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PRAYER AND REFLECTION

Catholic theologian Dr. Anthony T. Padovano spoke on "Hope in the Church" prior to the VOTF National Representative Council on Oct. 16, 2004 in Pompton Lakes, NJ. Hat follows is a recap of Dr. Padovano's remarks.

His presentation, balanced, critical and affirming, was divided into four sections.

In part one, he surveyed the first century and emphasized its focus on Christ. The Gospels deal with Christ's Life; the Epistles with the cross and Resurrection; Acts, with preaching about Christ. The first part of the talk emphasized the person of Christ, the parables, the Paraclete, and the Church as the People of God and the Body of Christ. This first century is the norm for all subsequent Church development.

In the second part, Dr. Padovano surveyed the two millennia after the first century and gave an analysis of twelve values that surfaced in the Catholic Church after the first century. These included: papacy, sacramental system, law, ecumenical councils, monastic and religious communities, the New Testament, longevity, global connections, Marian Theology, the university system, social justice, and spiritual teaching.

Dr. Padovano, in the third part of his talk, indicated that, over these centuries, there were negative Church influences that made the proclamation of the Gospel difficult. He noted eight concerns: an imperial papacy, the dominance of canon law, the hierarchical non-accountability of Church leaders, mandatory celibacy, divorce and remarriage policies, preoccupation with sexual issues, gender inequality, and a non-inclusive magisterium.

In the final part, Dr. Padovano gave reasons for hope in the future. Collegial thinking and expectations are part of the Church's life. The Gospel and the sacramental system are deeply valued by Catholics. There is a hunger for spirituality, a sensitivity to the priesthood of all believers, ecumenical yearnings and a desire for community at all costs. The Catholic community is moved by ministers who stress healing and hope and is open to the charisms of women. It is still Christ, as in the first century, who is the center and heart of our love for the Church.


Amazing Grace A prayer
from Billie Bourgeois

When I think of grace, I think of rain. Sometimes here in the south in the summer on very hot, sultry afternoons, the dark thunder clouds gather and give us a break from the unrelenting sun. They roll, clap and pour the forgiving monsoon. Then the air becomes tolerable and the yards remind me of a voluptuous woman just bathed and primped. The gardens grow with such vigor and self righteousness! The banana trees burst out of the ground faster than the squirrels can nibble away at their sweet nectar. The elephant ear leaves become the size of shopping carts. It's like grace, the never ending gratuitous showering of gifts and reminders from our ever-loving Creator.

Our job is to be like children in the rain. We must run out, barefooted in the mud, with our arms raised and our heads up and our tongues out, ready to be showered upon! We must be ready to run into life's mud, barefooted.

When do we get chances like this? When does grace happen? All day, every day, grace happens. God's giving is even more voluminous than the southern afternoon downpour. The showering never stops! But we sometimes stop running and dancing with our arms up and our tongues out. We are reluctant to get soaked and muddy. We decide it's easier to stay dry and neat. It's more comfortable to not feel wet and sticky and have to change our clothes. But once we run in the rain there is refreshment and relaxation that cannot come any other way.

Then, of course, grace can come like those soft February showers. In the quiet moments when we rake leaves, pull weeds, watch fire, rock a sleeping baby, listen to water, watch leaves fall, watch snow fall, sift sand, soak in a bath, listen to birds. I think a Zen Buddhist would call it "like raking sand."

"Our Father, Who art in Heaven …." Where is heaven? Heaven is here inside us when we take time to do those seemingly useless things, the things that make us stop for a moment and touch Heaven. I think God created those little automatic daydream mechanisms so that we, without thinking, give God a chance to sit and hold us, the way we like to do with a sleeping child.

These thoughts came to me during the past year when I became a grandmother. Jacob was born on October 16, 2003. During his first two weeks of life I had many chances to just sit and hold and watch his precious little face. Time stopped. Eternity was right here. In those not long enough moments, I didn't care about anything else. It quickly dawned on me that this is what God loves to do with us. The Divine Spirit tricks us with such things as daydreaming so S/He can hold us and look upon our faces, and into our souls. God especially loves it when we allow ourselves some space in our busy-ness to stop, be still and be graced.

While in my studio the other day, I found myself daydreaming about grace. Rain was falling and I was doodling, playing with my pencil. I noticed I was making falling marks, little invented shapes and lines that fell from the top edge of the composition down to the bottom edge. What is this about, I wondered? Then it dawned on me....grace. I was trying to draw grace. Amazing grace! I should have run outside and danced with my arms up and my tongue out!


Prayer for the Survivors and Those Who Did Not Survive

Good and gentle Shepherd, Sweet Spirit of God, Creator divine
In Your infinite tenderness comfort the survivors of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy.
Deliver them from sorrow, anoint them with hope, sustain them with the Body of Christ.
Take to your sacred heart those who have committed suicide.
Make of us ambassadors of Your justice, Your lifting of the oppressed and Your desire for all of us to live and move and have our being in Your abundant grace. Amen.

Written by Kristine Ward, National Vice President and Dayton Affiliate Co-founder/Co-chair

 

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In the Vineyard
November 2004
Volume 4, Issue 10

Page One

Survivor Support News

Priests’ Support Working Group

Keeping the Faith: The Story of Voice of the Faithful

Letters to the Editor

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In the Vineyard Archives

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