Servo Fidei - Keep the Faith

Praise Be to Jesus Christ.

I think this is a good "teaching" moment. This discussion occurred after a
young adults group sent out an event for a party. I wanted to remind
everyone that this a time of penitence.

Why is it that we feel the need to celebrate and have fun all the time?
This seems especially true of young adults. Instead of the the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass, we prefer the "Lifeteen" Kumbaya masses. We ignore
the sacrament of reconcilliation, and sacrifice on Fridays even during
Lent. Why do people respond so harshly when a gentle suggestion is made
that this type of activity might need to be reconsidered?

These things seem to be sympomatic of the "experiential" catechesis and
permissiveness that is prevalent in the US Church today. There are no hard
and fast rules anymore. I shudder to imagine what our children will be
like.

I actually liked A.S. suggestion of asking people to schedule these events
for Saturday's, at least during Lent. There are tens of millions of single
Christians out there, if we spoke with one voice about these things, we
would make an impact.

Matt
=========================================================
From: "P.M."
To: "anonymousyoungadultsevent"
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 6:30 PM
Subject: [anonymousyoungadults Event] For singles!

This looks like fun!

On Friday, March 10, 2006 join Houston's 106.9 The Point as we
partner up
with HoustonConnect.com and Gulf Greyhound Park to bring you a
get-together
for singles in Houston!
Schedule of events:
7-8 Check in at Point booth by entrance (participants will be given a
name
badge, asked to register for the "Register to Win" contest for the
dinner
for 2 at the restaurant and also given their game pieces for their
respective genders.
7-9 Appetizers available in the lounge
7:15 Welcome point and KLDE listeners -
7:30 First singles game - grab a date and pick a race to win
trifecta
7:45 Second game- Speed dating - find out as much as you can about
that
person in 5 minutes and then we will switch again going on for 20
minutes .
8:30 Third game- Birth Month Bingo!
8:45 Fourth game- music trivia- grab a partner and a trivia card and
we
have an elimination game kicking people off until one couple survives-
wins
9:30 Fifth game- win place or show - if your dog comes in 1,2, or
3rd
place then you find a partner with matching numbers to win. First 3
couples
to come up with matching tickets win.
10:00 Register to win contest winner announced . Announce next
singles
event date.
Gulf Greyhound Park:
Phone Number: (409) 986-9500
1-800-ASK-2WIN
One block west of 1-45 south at Exit 15, 30 miles south of Houston
and 15
miles north of Galveston in La Marque, Texas.

=========================================================

Matt McDonald wrote:
You might consider that we are in Lent, and Fridays are not only days
of
abstinence, but of penitence.

Pope Leo the Great said:
IV. Use Lent for general improvement in the whole round of Christian
duties.
Relying, therefore, dearly-beloved, on so great a promise, be heavenly
not
only in hope, but also in conduct. And though our minds must at all
times be
set on holiness of mind and body, yet now during these 40 days of
fasting
bestir yourselves to yet more active works of piety, not only in the
distribution of alms, which are very effectual in attesting reform, but
also
in forgiving offences, and in being merciful to those accused of
wrongdoing,
that the condition which God has laid down between Himself and us may
not be
against us when we pray.

========================================================

From: A.S.
To: Matt McDonald ; P.M.
Cc: anonymousyoungadultsevent@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: [anonymousyoungadults Event] For singles!

Matt, with all do respect....

I absolutely agree this is Lent and this is a Catholic group. But it is
also in the Bible that men and women have to find each other, get married,
and start a family for the glory of God. Then, how are men and women going
to make this possible? Should single people not "date" on Lent? Or
better, should we tell the people who organize these events to do them on
Saturdays?

Anyway, you can do the Way of the Cross before going there. And you can
also pray the Rosary while you are there... And pray a little extra if you
like someone! I am NOT, absolutely NOT kidding or being disrespectful. I
used to pray in places like this. And hey! I am a very happily married
woman :-)

However, like any other event sponsored by anonymousyoungadults, since
you should be over 21 years old, you should know if you want or you do not
want to participate...

Just my humble opinion.
God bless,
A.S.

Matt McDonald wrote:
With all due respect, there is a time and place for everything, and Lent
is a special time for penitence and remembrance that Christ died on the
Cross for our sins, especially on Fridays. The Church has declared it a
day of abstinence and penance... our minds should be on Calvary. There are
only 7 Friday's during Lent..An interesting number, the same number of
deadly sins, the same number of the last words of Christ on the Cross... do
you really think the "one" will get away if you aren't shopping on these
days?

In this modern age we set aside our faith to become part of the secular
world.... we should be encouraging each other to imitate Christ and the
Saints.I point this out in Christian Charity, it's not my idea, but those
of the Saints.

====================================================

From: A.M.
To: A.S. ; Matt McDonald ; P.M.
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: [anonymousyoungadults Event] For singles!

Dude,
Get a life!!!! I totaly agree with A.S.!!!! This is a SINGLES group, it
is a way of meeting people and sharing our faith.

You should you be prayerful every day of your life not just on Fridays
during lent!!!! Do you go back to your sinful ways on Saturday?

Have fun being intimate with Christ and the Saints tomorrow.
I recently lost a loved one so I personally think we should go out,
celebrate and have fun because who knows what tomorrow will bring!!!!!!!
And yes your celebration can be in line with the teachings of the Catholic
Church no matter what day it is!!!!!

A.M.

==================================================

From: Matt McDonald
To: A.M. ; A.S. ; P.M.
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 6:58 AM
Subject: Re: [anonymousyoungadults Event] For singles!

Praise be to Jesus Christ.

I'm sorry for your loss. I'll offer my prayers today for the repose of
your loved one's soul.

Of course you should be prayerful every day of your life, compassionate,
and charitable too. We all sin, not one of us is perfect, we try hard, but
in this secular world it is often difficult to keep your eye on the prize.

I don't know where you heard that it's a good idea to celebrate on Friday's
during Lent, but it's certainly not from the teachings of the Catholic
Church. Life is not always about "having fun", Christ had no fun on the
Cross.

The Catechism:
1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year
(Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense
moments of the Church's penitential practice. These times are particularly
appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as
signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and
fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).

God bless,

Matt

# posted by Matt @ 7:27 AM