TCA Questions of the Day for the Week of June 2-6, 2008

Question of the Day for Friday, June 6, 2008

“Joy for All Ages”?

Q. The Memorial Acclamation commonly used in Mass that begins “Keep in mind” and concludes “He is joy for all ages” seems rather different in construction and sentiment from the others commonly used, such as “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.” What are the criteria for the wording of this acclamation? Who determines them? Does this particular wording fit those criteria?

G.R., via email

A. Here’s a reply from TCA columnist Father Francis Hoffman, J.C.D.:

There are four approved Memorial Acclamations in English, but the one you cite that begins “Keep in mind” is not one of the approved acclamations, even though it is commonly used. So it should not be used.

The criterion for the wording of the Memorial Acclamation is that it should be related to the idea expressed in the official Latin acclamation: “Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine, et tuam resurectionem confitemur, donec venias.” (“We announce your death and proclaim your resurrection, O Lord, until you come again.”)

All English language liturgical texts used in the United States are to be approved by the U.S. Bishops Conference with the added recognition of the Holy See.

Question of the Day for Thursday, June 5, 2008

Percentage of Catholics Worldwide?

Q. What percentage of the world’s population is Catholic?

 M.M., via email

A. According to the most recent statistics made available by the Church, about 17.3 percent (almost a fifth). According to the recently published “Statistical Yearbook of the Church,” this percentage has remained stable since the beginning of the new millennium. (The most recent period for which statistics are available includes the years 2000 through 2006.)

During these seven years, in Europe the growth in the number of Catholics was less than one percent (even though 25 percent of all Catholics live there). In the Americas they grew by 8.4 percent and in Oceania by 7.6 percent.

In Asia the number of Catholics grew but remained more or less the same percentage of the population, while in Africa they continued to increase sharply, from 130 million in 2000 to 158.3 million in 2006.

Question of the Day for Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Consecrated Virgin?

Q. I recently heard that a Catholic woman I know is a “consecrated virgin.” What does that mean?

 G.K., via email

A. The website of the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins (click here) offers this description:

“The Consecration of a Virgin is one of the oldest sacramentals in the Church, and one of the fruits of Vatican II was the restoration of this profound blessing on virgins living in the world. The promulgation of this restored Rite for women living in the world was on 31 May 1970.

“Through this sacramental, the virgin, after renewing her promise of perpetual virginity to God, is set aside as a sacred person who belongs only to Christ. The acting agent in the Consecration is God himself, who accepts the virgin’s promise and spiritually fructifies it through the action of the Holy Spirit.

“This sacramental is reserved to the Bishop of the diocese. The consecrated virgin shares intimately in the nature and mission of the Church: she is a living image of the Church’s love for her Spouse while sharing in His redemptive mission.

“The consecrated virgin living in the world embodies a definitive vocation in itself. She is not a quasi-Religious, nor is she in a vocation that is in the process of becoming a Religious institute or congregation. Nevertheless, she is a consecrated person, with her bishop as her guide. By virtue of the Consecration, she is responsible to pray for her diocese and clergy. At no time is her diocese responsible for her financial support.

The consecrated virgin living in the world, as expressed in Canon 604 [of the Code of Canon Law], is irrevocably ‘consecrated to God, mystically espoused to Christ and dedicated to the service of the Church, when the diocesan bishop consecrates [her] according to the approved liturgical rite.’ The consecrated virgin attends Mass daily, prays the Divine Office, and spends much time in private prayer. She can choose the Church-approved spirituality she prefers to follow.”

 The estimated number of consecrated virgins worldwide is around 3000 and growing. Five hundred of them from 52 countries gathered in Rome last month for an international congress and pilgrimage convoked by Cardinal Franc Rodé, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

They met with cardinals and archbishops and enjoyed a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The theme of their visit was “Consecrated Virginity Lived in the World: A Gift in the Church and for the Church.”

 For more information, click here.

Question of the Day for Tuesday, June 3, 2008

St. Expeditus?

Q. I have a problem that needs a quick resolution. A friend has advised me to pray to St. Expeditus, the patron of “rapid solutions.” Sounds a little suspicious to me. Can you tell me whether there is a genuine saint by this name?

 J.A., via email

A. I must admit that this matter is rather murky. Prayers have been offered to St. Expeditus (or St. Expedite) for centuries, especially in Europe and in New Orleans. St. Expeditus prayer cards are in circulation, and occasionally you’ll see a statue of him, as (reportedly) in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in New Orleans.

 He is usually depicted as a young Roman soldier crushing a crow beneath his right foot and holding up a clock or (in later versions) a cross inscribed with the word hodie (Latin for “today”). A ribbon with the word cras (Latin, “tomorrow”) emerges from the crow’s beak.

Why is he killing a crow? Though English-speaking people mimic the sound of crows as “caw, caw,” Italians hear it as “cras, cras.” So Italian folk tales tell of crows and ravens rattling on and on about tomorrow.

The idea, then, is to ask him for help when you want to avoid delays for something you need in a hurry. Some of the more common prayers to him that are circulating are thus quite insistent — in my opinion, to the point of being disrespectful and even childish. (“This is what I want of you, this very second. Please don’t waste another day.”)

Was there really a St. Expeditus? The ancient Roman martyrology mentions one, but we know almost nothing about him; he seems to have been one of a group of ancient Armenian martyrs. But we have no record suggesting that he is the same saint as the one who came to be invoked, centuries later, as the patron of immediate needs. The matter has long been controversial, debated by those who study hagiography (the writing of saints’ biographies).

Should you ask for his intercession? Some folks might shy away from him, not only because of doubts about his authenticity, but also because (I assume through his popularity in New Orleans) he has become a favorite “saint” among practitioners of voodoo and New Age religion. But the truth is that such religious practitioners also sometimes pray to Our Lady, St. Peter and other well-known Catholic saints, and that fact doesn’t stop us from asking for their help (nor should it).  

Here’s the approach I would take: The communion of saints unites us in a loving bond with all our spiritual family in heaven, who want to help us. My guess is that, if you ask St. Expeditus to pray for you, and the saint you intend to address doesn’t exist, then another saint would no doubt be willing to take his place by interceding for you instead. You could even phrase your request that way.

In any case, Our Lord himself is certainly willing to help you in your need. Ask Him! Keep praying, and trust that heaven’s answer will come, one way or another, at the right time.

Question of the Day for Monday, June 2, 2008

Was Mary Magdalene the Woman Caught in Adultery?

Q. Prompted by a flashback in the film The Passion, I am wondering whether there is any scriptural basis to the suggestion (in the movie) that the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:3-11) is the Mary (Magdalene?) at the foot of the Cross.

J.W., Australia

A. Here’s a reply from TCA columnist Father Ray Ryland, Ph.D., J.D.:

Scripture does not identify the woman taken in adultery (see Jn 8) with Mary Magdalene, but there is an explanation for why the film The Passion of the Christ made that identification.

The explanation is found in Paul Thigpen’s book “The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ” (Allegiance Press, 2004) in an introduction by Holly McClure. A self-described “Christian movie critic,” she spent time on the set in Italy during the filming and consulted with Mel Gibson.

One theme in the script puzzled her: Though Mary Magdalene appeared in every scene with Jesus’ mother, there was no explanation for her devotion to Jesus. McClure suggested adding the scene that would portray Mary Magdalene as the woman taken in adultery, and Gibson agreed.