Holiness, the Church, and the Road Less Traveled

Catholics United for the Faith ^ | June 22, 2002 | Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

[american colleen]

I really enjoyed this article by Archbishop Chaput. No news or scandal or debate, just a nice spiritual reflection on our own relationship, as Catholics, to the Church.

[american colleen]

I haven't a ping list, so I just included the first few names that came to mind.

[sinkspur]

Hundreds of thousands of families are locked below the poverty line, 200 million guns are in circulation, and we live in one of the most violent countries in the world.

Other than the foolishness above, this is a good article.

[american colleen]

He can't help it!

"We Capuchin Franciscans are a worldwide Catholic order of brothers (=friars) consecrated by religious vows to living fully the gospel of Jesus Christ after the spirit and manner of St. Francis of Assisi. Many of us brothers are also priests.

Committed to a joyful life of simplicity and poverty, we live in community as brothers and combine contemplative and common prayer with apostolic ministry in the service of the Universal Church. With open hearts to all people, Capuchins have a preferential option for serving the poor, the sick, and the underprivileged; and we have long been regarded as peacemakers."

On the whole (getting past the guns, violence, poor and underprivledged) I do like what he writes.

[Polycarp]

I received a complimentary subscription to CUF's Lay Witness in return for an article I wrote for them (they have not yet published my article about the pill and breast cancer, though) and I read this article when it came out. I think its one of the best commentaries I've seen from one of our bishops in recent history.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Committed to a joyful life of simplicity and poverty

If only Charles walked the walk like he talks the talk.

Rocky Mountain News, 9 March 1997, page 39A:

'As the church has rewarded his abilities, Chaput has certainly changed his own world. Ordained a Capuchin friar with a vow of poverty, he's made some concessions.

For instance: "I like beautiful things," he says, "simple, but beautiful. That's just me."

If he sounds annoyed, it's because Chaput is standing in his own home, being asked to defend a life that turned out so differently from that of a poor Franciscan pledged to a life of poverty.

Today he lives in a three-bedroom aerie cut into a hill high above the city, 10 minutes from the chancery.

"I can't share my life as a bishop if I don't have a house," he argues. "Even Jesus went to wedding feasts."

Here, Chaput is free to be the warm host, serving guests his trademark Italian dinners and buffalo steaks with wild rice.

His staff has dubbed his retreat "the treehouse," an affectionate slam at what they regard it's more gimmicky features.

There's a multilevel outdoor deck with a tree punching through the wood floor; a spectacular view of the eastern plains, and heavy backyard traffic of wild turkeys and deer.

Tasteful gray carpeting sets off an explosion of color, captured in an array of Indian rugs, sofa throws and vivid abstract paintings and religious art. In the kitchen he has a wine rack with 100 bottles of his favorite reds.'

This story was written while Chaput was still the bishop in Rapid City, SD but since he's been in Denver he hasn't undergone an epiphany and reverted back to his vow of poverty. After Panetta was selected for the abuse committee I wrote Chaput and told him that Gregory had made a mistake. He wrote back and said he was troubled with the selection and would communicate that directly to Gregory but he hasn't made any public statements denouncing it. Like I've written before, Chaput is an enigma.

[Slyfox]

"repair my Church."

Wow, what a concept.

[Siobhan]

The Saint Francis Award for best article of the weekend goes to....

american colleen

[narses]

Many are but actors on a stage.

[Romulus]

Thanks so much for this article. I'm very fond of Francis myself.

[Conservative til I die]

On the whole (getting past the guns, violence, poor and underprivledged) I do like what he writes.

You somehow have a problem with priests helping the poor and underpriviliged? Do you have problems with Jesus's philosophy on the subject?

[Conservative til I die]

Wait a sec. Are there rules about where priests must and/or can live? In my experience Catholic priests have always lived at seminaries, monasteries, parish rectories, or in faculty quarters.

Eating fancy food and living in a big, pricey apartment seems like something more typical of a Baptist minister or something.

[Desdemona]

"You somehow have a problem with priests helping the poor and underpriviliged?"

Helping them is one thing. Letting them take advantage of the church and the St. Vincent de Paul Society is something else. I don't know where you live, but in my neck of the woods, the St. Vincent chapters, goodwill stores, etc., compare notes. There are scams going on all the time. People who plead a hard case to a different parish every month. Honestly. One Sunday morning, one of the rectory helpers let a young man in to use the phone and he stole $300 of the collection.

So, I have some sympathy at being a little discerning there. Guns and violence - I don't know what to say on that score as I come from a defense family. If there was more common sense and some morality to go along with the guns, it might not be an issue, but it is.

[Itsfreewill]

read for later

[american colleen]

Good Morning!

I live in Massachusetts, live here for 43 years and then tell me I shouldn't have a problem with the "poor and underprivleged."

[american colleen]

Why thanks, Siobhan.

I thought I was pretty nifty being able to create italics, hyperlink and strike out, not to mention make paragraphs and blockquotes, but the different colors in letters is really cool!

[american colleen]

True. He writes beautifully, and that certainly is a gift to us but his disposition will be discerned by God.

[EODGUY]

Thanks for the ping.

Great article, Colleen. Bookmarked for frequent reflection.

God bless,

EODGUY