tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post5604403253319349212..comments2023-07-03T11:46:04.659-04:00Comments on The Shipwrack-Harvest: Reelin' In The YearsChristopher M. Zelonishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00631112064193201986noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-22598533987004957312012-11-20T22:40:33.435-05:002012-11-20T22:40:33.435-05:00I knew you would understand. Perhaps folks need to...I knew you would understand. Perhaps folks need to be reminded that it is not right to shop, attend sporting events, eat breakfast and dine out outside the days of Monday and Friday.<br /><br />Neccessity I understand by neccessity. The poor will always be with us. In general, civilised man surrendering to retail is a betrayal which made achieveable abortion and the host of other social evils.<br /><br />As for myself, I would be enabled to own a small business, clothe children and please a wife, if Christians obeyed the commandments regarding usury and days of rest. It is near impossible to compete against the injustice of self-interest at the expense of the marginal.<br /><br />So much for grocery stores being closed on Saturday.James Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03601404337397444540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-75996533929818945452012-11-20T14:36:08.384-05:002012-11-20T14:36:08.384-05:00Your witness is very much appreciated. I pray tha...Your witness is very much appreciated. I pray that people will become more open to the Truth for the formation of their consciences and the necessary adjustments that will follow.Christopher M. Zelonishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00631112064193201986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-28960380125529121222012-11-20T14:34:31.994-05:002012-11-20T14:34:31.994-05:00Thank you for reading. I understand both componen...Thank you for reading. I understand both components of this sorry state.<br />(1) A priest-friend of mine schedules and announces Confession availability during "off-peak" hours, to good effect. (2) Many people are consigned to work the unyielding schedules of hospitals and other necessary service providers, not to mention retail establishments.Christopher M. Zelonishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00631112064193201986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-72366916362533423432012-11-20T14:29:21.598-05:002012-11-20T14:29:21.598-05:00Thanks, Becky, for the kind comment.
I told membe...Thanks, Becky, for the kind comment.<br /><br />I told members of the Youth Group about my blog once. Since we were watching a video, we had the internet running and I navigated my way to the blog. One frank fraulein saw the current post as I was scrolling through it and blurted out, "Too many words!"<br /><br />Note to self: Do not depend on teenagers for affirmation. Or anyone else.Christopher M. Zelonishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00631112064193201986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-35501087308855414052012-11-20T12:04:53.690-05:002012-11-20T12:04:53.690-05:00Your comment exhibits due sensitivity to the natur...Your comment exhibits due sensitivity to the nature of the Sacrament, which I share. It prompted further consultation and amendment. The famous last words, "What I have written, I have written," proceeded from a man who also had the opportunity to correct, change, and grow, but (as far as we know) chose otherwise. Thank you for helping me to be a better priest. Let us pray for each other.Christopher M. Zelonishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00631112064193201986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-43334967563455044462012-11-20T09:14:44.278-05:002012-11-20T09:14:44.278-05:00The Sacrament of Reconcilliation, along with the E...The Sacrament of Reconcilliation, along with the Eucharist are the two mainstays of my life. I can't imagine how I ever made it through life before I had them. I go to confession when my conscience tells me to go. Usually every four weeks, lately every week and the shortest time between confessions was two days. The more you go, the more you grow, the more the Lord opens your eyes to what sin is and specifically, what your weak areas are. Sometimes, I don't like what I hear in response, but never have I heard anything that did not need to be said. Jesus Christ is there, speaking to me through that priest and I am forever grateful for that. It is an amazing gift and to not take advantage of it usually means, you really don't want to have to walk in humility and/or admit your sins. You can tell them to God, but you have no assurance of absolution. Psalm 63https://www.blogger.com/profile/14309450987038171104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-39456230999561648652012-11-20T08:31:13.992-05:002012-11-20T08:31:13.992-05:00I know of loads of folks who never make it to eith...I know of loads of folks who never make it to either confession nor Mass because both the alotted 15 to 30 minutes (of which the priests around here often actually only alot 10 minutes maybe) per week for confessions and the 'vigil Mass' (usually at 4pm-ish) are smack-dab in the middle of the busiest days of the workweek (Saturday and Sunday) when the bulk of the servant classes must slave away in retail markets and the like; so that, Christians who shop on the weekends and beer guzzling Football fans can have their good times.James Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03601404337397444540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-11993169383130954792012-11-20T08:30:45.904-05:002012-11-20T08:30:45.904-05:00You are breaking the Seal of the Confessional by: ...You are breaking the Seal of the Confessional by: (1) saying the day that the person went to Confession and (2) the number of years since the last time and (3) your name. Someone from your parish might read this post and realize to whom you are referring. But even if that were not so, revealing ANYTHING from the penitent's confession is breaking the Seal, at least to some extent.<br /><br />Because of your indiscretion, some persons might not go to Confession with you, who need to do so. And some persons might not go to Confession with any priest who blogs. You are harming souls.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-80411559294996290362012-11-19T23:49:57.186-05:002012-11-19T23:49:57.186-05:00I found the above commenter (the first one) pretty...I found the above commenter (the first one) pretty rude and hurtful, but I think you handled it well and with much charity. Thank you for the good example, and the wonderful post.<br /><br />Btw, you should tell your parishioners that you have a blog--I bet they would read it! :-)Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10451590537173713861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-51945794703351358962012-11-19T13:14:52.069-05:002012-11-19T13:14:52.069-05:00Jessica, your prayer of gratitude and for vocation...Jessica, your prayer of gratitude and for vocations is very much appreciated. Pray also for all-around openness to the Holy Spirit at work through wounded healers.Christopher M. Zelonishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00631112064193201986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-73360288882407433452012-11-19T13:12:16.037-05:002012-11-19T13:12:16.037-05:00Thank you very much for your candor. The comparis...Thank you very much for your candor. The comparison to rape is appropriate on many levels, and in some way is related to the scandal of clerical sexual abuse: the experiences and the painful memories endure; they cry out for redress and healing. I recognize that much healing must take place, especially on the individual level. One wonders how the very Church whose priests have committed or perpetuated these wrongs can dare to be an instrument in the healing of those wrongs; but she must, because, in the face of human sin, the Church continues to be the "sacrament," the living sign, of salvation. One "tiny little man" at a time, one priest at a time, strives to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation as an agent of God, and no less a human being on that account. If offended parties choose to absent themselves from the Church and the Sacraments, prayer will be our only (though never insignificant) outreach.<br /><br />There are many instances where middlemen--mediators--are a necessity in the world, and not just a necessity but a way for human participation in God's wise and loving plan. The Church has built this into her own "economy" in light of the one mediatorship of Jesus (1 Tim 2:5). Priests are not meant to foster confusion between principles and individuals. I can only do my best, for God and for people. When I do, untold good can result; when I don't, untold harm. Being a "nice guy" helps; but I recognize many instances in the Scriptures where Jesus, Paul, and others weren't "nice" in the sense of accommodating error. To be sure, priests need patience--just like parents need with children, and we are called "Father" for good reason.<br /><br />I hope I do not misunderstand this dimension of the Oz comparison as you present it: the blog platform can be (not only for priests, but for anyone) a soapbox, or a fortress behind which to volley cannonballs of "arrogance, pride, and..judgmental bullshit" much like the pulpit can be so misused. At the same time, it is hard for many to discern the truth from the above-mentioned items, especially when personalities obscure principles.<br /><br />If an offending priest, or one "with a bone to pick" reads my blog, I hope he considers my words a crap-cutting initiative in its own fashion. Your comment moves it in that direction, for which, further gratitude. I pray that you, and all victims of verbal, sexual, any kind of abuse by priests, may find the way to healing. If the Catholic Church forever remains an unacceptable path or player in that process, I pray you find it wherever you must. For our part, my fellow clergy and I will put one foot in front of the other each day--not just for a steady paycheck, not even because many people still trust and utilize us, but because of the mandate we've received from Jesus.Christopher M. Zelonishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00631112064193201986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-77897735411212625862012-11-19T10:46:53.044-05:002012-11-19T10:46:53.044-05:00I think this is wonderfully written, Father. I am...I think this is wonderfully written, Father. I am so grateful to have excellent priests such as yourself guiding our way!Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042995675892008023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-548975291442440380.post-33083724210547865492012-11-19T10:05:00.734-05:002012-11-19T10:05:00.734-05:00The problem with "previous, unsavory experien...The problem with "previous, unsavory experiences" is that they stick. They REALLY stick. It's kind of like spiritual rape. No, thanks...not even taking a chance on that one. <br /><br />Also, the problem with blogging priests (not you, although I've never read your blog before, so maybe I'm wrong) is that it's like seeing the tiny little man behind the curtain upon which is projected the image of the great Oz. After reading one priest's blog in which he sneered and jeered at one poor woman who had the spectacularly bad luck to run into HIM in the confessional, and then invited readers to join in the sneering and jeering, I'm not bloody likely to trust in the "seal" of the Confessional.<br /><br />I'm sure you're a nice guy, and all, but I just don't believe any of you any more. Sorry. Go yell at your fellow priests and tell them to cut the crap if you want the rest of us (you know, the people who work to put a roof over your head and food on your table) to trust you all again. <br /><br />Until priests dial down the arrogance, the pride, and the judgmental bullshit, I'll save all my confessions for God Himself. Never was a big fan of middlemen. ~Ninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952223887024831105noreply@blogger.com