Modesty and the Dignity of Women (part III of V)

09-25-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Perhaps you have questioned the immodesty that is seen everywhere in the world and unfortunately even in our churches. Some people have asked me about where the Church draws the line and calls a garment immodest? I would like to help clarify some issues concerning what is modest and what is not. I would also like to shed some light on how proper attire can actually glorify God.

Here is what the Church teaches in the catechism about modesty:
“Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love. It encourages patience and moderation in loving relationships; it requires that the conditions for the definitive giving and commitment of man and woman to one another be fulfilled. Modesty is decency. It inspires one's choice of clothing. It keeps silence or reserve where there is evident risk of unhealthy curiosity. It is discreet.” (CCC 2522).

And…

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Modesty and the Dignity of Women (part II of V)

09-18-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You and I are made in the image and likeness of God!!!

I was reading an article from Catholic Answers on chastity that reminded me of how God was reverenced in the Old Testament. God’s presence dwelt in the most sacred place… the Holy of Holies. This holiest of places was veiled, concealed, and set apart. Why? God’s presence dwelt within it. Since God is beauty itself, then it makes sense that we reverence God’s presence with awe and humility. Hopefully you have learned from the time you were a small child that God dwells within each one of us because we are temples of the Holy Spirit. The Holy of Holies, the most sacred place, can be a metaphor for the woman. Specifically, her body is a sacred place that deserves to be reverenced and respected by all and her body is to be revealed only to the one who is worthy to see her.

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Modesty and the Dignity of Women (part I of V)

09-11-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Sisters in Christ,

You are beautiful because you are made in the image of God!!! You deserve all the dignity and respect due to you as God’s beloved daughter! Don’t take my word for it. Look again at what Our Lord says to you in the Sacred Scriptures.

God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27

You are made in the image of God!!! God is all beauty and God made you beautiful. In light of that truth, I wanted to address an issue that seems to impact many women these days. Now I must admit I am no expert… but I have enough insight into the human condition to know that women are rarely given the dignity and respect that God intends for His beloved daughters. Sadly, this lack of dignity has led to the objectification of women by men AND women. I believe that when a culture fails to see the presence of God as reflected in His beloved children, they the culture will fail to see God.

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The Way of Light

08-28-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Consider now the way of light; any man who is bent on reaching his appointed goal must be very careful in all he does. Now these are the directions that have been given to us for this journey: love your Creator; reverence your Maker; give glory to him who redeemed you when you were dead; be single-minded but rich in spiritual treasure; avoid those who travel down death’s highway; hate whatever is displeasing to God; detest all hypocritical pretense; do not abandon God’s commandments. Do not put on airs, but be modest whatever you do; claim no credit for yourself. Plot no evil against your neighbor, and do not give pride an entrance into your heart.

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Kneeling or Standing? (part IV of IV)

08-21-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I will summarize these Pastor’s Notes on the question of kneeling vs. standing by saying that the norm in the United States is to receive standing, but those who wish to receive kneeling may freely do so. To refuse those who kneel Holy Communion is a grave violation, and no one may impose upon them nor accuse them of disobedience simply because they chose to kneel. Therefore, no one distributing Holy Communion may prohibit or deter any member of the faithful from receiving on his or her knees if he or she so chooses.

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Kneeling or Standing? (Part III of IV)

08-14-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Can a priest or Extra Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion refuse Holy Communion to those who kneel? Absolutely not. A parishioner whose pastor had instituted a policy of refusing Communion to those who presented themselves kneeling presented this question to the magisterium in 2002.

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Kneeling or Standing? (Part II of IV)

08-07-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Does everyone have to kneel or everyone have to stand when it comes to receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion as a sign of greater unity? Thankfully, the magisterium (teaching authority of the Church) addresses this question in their official journal Notitiae to help clarify this question. Their conclusion was that there could be some “variance” when it comes to the faithful deciding to stand or to kneel when receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion.

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The Way of Light

08-28-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Consider now the way of light; any man who is bent on reaching his appointed goal must be very careful in all he does. Now these are the directions that have been given to us for this journey: love your Creator; reverence your Maker; give glory to him who redeemed you when you were dead; be single-minded but rich in spiritual treasure; avoid those who travel down death’s highway; hate whatever is displeasing to God; detest all hypocritical pretense; do not abandon God’s commandments. Do not put on airs, but be modest whatever you do; claim no credit for yourself. Plot no evil against your neighbor, and do not give pride an entrance into your heart.

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Kneeling or Standing? (part IV of IV)

08-21-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I will summarize these Pastor’s Notes on the question of kneeling vs. standing by saying that the norm in the United States is to receive standing, but those who wish to receive kneeling may freely do so. To refuse those who kneel Holy Communion is a grave violation, and no one may impose upon them nor accuse them of disobedience simply because they chose to kneel. Therefore, no one distributing Holy Communion may prohibit or deter any member of the faithful from receiving on his or her knees if he or she so chooses.

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Kneeling or Standing? (Part III of IV)

08-14-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Can a priest or Extra Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion refuse Holy Communion to those who kneel? Absolutely not. A parishioner whose pastor had instituted a policy of refusing Communion to those who presented themselves kneeling presented this question to the magisterium in 2002.

READ MORE

Kneeling or Standing? (Part II of IV)

08-07-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Does everyone have to kneel or everyone have to stand when it comes to receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion as a sign of greater unity? Thankfully, the magisterium (teaching authority of the Church) addresses this question in their official journal Notitiae to help clarify this question. Their conclusion was that there could be some “variance” when it comes to the faithful deciding to stand or to kneel when receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion.

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Kneeling or Standing (part I of IV)

07-31-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I wanted to spend some time on this topic of kneeling versus standing when receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion. Some parishioners have brought this question to my attention in recent months and I thought some clarification would be helpful.

You may have noticed that some people stand while others kneel when receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion. Is one way better than the other? Is receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion in the kneeling or standing position a matter of personal preference? The Church actually does address these questions in great detail.

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In the Hand or On the Tongue (part II of II)

07-24-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This is the conclusion of a two-part series that addresses this issue of receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion on the tongue versus receiving Him in our hand. If you would like to see more about this subject, please see the article written by Paul M. Matenaer for the Catholic Harold called “What is the Correct Posture for Receiving Communion”. I believe he does a nice job of addressing this topic.

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Handing on the Faith (part II of II)

07-17-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Parents and grandparents are irreplaceable apostles. This is a concise way of saying that adults have a vital role in preserving the faith and handing it on to future generations. I found a few tips to help Catholic parents and grandparents pass on the faith and I added a few from my own experience.

Hearing you pray out loud for them will move your children and grandchildren. Pray specifically about their future, their education and their faith. Pray about your desire to see them someday in heaven. Also, read stories to them about the saints and tailor those stories to match their interests (There is a saint for everything!).

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In the Hand or On the Tongue? (Part I of II)

07-10-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I have had a few people ask me about the correct way of receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion. So I have decided to present a two-part series that addresses this issue of receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion on the tongue versus receiving Him in our hand. If you would like to see more about this subject, please see the article written by Paul M. Matenaer for the Catholic Herold called “What is the Correct Posture for Receiving Communion”. I believe it does a nice job of addressing this topic.

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Real Freedom

07-03-2016Pastor's LetterFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Since the time of Christ, Christians and, specifically, Catholics have been under attack. You may have heard about the child being barred from performing a Christian song at a school for a talent show. Other examples of these attacks on Christian freedom include public spaces that have forbidden prayer. Our government has told pastors what they can and cannot say from the pulpit.

Students are expelled for publicly expressing their views on abortion. Now our government has passed a law that “redefines” marriage apart from God’s plan for marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Who knows, I may be arrested for writing this column since it could be seen by some people as “hate speech”?!?! These are just a few examples of how Catholics are under attack by those who wish to silence us.

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