Faith, Reason, and Exorcisms

Checking the headlines at the CNA (Catholic News Agency) website, I ran into this these:

• "Rome's exorcist finding Bl. John Paul II effective against Satan"
  David Kerr, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (May 17, 2011)
• "Archbishop Gomez tells graduates to overcome divorce of faith and reason"
  Benjamin Mann, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (May 17, 2011)

Exorcism, the Blessed, faith, and reason are some of my favorite topics - along with physics, art, and several dozen other facets of creation, so I'm opining a bit on 'all of the above.'

Exorcism? Exorcism?!

American culture has - interesting - ideas about exorcism. I suspect that assumptions formed in a sincerely Protestant country, embellished with the sort of theology taught by items like The Exorcist and Scream Blacula Scream, leaves American culture with a somewhat-distorted picture.

Maybe I'm being unfair.

Hollywood histrionics aside, exorcism is

• Real
• Involved in the sacrament of Baptism
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1237, 1673
• A power and office the Church received from Jesus
  • Catechism, 1673

Here's a sort of 'dictionary' definition:

"EXORCISM: The public and authoritative act of the Church to protect or liberate a person or object from the power of the devil (e.g., demonic possession) in the name of Christ (1673). A simple exorcism prayer in preparation for Baptism invokes God's help in overcoming the power of Satan and the spirit of evil (1237)."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, Glossary, E) [links added]

Also see

• Catechism
  • 517
  • 550

The Realities of Exorcism: Pretty Dry Reading

"When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism. Jesus performed exorcisms and from him the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing.¹⁷⁸ In a simple form, exorcism is performed at the celebration of Baptism. The solemn exorcism, called 'a major exorcism,' can be performed only by a priest and with the permission of the bishop. The priest must proceed with prudence, strictly observing the rules established by the Church. Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church. Illness, especially psychological illness, is a very different matter; treating this is the concern of medical science. Therefore, before an exorcism is performed, it is important to ascertain that one is dealing with the presence of the Evil One, and not an illness.¹⁷⁹"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1673)

Informative as that passage is, it's fairly dry reading. Little wonder, perhaps, that movie makers prefer a more colorful approach.

Exorcising ADHD? I Don't Think So

Exorcism is about driving out demons in my Lord's name. It's like the Catechism says:

"...Illness, especially psychological illness, is a very different matter; treating this is the concern of medical science...."
(Catechism, 1673)

For example, I deal with a disorder that's been diagnosed as ADHD-inattentive. Also Asperger's. Whatever it is, I'm taking medications - which help. I've been over this before. (March 4, 2010)

And when I get a cold, I don't ask a priest to exorcise Demon Rhinovirus. I rest, and drink plenty of fluids. Including chicken soup. (February 6, 2011)

The (Real) Exorcist of Rome

CNA (Catholic News Agency) ran an article on the official exorcist for the Diocese of Rome today. During 26 years, he's done around 70,000 exorcisms. That's an average of a little over seven a day, if I did the math right.

I don't expect a movie to be made of his career. He's done most of those exorcisms in a "small, unassuming office in south-west Rome."

An excerpt from that article:

"Rome’s exorcist finding Bl. John Paul II effective against Satan"
David Kerr CNA (Catholic News Agency) (May 17, 2011)

"...'The world must know that Satan exists,' he told CNA recently. 'The devil and demons are many and they have two powers, the ordinary and the extraordinary.'...

"...'The so-called ordinary power is that of tempting man to distance himself from God and take him to Hell. This action is exercised against all men and women of all places and religions.'

"As for the extraordinary powers used by Satan, Fr. Amorth explained it as how the Devil acts when he focuses his attention more specifically on a person. He categorized the expression of that attention into four types:..."
(CNA)

Breaking the rest of that paragraph out into a list:

• Diabolical possession
• Diabolical vexation
  • like Padre Pio's experience
    • He was beaten by the Devil
• Obsessions
  • Which can lead a person to
    • Desperation
    • Infestation
• Cases when the Devil occupies a
  • Space
  • Animal
  • Object

Remember: I've got the teaching authority of "some guy with a blog." Although learning my faith is a high priority with me - I do not speak for the Church. I recommend following links to the Catechism and other resources I put in these posts. The Catholic ones.

What IMDB has to say about Scream Blacula Scream, while informative about the motion picture, is not - in my opinion - a particularly authoritative source for theological insights.

Back to that article, briefly.

"...Fr. Amorth says such extraordinary occurrences are rare but on the rise. He's particularly worried by the number of young people being affected by Satan through sects, séances and drugs. He never despairs though.

" 'With Jesus Christ and Mary, God has promised us that he will never allow temptations greater than our strengths.'..."
(CNA)

If you're waiting for a rant, or hand-wringing over how just simply awful things are: that's not gonna happen.

It's like I said:

• "We Won: Quite a While Ago"
  (January 13, 2011)

I'm not complacent, I hope. But I also follow the man who said He is I AM: and who was killed but didn't stay dead. (John 8:23-30, John 8:58, John 18:4-8, John 20:19-31, for starters)

On the other hand, I wouldn't try an exorcism myself. Apart from the sort of low-key thing I did a day or so ago, sprinkling holy water through the house, asking - in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - that God bless this house. ("Name," not "names." (Catechism, 233))

And I'm getting off-topic again.

Faith AND Reason

Faith and reason are not mutually-exclusive terms. Not for an informed Catholic.

Which, as the after-dinner speaker might say, reminds me of an amusing story:

"A Muppet Show episode - I think it was the one that introduced Uncle Deadly - had the back-stage Muppets telling Kermit that the theater was haunted. Kermit assured them that there was a 'rational' explanation for what they'd seen. Then, as I recall, Uncle Deadly did a horror-house 'bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha' laugh. Kermit's reaction was something along the lines of 'or, not.'...

"...The (very entertaining) Muppet Show episode's gag relied on a notion that's deeply embedded in American culture - western culture, in general, I think.

• " 'Supernatural' means 'irrational' or 'illogical'
• " 'Logical' and 'reasonable' people 'know' that 'supernatural' things aren't
  • "Real
  • "Logical or reasonable

"For folks who put their brains in 'sleep' mode inside church; or whose religious leaders focus on emotional highs, rather than deep thought, that may be true...."
(December 18, 2009)

I've harangued about faith being reasonable before.

Never mind me, though: An archbishop had a few words to say on the topic:

"Archbishop Gomez tells graduates to overcome divorce of faith and reason"
Benjamin Mann, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (May 17, 2011)

"Addressing new graduates of Thomas Aquinas College on May 14, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez urged them to bear witness to the Catholic Church's harmony of faith and reason, in a culture that has lost its intellectual and religious bearings.

" 'The problem today is that our intellectuals and our cultural leaders no longer have confidence. They are skeptical that we can know our creator from what he has created,' Archbishop Gomez told the 82 graduating seniors and their families. 'So we bracket off the question of God as something we cannot know.'

"The archbishop contrasted this skeptical conclusion with the words of Blessed John Paul II, who described faith and reason as the 'two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of the truth.' He pointed out that God 'made us with minds that can reason and hearts that can believe,' with both abilities needed to know the truth about God and the world...."

My guess is that a person won't get hailed as "intelligent" by listening to what the archbishop said.

On the other hand, being popular or ranking high in the polls isn't necessarily the same as being right.

There's that whole John 6:48-69 thing. Particularly John 6:60.

And that's another topic.

Related posts:

• "Only 1/10 of One Percent Attend Pope John Paul II Beatification"
  (May 1, 2011)
• "'Blessed,' 'Saint,' and News that Makes Sense"
  (April 18, 2011)
• "Demons aren't Dull"
  (November 30, 2010)
• "Saint Thomas Aquinas, Pope Benedict XVI, Faith and Reason"
  (June 24, 2010)
• " 'If you must see ghosts ...' Materialism, Being Spiritual, and Uncle Deadly"
  (December 18, 2009)

In the news:

• "Rome's exorcist finding Bl. John Paul II effective against Satan"
  David Kerr, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (May 17, 2011)
• "Archbishop Gomez tells graduates to overcome divorce of faith and reason"
  Benjamin Mann, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (May 17, 2011)

Confession: Another Blogger's Take on the Sacrament

Ideally, people wouldn't need to go to "Confession" as American English refers to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

True enough.

Just one thing: we don't live in an ideal world.

Here's an excerpt from what another blogger had to say about going to "Confession:"

"Why go to Confession?"
Christopher's Apologies (September 30, 2010)

"Yesterday I taught RCIA for a combined class from three parishes (it is a brave new world with 'parish clusters'). It was only the second week, but it looks like it is going to be a great class. The 25 or so people listen intently, share willing, and ask great questions; I'm really looking forward to walking with them for the next six months in their faith journey. It has been my experience in the past 12 years teaching RCIA that the overwhelming majority of questions the catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates (baptized but unconfirmed) ask deal with the Eucharist, the Saints, the Virgin Mary, 'confession' (Sacrament of Reconciliation), and the papacy. Of course, this makes perfect sense given the the theological differences between Catholicism and Protestantism on these issues.

"One of the questions that inevitably gets asked is: 'Why do I have to go to confession? Why can't I just ask God for forgiveness?' Of course, a person can, and should, ask God for forgiveness when they recognize the presence of sin in their lives. In class I would lead a discussion on the sacrament, providing biblical and theological foundations for it along with its historical development. However, I'm going to employ a different approach here using a discussion I had with my six year old yesterday afternoon when I picked him up from his after school program...."

The Christopher's Apologies made some good points. Not the way I'd have made them: but then he's not me. Which is a good thing. Catholics aren't supposed to be all alike. (September 18, 2010, August 26, 2010)

Back to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Catholic Church has rules about it (naturally enough), it's a good idea, and I've posted about it before.

Related posts:

• "Confession: We've Got Rules About That, Too"
  (August 22, 2010)
• "Making a Good Confession: There's Help"
  (February 3, 2010)
• "Feeling Forgiven: My Faith and Emotional Perks"
  (November 24, 2009)
• "Reflections on Isaiah, 2nd Corinthians, the Gospel of Mark, and Saint Faustina"
  (March 7, 2009)

---

A tip of the hat to crsmith89, on Twitter, for writing that post.

Confession: We've Got Rules About That, Too

Jokes about the Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Confession, are endemic in American culture. The ones I've heard generally involve a distorted view of priestly celibacy. Which is another topic.

Then there's the idea that it's somehow wrong to think that sin exists - or, among those who admit the possibility, that confession involving another living person isn't necessary. Which is (almost) yet another topic.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church discusses Confession here and there. Article 4 | The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation 1422-1484 might be a good place to start.

I don't, by the way, think that the priest I spoke with on Saturday can forgive my sins. Only God can. (Catechism, 1441-1442) So why do I go to a priest for this sacrament? He's a duly deputized agent of my Lord, and has the authority which was passed along to him - tracking back to Jesus.

I am Not Mary Poppins

I "went to Confession," as we say in this community, yesterday. I'd have gone on Friday, with the rest of the family, but didn't realize we were going until I'd booked myself up with other tasks.

Some major get-together was letting out as I approached St. Paul's. A wedding, I think. By the time I got into the church, things were quiet. Apart from another fellow who was probably waiting for the priest to show up, too.

Why would I go to Confession and admit what I'd fouled up on since last time?


St. Paul's Church's confessional. August 21, 2010.

Mostly it's because I'm not "Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way." (IMDB.com)

I'm definitely included in that verse: "all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) I'm more familiar with the "all have sinned and falls short of the glory of God" translation used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, though. (Catechism, 1922)

The point is, I am not perfect.

Am I writhing in self-disgust and abject horror at the awfulness that is me? No. That's not required.

I am, however, aware of the truth of that part of the missal that (currently) says:

"I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned
through my own fault,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;

"and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord, our God."
(The Assembly, Roman Missal, Third Edition, via USCCB)

Turns out, by the way, that part's apparently going to go back to what I'm a little more familiar with:

"I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.'
(The Assembly, Roman Missal, Third Edition, via USCCB)

Doesn't sound much like a self-affirming, feel-good, uplifting vibe does it?

On the other hand, I think it's a pretty good description of where I'm at, in relation to God.

Confession Doesn't Solve Everything?

So, why did I say those lines from Assembly during Mass this morning? Partly because it's part of the routine: but also because it's true.

Hold on: I went to Confession Saturday afternoon, and I'm crawling back Sunday morning, asking forgiveness? What was I up to?

No, I didn't have a wild Saturday night out. I did, however, breathe in and out quite a few times and had the usual experiences of my life. Nothing spectacular: but no golden bubble keeping my fallen nature away from me, either.

Which is threatening to send me off on yet another topic again.

It's not the the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance doesn't "do anything" for me. The way I see it, things take time. Or, using a pharmaceutical metaphor, that sacrament is a series of booster shots. I'm not at all convinced that the metaphor will hold up.

Bottom line? The rules say I should participate in the sacrament of reconciliation and penance regularly: so I do. Not as often as I should: I let it slide well over a month this time.

If I thought I was smarter than God, and wiser than some of the greatest minds the world has seen over the last two millennia: I might consider giving this particular rule of the Catholic Churth a miss.

Since my opinion of myself isn't quite that good: I think I'll follow the rules.

Related posts:

• "Making a Good Confession: There's Help"
  (February 3, 2010)
• "Feeling Forgiven: My Faith and Emotional Perks"
  (November 24, 2009)
• "Dying to Ourselves, Dying to Self: Not Exactly a Feel-Good Religion?"
  (March 3, 2009)

Making a Good Confession: There's Help

"Making a good confession?" Lent is coming up. Fast: February 17.

Which means that it's confession time for Catholics. Practicing Catholics have to "go to Confession," as we say here in America, once a year. Minimum. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1457) We should take advantage of the sacrament of Reconciliation more often than that, of course.

Confession: Lots of Names, One Sacrament

The sacrament of Reconciliation is also called the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of confession. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1423,1424)

During More Than 19 Centuries, A Few Details Changed

As centuries passed, procedures for the sacrament of Reconciliation changed. (Catechism, 1447) The basic structure of the sacrament hasn't. Just as it was in the first century, we've got two essential elements. They're both essential, by the way:

• The acts of man
  Man, who undergoes conversion
  • Through the actions of the Holy Spirit
  • Contrition
  • Confession
  • Satisfaction
• God's action
  • Through the intervention of the Church
    • Through the Bishop and his
      • Priests
    • Forgives sins
      • In the name of Jesus Christ
    • Determines the manner of satisfaction
    • Prays for the sinner
    • Does penance with him

There's more, as usual. (1448) Use of the personal pronoun "him" to indicate an unspecified or generic person, and "Man" to describe all humanity, isn't what the dominant culture of America likes just now. It is, however, how the English language works, and at present many Catholic documents - including the catechism - use standard English. Not the politically-correct version that Americans have to use, if they want to advance socially and economically.

If you think that's demeaning women, I suggest that you take it up with Mary, Queen of Angels, or pray to St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church. Or find tapes of Mother Angelica's remarks. (She's the nun who founded EWTN)

About the priest? Yeah: Confession to a priest is important. Very importang (1456)

Sacrament of Reconciliation: There's Help

I started "going to Confession" when I became a Catholic. Decades later, it's still not easy.

But, there's help.

Printed 'how-2' advice and procedures have been around for generations.

Now, the Archdiocese has launched a website - The Light Is On For You.org/confession/ - to help people prepare for the sacrament of Reconciliation.

There's a page titled "How to Make a Good Confession, and a series of downloadable pdf files.

What I read wasn't startling and new: but that's not surprising. I hope to be around when the Church hits the 2,000 year mark. After all that time God is still God and human beings are still human. I wouldn't hold my breath, waiting for a big change in the basics.

---

A tip of the hat to newadvent, on Twitter, for the heads-up on the new website.

Marriage, Catholic Beliefs, and This Catholic

Or, "Marriage, Sacraments, and All That"

My second-oldest daughter got married on the fifth of this month. I started writing this post before the wedding, but I've been a bit distracted, mostly by the impending death of my father.

One thing I'll say: My life hasn't been boring.

Yeah: My Wife's Catholic: and You Know What That Means, Heh Heh Heh!

Actually, quite a few people don't.

Quite a number of Protestant denominations take Ephesians 5:22 quite seriously. Odds are that you have heard this:

"Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord."
(Ephesians 5:22)

The problem is, that all too many people - men and (a bit surprisingly) women - stop reading there.

As a result, 'way too many couples live for years with the lord and master getting everything he wants. Then, if the jerk is lucky, the woman files for a divorce, or just runs away. Sometimes we end up reading another one of those 'black widow' news stories.

I suppose I need to say this: That's not how the Catholic Church operates.

I know: You may have had a run-in with a whack job of a Catholic layman, or maybe a priest, who was really big on keeping women barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen. Some priests and alleged Catholic theologians have said some really odd things from time to time. (August 26, 2009)

Read the Book! It says be Subordinate to Each Other!

Here's the deal: That part of Ephesians runs like this:

"⁵ Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. ⁶

"Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.

"For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body.

"As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her

"to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,

"that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

"So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

"For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church,

"because we are members of his body."
(Ephesians 5:21-30) [emphasis mine]

I'm one of those people who read a manifest, or a contract, before signing it. It takes a little time, but I like to know what I've given my word on.

With an agreement as important as marriage, I was particularly careful to know just what I was signing on for.

Even before I met my wife, I knew about that Ephesians thing. Not just the culturally-normative 'wives, thou shalt bring hubby his beer' part: the whole thing.

I also knew what Jesus had done for His Church. Knowing what was going to happen, he walked back to Jerusalem to be tortured to death. I'd just as soon not endure an agonizing death in order to serve my wife. But, if necessary, that's what I'd be required to do. Like it says, "...even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her...."

That doesn't mean I'm some kind of ideal husband - or even close to it. But I do know what's expected of me.

Marriage isn't All Death-By-Torture: There's Diaper Changing, Too

I haven't run into this in Holy Writ, but I think it's a good idea: change the diapers and clean out the toilet. Actually, I don't think it matters who does what when it comes to chores: as long as they get done, and everybody pitches in.

Let's See, Where Was I?

This post has been written over a span of about four weeks, so my writing's a bit more non-linear than usual.

Let's see:

• "Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ."
  • Got that
• Change diapers - make yourself useful
  • Right

I didn't go into that "Husbands, love your wives" thing as much as I could - but that's a key point.

A Catholic Marriage is a - "Sacrament"?!

I ran into a handy FAQ about marriage, Catholic style, on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website. Here's the first point:

"1. Why does the church teach that marriage is a sacrament?

"The sacraments make Christ present in our midst. Like the other sacraments, marriage is not just for the good of individuals, or the couple, but for the community as a whole. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage between two baptized persons is a sacrament. The Old Testament prophets saw the marriage of a man and woman as a symbol of the covenant relationship between God and his people. The permanent and exclusive union between husband and wife mirrors the mutual commitment between God and his people. The Letter to the Ephesians says that this union is a symbol of the relationship between Christ and the Church...."
("Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage," Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, USCCB)

So, as a Catholic couple, we're a living symbol of Christ and the Church. Hey, no pressure - - -.

Okay, so Marriage is a Sacrament: What's That?

There are seven sacraments: There are seven sacraments in all:

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Eucharist
• Penance
• Matrimony
• Holy orders
• The anointing of the sick
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1210)

Okay. There are seven, and that's what they're called. But what's a sacrament?

"Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life."
(Catechism, 1210)

That'll have to do for now. I've put a link to the section of the Catechism that kicks off, down in "Background" - it's Section Two.

" 'The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.' "
(1601)

After that there's a whole lot of counter-cultural stuff about loving each other, indissoluble unions, having children, and raising them with a love of God.

I won't kid you: marriage isn't for wimps. But do it right, and it's a hoot. In the case of me and my wife, I'm quite sure that God's been holding us up. It's not by my strength, that's sure.

The Catholic Church Has - You Guessed it - Rules About Marriage

For starters, the Church insists that those getting married be

• Human
• One man and one woman
  • No
    • Polygamy
    • Polyandry
  • Even if your culture says otherwise
  (Catechism, 1601-1658, Leviticus 20:15)

There are some minimum requirements too. Mostly that the two parties:

1. Are free to marry
2. Freely exchange their consent
3. They have the intention to
   • Marry for life
   • Be faithful to one another
   • Be open to children
4. Give their consent
   • In the presence of two witnesses
   • Before a properly authorized Church minister
   (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), "Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage")
   

That last requirement, #4, can be waived - but the waiver has to be approved by a church authority. (USCCB)

Getting married in the Catholic Church isn't as simple as getting hitched by Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapels Inc. - but then, the Church is helping you get ready for a lifetime commitment as a symbol of Christ's relationship with His Church.

Which can mean the psychological and spiritual equivalent of a decades-long marathon. Or, as in the case of my son-in-law's first marriage, the devotion, joy, sadness and loss of those decades packed into a very short span.

Either way, you're well-advised to get ready before tying the knot.

Catholic marriage being a sacrament is another reason why it has to be in a church (a cathedral will do, too) - unless there's a really good reason for doing it somewhere else. And then, you have to get clearance.

There's a Lot of Fun, Too

If you do it right, marriage can be a wonderful experience. I have a hard time imagining life without our six children - the four who lived to be born, and the two who didn't.

It hasn't been one long sweetness-and-light session. This morning, for example, my son and I had a few rather tense words about a particular activity: but we're okay now, and he's learned a bit about himself, I trust. So have I, for that matter. (I'd be more specific - but I'd have to clear it with him first: And I'm not delaying this post another day.)

And now, if I'm going to be a halfway-decent husband and father tomorrow, I have to tie this post up and get to bed. Goodnight, and my God bless you.

Related posts:

• "Afghanistan's 'Family Law,' Western Mores, and Catholic Teaching"
  (August 22, 2009)
• "Eight-Year-Old Raped - Time to Think and Pray"
  (July 25, 2009)
• "Annulment: Divorce, Catholic Style - NOT!"
  (March 27, 2009)

Background:

• "The Nature of Marriage" Natural Family Planning Program, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
  (From www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/catholic-teaching/upload/Marriage-2.pdf)
• Section Two / The Seven Sacraments of the Church
  Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Article 6 / The Sixth Commandment
  Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Article 7 / The Sacrament of Matrimony
  Catechism of the Catholic Church

Farrah Fawcett: Poster Girl; Actress and Catholic

Perhaps because many Catholics know very little about their faith, some American politicos of the 'although personally opposed' sort are quite willing - even eager - to say how enthusiastic they are about being Catholic.

In the America movie industry, being Catholic doesn't seem to be quite so big an advantage.

I was surprised to learn that Farrah Fawcett received 'last rites' before her death. I had not been aware that she was Catholic, and am glad to read that she died what my father would have called a happy death.

The last rites are a set of sacraments which include Reconciliation (Confession), Anointing of the Sick, Apostolic Blessing for the Hour of Death, and Holy Communion. (EWTN)

Receiving the Anointing of the Sick isn't reserved for people who are about to die. (Catechism, 1514). It doesn't hurt to receive this sacrament as soon as sickness or old age make it clear that death may be approaching, though. And, if you've received the Anointing of the Sick and get better: no worries. The sacrament can be given again, as needed (1515)

Back to Farrah Fawcett

I can't say that I was a fan of Farrah Fawcett, but I knew something about her career, from that 1976 poster, through "Charlie's Angels," and her movies. I wrote a post about her career and death in another blog.

As I wrote then, Farrah Fawcett struck me as someone who had a bit more common sense and inner strength than many of the glitterati display.

Related posts:

• "Farrah Fawcett: Poster Girl; Actress; Dead"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (June 25, 2009)
• " 'Cafeteria Catholics' and a Diverse Church"
  (June 8, 2009)
• "Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas: Nancy Pelosi Isn't Alone"
  (March 8, 2009)
• "The Pope, an Archbishop, and Nancy Pelosi, on Abortion, Human Rights, and Communion"
  (February 21, 2009)
• "Pelosi and the Pope, Emotion and Beliefs"
  (February 19, 2009)
• Putting some of these related posts in perspective
  "Conservative? Liberal? Democrat? Republican? No, I'm Catholic"
  (November 3, 2008)

In the news:

• "Farrah Fawcett dies after receiving last rites"
  Catholic News Agency (June 25, 2009)

Background:

• Last Rites and the Catholic Church in America:
  • "Asian and Pacific Island Demographics"
    Cultural Diversity in the Church, Asian and Pacific Island Affairs
  • "Dioceses, Parishes, North American College in Rome to Mark Patriot Day, September 11"
    (September 1, 2004)
• "THESE ARE THE SACRAMENTS"
  Fulton Sheen, EWTN (1962)
• "What is the difference between Last Rites and Extreme Unction?"
  Question from Ron C (June 19, 2001), answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL (July 18, 2009)
• "Article 5 / The Anointing of the Sick"
  Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition (1994, 1997)