fault because Jimmy Pochowski was calling me 'Fatty Catty' like he always does every single week at First Holy Communion classes, and how did I know his mother was going to take a picture of me right at that time, and I didn't mean it anyway even though it looks like I did because I wouldn't do that now would I, I mean, do something mean like stick out my tongue and really mean it even if Jimmy Pochowski is always being mean himself and he thinks he's so great just because he goes to the gym and does boxing I could beat him black and blue in the boxing ring myself because I fight with my brothers all the time and one time when I was fighting with Seamus he actually started to cry even though he is twelve and he wouldn't tell me where I kicked him, but it must have hurt real bad because his face turned blue and you know I wouldn't have been mean to Jimmy on purpose because we were all lined up to go into church for First Holy Communion and I had that rosary and holy card and everything and they would have kept me from really meaning it, and even if I did mean it I made a perfect act of contrition before Mass, at least I tried to, and I told God and the Blessed Virgin that I would try harder not to be so mean and not to talk back to my Mom, and to say my prayers at night, and anyway, when he came back from Holy Communion Jimmy Pochowski looked at me and smiled and think he meant it and that's because he was in a state of grace and so I said to God that I wanted to be in a state of grace too so I think I was and the party after was very nice and I had cake and presents and Aunt Anne gave me a statue of baby Jesus with a crown on and my cousin gave me six red hot atomic fireball candies he said it was because of my red hair and everything else was nice except Uncle Bert kissed me and I don't like his beard very much but they have a dachshund named Gus who is cute and he had a batch of puppies once even though his name is Gus.

Innaresting

Go here for an interesting article about George W. Bush's legacy. Not so dumb and hard hearted as the press like to make out.

George Herbert on Prayer

PRAYER the Churches banquet, Angels age, 
        Gods breath in man returning to his birth, 
        The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage, 
The Christian plummet sounding heav’n and earth ; 

Engine against th’ Almightie, sinner's towre, 
        Reversed thunder, Christ-side-piercing spear, 
        The six daies world-transposing in an houre, 
A kinde of tune, which all things heare and fear ; 

Softnesse, and peace, and joy, and love, and blisse, 
        Exalted Manna, gladnesse of the best, 
        Heaven in ordinarie, man well drest, 
The milkie way, the bird of Paradise, 

        Church-bels beyond the stars heard, the souls bloud, 
        The land of spices, something understood. 

St John Vianney on Prayer

Man has a noble task: that of prayer and love. To pray and to love, that is the happiness of man on earth.

Prayer is nothing else than union with God. When the heart is pure and united with God it is consoled and filled with sweetness; it is dazzled by a marvellous light.

In this intimate union, God and the soul are like two pieces of wax moulded into one; they cannot any more be separated. It is a very wonderful thing, this union of God with his insignificant creature; happiness passing all understanding.

We had deserved to be left incapable of praying; but God in his goodness has permitted us to speak to him. Our prayer is an incense that is delightful to God.

My children, your hearts are small, but prayer enlarges them and renders them capable of loving God.

Prayer is a foretaste of heaven, an overflowing of heaven. It never leaves us without sweetness; it is like honey, it descends into the soul and sweetens everything.

In a prayer well made, troubles vanish like snow under the rays of the sun.

Prayer makes time seem to pass quickly, and so pleasantly that one fails to notice how long it is.

Gargoyle Code

My new book, The Gargoyle Code will soon be available on my website. Go here to read more about it, and go here to read an excerpt from the original blog posts that kick started the book. (and link to the other blog posts with the same label)

Until the book is available through the website, the way to purchase is to send me an email (dlongenecker@charter.net) informing me of how many copies you would like and to what address you would like them sent.

Then go the to 'donate' button in the right sidebar of the blog and pay $15.00 per book (this includes post and packing) and we'll put the books in the mail to you.

Thanks!

Beauty for Truth's Sake

Catholic thinker Stratford Caldecott (check his conversion story in my book Path to Rome) has written a powerful book supporting a fully Catholic liberal arts philosophy of education. Beauty for Truth's Sake argues that beauty, truth and love must be at the heart of all education for education to reach it's highest goal. Rather than simply being a vocational training for a value-free world, education teaches the student not only to think, but to perceive beauty and truth within the context of faith.

Stratford draws deeply on the pope's masterpiece, The Spirit of the Liturgy and indicates that the perception of beauty and truth, which leads to an awareness of transcendence in all things, is focussed in the regular celebration of the liturgy when the liturgy is celebrated with reverence, beauty and the presence of God (rather than being focussed on human needs, societal relevance, 'creativity' and entertainment)

Drawing on the medieval understandings of a liberal arts education he shows how science and mathematics can also be charged by an awareness of the underlying beauty, structure and meaning of the whole cosmos.

This is not an immediately accessible book, but if you put on your thinking cap it will yield rich rewards. I plan to use it as a resource for our next faculty/staff retreat at St Joseph's Catholic School, hoping that it will help us in our constant quest to teach all our subjects as paths that lead to the beauty, truth and love at the heart of God himself. You can read more about the book and purchase it here.

Corazon Aquino RIP

Curt Jester has a reflection on the life and death of Philippino politician Corazon Aquino. She was a truly Catholic leader, and CJ publishes an interesting article on her relationship with Fatima visionary Sr Lucia. Read it here. The Daily Telegraph obit records her life and accomplishments here.

Chust for Nice

St Francis Xavier, Amsterdam. For more photos go to NLM

Mark on Mary III

I've finally got around to completing Mary, Mother of the Son-- Mark Shea's trilogy on the Blessed Virgin. The third book, subtitled, Miracles, Devotion and Motherhood takes you from the head to the heart. I have often said to potential converts from Protestantism that you cannot really understand the Marian aspect of Catholicism simply with theological arguments, Bible texts and quotations from the Fathers of the Church. It's like learning to ride a bike. Read books if you like, but sooner or later you have to climb on a bike and head down the road with your heart in your mouth. Likewise, you will only really understand the Catholic Mary thing once you open your heart and start to pray the rosary.

Mark Shea agrees and this book takes us from the theological arguments to the experience of Mary in the life of the Church. With his usual wit, abundant quotes from Chesterton and Lewis, he deals with the supernatural, discusses the rosary, outlines the approved apparitions and discusses what they mean. Most of all, he encourages us to enter into Marian devotion and experience it for ourselves.

I strongly recommend all three of these books. They're accessible, fascinating and fun to read. Mark has a real gift in communicating the faith with vigor, zeal and a zest for life. If you want to expand your faith and expound your faith to others, order these books. Buy them for the strengthening of your own faith. Buy them for friends who are considering the faith and don't understand the Marian dimension of the Catholic faith. It is best to get the books directly from Mark's website. As the author he will benefit more from your direct purchase, and he'll sign them for you too. To order go here.

PS: Readers might also be interested in my own Marian offering: Mary-A Catholic Evangelical Debate. This book was written with David Gustafson-- an old friend of mine from Bob Jones University days. David takes the Evangelical side and I defend the Catholic side. We discuss all the same stuff Mark does, but in a theological tug of war format. To purchase go here.

Homily for Week Eighteen

This homily continues my series on the seven sacraments. We move on to the sacrament of baptism. This is the first of three with the themes: Birth, Death and Life.

Remember you can download the others from the right sidebar. They will remain there for a few months, and eventually be available on my website where you will be able to download the whole series for a small fee.