East Meets West, Two Become One: Our Heavenly Catholic Church

It’s interesting to learn about other religions, but what about the different “rites” of our own Catholic Church.  Below is information, taken in part, from Our Lady of Fatima Byzantine Catholic Church in San Francisco.  We have acres of diamonds in our own backyard.

Although it is not widely known in our Western world, the Catholic Church is actually a communion of Churches. The Catholic Church is understood to be "a corporate body of Churches," united with the Pope of Rome, who serves as the guardian of unity. 

At present there are 22 Churches that comprise the Catholic Church. Each Church has its own hierarchy, spirituality, and theological perspective. Because of the particularities of history, there is only one Western Catholic Church, while there are 22 Eastern Catholic Churches. 

The Western Church, known officially as the Latin Church, is the largest of the Catholic Churches. It is immediately subject to the Roman Pontiff as Patriarch of the West. 

The Eastern Catholic Churches are each led by a Patriarch, Major Archbishop, or Metropolitan, who governs their Church together with a synod of bishops. Through the Congregation for Oriental (Eastern) Churches, the Roman Pontiff works to assure the health and well-being of the Eastern Catholic Churches. 

While this diversity within the one Catholic Church can appear confusing at first, it in no way compromises the Church's unity. In a certain sense, it is a reflection of the mystery of the Trinity. Just as God is three Persons, yet one God, so the Church is 22 Churches, yet one Church.

"From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God's gifts and the diversity of those who receive them... Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions. The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church's unity" (CCC no. 814). 

Although there are 22 Churches, there are only eight "Rites" that are used among them. A Rite is a "liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony," (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 28). "Rite" best refers to the liturgical and disciplinary traditions used in celebrating the sacraments.

The Western Rite and Eastern Rites are sometimes referred to as the “two lungs” of the Catholic Church.

The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15). 

A Roman rite Catholic may attend any Eastern Catholic Rite Liturgy and fulfill Sunday obligation.  We have three choices to learn about our other half.  In Portland, St. Sharbel Maronite Rite, 503-231-3853 & St. Irene Byzantine Catholic, 503-543-2188. In Springfield, Nativity of the Mother of God, 541-726-7309.  It can make old things new.

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"Too Many Children" aka "Sustainability" taught to Western Oregon Catholics.

"Too Many People" , the April 2011 Newsletter from the Office of  "Life", Justice and Peace, was very disturbing and made the link between "sustainability" and eugenics.  This was the "pro-life" handout from the Archdiocese to those at the Oregon Right to Life Conference and Oregon Catholics.

Look up any link regarding "Sustainability", no where does it mention Trust in the Creator.  Office of Life, Justice and Peace newsletters       Catholic Sustainability Network. Matt Cato mcato@archdpdx.org

FROM THE OFFICE: "TOO MANY PEOPLE"

"Sometime this year the world's population will reach the seven billion mark. Many environmental groups advocate for population control as a solution to climate change. Here in Oregon, The Oregonian printed a front page guest piece on its Opinion section about overpopulation being the root cause of our environmental problems. (Treading on a Taboo, Jack Hart; The Oregonian, June 15, 2008) 

Yes, all things considered, overpopulation is an environmental problem when we consume too much of the world’s resources.

Did you know? While the U.S. represents about five percent of the global population, it consumes about 25% of the world’s energy, and generates five times the world average of CO2 emissions. The U.S. uses more energy than any other country and is the largest carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gas emitter among industrialized nations worldwide.
The following formula illustrates the relationship between population and consumption:............"
____________________________________________________________

For the first time, at the Oregon Right to Life Conference this Spring, many of us met Matt Cato, director of the newly expanded name, Office of  "Life", Justice and Peace.  It was also the first time in decades (or ever) that the Archdiocese of Portland in this capacity, had stayed for any complete Oregon Right to Life Conference.  Rev. Timothy Mockaitis the Associate Director was not present.  Kudos to Matt.

(Last year in 2010 the Pro-life community hosted a breakfast for Matt at the Oregon Right to Life Conference.  He refused to let me attend but at least he did.  That's okay there were lots of good folks there.)

First of all let me say that Matt is a nice man.  He just doesn't understand about honoring the unborn as the primary life issue.

•  This kindness can get in the way of having a director that isn't fit for his job.
•  He was told that it would have been better to hire someone with knowledge of the pro-lifers.
•  Matt seemed completely out of his element and he was at the closing session with Stephen Mosher, of the Population Research Institute but seemed very uncomfortable.
• Question to him, unanswered, "Why are most of your articles for the Archdiocese of Portland, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon promotions?"
• Question to him.  "When does life begin?"  Answer: "At birth".  When I asked him if this was Roman Catholic Church teaching, he corrected himself, "at conception."

There are  dedicated pro-lifers who now attend Matt Cato's Respect Life Core Group.  They're faithful to the Church and Her Teachings.  We are hopeful.

"The world is rapidly being divided into two camps, the comradeship of anti-Christ and the brotherhood of Christ. The lines between these two are being drawn. How long the battle will be we know not; whether swords will have to be unsheathed we know not; whether blood will have to be shed we know not; whether it will be an armed conflict we know not. But in a conflict between truth and darkness, truth cannot lose."
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

$40 million dollar line of credit for Archdiocese of Portland...Stop your behavior, it's our money!

Dear Advocates for Life,

  
The "Campaign Confusion" raises its ugly head again.  Just as the Chief Financial Officer for eons, Leonard Vuylsteke, CPA CCM  is leaving before the new Archbishop comes.  Just part of a shake up that assures the progressive movement is alive and well in the Archdpdx.

 Help Wanted: New Director of Finance for Archdpdx

This happened just a month ago.  From a UK Newspaper.  

"The MoS (manual of standards?) has also discovered that the loans are now being quietly repaid. In a revelation that will prompt further questions about whether the Vatican is behind the international deals, the supposedly-indebted dioceses have begun to pay off the AIB debts with money from other, unnamed, institutions. 

Just last month a $40m line of credit to the Diocese of Portland in Oregon was taken over by an un-named creditor. 

Bob Krebs, a spokesman for the diocese for many years, declined to name the new lender. Asked why AIB had been used to help fund its abuse compensation cases, he said he did not know who 'found Allied Irish for us'."

Read more: $40 million dollar Line of Credit: Whose the un-named creditor?

With the Archdiocese of Portland's curriculum's secular and suggestive focus being taught through our children.  It is reflected in the "indelible ignorance" that is trying, but never will overcome our True Faith with Devotion to Christ Jesus and His servant Pope Benedict XVI.

"Are you a Democrat?" From job interview at the Catholic Sentinel

This statement came from a person who didn't get the job. He was NOT a Democrat. Who knows if he would. The Catholics in Oregon are used to taking a backseat to the Democrats who run the show at the Archdiocese of Portland. Pro-lifers are treated as not very bright or "with it". We are used to this and pray that the Lord Hears out prayers and answers us (in the affirmative please Lord). When the campaign heats up for President just watch the "Faithful Citizenship" booklet as the only one allowed. We only listen to www.emoregon.org . Sad. Cream always rises to the top. We remember that and it give us hope.

Blessed Herman, the Cripple. 40 Days for Life

Blessed Herman the Cripple, monk 1013 - 1054  is living proof why we value each life instead of the seeing it as a burden on our "environment".  Roman Catholics are benefiting from this man, almost one thousand years later. 

Each time we say the Hail Mary we need to know that Blessed Herman was the author of the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen).

This year we start 40 Days for Life one day after his feast day, September 26th and ends on November 4th, two days from the elections.  We believe each life has immeasurable value and we pray for leaders who see that value.  Click on your area of Oregon for a 40 Days for Life near you.  Portand  Salem  Beaverton  Eugene  McMinnville  Klamath Falls  St.Vincent dePaul - Portland  Bend

Blessed Herman was born with a cleft palate, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida to a farm family. His parents cared for him until the age of seven, but in 1020 they gave him over to the abbey of Reichenau Island in Lake Constance in southern Germany; he spent the rest of his life there. He became a Benedictine monk at age twenty. A genius, he studied and wrote on astronomy, theology, math, history, poetry, Arabic, Greek, and Latin. He built musical instruments, and astronomical equipment. In later life he became blind, and had to give up his academic writing. The most famous religious poet of his day, he is the author of Salve Regina and Alma Redemptoris Mater. (thanks, Blessed Herman information to inspire Pro-lifers)

Herman The Cripple
by
William Hart Hurlbut, M.D.

I am least among the low,
I am weak and I am slow;
I can neither walk nor stand,
Nor hold a spoon in my own hand.

Like a body bound in chain,
I am on a rack of pain,
But He is God who made me so,
that His mercy I should know.

Brothers do not weep for me!
Christ, the Lord, has set me free.
All my sorrows he will bless;
Pain is not unhappiness.

From my window I look down
To the streets of yonder town,
Where the people come and go,
Reap the harvest that they sow.

Like a field of wheat and tares,
Some are lost in worldly cares;
There are hearts as black as coal,
There are cripples of the soul.

Brothers do not weep for me!
In his mercy I am free.
I can neither sow nor spin,
Yet, I am fed and clothed in Him.

I have been the donkey’s tail,
Slower than a slug or snail;
You my brothers have been kind,
Never let me lag behind.

I have been most rich in friends,
You have been my feet and hands;
All the good that I could do,
I have done because of you.

Oh my brothers, can’t you see?
You have been as Christ for me.
And in my need I know I, too,
Have become as Christ for you!

I have lived for forty years
In this wilderness of tears;
But these trials can’t compare
With the glory we will share.

I have had a voice to sing,
To rejoice in everything;
Now Love’s sweet eternal song
Breaks the darkness with the dawn.

Brother’s do not weep for me!
Christ, the Lord, has set me free.
Oh my friends, remember this:
Pain is not unhappiness.

by Blessed Herman the Cripple

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us O holy Mother of God,
R. that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Thank you Lord for Blessed Herman and showing how Christ blesses each life, even when we feel alone and forgotten.

P.S. Thank you all for your prayers and loving me through this past year.  Having just minimal depressions where I did feel alone, prayers did matter.
In a nutshell:

• Last Valentine Day, 2010, I fell onto a concrete garage floor while maneuvering some steps.
• Went to the doctor and found out I had torn ligaments in my knees.
• Doctor saved my life by ordering an ultrasound on my heart that showed a congenital defect of my aortic valve and how it was almost blocked.
• Had open heart surgery on May 20th and have a replacement valve.  (Fortunately my other arteries were clean.) Stayed four days in hospital.
• June 1, 2010 while walking in home for exercise had a small stroke. Called 911. Went back to hospital for four more days.
• Mini-Stroke took away hearing in my right ear and gave me right brain stem damage.  I'm wobbly and have to use a walker sometimes.  The walker has room for three grandchildren so it can look like a stroller...:-)
• FELL again in May 2011 thinking I was okay to put socks on with foot on chair.  Lost my balance and went flat on my back, heard a huge crack and 911 was called and I was in the hospital again for four days.  (four is the lucky? number.)
• While seeing if my back was broken, no thank God.  Two CAT scans showed my left thyroid had grown to the size of two tennis balls.
• This wasn't seen during open heart surgery as it was behind my collar bone.Had two surgeons remove the culprit. It had moved my windpipe and was cutting off my breathing. Four more days in the hospital, egads.
• I'm still wobbly, deaf, have scars from three surgeries that form the letter "J" for Jesus?   :-) It's interesting that I had to have the open heart surgery before the thyroid surgery.  Both were life threatening issues.
• I thank these two doctors who just "happened" to order tests that weren't common to have.  They saved my life.  They are from the same office and interestly Christian.
• Honestly the Good Lord was watching out for me.  I want to listen to Him more and be thankful for small things.  THEN.

In November of 2011 I had a pacemaker put which happens sometimes after open heart surgery. December 2011 I had rotator cuff surgery because I HAD torn my shoulder muscles off in three places.  I told them it hurt.
On Feb. 3rd.  I was at the hospital when where my daughter was having a baby and was hit by a huge laundry cart that couldn't see me because of a wide turn.  My back has a fracture of the T-11 vertebrae and I had to fake it so my daughter wouldn't know I was hurt.  She was doing such a great job.  I just took more muscle relaxants that I had because my arm was in the sling because of my rotator cuff surgery.  She never knew until a few days later, but I didn't hold my new grandson that day.  Emotionally I was almost gone.

What I continue to have to strive for is to let people help me. 

I am so thankful for having a family that loves life in all it's stages and stands up to this challenge..

Grandchildren and children and husband are loved more dearly. 

Learning how much I am loved by my family and how much they have sacrificed without grumbling.

I trust the Lord more, although I hope there's not another surgery on the horizon.
 

• This is too long, but I was saved and challenged by Christ and wanted to share this "adventure".  So many people I've met have many more "adventures" than I could ever know.
•  It shows for me, the Lord's wisdom and saving hand for all His Creation.