tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271611312024-03-07T00:13:00.983-05:00Crossed The TiberAn Evangelical Converts to CatholicismRuss Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.comBlogger2146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-51152875429343385992023-04-08T15:02:00.003-04:002023-04-08T15:12:52.718-04:00HOLY SATURDAY<div class="p" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div class="p" style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYhNRScmj1vgBaROcJG2hoOw0W5XqSpC1h7ba8PeWDX7kNzxuUSpqk6VykMnE37pP9gMi3bglEZIri64OZYfFiLiRpDQiQ1RjsjefwuFAlJGhg8Gl1wy5B1n6Ll-fQ53jQlRWzTnn40GI3_tPb6z5pcuGSvhxK5JGU3LuelsqHXYWHB0w2Rw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="800" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYhNRScmj1vgBaROcJG2hoOw0W5XqSpC1h7ba8PeWDX7kNzxuUSpqk6VykMnE37pP9gMi3bglEZIri64OZYfFiLiRpDQiQ1RjsjefwuFAlJGhg8Gl1wy5B1n6Ll-fQ53jQlRWzTnn40GI3_tPb6z5pcuGSvhxK5JGU3LuelsqHXYWHB0w2Rw" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="p" style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="p" style="margin: 0px;">Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.</div><div class="p" style="margin: 0px;"> He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”</div><div class="p" style="margin: 0px;"> I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.</div><div class="p" style="margin: 0px;"> See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.</div><div class="p" style="margin: 0px;"> I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.</div><div class="p" style="margin: 0px;"> Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.</div></div>Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-58962599132123395512020-11-11T13:50:00.001-05:002020-11-11T13:54:49.819-05:00Faith, Reason and Pandemics<p> As a scientist (retired MD, in Geriatrics and Internal Medicine) and person who has been given the gift of faith, it has been difficult to watch how the pandemic has torn our country apart, killing 240,000 souls. There has been a worrisome alignment of religion, junk science and politics. I am surprised that good doctors with respected careers in medicine have spoken out against basic infectious disease principles. On my Facebook page, a former medical colleague has schooled me in the futility of mask wearing! These are the facts:</p><p>The science has told us this virus is novel, and there are no natural defenses yet.</p><p>The majority of folks who contract it will resolve without complications.</p><p>People with hypertension, diabetes, obesity and age >65 are at risk for severe infections resulting in prolonged intubations, and possible death.</p><p>The county nursing home where I served as the medical director lost 81 patients which is far more than I have ever seen in the worst flu seasons.</p><p>Countries, states and counties that have enforced strict mask wearing and social distancing have far less cases and death.</p><p>The latest science tells us that the only way to combat a pandemic is to minimize exposure to aerosol particles that could contain virus and maintain common sense social distancing principles. </p><p>Forty percent of individuals who are Covid positive have no symptoms and can be spreaders if they ignore mask wearing in public. </p><p>Our faith tells us that we are all created in the image of God and every life is precious, regardless of age or disability so we should always err on the side of life and follow the latest recommendations to limit the spread of this pandemic until the vaccine is widely distributed.</p><p>As Catholics, our politics should not cause us to ignore science or promote conspiracy theories that have not been validated. John Paul 2 reminded us that good faith never contradicts good science and good science will not contradict faith.</p><p><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; text-align: center;"> "<span style="color: #0629f2; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;">Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth."</span></strong><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">--Pope St. John Paul II, in </span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; position: relative; text-align: center;">Fides et Ratio</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> [Faith and Reason]</span></p>Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-33175201525105427932020-07-27T13:07:00.000-04:002020-07-27T13:07:21.727-04:00Would Jesus Wear a Mask?<br />
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As a medical doctor with over thirty years experience battling infectious diseases among the frail elderly, the recent "No Maskers" has me truly puzzled and disturbed. Yesterday , an individual on facebook posted quotes taken out of context from the New England Journal of Medicine to prove masks don't help prevent infection. When I went to the original article and discovered it was a "Perspective" piece and not peer-reviewed research, I was truly saddened. The No Masker was so intent on pushing their agenda, they clipped certain quotes out of context that supported their point of view and ignored many other points that supported the opposite view. Not to mention the piece was written for physicians back in May when information about Covid 19 was still being discovered. They were writing in the context that universal mask wearing would endanger the supply of masks for health care workers directly exposed to known symptomatic patients with Covid in a hospital setting. This was the very reason that Dr. Fauci initially recommended that the public not wear masks!<br />
We now now from many recent experiential studies that masks, along with hand washing and social distancing indeed lower the transmission of Covid 19 and flatten the curve and ultimately prevent death. Countries that have mandated mask wearing having significantly less cases and death than the countries such as Sweden and the US and UK that have had a mixed message on masking for those venturing out in public.<br />
So if our dear Lord knew there was plague in Jerusalem and there was a chance he could spread the deadly pathogen and perhaps kill others, would he take precautions? He regularly ministered to the frail elderly, ill and clearly immuno-compromised folks. Yes this is a silly thought experiment, but think about the savior who gave all of himself to save all of us. Would he take the risk of endangering the mortal life of eternal souls? In his three year ministry, he healed untold numbers of people of their physical, mental and spiritual ailments. Would he then not wear a mask to possibly prevent more illness and disease?<br />
Let us love one another. (Jesus)<br />
Let us treat others the way we would want to be treated.(Jesus)<br />
Let us defer to the weaker among us (St Paul) <br />
If there is only a remote possibility that my wearing of a mask could prevent the spread of a potentially fatal virus, my reading of the gospels tells me that I should wear a mask when in the public space, until this plague abates.<br />
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WWJD? He would wear a mask.Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-66441634799976270032020-05-06T23:22:00.001-04:002020-05-06T23:22:47.289-04:00Covid 19 and Going to MassIn the recent months we have been deluged with information and opinions about the Covid 19 virus and how as a Church we should respond. Sadly there is a divison in the body of Christ regarding how one should respond to this crisis/plague. Our Church is a pro-life Church and will always err on the side of preserving and protecting the the least of these. Therefore, if there is any chance that the sacrifice of the Mass will spread Covid 19 and death to parishioners, our bishop has wisely followed reason and has canceled public celebration of the sacrifice of the Mass. Thank God for his wisdom and prudence to the faithful in the diocese of Allentown Pennsylania where I reside.<br />
As pro- life Catholics, we often will make sacrifices for the unborn, praying at abortion clinics, going to DC for the annual March for Life, fasting etc. Should we also not be willing to sacrifice by not going to mass to receive Christ in the Eucharist if we know it can save people form death?<br />
Let us not be swayed by politics but follow the wisdom of the Church, which has always beeen to preserve and support the sanctity of life. If our desire to congregate and receive the Eucharist puts others at risk for death, surely we can trust Jesus to come to us and dwell in us through Spiritual Communion and not go to Mass .<br />
Let us trust the Lord and his love and grace knowing that Jesus can work outside the sacraments.<br />
The Japanese Catholic Church flourished for over 200 years without a priest and sacraments. Let us therefore trust that our loving and merciful Lord will be present to us in real and life-changing ways despite the inability to physically receive His body and blood during this rare and unusual quarantine.<br />
God is faithful! Rejoice and unite your sufferings to Christ for the mystical body of Christ.Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-71579050470282116042019-07-22T16:40:00.001-04:002019-07-23T13:02:13.813-04:00Accompanying Those With Same Sex Attraction and Simon the Cyrene<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Father James Martin SJ. recently spoke in our diocese on the subject of supporting and accompanying those in our parish and family who have same-sex-attraction. This event was problematic because his approach to accompanying those with homosexual inclinations does not encourage chastity. Father Martin does not support the teachings of the Catholic Church on SSA and has been on record as saying that he hopes that homosexual partners will someday be able to kiss one another in Mass. He teaches that chastity for homosexuals is not official Church teaching because the teaching has not been "received by the faithful," and therefore, they are not bound in their conscience to obey.<br />
I circulated a petition in my diocese asking our bishop to rescind Father Martin's permission to speak in the diocese. In all fairness to our bishop, the invitation was made by a Jesuit retreat center and was not initiated by our diocese. However, our bishop ultimately gave his permission, which was unfortunate, to say the least. He had the authority to prevent Father Martin from speaking but declined to use it.<br />
Upon hearing of the petition, the bishop invited me to meet with him to discuss my and the many signatories objections to Fr. Martin's visit. I respectfully explained to our bishop that Simon the Cyrene accompanied Jesus and assisted him as he carried his cross to Calvary. (Admittedly he was constrained by the Roman guards and didn't volunteer.) Now as Simon and our Lord painfully trudged towards the crucifixion, Simon could have pointed out a back alley or secret path that they could have escaped to. In the crush of the crowds and confusion, perhaps, Simon could have held the cross and told the Lord to run for it, avoiding the ignominious death on that cross. But, he did not do that and continued to assist Jesus to bear that cross which ultimately led to his death and our salvation. I suggested to our bishop that Father Martin's approach is akin to being a "bad" Simon the Cyrene and encourage the cross-bearer to look for an easy way out. The "easy way" in this instance is to subtly give permission for those with SSA to continue in unchastity.<br />
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True accompaniment is not helping the person to take the easy way out to avoid the weight and pain of the cross on their backs. To truly help someone is to recognize their burden and with God's grace support them and help them to get to heaven. I imagine Simon the Cyrene may have encouraged Jesus, "Just a little further Lord, hang in there, we'll get there soon, you can do this etc." In contrast, Father Martin's idea of accompaniment is to tell the individual with same-sex-attraction that they are not bound to chastity and can continue to live in a fashion contrary to Truth.<br />
May God give us the sensitivity to understand the burden of living with same-sex-attraction and to not judge those who struggle with it . They did not choose this cross for themselves. May we do all we can to support, pray, encourage and love them. Let us be a good Simon the Cyrene for all of our brothers and sisters who have SSA.Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-43634006382503199652019-05-11T13:29:00.000-04:002019-05-11T13:52:24.653-04:00Rally Against Bullying in Philadelphia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Deborah and I and a neurosurgeon friend went down to Philadelphia yesterday to join in the protest against a bullying politician. Apparently his stand against bullying doesn't apply to elderly religious white women who quietly pray the rosary.<br />
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State representative, Brian Sims, posted a video of himself bullying an elderly women using racist, ageist, and misogynist terms. Her reason for his rant? She was quietly praying outside of a Locust Street Planned Parenthood Abortuary in Center City , Philadelphia. She did not raise her voice, threaten or carry a sign showing violent images. The more she was silent, the more he yelled and became enraged.<br />
His video went viral, as well as another recent video of him threatening to "dox" a group of young underage women who were also praying outside the abortuary. He claimed he would pay $100 to anyone who revealed the identity and addresses of the woman so they could receive personal harrasment and threats.<br />
Thankfully, the pro-life community responded with love and prayers and a rally of over 1000 individuals gathered outside the abortion mill on Friday. Lila Rose of Live Action and Matt Walsh and many others gave short speeches that were greeted with incredible enthusiasm from the crowd standing on Locust Street in a light intermittent rain.<br />
Our right to freedom of speech is truly being challenged by those who want to continue to support the abortion industry. Thankfully, the faithful pro-life folks won't back down and this rapid gathering of a peaceful protest against bullying was a success. Let's hope that some women with an unwanted pregnancy on Friday, chose to not have an abortion upon seeing the crowd and hearing the speeches.<br />
Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-59497165898460555342019-05-04T17:23:00.004-04:002019-05-04T17:23:37.059-04:00"Post Evangelical "Rachel Evans RIPI read today that best selling Christian author Rachel Held Evans left this earthly veil this morning after prolonged and serious complications from influenza. She leaves her husband and two small children. Keep her in your prayers as well as her family.<div>
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I encountered Rachel's blog in 2015 when she wrote of the need for sacraments instead of coffee to make church relevant to millenials. Here's my <a href="https://crossed-the-tiber.blogspot.com/2015/05/post-evangelical-blogger-says-we-need.html">post.</a></div>
Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-37768444929443576812019-04-21T17:23:00.003-04:002019-04-21T17:23:43.197-04:00Happy EasterMay the power of His death and resurrection bring you joy, peace and grace!Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-42223073484801918732019-03-17T17:26:00.003-04:002019-03-17T17:26:51.149-04:00Happy Feast Of Saint PatrickHere's a little tune to honor Saint Patrick. It was written in the 6th century. Let us pray that he will drive the snakes out of the Church! (As legend says he did in Ireland)<br />
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<br />Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-61623621731450471812019-02-21T20:33:00.001-05:002019-02-21T20:33:34.444-05:00Vatican Symposium on Sex AbuseEven before the sex abuse summit began this week, Cardinal Cupich at a press conference said that the topic of homosexuality in the priesthood will not be discussed and that homosexuality has no part in the abuse crisis.<br />
Beautifully ironic it is that the summit kicks off on the Feast day of Saint Damien who wrote the book of Gomorrah . This treatise called out the clergy and episcopacy for the rampant sodomy and simony occurring in the early 11th century.<br />
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I doubt that they purposely chose this Saint’s Feast day to start the conference, but it’s definitely a sign to me that God has not forsaken his broken Church.<br />
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Lord have mercy on us and your mystical body, the Church here on earth.<br />
<br />Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-44297290821476120192019-02-03T13:15:00.000-05:002019-02-03T13:15:11.413-05:00Abortion and Racism1)Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia accepts 2 million dollars in donations from Planned Parenthood to support his gubernatorial campaign.<br />
2)Planned Parenthood, founded by Margaret Sanger who was loved by the KKK as well as the Third Reich, has accomplished its goals of decreasing the number of non- caucasian babies born.<br />
3) Governor Northam Supports a bill that allows children born alive to be murdered .<br />
4) Governor Northam was discovered to have been called "Coonman" in a yearbook as well as dressing in Blackface of a KKK hood.<br />
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Following the bouncing ball folks. Are you surprised that a person who disrepects people of color is all for improving access to abortion with no restrictions whatsoever? Fully knowing that the majority of abortions terminate the life of African Americans and Latinos it is clear why he accepted money from Planned Parenthood and supported an extreme policy of infanticide in his state.<br />
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<br />Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-43796672732215983072019-01-27T16:06:00.002-05:002019-01-27T16:19:17.104-05:00Jesus Did Not Request The Keys Back From Peter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is understandable how many Catholics feel betrayed and confused in light of the current crisis in the Church. Bad priests, sexually abusing bishops, and cardinals who lie and deceive to cover up for eachothers mortal sins. These can fuel the desire to give up, but there has been 2000 years of deceivers, false shepherds, heretics, Borgia popes, child abusers and murderers in the priesthood.<br />
Yet, Jesus never gave the Keys to Peter with conditions. He never stated that Peter would lose the keys if he messed up. In 2000 years he has never asked for them back.<br />
SO despite the mortal sin in the Church reaching the highest of levels, this is where we encounter Jesus. IF we continue to go to Him in the Eucharist and confession and hold to nothing else, we can survive.<br />
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But, I do wish Lord, for the sake of the victims of abuse, you could clean things up quickly.<br />
Saint Catherine of Siena, pray for us. Saint Peter Damian pray for us.Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-4287906066480951952019-01-04T14:18:00.000-05:002019-01-04T14:25:24.143-05:00Deceivers Not Weavers!Pope Francis has released a statement directed at the American bishops who are currently on retreat , praying about the current sex abuse crisis. In his statement he says <span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; font-size: 15px;">“Clearly a living fabric has come undone, and we, like weavers, are called to repair it."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; font-size: 15px;">From the article in the National Catholic Register he says this repair process must involve a “change of mindset” by bishops in relation to prayer, power, exercising authority, and handling money, he explained, with the change rooted in an acknowledgment of the “sinfulness and limitations” which necessitate God’s grace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; font-size: 15px;">I respect the Holy Father and his office, but I think he may be wrong about this fabric repair metaphor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; font-size: 15px;">I'm not sure what he is referring to as the living fabric but it is much more than undone. This fabric has been stained with excrement and body fluids from the false bishops and priests who have sexually abused so many and covered it up. This "fabric" has not been undone but has been shredded and burned by the actions of false shepherds who never had a vocation, but rather, a desire to fulfill their most base desires using the Church as a vehicle for their duplicitous actions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; font-size: 15px;">The pope neglects to mention that the majority of clerical abuse cases are the result of homosexual priests and bishops who refuse to live chastely obeying their calling and the precepts of basic human morality.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "merriweather" , serif; font-size: 15px;">I cannot see how the current hierarchy of Jesus' Church will never be able to repair this undoing "like weavers." The hierarchy that has created a system to purposely select out for abusers in seminary, ordain them, promote them and coverup their iniquities can never repair the Church. These men are not weavers, they are deceivers.</span><br />
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<br />Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-54924178908408402252018-12-29T16:52:00.003-05:002018-12-30T14:17:00.955-05:00"Get The Hell Out of The Church"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0rXsVLk8gAQYngqYsyd-qY07eHRtt8QPft65twlxmwYBS5XnJuFBa7wAuf-HH3Fei7-_I1-LEGBy_dvGHPkWecDdc-KSaO7Be68uUh-pnJF6HgmYe5f1p1CPo8wZ9WMZmm4A/s1600/Cardinal_McCarrick_Credit__Mazur_catholicchurchorguk_CNA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="760" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0rXsVLk8gAQYngqYsyd-qY07eHRtt8QPft65twlxmwYBS5XnJuFBa7wAuf-HH3Fei7-_I1-LEGBy_dvGHPkWecDdc-KSaO7Be68uUh-pnJF6HgmYe5f1p1CPo8wZ9WMZmm4A/s320/Cardinal_McCarrick_Credit__Mazur_catholicchurchorguk_CNA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've been reluctant to blog about the current crisis in the Catholic Church for a number of reasons. Basically, it has worn me out and I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me . The only way I can describe it is as if a giant vacuum cleaner has violently sucked the wind from my sails. I am not a victim of the abuse scandal so I have little right to complain compared to the soul-destroying yoke that has been placed on the survivors of clerical sexual abuse.<br />
A little background before I begin. My wife desired to return to the Catholic faith in the midst of the Boston clerical sex abuse disaster in 2002. Every morning, our local newspaper would announce yet another scandal using bold print on the front page. I told her most vociferously, "Jesus would never be the head of a Church of pedophiles!" Through a long chain of events detailed in my conversion story on this blog, I returned to the Catholic faith in 2004 after more than thirty years spent worshiping God in Protestant evangelical non-denominational churches.<br />
Ironically, all the fears and suspicions I harbored at the beginning of my journey across the Tiber have now been validated. It does appear that many and perhaps the majority of priests have same sex attraction (are homosexual in their sexual orientation) and recent surveys reveal that many are not celibate. It appears that the seminaries have been run by rectors with predilections for taking sexual advantage of young seminarians, even screening out the heterosexuals who resisted their advances. Bishops have been covering for and even promoting priests with known sexual abuse in their records. My bishop's name was mentioned multiple times in the August Pennsylvania Grand Jury report that showed how over 300 priests had systematically abused more than 1000 individuals, the abuses being mostly of a homosexual nature. He was aware and likely complicit in the covering up and re-location of priest abusers, based on the report. In my own parish, the silence from the pulpit has been deafening. Are the priests thinking that if they don't bring it up, the faithful will forget and move on?<br />
Shortly after the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report was released my wife and I planned a prayer vigil ouside the Cathedral in our diocese. We were told by the bishops's office to not inform the media of the event. Despite us promoting the event in our diocese on social media and email, only one priest attended the vigil.<br />
In diocese after diocese, the bishops, didn't report the abuse and even promoted or quietly retired the abusers affording them full health and retirement pensions! An American prelate, Cardinal <a href="https://www.wral.com/man-says-cardinal-mccarrick-his-uncle-ted-sexually-abused-him-for-years/17709072/">Theodore McCarrick </a>has been proven to have abused adult seminarians as well as a child and was well known to have sleep-overs in his vacation get-away on the beach. During these sleep-overs, the seminarians were pressured to share his bed. Despite his activities and proclivities being widely known, he was promoted like a rock-star to the highest positions in the Church to the point where he was Pope Francis' trusted adviser and instrumental in the choosing of American bishops.<br />
Ten years ago, I became aware of the stories of "Uncle Ted's" immoral behavior at his beach house. Yet, Cardinal Wuerl, a close associate, as well as McCarrick's roomate, <a href="https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/07/24/cardinal-farrell-expresses-shock-over-cardinal-mccarrick-abuse-case/">Bishop Farell,</a> completely denied any knowledge of this. How did a nobody Catholic blogger , such as myself, know about McCarrick, but high ranking officials in the American Catholic Church did not? It's obvious that they did know.<br />
Most unsettling in all of this, our Holy Father has been reluctant to address the issue and has publicly reprimanded those in the Church for bringing this abuse to light. He insisted that the American bishops shelve their agenda to address the scandal which was the main point of the November 2018 USCCB conference in Baltimore. He has planned for a meeting in February to address the issues. Ted McCarrick is outed in June, the PA Grand Jury report comes out in August and our pope schedules a gathering of bishops more than half a year away from the time that the McCarrick scandal was reported. Could the fact that some of his closest Vatican advisors have ties to homosexual priests in Vatican city perhaps influence the speed of his action on this crisis? Is it odd that the issue of homosexuality in the priesthood and episcopate has been downplayed, while clericalism and materialism are being brought up as the root of the scandal?<br />
Our Lord promised us that the gates of Hell will not prevail against this Church and ultimately Satan won't triumph, however, we have gotten a lot of Hell in the Church over the past 60 years. Hell has weaseled its way into the Church via corrrupt bishops, hetero and homosexually active and abusive priests with complete disregard for the tenets of our faith. The gates of Hell will not prevail if we can <b>"Get the Hell out of the Church." </b> I trust in the Lord's promises and have no plans to ever leave the source and summit of my faith, the Eucharist, but will continue to pray for the cleansing of the Church and for all the victims of sexual abuse by clergy.<br />
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<i><b>"For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."</b></i></div>
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In an upcoming post I will propose my ideas how to Get the Hell Out of The Church. Stay tuned.Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-91182742302345191552018-09-22T13:56:00.001-04:002018-09-22T13:58:34.068-04:00Litany for Vicitms of Sexual Abuse in the Catholic ChurchMy wife Deborah recently wrote a prayer that can be used to intercede for all those harmed by the abuse crisis and scandal in the Catholic Church. Please feel free to share it with others.<br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Litany for Victims of Abuse</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord, have mercy on us. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Christ, have mercy on us.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord, have mercy on us. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Christ, hear us.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Christ, graciously hear us.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">God the Father of Heaven, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Have mercy on us.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">God the Son, Redeemer Of the world, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Have mercy on us.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">God the Holy Spirit, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Have mercy on us.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Holy Trinity, One God, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Have mercy on us.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who have been sexually abused</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img alt="https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif" height="2" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/spy_nztpzM2UCldmKkE1jnGA1Hk-WTFcDMHqQzfddcnJM-8oQh5vjyEBI2oDwnnKmlhSMpwvaZv1p_kuXRFjXD2chaz5vsrSbk68hjECKLPejZVgbVRm-PHqZ-lIqDblqxSykb6IQqnyMfYAsQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="2" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who have been raped</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who have been sodomized</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who have been psychologically tortured</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who have been spiritually eviscerated</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who’ve died</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who’ve committed suicide</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who have been discredited</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who have been ignored</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who’s names are still hidden </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who’s stories have yet to be told</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who’s stories will never be told</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who are too ashamed to come forward </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who live in fear of being victimized again</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those with chronic depression</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who are suicidal</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those with addictions</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who may never be able to live a normal life</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who have no faith</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who have no hope</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who cannot love</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For those who’ve become abusers themselves </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For parents of victims</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For children of victims</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For generations to come</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lord have mercy</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-c83ba5ff-7fff-9497-d3de-71ac0fc0289c"><br /></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Holy Mary, Sorrowful Mother, hold all the vicims of sexual abuse</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">close to your Immaculate Heart.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jesus, Shepherd of souls, show them your mercy and love.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Father, bring them into your heavenly kingdom.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Holy Spirit, comfort all victims and give them peace.</span></div>
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<br />Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-42657086398600887712018-06-15T13:14:00.000-04:002018-06-15T13:14:35.890-04:00"I've Been Everywhere, Man and So Is The Church"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7JdKBbp53bkkPvQMkUP-HTczvPG12OEfHfSff_WTjotuFLQpfEa9Q99ojL0_hLrKK3UuXhOn1L_0VRas67wfoxCFIVGQyouu87dz6rF1Gr6_foCGUNECIUaC_WtFgvpX0P4i/s1600/moto+on+BRP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7JdKBbp53bkkPvQMkUP-HTczvPG12OEfHfSff_WTjotuFLQpfEa9Q99ojL0_hLrKK3UuXhOn1L_0VRas67wfoxCFIVGQyouu87dz6rF1Gr6_foCGUNECIUaC_WtFgvpX0P4i/s320/moto+on+BRP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I recently completed a 6700 mile long solo motorcycle trip camping and traveling around the<br />
country. I never cease to be amazed at the wisdom of God in creating a universal church so that his people can worship and receive the graces in the sacraments everywhere.<br />
On my journey, given that motorcycle riding is an inherently dangerous activity, I made special efforts to "keep accounts short with God" Which essentially means, I wanted to remain without major or minor sins keeping me from Him. As CS Lewis said, I didn't want to show up in the courts of our king, dripping with slime and muck in ratty clothes in the event of a fatal mishap on the bike (which almost happened but that's a story for another day).<br />
So with the use of the free handy app "Masstimes" I was able to always find a nearby Church to worship in and receive the graces of confession and the Eucharist. Regardless, of whether in the deep south, the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, to the shores of the Pacific, the plains of Kansas, the mountains of Colorado, I was always able to find a Catholic Church. Doesn't it just make sense that our Lord desired us to be one, and intended for his people to always have access to a Church? As a Protestant, we would rarely attempt to go to church on vacation or traveling because the likelihood of finding a fellowship with similar doctrines, worship style, format etc was almost nil.<br />
So like Johnny Cash sang," I've been everywhere man, Ive been everywhere" and I found a Catholic Church everywhere too!Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-60691366251753840192018-06-03T15:25:00.003-04:002018-06-03T15:25:53.759-04:00The Feast of Corpus ChristiToday the Universal Church celebrates a feast that is so important it is called a <i>solemnity</i>. The solemnity of Corpus Christi has been celebrated around the world since the 13th century. Since the Eucharist is "the source and summit of our faith", it is only fitting that a feast day is celebrated to honor Jesus in the Eucharist. The fact that Jesus is physically present in the Church and has chosen to abide with us always in the Eucharist is what ultimately led me back to the Catholic faith after 31 years as a Protestant. Here's a brief history of this wonderful feast day:<br />
Jesus lost many followers when he told the crowd that unless they eat (the actual word in greek means literally to gnaw) his body and blood they would have no life in them. One year later, the disciples celebrated their first Eucharist with the Lord himself presiding and saying to them, "Take and Eat, this is my body." Since this first Holy Thursday, the believers celebrated "the breaking of bread" knowing they were partaking in the actual body and blood of Christ.<br />
Through the prayers of the priest (presbyters) invoking the Holy Spirit the elements are miraculously changed from wine and wheat bread, but still retaining the appearances of the same. This has not always been the easiest concept to accept. Saint Paul had to make it clear to the Corinthian believers that they were indeed partaking in the body and blood of Christ and a strict penalty was experienced for those who did not "discern it rightly." If a mere symbol was in play, why would believers get sick and even die as a result of taking the communion meal improperly?<br />
The writings of the Church fathers are indisputable regarding the belief of the Real Presence and even Protestant Church historians admit that earliest Church belief was thoroughly "Eucharistic."<br />
The apostle John, who leaned his head on Jesus' breast at the institution of the Eucharist, had a disciple under his tutelage named Ignatius. Ignatius of Antioch wrote in clear terms that the Eucharist was indeed the real body and blood of Christ, rebuking those who already began to distort its meaning. Many other early Church fathers including Augustine wrote voluminously on the sacrifice of the mass and the fact that Christ's real body and blood was truly present on the altar. Why call it an altar if there is no sacrifice?<br />
For the next 900 years, the Church continued to celebrate the Eucharist, partaking in the actual body and blood of Christ with almost unanimous agreement as to the theology of this sacrament. Then, a priest named Berengarius from Tours began to question this belief and preached against the Real Presence but was corrected by the Church and repented of his error before he died in 1088.<br />
In the 12th century a devout religious nun named St. Juliana from Liege, Belgium petitioned her bishop to designate a feast day to honor the most Blessed Sacrament and in 1264 the pope set a universal feast called Corpus Christi to honor Jesus in the Eucharist. Saint Thomas Aquinas was commissioned to write the office for the celebration/mass and his explanation of the change of substance from bread to Christ's body is still studied and marveled at today. No, the Church did not "invent" the concept of transubstantiation in the 13th century. The belief had always been there but was never so eloquently elucidated for the faithful as was accomplished by this brilliant and devout monk.<br />
Now, fast forward to the Reformation. Luther has just opened his can of worms by declaring that one does not need the Church to tell one what to believe. Within 100 years of Luther's reformation, there was over 200 interpretations of the Lord's supper. To his credit, at least initially, Luther fought vehemently against the other reformers to insist that Jesus was truly present in the communion meal. When he realized his own flawed paradigm sola scriptura was being used against him by Zwingli and others to teach that the Eucharist was only symbolic, he resorted to Sacred Tradition to bolster his defense of the Eucharist. Sadly, his theology morphed further and he no longer held to transubstantiation at the end of his life. You know the rest of the story-only the Orthodox and Catholic Churches retain the original apostolic teaching of the Eucharist, that is, Christ is truly substantially present, body, blood soul and divinity in the Eucharist.<br />
On the Eve of the Feast of Corpus Christi, I say this to my readers - If you want to get close to Jesus, become Catholic and experience him in the way that the apostles taught and believed. Jesus is waiting. We'll leave the light on for you.<br />
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Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-36683790278916924592018-03-31T10:43:00.000-04:002018-03-31T10:43:01.373-04:00Holy Saturday - A Great Silence<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">If you listen very carefully, in the most quiet stillness of this day, you will hear the echoes of the clanking shackles falling off and the ancient prison cell doors creaking open followed by the glad shouts of captives, now set free. He continues to set prisoners free. We wait for His resurrection.....</span><br />
<br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"</span><i style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">“What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.” </i><br />
<i style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;"> (Author Unknown, Pontifical University, St. Thomas Aquinas)</i>Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-39967510885216839632018-03-29T12:40:00.003-04:002018-03-29T12:42:57.113-04:00Pope Says "No Hell." I Say Hell No!On the eve of the Triduum, an atheist journalist of Pope Francis writes that the pope says that souls don't go to hell when they die, they just disappear. The Church has taught for two thousand years that there is indeed a hell and a heaven and a process of purification(purgation) on the way to heaven. So the options for me are one of the two following thoughts:<br />
1) Trust that the journalist accurately recorded the thoughts of the pope and that Pope Francis is contradicting a 2000 year old teaching or<br />
2) The pope did not say "there is no hell" and the journalist didn't accurately convey the pope's actual words.<br />
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Given the track record of the press' reporting on Pope Francis, it's a reasonable assumption that the second option is most likely.<br />
<br />
Read<a href="https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/03/29/vatican-says-interview-in-which-pope-doubts-hell-not-a-faithful-transcript/"> This </a>for a more accurate reporting.<br />
<br />Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-54944368969575287282018-02-02T09:35:00.000-05:002018-02-02T09:35:14.461-05:00February Feasts<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Candlemas and the Feast of Saint Blaise are consecutive feast days in the life of the Church.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I’d like to think that the Church provides us with these wonderful blessings and feasts, to help lighten the cold and dreary Midwinter season.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As a convert it has been hard to keep these similar sounding events straight in my mind and every year since my conversion, I still need to refresh the distinctions between Candlemas, and the Feast of Saint Blaises. Through Divine Providence, both of these celebrations have candles associated with them, but they are two very separate events. So here is a little primer for Candlemas Day and the Feast of Saint Blaises.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Candlemas Day is actually the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord when the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph bring Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. Following the precepts of the Law, they brought an offering to the priest and Mary was ceremonially purified. At this momentous occasion, the devout Simeon rejoices that God fulfilled his promise to him that he would not see death until the coming of Messiah. The feast has also been called the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> How do candles fit in here? Where does the name Candlemas come from? Since Jesus is the Light of the World, candles, the only source of light back in the day, were used to symbolically represent this light. The early Church celebrated this feast day with candlelit processions to remember the momentous occasion of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the Messiah, light of this world coming to us. Even now, the Church blesses candles for anyone who wishes to bring them to the priest on this day, making those candles sacramentals to be used at home.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> This feast day is so important to the life of the Church that the Canticle of Simeon (Lk 2) is recited by every priest and religious, as well as many lay people throughout the world daily when we pray the Liturgy of the Hours.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br />
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<i>Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;</i></div>
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<i>Your word has been fulfilled.</i></div>
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<i>My eyes have seen the salvation</i></div>
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<i>You have prepared in the sight of every people,</i></div>
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<i>A light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people, Israel.</i></div>
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Okay I get Candlemas day now, but how does the Blessing of Throats and Saint Blaise fit in here? The following day after the Feast of the Presentation happens to be the Feast of Saint Blaise, an early fourth century physician and bishop from Armenia who was martyred for the faith. Tradition has it that he healed a child who had a fish bone stuck in his throat. In the Middle Ages in Europe, devotion to Saint Blaise became very strong and healings were attributed to his intercession. The Church still celebrates his feast day by offering a blessing of throats to all who wish to come forward after mass. The priest or deacon holds two candles that had been blessed on Candlemas day (the day before) in a cross pattern on the throat of the parishioner and prays this blessing : </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><i>"Through the intercession of Saint Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;">An added benefit to this blessing is that we can also receive grace from God to control the words that come out of our blessed throats too! As I waited in line (I was last in line for the blessing) I marveled and thanked God for all the rich blessings he has given us through His Church.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;">There is so much more to say about these two great feast days of the Church, but I hope I have cleared up any confusion about Candlemas Day, Candles, Saint Blaises and Throat Blessings.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;">From my blog 2013</span></div>
Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-46819103793951803932018-01-06T17:30:00.002-05:002018-01-06T17:30:57.529-05:00The Solemnity of the Epiphany.Today the Universal Church celebrates the Epiphany-the story of the three wiseman seeking our Lord and finding him as a baby in Bethlehem. There is so much to meditate on in this gospel story. They bring gifts which reflect his divine royalty and foreshadow his death. Imagine bringing funeral spices to an infant's family as birthday gifts? What did Mary and Joseph think?<br />
What gifts in my life should I bring to the King? What of my life can I give the Lord this year to worship him? God, give me the faith, hope and love of the Three Wise men so I too will seek Christ wherever He leads me this year.<br />
Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-70158855377159710612018-01-02T12:19:00.001-05:002018-01-06T17:20:08.509-05:00True Worship vs EmotionsI just read <a href="https://thiscatholicfamily.com/2017/12/29/are-catholics-just-going-through-the-motions/">an article </a>by an evangelical Protestant convert to Catholicism . It reminded me so much of my own experiences that I wrote this in their com-box;<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-size: 15px;">Great article! I identify with this so much! I was born Catholic but left the Church at 14 years of age and joined evangelical charismatic Protestant Christianity. I found Jesus personally which was good, but promptly lost His Church which was not good. I was a musician in the worship bands and bible studies and revival meetings for 31 years. The last charismatic church I was a member of put such a premium value on how we “looked and felt” as we worshipped that it pushed me to a calmer evangelical Methodist church for a few years till I was called to come Home. I used to have members of the community tap me on the shoulder and ask “Are you ok brother?” “Why aren’t you feeling His love” etc etc many times. I used to be prophesied over and called out because I wasn’t raising my arms and dancing around. Even despite my lack of emotion, I loved God and never doubted his presence with me despite not “feeling it.” However, in these type of Christian communities, the barometer of your relationship with God was entirely based on your feelings and emotive behavior </i><span style="font-size: 15px;"><i>expressed during</i></span><i style="font-size: 15px;"> a “worship" service. I always knew something was wrong with this but unfortunately was so brain washed against Catholicism and liturgy that I </i><span style="font-size: 15px;"><i>wouldn't</i></span><i style="font-size: 15px;"> consider that maybe the </i><span style="font-size: 15px;"><i>Church</i></span><i style="font-size: 15px;"> was right and I was wrong!</i></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><i> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><i>Catholic worship is beautiful and true, whether you “feel” it or not. Some of the greatest saints who ever lived <b>never</b> had the consolations of emotion that others did, but they persisted to trust and obey and become examples of great faith for the rest of us. Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta is my hero for this!</i></span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><i> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have been Catholic now for almost 14 years and<b> not once</b> in 14 years of Sunday (and almost daily Mass) have I heard someone say: "Russ isn’t worshipping today or is struggling etc.” Why? Catholics know it is judging to assess someone else’s spiritual life and won’t do it. We know that our relationship with God is not based on how we feel or look. Most importantly our worship is based on receiving the actual body and blood of our God, infusing our soul with His divinity, healing us, cleansing us, empowering us etc. This happens at every Mass, and is the closest I will ever get to God on this side of eternity, regardless of how I feel or look. Ironically, I have cried more tears of joy during the consecration and reception of the Eucharist than in 31 years of altar calls, jumping up and down, falling on the floor etc etc.</span></div>
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Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-27820218288207310652017-12-25T22:12:00.001-05:002017-12-25T22:17:46.667-05:00<h3 class="post-title" style="color: #1b0431; font-size: 18.200000762939453px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
The Eucharist and Christmas</h3>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> This is a little play I wrote a few years ago and is reposted from a previous blog post</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">ACT I</span><br />
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<b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">The setting:</b><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"> A stable outside the forgotten little town of Bethlehem (House of Bread*). Shepherds and their families and kings from the east as well as a few other curious onlookers stare at a newborn wrapped in coarse linen in a feeding trough for animals. A bright star overhead illuminates the otherwise dark night.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">Shepherd boy, while yawning, says to his father: “Just looks like a baby boy to me, can’t we go home now? I'm cold!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">Father to boy: “ Thomas, the angels in the field said something about a Savior. Let’s just stay awhile.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">Boy: How could a Savior and King look and.... yecch!… smell like a little baby? He looks just like any other baby to me!”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">King from the Orient, kneeling before the makeshift crib says with a whisper: “Shhh, don’t you know the ancient prophecies? God would come to us, to live among us, through a virgin’s womb.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">Balthasar looking at the Child then raising his eyes to heaven says: The God of Israel has chosen this night to redeem us. Our Savior and King has come to us as a little child.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">ACT II</span><br />
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<b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">33 years later.</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">Setting: Jerusalem at Passover. The city is buzzing with the noise of pilgrims and bristling under the Roman occupation.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">At the meal of the Passover, Jesus surrounded by his companions prays the blessing. As he breaks the bread he stretches out his hand holding the bread saying:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">“Take this and eat. This is my body….”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">One of the twelve disciples leans over to another and says under his breath;</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">“How can this be? It looks just like any other piece of bread to me? How can He give us His body to eat?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">The disciple whom Jesus loved said to him: "Thomas, don't you remember last year when he told us He would give us his body to eat and His blood to drink?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">Then as supper was ended, Jesus took the cup and gave it to his disciples saying:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">"This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many…"</span><br />
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<b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">THE END</b><br />
<br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">Just as Christ came to us in the improbable form of a human baby, He continues to abide with us in the equally preposterous “breaking of the bread.” God chose the common things of this world to reveal Himself. First, a baby born in Bethlehem and then bread and common table wine. As we approach the Lord’s Table at Midnight Mass this Christmas Eve, our mind says, it just looks like a piece of bread but our heart says, "Jesus, bread of life, you have come to abide with me this night."</span><br />
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Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-62406479975055732772017-12-25T12:46:00.000-05:002017-12-25T12:46:51.815-05:00Merry Christmas!<h3 class="post-title" style="color: #1b0431; font-size: 18.200000762939453px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
The Eucharist and Christmas</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQNoxDCkoqogWUsbxHO5gn5aSiOAaZbax8hyK006cvdIGOHhubmIcOBOX7XufEORAvNqNnuyTg3Ai0khmRmh1x7YdVAi779NpDWAophhYWO-tk5Z45yzQZHXlpBs4IcogMsO5/s1600/manger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #716e6c; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQNoxDCkoqogWUsbxHO5gn5aSiOAaZbax8hyK006cvdIGOHhubmIcOBOX7XufEORAvNqNnuyTg3Ai0khmRmh1x7YdVAi779NpDWAophhYWO-tk5Z45yzQZHXlpBs4IcogMsO5/s320/manger.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="320" /></a></div>
<br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, sans-serif;">This is a little play I wrote several years ago.</span><br /><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ACT I</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">The setting:</b><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> A stable outside the forgotten little town of Bethlehem (House of Bread*). Shepherds and their families and kings from the east as well as a few other curious onlookers stare at a newborn wrapped in coarse linen in a feeding trough for animals. A bright star overhead illuminates the otherwise dark night.</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Shepherd boy, while yawning, says to his father: “Just looks like a baby boy to me, can’t we go home now? I'm cold!”</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Father to boy: “ Thomas, the angels in the field said something about a Savior. Let’s just stay awhile.”</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Boy: How could a Savior and King look and.... yecch!… smell like a little baby? He looks just like any other baby to me!”</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">King from the Orient, kneeling before the makeshift crib says with a whisper: “Shhh, don’t you know the ancient prophecies? God would come to us, to live among us, through a virgin’s womb.</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Balthasar looking at the Child then raising his eyes to heaven says: The God of Israel has chosen this night to redeem us. Our Savior and King has come to us as a little child.</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ACT II</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">33 years later.</b><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Setting: Jerusalem at Passover. The city is buzzing with the noise of pilgrims and bristling under the Roman occupation.</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At the meal of the Passover, Jesus surrounded by his companions prays the blessing. As he breaks the bread he stretches out his hand holding the bread saying:</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Take this and eat. This is my body….”</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One of the twelve disciples leans over to another and says under his breath;</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“How can this be? It looks just like any other piece of bread to me? How can He give us His body to eat?</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The disciple whom Jesus loved said to him: "Thomas, don't you remember last year when he told us He would give us his body to eat and His blood to drink?</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Then as supper was ended, Jesus took the cup and gave it to his disciples saying:</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many…"</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">THE END</b><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Just as Christ came to us in the improbable form of a human baby, He continues to abide with us in the equally preposterous “breaking of the bread.” God chose the common things of this world to reveal Himself. First, a baby born in Bethlehem and then bread and common table wine. As we approach the Lord’s Table at Midnight Mass this Christmas Eve, our mind says, it just looks like a piece of bread but our heart says, "Jesus, bread of life, you have come to abide with me this night."</span><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /><br style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;" /></div>
Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27161131.post-72421412909362982782017-11-21T22:40:00.003-05:002017-11-21T22:40:41.420-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My new Christmas CD is available as digital download today from Bandcamp and will be available as a physical CD in about two weeks.<br />
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Still Yulin' Around is a collection of ten traditional carols which I arranged and recorded with hammered dulcimer, open-tuned guitars, mandolin, mandolas, bouzouki, fiddle and lots of other acoustic instruments. I think you will like it!<br />
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Here's the link:<br />
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<a href="http://russrentler.bandcamp.com/album/still-yulin-around">http://russrentler.bandcamp.com/album/still-yulin-around</a>Russ Rentler, M.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00659833542780220795noreply@blogger.com0