CHAPLAIN'S Report

www.kofc.org/chaplains L E A R N I N G T H E FA I T H , L I V I N G T H E FA I T H CHAPLAIN’S Report Orderwide Chaplains’ Meeting a Success Phoenix gathering focused on fraternity, faith formation and the future “GO, TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN.” That was my first reaction after attending the Knights of Columbus chaplains’ meeting held in Phoenix, Aug. 3, the day preceding the 127th Supreme Convention. Yes, I believe it is worth talking about, and hopefully it will have far reaching effects. Our intention has been to open up lines of communication, and have chaplains feel integrated and involved at all stages of the Father John P. Order’s activity. Chaplains need to know one Grace, O.S.A. another, share experiences and recognize that they are part and parcel of one great brotherhood. We are not isolated entities, serving just our local areas. We are part of the universal Church and an integrated part of the Order as we serve to develop faith and holiness in our members. At our gathering in Our intention has Phoenix, we had a lively been to open up lines meeting with good participation from the floor. of communication, There were representaand have chaplains tives from the United feel integrated and States, Canada, the involved at all stages Philippines and Poland. There were three bishof the Order’s activity. SEE ‘COLUMN’ PAGE 3 SEPTEMBER 2009 VOL. 2 • NO. 9 Health Care We Can All Live With Bishops, supreme knight say that authentic health care reform must respect human life at all stages “CLEARLY, a health care system designed to save lives on the one hand must not become a vehicle for taking lives through abortion and euthanasia,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson in his annual report at the 127th Supreme Convention in Phoenix, Aug. 4. Referring to health care legislation now being considered in the U.S. Congress, he declared, “Health care reform must be abortion-free.” On behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Cardinal Justin F. Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, expressed similar sentiments in letters to the U.S. House of Representatives, July 29 and Aug. 11. “Much-needed reform must not become a vehicle for promoting an ‘abortion rights’ agenda or reversing longstanding policies against federal funding and mandated coverage of abortion,” he wrote. According to the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the proposed health care reform legislation, without amendments explicitly excluding abortion coverage, could result in “the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.” There are also concerns about certain provisions in the bill that advocate health care rationing and limiting end-oflife care, bringing with them the threat of euthanasia for the elderly and infirm. In remarks following the supreme knight’s report, Aug. 4, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver encouraged Knights to show leadership and to make their voices heard “with knowledge and charity.” He added, “Help transform our country so that we’re just, we care for the poor and we stand strongly on the side of the elderly and the unborn.” Knights are urged to contact their representatives and express their support for an amendment that would explicity exclude abortion and euthanasia from the bill. For more information about the implications of the proposed health care reform legislation and how to take action, visit www.usccb.org/healthcare. n THIS MONTH’S TOPIC FOR THE CHAPLAIN’S REPORT Dominican Father Juan-Diego Brunetta, director of the Order’s Catholic Information Service, addresses the meeting of Knights of Columbus chaplains in Phoenix, Aug. 3. Based on the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church SUBJECT COMPENDIUM QUESTIONS “Communion, Forgiveness and Life Everlasting” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194-217 Communion, Forgiveness and Life Everlasting Concluding the Creed, we profess our belief in the communion of saints, baptism and the final resurrection BY BISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI, SUPREME CHAPLAIN t is often said that “the people” MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH should have a greater say in how the The most important member of the Church is run. Of course, pastors, communion of saints is Mary, the including bishops and parish priests, Mother of Christ and the Mother of the are obliged to listen to their people, tap Church. Mary gave birth to Jesus and into their expertise and involve them in shared in his sacrifice. While dying on the Church’s life. But who are “the peo- the Cross, Jesus entrusted his mother ple”? We need to include all who to his disciples with the words, “Behold your mother” (Jn 19:27). Mary is “thus belong to the Church’s communion. recognized as the mother of salvaWe acknowledge this tion, life and grace” — indeed, the in the Apostles’ Creed, Mother of the Church (196). when we say, “I believe Mary’s maternal care for the in…the communion of Church was evident from the saints.” The Compendium beginning. After the ascension of of the Catechism of the Christ, she prayed with the Catholic Church explains Apostles as they awaited the comthe meaning of this phrase. ing of the Holy Spirit. She also worFirst, the word “commushipped with them during the celenion” implies that “all the bration of the Eucharist (see Acts members of the Church 2:42; Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 53). [share] in holy things: the The 19th installment Mary’s example of faith and faith, the sacraments, espeof Supreme Chaplain charity continues to shine upon cially the Eucharist, the Bishop William E. charisms, and the other Lori’s faith formation the Church today. The Virgin Mary prays with and for the spiritual gifts” (194). God’s program addresses generous love, communi- questions 194-217 of Church, and she is always mencated by the Holy Spirit, the Compendium of tioned in the Eucharistic Prayer at brings us together. In this the Catechism of the Mass. Filled with the saving power Catholic Church. love, God invites us to Archived articles are of Christ’s love, she encourages us to grow in holiness. This is why share in his inner life. at www.kofc.org. we often turn to Mary as our advoRooted in Trinitarian love, cate and helper, and why the we, the members of the Church, are called not to seek our own Church encourages warm devotion to interests, but to place ourselves at the ser- her (see Compendium, 197). Sometimes, people incorrectly vice of one another and especially the claim that Catholics “worship” Mary. poor and needy (see 1 Cor 13:5). The word “saints,” in this context, We worship only the Trinity. However, refers not only to those who have been we do have a special veneration for canonized, but also to all the members Mary because of her unique role in our of the Church — living and deceased — salvation. We express this in celebratwho are on their way to holiness, ing beautiful Marian liturgical feasts including those undergoing the final and in praying the rosary, which has purification of purgatory. We should been described as “a compendium of pay close attention to the example of the whole Gospel” (198). As we pray to the saints in heaven and seek their Mary for her intercession, we see in her prayers, and we should also pray for the perfection we should aspire to as we those in purgatory. Both the living and journey toward heaven (199). Our Catholic faith teaches us that the dead “form in Christ one family, the Church, to the praise and glory of Mary, in view of the merits of her son, was uniquely preserved from all sin the Trinity” (195). I Michaelangelo’s Last Judgment (1537-41) is seen on the wall of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. from the moment of her conception. Yet, we also profess in the Nicene Creed our belief in “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” Indeed, “The first and chief sacrament for the forgiveness of sins is baptism” (200). Christ instituted the sacrament of reconciliation, or penance, for sins committed after baptism. The Church has the authority to forgive because Christ imparted the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and said: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained” (Jn 20:23). THE LAST THINGS The closing sentences of the Nicene Creed look at “the last things” — death, resurrection, judgment and eternal destiny. We sometimes try to forget about this, but we need to reflect on what awaits us at the end of life. Death is not the last word; we are created to share in the resurrection of Christ. The separation of our bodies from our souls at death will not last for all eternity. In a manner we cannot now imagine, even our mortal bodies will be raised and reunited to our souls. The good will share in the resurrection of life; the wicked will share in the resurrection of condemnation (Jn 5:29; Compendium, 202-205). Each day, we seek to live in Christ so that when we die, we will die in the Lord unto life everlasting (206). At death, we will each enter into eternity and undergo the particular judgment (208). We have our “definitive meeting with Christ” concerning our eternal destiny. Those who die in the grace of Christ and have no further need of purification share the happiness of heaven. Others die in God’s friendship but need further purification, a state that is called “purgatory.” We can help our sisters and brothers in purgatory by having Masses offered for them, by prayers, good works and personal sacrifices offered in Christ (see 209-211). Those who die in mortal sin through their own free choice are condemned to hell. Hell entails separation from God for whose love we were made. God takes no pleasure in the condemnation of sinners; yet he respects our freedom. If we choose to be separated from God in this life, we run the risk of being separated from God for all eternity (see 212-214). The final and general judgment occurs when “Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead.” If we are truly living “in Christ,” we look for- ward to Christ’s coming in joyful hope. We do not know when Christ’s second coming will occur, so we live in both vigilance and hope. We should ask to share his life so completely that we contribute to that moment when God’s plan of salvation will come to completion and then, in eternity, God will be “all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28; see 215-216). To the profession of faith that we have now studied for more than a year, we add our “Amen” — a Hebrew word that indicates our total assent to what the Church believes and teaches. n DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. G.K. Chesterton famously wrote in his book Orthodoxy, “Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.” How do the communion of saints and sacred tradition relate to Church in the modern world? 2. What does it mean to say that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of the Church? How did she participate in Christ’s work of redemption, and what role does she continue to play in the Church today? 3. What is the distinction between the veneration we show to the saints (dulia) and Mary (hyperdulia) and the worship that is owed to God alone (latria)? 4. In contrast to popular notions of heaven and universal salvation, what does the Church teach about the resurrection of the body and our eternal destiny? 5. What is the Church’s doctrine of purgatory and how does it relate to heaven? Why is it important to pray for the deceased, and why is a funeral Mass much more than the celebration of a person’s life on earth? FROM ‘COLUMN’ PAGE 1 ops, one abbot, 34 state chaplains, eight associate state chaplains and a number of others who serve as faithful friars or council chaplains. For me, it was so encouraging to see chaplains from so many different places. They were all anxious to be part of a movement as we attempt to reemphasize the importance of chaplains and spiritual directors at each council. Our speakers made a great impact, and I am sincerely grateful for the participation of Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., Msgr. Eduardo Chávez, postulator of the cause for canonization of St. Juan Diego, and Dominican Father Juan-Diego Brunetta, director of the Order’s Catholic Information Service. The whole atmosphere was one of celebrating our brotherhood and a desire to rededicate ourselves in unity and faith. As the supreme knight said during the meeting, we find our source and vitality as Knights on two pillars: the Eucharist and Our Lady. Many interesting points surfaced during our discussions. Bishop Lori posed the question, “How can the Knights support priests even more effectively, helping them to live their vocation and to accomplish their many tasks?” This is an interesting question during this Year for Priests. Other topics touched on the chaplain’s role with regard to faith formation; the possibility of regional chaplains’ meetings for prayer, discussion, support; reasons why the chaplain’s presence is needed and missed; how we provide mentoring to new state chaplains; and the necessity of a strong spirituality in each council. Lastly, Msgr. Chávez gave a presentation on the theme “Our Lady of Guadalupe: Her Relevance to us as Chaplains of the Knights of Columbus” and kept us all in rapt attention. Yes, we had a memorable chaplains’ meeting. It would have been a real blessing to have all of our jurisdictions represented. We missed those of you who could not make it this year, but wouldn’t it be a great step forward if no jurisdiction was absent next year for the 128th Supreme Convention in Washington, D.C.? What a statement that would make to the whole Order! Please make a note in your calendars for the next Orderwide chaplains’ meeting — Aug. 2, 2010. Father John P. Grace, O.S.A. Director of Chaplain Programs and Development john.grace@kofc.org (203) 752-4263 Encourage Knights to join the Father McGivney Guild at www.fathermcgivney.org Visit www.kofc.org/chaplains to sign up to receive future issues of this newsletter via e-mail. Previous issues are also archived at this site. CHAPLAIN’S Report 1 Columbus Plaza New Haven CT 06510-3326 SUPREME KNIGHT’S BOOK CLUB DISCUSSES CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE HOW MIGHT proposed laws affect the conscience rights of health care workers and Catholic medical centers with regard to such things as contraception, abortion and controversial fertility procedures? Join Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and Leonard J. Nelson III online for a discussion of Nelson’s new book, Diagnosis Critical: The Urgent Threats Confronting Catholic Health Care (Our Sunday Visitor). Nelson, a member of Father James E. Coyle Council 9862 in Birmingham, Ala., is a professor at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Submit your questions online at www.kofc.org and take part in the discussion Sept. 30, at 5 p.m. (ET). Archived book club discussions can be found at www.kofc.org/bookclub. CIS BOOKLET: THE LIFE EVERLASTING LIFE AFTER DEATH is not often discussed today, and when it is, judgment and the reality of hell are seldom mentioned, except in jest. Yet, the Church’s teaching on the “four last things” — death, judgment, heaven and hell — remains clear. This teaching is concisely presented in the booklet The Life Everlasting, by philosopher and popular author Peter Kreeft. Produced by the Order’s Catholic Information #110 Service (CIS), it is the tenth book of the 30-part Luke E. Hart Series based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. To get your free copy or listen to it in MP3 audio format, visit the CIS Web site, ww.kofc.org/hart. (Also available in Spanish and French.) Request a copy by writing: CIS, PO Box 1971, New Haven, CT 06521-1971. PUBLISHED 12 TIMES A YEAR BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SUPREME COUNCIL 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326