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Catholic

2019-10-02T09:15:13-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Priests: Through Holy Orders God’s Supports Us as We Do God’s Work

Last updated on: October 2, 2019 at 9:15 am By Jack Hartjes

The sacrament of Holy Orders is not about a separate class of Christians whom God blesses above the rest. Priests don’t have one more guardian angel than the rest of us, as one young priest preached at a children’s Mass. If there’s an ontological difference between priests and lay people, it only serves to bind together, not separate. The office of priesthood is one of service, but that service focuses not so much on God as on God’s people, the... Read more

Liturgy

Sacraments

2019-09-27T11:38:08-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How Holy Matrimony Saves Sex

Last updated on: September 27, 2019 at 11:38 am By Jack Hartjes

I start with the romantic notion that sex means something; it’s not just physical pleasure. If so, then sex naturally intends to be a source of beauty in the world. I add a religious theme: Sexual intimacy is one of God’s great gifts. If so, then it’s a way God saves the world, bringing us into unity and love out of isolation and self-centeredness. Why has this natural beauty and supernatural grace worked so poorly? Sex turns out to be... Read more

Liturgy

Sacraments

2019-09-25T05:12:02-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Matrimony, a Very Long Sacrament

Last updated on: September 25, 2019 at 5:12 am By Jack Hartjes

Celebrations of Grace: The Sacraments of the Catholic Church, Part 16 The sacrament of Matrimony teaches us to look at sacraments in a new way. Take a common definition of sacrament: effective sign of God’s grace. We’re talking about signs that contain or effect what they signify. Words are a bit fluid here, but often, people say, “symbol” works better than “sign” for this reality. The sign, or symbol, of Matrimony doesn’t quit when the couple walks out the church... Read more

Liturgy

Sacraments

2019-10-08T08:27:39-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

You Can Kill the Prophets, but More Effective is to Shower Praise and Do Nothing

Last updated on: October 8, 2019 at 8:27 am By Jack Hartjes

Greta Thunberg, young Swedish climate activist, has spoken in several venues since arriving on our shores by solar-powered sailboat. When testifying before a Congressional committee along with three others young people, she was mostly silent. She gracefully let the others carry the ball, including one Republican who carried it sideways or even a little backward. But speaking on her own, she has been precise, eloquent, and devastating. We have a “CO2 budget” of 350 gigatons to keep global warming to... Read more

Ecology

2019-09-19T20:43:47-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Climate Week, Many Words, and (Maybe) Action Plans

Last updated on: September 19, 2019 at 8:43 pm By Jack Hartjes

A preaching that does not point out sin is not the preaching of the gospel. A preaching that makes sinners feel good, so that they are secured in their sinful state, betrays the gospel’s call. – Oscar Romero Greta Thunberg is the right person at the right time. When congresspersons praise her for her courage, she says, “I don’t want your praise. I want you to do something.” When they say they hear her, she says, “Don’t listen to me.... Read more

Ecology

2019-09-16T05:24:35-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“This Page Intentionally Left Blank” and More Superfluous Words on the Feast of St. John Chrysostom

Last updated on: September 16, 2019 at 5:24 am By Jack Hartjes

St. John Chrysostom, the “Golden Mouth,” has September 13 for his feast day. Famous for his eloquence and two-hour sermons, he is the patron saint of preachers. I can’t help smiling at the following bit of irony. On the very feast of this master of words, looking through the day’s mail, I turned a sheet over and came to these utterly useless words: “This page intentionally left blank.” Have you noticed that whenever you read, “This page intentionally left blank,”... Read more

Uncategorized

2019-09-13T06:12:44-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Anointing of the Sick Celebrates Healing, Healers, and, Most of All, People who Want to be Healed

Last updated on: September 13, 2019 at 6:12 am By Jack Hartjes

Celebrations of Grace: The Sacraments of the Catholic Church, Part 15 Sometimes death is just the last gift a person gives us, the final chapter in the book of blessings that he or she is for us. It was that way for me in the deaths in the same year of both my parents—times of inspiration, family togetherness, and love. I didn’t want to think about gift when my brother and my niece died too soon of cancer, but the... Read more

Liturgy

Sacraments

2019-09-11T06:12:44-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s Patriot Day. What Have We Learned from 9/11?

Last updated on: September 11, 2019 at 6:12 am By Jack Hartjes

It’s Patriot Day, the anniversary of the most horrible attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. If an event is worth remembering, it’s because it contains lessons for us and because it has changed us in important ways. I hope I’ll be pardoned for wondering on this Patriot Day if the change has been mostly positive or negative. What lessons have we taken from 9/11? How has it changed us? Has it reinforced in us the idea that it’s us... Read more

Uncategorized

2019-09-13T06:12:04-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Reconciliation Happens, Against All Odds

Last updated on: September 13, 2019 at 6:12 am By Jack Hartjes

Celebrations of Grace: The Sacraments of the Catholic Church, Part 14 We often think about the Sacrament of Reconciliation—or any occasion when reconciliation might be in order—backwards. We think: First, the person who committed the offense shows some evidence of sorrow. Then the injured party forgives and reconciliation can occur.  Actually, it works much better the other way around.  It’s easier to be sorry when you know you’ve been forgiven already. The many sayings of Jesus on this subject are... Read more

Liturgy

Sacraments

2021-11-05T17:12:26-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Confirmation, Support for a Journey that isn’t Nearly Complete

Last updated on: November 5, 2021 at 5:12 pm By Jack Hartjes

Celebrations of Grace: The Sacraments of the Catholic Church, Part 13 It wasn’t easy to decide what to tell 11th graders about the Sacrament of Confirmation. From their older brothers and sisters to their teachers to the shape of the Confirmation program itself, the common perception of the sacrament is: “sacrament of maturity in the faith.” Joanna Wahlund (“Stop Holding the Sacraments Hostage: Confirmation”) has an excellent critique of this way of looking at Confirmation. My textbook didn’t say Confirmation... Read more

Liturgy

Sacraments

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