Threats on Congress
Why is it that people cannot act like adults? We have a system in this country of how things get done and for the last 225 plus years the system has worked pretty good. Is it perfect? Hardly, but it is better than the alternative.
Yesterday I wrote about the Vice Presidents use of the “F” word during a bill signing and today I am commenting on threats received by members of Congress. Now i have heard that members of Congress are subject to threats of one sort or another all the time. In fact if you send a letter to your Congressman or Senator it first goes through a screening process for bombs and chemicals. But I think things have gone to a new level.
I like a spirited debate as well as the next guy but we can go to far. Right after the bill passed, one of the people I follow on Facebook started calling Rep. Stupak a traitor. That is almost as bad as calling Pres. Obama a Nazi. A traitor? I think that is a bit much to call someone who has given his life to public service a traitor. Okay he did not do what you wanted him to do, but he did get an Executive Order signed by the most Pro-Choice President we have ever had I think that is something.
As I have written before, demonstrations are fine in fact, if you recall, I participated in the first Tea Party gathering in Worcester last year. It was great, sort of a party atmosphere. Then I wrote about my severing ties with the group when they started with the Nazi references and using the hammer and sickle in their posters. That is not necessary and just brings on hate.
A few months ago, an Orthodox priest in Florida was beaten with a tire iron because the man thought he was a Muslim. Some how it was okay to beat another human being with a tire iron just because he is or is perceived to be, a Muslim! We have made people fear Muslims and this is how they react. Now we have death threats on Congressman!
The other day someone posted on Facebook that we need term limits and a revolution in this country. Well we do have term limits, we call them elections. Why is it we need a law to do something we are not capable of doing ourselves. You want your Congressman out, great, work for the person running against them, given them money, hold a sign, make phone calls. If you are not willing to do that then please just sit down. We do not need yet another regulation.
This year we will have one of the largest turn overs in years. Many of the members of Congress will be retiring this year. Step up to the plate and get involved. Don’t want to run for Congress? Run for local office, make a change at the local level.
Keep on demonstrating, keep holding their feet to the fire, but let’s be civil about it. That’s all I am asking.
Orthodox Monasticism: The Symbols
During the Tonsure service when the Monk makes the profession of his vows, several symbols are presented to him by the Abbot. These symbols remind him of the life that he is now beginning.
The service begins with the candidate wearing a white robe symbolic of that which he wore for his baptism. Tonsure into the monastic life is another baptism or sorts as the new monk dies to his old life and is born again into a new life. It is the tradition that the monk receives a new name at this point.
Next the monk is clothed in the Paraman and Cross. On the Paraman are representations of the Cross of Christ with the lance, reed and sponge, and the inscription, I bear on my body the wounds of the Lord. This is fastened about the shoulders and waist by means of strings sewn to the corners, and serves as a reminder that the new monk has taken upon himself the yoke of Christ and must control his passions and desires. These are presented with the following words from the Abbot:
Our Brother receives the Paraman, the Betrothal of the Angelic Schema, as a perpetual reminder of taking upon himself of Christ’s easy yoke and of bearing His light burden, and for the curbing and restraining of all his fleshly desires. And he also takes the Sign of the Lord’s Cross upon his breast, for a perpetual reminder of suffering and humiliation, spitting, revilement, woulds, buffeting, Crucifixion and death of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, which He voluntarily endured for our sakes; and to signify that, as far as possible, he will endeavor to imitate this.
The Riasa is presented next with the following words:
Our Brother is clothed in the garment of spiritual joy and gladness, for the putting away and trampling of all sorrows and troubles proceeding from the flesh and from the world; and for his perpetual joy and gladness in Christ.
The leather belt is presented next. The belt is leather and made from the skin of a dead animal signifying the deadness to the world. The buckle of the belt has the symbols of the Crucifixion on it to remind the new monk of his daily Crucifixion. The follow words are spoken by the Abbot:
Our brother is gird about his loins with the power of truth, for mortification of body and renewal of spirit, and for courage and caution.
The new monk is next given the Mantiya, a long sleeveless robe, also called the robe of incorruption and purity, the absence of sleeves signifying the restraining of worldly pursuits. The Mantiya is presented with the following words:
Our brother is clothed in the robe of salvation and in the armor of righteousness, that he may withdraw himself from all unrighteousness, and with carefulness put away the vain imaginations of his mind and the subtleties of his will; that he may have the remembrance of his own death always in his mind and consider himself to be crucified to the world and to be dead to every evil deed, but always alive for the showing forth, without laziness, of every Christian virtue.
Next the new monk receives the Kamilavka with veil or the helmet of salvation. The veil signifies that the monk must veil his face from temptation and guard his eyes and ears against all vanity. The wings of the veil date from the time of St. Methodius (846) who was wounded in the face during the reign of Emperor Theophilus. In order to conceal his wounds, the saint wore wings with his veil and fastened them about his lower face.
Our brother takes the helmet of salvation in the hope that he may not be put to shame and that he will be able to stand against the snares of the devil; and he covers his head with the veil of humility and perpetual obedience, as a sign of spiritual love of wisdom; and that he may turn away his eyes, that they not behold vanities.
Sandals for his feet are now presented:
Our brother is shod with sandals in readiness for the proclamation of the Good News of peace; that he may be swift and diligent in every obedience and every good deed.
The Prayer Rope or Chotki is given. The rope has many knots to count the prayers of the new monk.
Take brother the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, for continual prayer to Jesus; for you must always have the Name of the Lord Jesus in mind, in heart, and on your lips, every saying, “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
The hand cross is next given. The hand cross is the shield of faith, with which to put out the flaming darts of the Evil One. The monk will keep the hand cross in his icon corner to remind his of this saying.
Take, brother, the shield of faith, the Cross of Christ with which you will be able to put out the flaming darts of the Evil One; and remember always how the Lord said, “He who would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”
Finally a lighted candle is give signifying that he must strive, by purity of life, by good deeds, and good demeanor to be a Light to the World. The candle will be placed in the Icon Corner and the monk will be buried with this candle.
Take, brother, this candle, and know that from henceforth you must, through a pure and virtuous life, and through a good character, be a light unto the world. For the Lord said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, who art in heaven.
Then the final blessing is pronounced:
Our brother has received the Betrothal of the Angelic Schema and has been clothed in the whole armor of God, that he may be able to vanquish all the power and warfare of principalities and powers, and rulers of the darkness of this age, of evil spirits under the heavens, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Let us all say for him, Lord, have mercy.
It is the tradition that the new monk remain in the monastic church for some days praying for himself and for the entire monastic brotherhood. The new monk is to remain clothed in the whole of the habit for those days.
Open Letter to Vice President Biden
Dear Mr. Vice President,
I am posting this open letter to you to address the foul language that you used yesterday at the bill signing ceremony at the White House.
During the week long run up to the bills passage on Sunday, much was made of the opposition using colorful language to describe some members of Congress. I wrote about how disappointed I was with the tactics of some people and how it seems that political debate in this country has fallen to that of a bar room.
Your choice of language when speaking with the President of the United States was crude and uncalled for. You had the attention of the world for the signing of the historical health care reform bill and this is how you choose to represent yourself, the President of the United States and the American people to the world.
Some have said that this was intended as private conversation between you and the President. My response is that this word should not be used by the second highest elected official in the United States of America, actually no one should use the word. We have taken the Office of the Vice President and run it through the gutter.
Mr. Vice President, I believe you owe all Americans an apology for your choice of words. I call on you to make the apology public and sincere and I also suggest, that as a Roman Catholic, you avail yourself of Sacramental Confession during this time of Lent.
Mr. Vice President, Americans look to you and your office as a leader and we expect more from the person who holds the office once held by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Theodor Roosevelt, and Harry Truman.
Mr. Vice President it is time to “man up” and apologize.
When religion and health mix
Ever notice that most hospitals have chapels and clergy? In a survey of 1,144 U.S. doctors published in a leading medical journal, 85 percent said that religion and spirituality have a positive effect on health. In addition:
76 percent said faith can help people cope with illness.
74 percent said it helps ill people think in a positive way.
55 percent thought religious groups provided good emotional and practical support to the sick.
54 percent believe that at times, a supernatural being intervenes in health care.
That said, only 6 percent of the doctors polled think that being religious or spiritual can change a medical outcome.
Some data do suggest, though, that people of faith may live longer. And another study found that those with religious ties were three times more likely to survive open-heart surgery. But much more research is needed to see if this relationship is valid.
Leadership: Is the microphone on?
Fr. Basil, at the Orthodox Leader Blog is asking the same question that asked last week. Where is the Orthodox voice in the Health Care debate? As one of the commenter’s pointed out, the Orthodox Bishops have spoken out on abortion in the past, but what Fr. Basil is asking is where is the voice on the Health Care debate?
Check it out:
The recent turmoil surrounding the recent passage of healthcare legislation by the United States Congress is providing ample opportunity to look at the absence of Orthodox leadership. As a reminder, this blog’s purpose is not political. To the extent this legislation reflects Caesar’s affairs, it is generally best for the Church to remain silent.
Sadly, though, this legislation is not purely about political matters, for it has provisions for using taxes gathered from individuals, including Christians, to pay for elective abortions in all or part (c.f., here and here). Despite the scandalously equivocal language used by the Ecumenical Patriarch in discussing abortion (c.f., here, here, here, and here), the Church’s teaching cannot be misunderstood. As a best example, consider St. Basil the Great (AD 330-379), who says absolutely nothing new: “Women also who administer drugs to cause abortion, as well as those who take poisons to destroy unborn children, are murderesses” (Letter 188). Children in the womb are human beings, and their willful destruction is murder. So what about all those who will now find themselves accessories to the crime through the new legal requirement to fund abortion?
My question is, will they speak out on immigration reform or remain quiet on that as well?
Faithfulness
This is my entry in the twice monthly One Word at a Time Blog Carnival. This time around the word is Faithfulness. Thanks to the coordinators of this Carnival it is much fun and really makes me think about the words they have chosen for use to write on.
faithful ~ adj. 1. True or trustworthy in the performance of duty. 2. Worthy of belief or confidence; truthful: a faithful saying. 3. True in detail or accurate in description: a faithful copy. faithfulness n.
When I start one of these Carnivals I always turn to the dictionary to see what the word means. I usually have a pretty good handle on what the word means but it is always nice to check your work. After all I am trying to be, wait for it, faithful to what I write.
So what does it mean this faithfulness. Taking the definition as my cue, faithfulness the noun, means to have faith in something and then to believe it with confidence. I have said countless numbers of time, that to belong to a faith group means to believe what that groups believes. You cannot pick and choose what we like about a group where religion is concerned.
I am an Orthodox priest, and the Orthodox Church has positions on issues that they have held for centuries. The very fact of being orthodox is to have straight truth, the teaching that has not changed. We need to be faithful to the traditions of our particular tradition. The church is slow to change on purpose, because we do not want to change with every whim or cultural shift.
Faithfulness is not easy. We are placing our trust in something that is bigger than we are. We are placing our trust in something we have not seen, but yet we believe as Scripture tells us.
The first definition used above states that we must be trustworthy in the performance of our duty. The soldier standing watch, who obeys the lawful orders of those appointed over him/her is being faithful to their duty. The public servant/politician, who does their job the way it was intended to be done is accomplishing their duty faithfully. Those of us who belong to a certain religious tradition, and practice that faith as it is intended to be practiced are doing so faithfully.
Faithfulness, like Christianity, is not an easy task. We are being asked to do something that we are not used to doing in this age of modernity, trust. Trust in someone else other than ourselves and trust in something we cannot see, hear, touch, or taste.
The most important aspect of faithfulness is to be faithful to yourself. Be faithful to your word and your actions and if you are then people will have faith in you.
Holy Week Schedule
Saturday of Lazarus March 27th
Great Vespers: …………………………………..5:00 P.M.
Palm Sunday March 28th
Matins: …………………………………………….9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy: …………………………………..10:00 a.m.
Bridgegroom Matins: …………………………..7:00 p.m.
Holy Monday March 29th
Bridegroom Matins: ………………………………7:00 p.m.
Holy Tuesday March 30th
Bridegroom Matins: ……………………………..7:00 p.m.
Holy Wednesday March 31st
The Mystery of Holy Unction: ……………………………….7:00 p.m.
Great and Holy Thursday April 1st
Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great: …………………10:00 a.m.
Holy Passion (Reading of the 12 Gospels): …………………7:00 p.m.
Great and Holy Friday April 2nd
Royal Hours: ….………………………………………………10:30 A.M.
Vespers with Taking-down from the Cross: ……………….3:00 p.m.
Lamentations – Matins of Holy Saturday: ………………..7:00 p.m.
Great and Holy Saturday April 3rd
Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great: …………………10:00 a.m.
Vigil of Pascha: ………………………………………………..9:00 p.m.
Resurrection Service: ………………………………………..9:30 P.m.
Holy Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: …………………….10:00 P.m.
Great and Holy Pascha April 4th
Vespers of Agape: ……………………………….……………11:00 a.m.
Holy Communion is offered at every Divine Liturgy
Confessions may be heard after every service except Holy Friday
Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.
Troparion
You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.
Romanian Orthodox Church defrocks divorced priests
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — The Romanian Orthodox has decided to strip clergymen who divorce of their priestly duties.
Church spokesman Constantin Stoica says the decision to defrock priests who divorce will apply to all. But he says that those whose marriages broke up because their wives committed adultery will find other employment within the church.
Stoica said Friday that the decision was triggered after the number of divorced priests reached 500 out of a total of 16,000.
Those already divorced or remarried will not be defrocked. But they will not be promoted to high positions and will not be able to teach at theological schools and universities.
More than 85 percent of Romania’s 22 million population are Orthodox believers.