I discovered at this week's Catholic Carnival that someone else is asking similar questions as I did this past November and finding a similar answer from His Holiness. Check out Deep Furrows.
For a roundup of all my recent posts about Purgatory, Indulgences, and the Spiritual Economy, look no further:
On Purgatory
Purgatory Defined
More on Purgatory
Purgatory Redefined
Spiritual Economy
Eureka
Purgatory Revisited
Indulge me further
Back to Economics
I'm just saying
Purgatory one last time
The Pope on Purgatory
"Offer it up"
So what have I gained from my study? The index of the CCC only lists two references and both take place in the context of the section about Liturgy.
We contribute most to the Economy by going to mass. It's almost like we should be making that the focus of our lives as Christians...
The abundant blessings that flow from Eucharistic Adoration attest to this. We do more to serve the common good by adoring God than we do by works of social justice.
This turns everything I learned growing up on its head. The above statement would be roundly disputed by my religion teachers, parish life coordinators, and parents. In fact, I used to dispute this point vigorously just a few years ago.
So we have JPII and Papa Benny to thank. They have brought about a re-conversion of Catholics to the Eucharist. It's not what we do that matters most. It's how much we adore and worship and revere God, and any doing that flows from that is praiseworthy. Any doing that ignores adoration will bear its own fruit, which may or may not be God's.
Turn to the Lord this Advent. Wait for His entry into your heart at Christmas. Seek Him in the Eucharist and you will find Him. You might be asked to die, but- trust Him- it's worth it!
photo courtesy http://www.perpetual-adoration.com/
12/11/2007
Burning Question
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3 comments:
We do more to serve the common good by adoring God than we do by works of social justice.
Well, yes, but the Eucharist impels us to charity and justice. The social impact of the Eucharist is beautifully laid out in Henri de Lubac's Catholicism (also cited in Spe Salvi).
I say this more in response to what I was taught growing up- namely, that Adoration is an archaic practice from pre-Vatican II...that kneeling to wash the feet of the poor is of far greater value than incensing a gold monstrance.
Yet, every saint who has ever served the poor has spent time before the Blessed Sacrament and accorded it its rightful honor. The one HAS to flow from the other. But I was brought up to believe that social justice is our mission and purpose and all those trappings from olden days are passe. My parish did alot of justice and peace ministry but nothing in the way of adoration or holy hours or rosaries.
To use another example. My family honors Romero and hopes for his canonization. But even Romero prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. So did Mother Theresa and St. Francis- they were not merely about social justice. They were impelled by their devotion.
I know a great many people who are impelled by social justice but find talk of Christ patriarchal.
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