Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe "B" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

"¡Viva Cristo Rey!"

The execution of Blessed Miguel Pro, 11/23/27

Dear Parishioners:

I watch various videos primarily on YouTube, Rumble, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook. (I have not entered the world of other platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, etc. because of the element of time and certain priorities in my life currently.) Some of the videos have illustrated how certain high profile people recently became Catholics such as Candice Owens, Russell Brand, J.D. Vance, Shia LaBeouf, and Rob Schneider, to name a few. While this is not meant to be an endorsement of any of these people in particular, it was the Candice Owens story that caught my attention. She got in trouble on social media for acknowledging Christ the King publicly and has not backed down from her position.

This then brought to mind the phrase used by the Cristeros in Mexico. When I heard about the sacrifices that the Cristeros made and the tortures that they endured for their Catholic faith, I was speechless with a pain deep in my heart. During a three year period (1926-1929) in Mexico’s history, approximately 90,000 people died in what was called the Cristero War. In an interview with Ruben Quezada in 2012, the author of For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada, he explains the background to the war:

When Plutarco Calles took over as president of Mexico, he did not want the church to be part of any moral teachings to its citizens. He did not want God to be a part of anyone’s life. After the Mexican Revolution the two presidents that followed (Venustiano Carranza and Alvaro Obregon) abused their power to wage their personal attacks against the Catholic Church as well. There were similar persecution incidents and abuses towards the clergy and Catholics alike, and we have a few Mexican Martyrs from those persecutions who were not part of the Cristero War. When President Calles came into power, he wanted to bring Mexico’s population to belong to a Socialist state. He would insist that the Church was poisoning the minds of the people and that its teachings were a threat to the Revolutionary mentality which it stood for. Calles wanted to ensure that all citizens were going to be educated under the government’s dictatorship and secular mindset. He wanted to ensure that only the government would have the freedom to form the minds of its citizens and insisted that the church was poisoning the minds of the people. In order to enforce this new law it was necessary to expel all clergy, except for a few priests who would oversee the spiritual needs of the people and with the supervision of the state authorities. This led to various states of Mexico going without a single Mass being celebrated for a long time.

A total of 35 martyrs have been canonized and fifteen were beatified as a result of this persecution. The motto of the Cristeros was “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long Live Christ the King!”) which so many refused to denounce even when facing torture and death. With some subsequent thought, the following questions keep haunting me:

• What sacrifices would I make in order to offer the Mass or to practice my Catholic faith freely?
• What suffering would I be willing to endure for my Catholic faith?
• Would I be able to hold fast to my Catholic faith in the face of torture or a threat of death?
• How much do I value religious freedom?
• Would I have the courage to proclaim: “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” like the Cristeros?

A special recognition needs to be given to the Knights of Columbus who helped the Mexican people during this war. Again, according to Quezada:

In August 1926, just days after the Calles Law took effect, the U.S. Knights passed a resolution to support the Church in Mexico. They established a fund that raised over a million dollars to offer relief services for those exiled from Mexico, to provide for exiled seminarians to continue their priestly formation, and to educate the American public about the true situation. The Order printed and distributed five million pamphlets about the Cristiada and two million copies of the Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Episcopate of the United States on the Religious Situation in Mexico. The U.S. Knights also sponsored over 700 free lectures and reached millions by radio.

The film A Greater Glory: The True Story of the Cristiada, which only had only a very limited theater run in most areas, is a story of fidelity to the Catholic faith in the face of torture and persecution. It illustrates what people are willing to sacrifice to preserve their religious freedom. I certainly recommend viewing this film. (Beware, however, of the intense violence at times—the reason it received an “R” rating.) 

Long Live Christ the King!  

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Remembering and Understanding Our Sacred Tradition

Dear Parishioners,

When I finished high school and was accepted for admission to a college seminary to study for the priesthood, I was told at the time that I needed to study both Latin and Greek—two years of each. I had no familiarity with either language up to then. Since we belong to the Latin or Roman Rite—we are Roman Catholics—the study of ecclesiastical Latin provided me with some valuable background for what is still our official church language. (Moreover, Koine or biblical Greek would prove very beneficial for my understanding of Sacred Scripture.)

At times, various people will reference Vatican II (the Second Vatican Council) and not know what the documents from that ecumenical council actually say. Sacrosanctum Concillium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council, actually states the following:  Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites (#36). It certainly makes no sense to me to disregard approximately two thousand years of our precious history and tradition.

That is why, at various times during the liturgical year, I encourage our musicians to introduce various elements of Latin and Greek into our liturgy—specifically, the Kyrie (Greek) and the Sanctus and Agnus Dei (Latin) during the seasons of Advent and Lent. By now, if we regularly attend Mass, we should all know the English translations for the above as the Lord, Have Mercy, the Holy, Holy, Holy and the Lamb of God. With time, it would also be beneficial to know the Our Father, Gloria and Nicene Creed in Latin as well. Moreover, this variation gives us an opportunity to experience some Gregorian Chant, another significant tradition from our musical heritage. I believe we should change our routine during Advent and Lent since these liturgical seasons are meant to be different from Ordinary Time. 

Interestingly enough, my experience in the classroom has shown me that if it is presented in a positive manner, children and teens are receptive to learning these parts of the Mass in the ancient languages.  (Sadly, I sometimes have received much more resistance from others of slightly older generations who seem to have an aversion or even disgust for anything considered pre-Vatican II).

Someone once disparagingly reminded me how Latin is no longer a spoken or conversational language. It is used for the liturgy and in church documents and writings. Interestingly enough, as a result, it allows an ancient language to be unique and set aside for sacred matters, like addressing God in prayer. Keeping something as special or reserved for God alone seems like quite a novel idea, doesn't it! Maybe its use would reflect a bit more reverence above and beyond the colloquial or pedestrian language that we use for everyone and everything else.

[As a side note, another matter referenced in this document was the assumed ad orientem position of the priest (i.e., facing liturgical East with the people). The priest facing the people (versus populum) is never mentioned in this document! Yet, high altars were moved or even destroyed in many churches and the priest regularly faces the people during the post-Vatican II liturgy. This, however, is a topic for another day.]

I leave you with the following Latin motto which one of my seminary professors used to inscribe atop his papers and handouts: A.M.D.G.—Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam. It is the motto of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, of which Pope Francis is a member. May all things be done for the greater glory of God!

Fr. Ed Namiotka 

Pastor

 Gregorian Chant

Homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time "B" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Thanksgiving and Advent

 

Dear Parishioners,

As I write this bulletin column, I anticipate enjoying the annual Thanksgiving dinner with various family members at my rectory. This will be the first Thanksgiving without my mom. This holiday was special to her because her birthday (November 28) fell in close proximity to it each year. This year the dates coincide.  She considered Thanksgiving her holiday and expected everyone who could to be there.

I realize, once again, how truly blessed I am. I have three brothers and a sister and their families, who mostly live in close proximity. I am so fortunate to have a number of people gathered together to share this family day and traditional meal. I will do most of the cooking this year while some of the family will bring some particular specialties from their own homes to the table.

As I reflect, I pity those people who would forgo time spent with family and friends to begin to camp out or stand in line on Black Friday in order to be early enough to get some advertised bargain at the retail stores. Thankfully, online sales have somewhat curtailed this practice. Nevertheless, I worry whenever we start to put material things ahead of family, friendships and relationships. People should certainly be more important than things, as far as I am concerned.

Advent begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I ponder once again whether or not this season of preparation for the Birth of Christ will actually make a difference to most people. So many people skip the intended Advent preparation and begin celebrating Christmas. When Christmas finally arrives, people are ready to move on to something else. Meanwhile, in the Church, we are just beginning the celebration. 

Why did we have to come up with slogans like Keep Christ in Christmas in order to remind us of something that should be so very obvious? I advise that we don’t waste precious time by getting caught up in all of the materialism that the world is concerned about and continually sells us. Rather, we should take time for the spiritual life. After all, we as humans are comprised of body and soul. We should make the time for Jesus Christ and prepare for Him. Personally, I find that when my spiritual priorities are in order and Christ is forefront in my life, everything else mysteriously seems to fall into place. I may have to learn this lesson over and over again, but someday I may finally get it right.

I attempt to do my part by keeping any Christmas preparation in proper perspective. My annual Christmas shopping remains almost non-existent. Unfortunately, I don’t think the economy will be helped by my miniscule number of purchases. Perhaps, my spiritual life might be deepened instead.

I know that the anticipation of the birth of the Christ Child still brings hope to many lives. For those who truly try to pray, to spiritually prepare (especially with a sacramental confession), and even to fast, the joy that comes from readying our hearts for the coming of Jesus surpasses any temporary, illusory pleasures that the many TV commercials may promise.

Please do your part to ready for Christ's coming during these four weeks of Advent and attempt to forgo turning this preparatory season into a premature Christmas celebration.

Fr. Ed Namiotka,

Pastor

 

Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time "B" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Election Day 2024

Dear Parishioners,

As I write today (Election Tuesday), people are going to the polls (or may have already voted) to elect a president and various other officials throughout the country. I have no idea what the results will be by the time you read this message in the Sunday bulletin. However, I have a few comments and observations I wish to make regarding the current state of politics in America.

First, I have never been affiliated with any one political party for as long as I have been eligible to vote. While I know that this may prohibit me from voting in certain primary elections, I have found no compelling reason to make a complete allegiance to any political party as they currently stand. My allegiance is and will always be to Almighty God and to my Catholic faith. I publicly endorse no candidate, although I will certainly have leanings toward (and have voted for) those who clearly represent my beliefs as a Roman Catholic. The biggest of these is the right to life issue. We can never support an intrinsically evil action such as the killing of the innocent unborn through abortion.

I do vote regularly and I vote based on the issues, on a candidate’s observable moral character and values, on what a candidate and his/her party's platform actually stands for, on a candidate’s record of service and past voting on issues, etc. This sometimes makes voting very difficult, considering most candidates without a major party affiliation probably do not have the money or political clout necessary to run a campaign that is actually able to win. Is choosing the lesser of two evils—a position in which we may find ourselves all too often—ever the optimal moral position to be in? 

I raise the following ongoing election concerns:

• Enough with the negative campaigning and political mudslinging! If you are going to run a political ad, tell me what you are going to do, not how bad your opponent is! I suppose that negative campaigns must produce a greater result, or they would not be used by so many. But I am truly sick of them! My hope is that there will be a backlash against those proponents of the negative campaigns and that your efforts will ultimately backfire.

• Stop lying to the people! Personally, I do not want continually to be told what you are going to do simply to pacify me or to get my vote. If I do not see results or I see broken promises time and again, you simply will not get my vote again. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!

• If you are elected to public office, do your jobs! We have a political system that was intended to have a check and balance system. Deliver me from a plethora of executive orders, from activist judges, from a congress that does not do what it is actually elected to do—continually stuck in political gridlock from partisan loyalties rather than the good of the constituents. Deliver me from all abuses of political power, in whatever form they may appear!

• If you do not vote or fail to become informed on the issues, you have no one to blame but yourself! I hope and pray that when they interview people on various TV shows, the people are not as ignorant about social and political matters as they make them out to be. If they really are, God help our country!

• Dear news media: please report the news and not continually slant it to meet your own political objectives! Is there such a thing as objective journalism anymore? Does everything have to be seen through a political pundit’s eyes? We are intelligent enough to make good decisions if the facts are actually presented and propaganda is not spewed forth continually. 

I think that I represent the average American citizen. I did not come from wealth or privilege. Because of my parents, I was provided an excellent education and raised with a decent work ethic. My parents struggled to raise five children, to put food on the table and to make ends meet each week. They taught us the value of the dollar and advised us to live within our means. 

Like many Americans, I think that I have become highly disillusioned with our current state of politics and don’t know exactly how we are ever going to get out of the mess that we are currently in.  May God help us! 

The genuine hope that I hold comes from remembering that no matter who is elected to public office, Jesus Christ is still King!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

         

Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time "B" - Fr. Edward Namiotka