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L E A R N I N G T H E FA I T H , L I V I N G T H E FA I T H
CHAPLAIN’S Report
DECEMBER 2007
A Message from
Supreme Chaplain
Bishop William E. Lori
I
am writing to you at
this time to enlist your
support for the catechetical plan for our brother Knights that I introduced
in Columbia magazine last
August.
When it
formally
begins in
January
2008, and
every
month
Bishop
William E. Lori thereafter
through
2011, it is my intent to provide Knights with formation in the faith in my
monthly Columbia column.
My primary tool will be the
Compendium of the
Catechism of the Catholic
Church. A listing of months,
topics and relevant
sections from the
Compendium is reprinted
in this newsletter.
Such an undertaking
has been my desire since
becoming supreme chaplain, and it has only been
strengthened by the discussions I had with many
of you at state and
Supreme Council meetings
and at other Knights of
Columbus functions. A
meeting with several state
and local chaplains at the
Supreme Council office in
New Haven last spring,
along with our supreme
knight, Carl Anderson, was
also instrumental. As many
of you have noted, there is
a real hunger among the
Knights for a sound and
solid spirituality that will
serve them as Catholic
men, as husbands and
fathers, in the workplace, at
home and in their council’s
volunteer programs.
So, I am sure many of
you are asking yourselves,
“What is my role in all of
this?” I hope that each of
you will find time in your
busy schedules to do two
things: 1) Read and reflect
on my monthly Columbia
column and 2) Present your
own brief catechesis based
on my writings to the men
of your council during the
“Chaplain’s Report” section
of the monthly business
meeting. If your schedule
does not allow you to
attend the monthly meeting, perhaps you can
arrange with your grand
knight or lecturer to
include your reflections in a
council newsletter, on a
council Web site, etc.
Thank you for your will-
VOL. 1 • NO. 1
ingness to serve the
Knights as a chaplain and
for your help in making this
new project a fruitful reality for our Order. Guided by
the inspiration of the
Servant of God Father
Michael J. McGivney and
through the intercession of
our Blessed Mother, this
collaboration will surely
contribute to the spiritual
renewal of the Knights of
Columbus and redound
with many graces on our
parishes and the Church at
large.
Sincerely in Christ,
William E. Lori, Supreme Chaplain
Bishop of Bridgeport
2008 TOPICS FOR
CHAPLAIN’S REPORT
Based on the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
SUBJECT - MONTH
COMPENDIUM SECTIONS
Man’s Capacity for God and God’s Plan for Man - January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Divine Revelation: Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium - February . . 10-24
What Is Faith? - March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25-35
Who Is God (Part 1) - April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-65
Who Is God (Part 2) - May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-65
Man’s Place in Creation, and the Fall - June. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66-78
God Becomes Man, Part 1 - July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79-111
God Becomes Man, Part 2 - August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79-111
The Passion and Death of Christ - September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112-124
The Resurrection, Ascension and Kingship of Christ - November . . . . . . . 125-135
The Holy Spirit - December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136-146
NOTE: The months correspond to when Bishop Lori will treat this topic in his
Bishop Lori, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and several state
and local Knights of Columbus chaplains at the Supreme Council
office last May.
monthly Columbia column. Because the October issue of Columbia traditionally
features reports from the annual Supreme Council meeting, no column will be
included that month.
‘Athirst Is My Soul’
Man’s capacity for God and God’s plan for man
BY BISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI, SUPREME CHAPLAIN
NE RECENT SUNDAY evening,
I happened to see 60 Minutes. It’s
not my usual TV fare, but one segment caught my attention. Leslie
Stahl was interviewing a gentleman
who owned what is arguably the
largest and most technologically
advanced sailboat in the world. When
Stahl asked him how much it cost, he
demurred; all we know is that it was
less than $300 million and more than
$100 million. Burrowing in 60
Minutes-style, she proceeded to ask
him the propriety of such a stunning
luxury, not to mention his other
boats, cars and homes. In spite of himself, this poised and accomplished
man mentioned the
plight of the poor, but
left unanswered the
question of whether
so many possessions
brought happiness and
fulfillment.
Of course, possessions alone — even
world-class possesThis column
sions — do not bring
covers Questions
happiness. It is not
1-9 in the
that possessions are
Compendium
bad. The problem is
that they are not good
enough to satisfy the human spirit.
The Catechism of the Catholic
Church tells us why: “God himself, in
creating man in his own image, has
written upon his heart the desire to
see him. Even if this desire is often
ignored, God never ceases to draw
man to himself because only in God
will he find and live the fullness of
truth and happiness for which he
never stops searching” (Compendium
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2).
This is a perennial truth that confounds modern culture yet also gives
hope to millions of saints and sinners
the world over. Christopher Hitchens’
book, God Is Not Great, is a good
example of how this truth annoys
many of those around us. With energetic vitriol (but little attention to
accuracy) Hitchens, an avowed atheist, sets out to debunk the central religious claims of Judaism, Christianity
O
and Islam. Enlightened and resistant
rationality, he argues, should replace
religious faith, and the sooner the better! Judging from his rhetoric, I’d
guess that Hitchens (and others like
him) are frustrated that we believers
are still around and are still a force
with which to be reckoned.
For example, in an age of unbelief
when Catholicism is often ridiculed
by late-night comedians and lambasted in the press, hundreds of thousands
of people each year seek to be baptized
and to become members of the
Church. But make no mistake:
Hitchens speaks for many. His book,
for all its fatal flaws, spent many
weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. Experience also teaches that
many others who do not profess atheism live as if God does not exist.
Sometimes even we believers can fall
into that trap.
NOTHING ELSE BUT GOD WILL DO
Yet atheism of all sorts faces a difficult climb. The steepest part of this
climb is the in-built longing for God
that is part of the human’s“standard
operating equipment” of every human
being. All of us ask basic questions
about the meaning of life: “Who am
I?” and “Why do I exist?” We reflect
on our desire to love and to be loved.
We also wonder why life can be a
struggle and why there is illness,
heartbreak and so much evil in the
world. We think about death and what
happens to us after death. Reason can
help answer our profound questions
but does not go the whole way. In
reality, these basic questions indicate
an intense longing for God deep within us; nothing else but God will do
(see United States Catholic
Catechism for Adults, 3).
In the fifth century, St. Augustine,
wrote a book called The Confessions.
In it he tells the story of his conversion from pagan humanism to
Christianity, a story that continues to
inspire us 1,500 years later. Among its
most quoted lines are these: “You are
great, O Lord, and greatly to be
praised…. You have made us for your-
self and our heart is restless until it
rests in you” (Book I, Chapter 1, 1; see
Catechism of the Catholic Church,
30).
Pope John Paul II took Augustine’s
insight a step further when he wrote,:
“Man cannot live without love. He
remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless,
if love is not revealed to him, if he
does not encounter love, if he does not
experience it and make it his own, if
he does not participate intimately in
it” (Redemptor Hominis, 10).
FAITH AND REASON
The human spirit is made for love,
ultimately for God’s infinite love.
People search for that love in ways
that are ennobling but also in ways
that are destructive. We can be distracted in our search and others,
(including believers), can lead us
astray. Nevertheless, we cannot get
the desire for God’s love out of our
system. This is the toughest part
about being an atheist: Atheism simply cannot deny or cancel out this universal and relentless search of the
human heart for the love that is God.
Our search is not futile. On the
contrary, God revealed himself to us
both through the created world in all
its wonder and through his plan of
redemption. We are awe-struck when
we gaze into the star-lit sky or look
upon a beautiful landscape. The harmony, order, beauty and purposefulness of creation signals to our reason
the existence of an Intelligent Creator
(United States Catholic Catechism for
Adults, 4). And while reason alone can
figure out that such a Supreme Being
must exist, nonetheless “…there is
another order of knowledge, which
man cannot possibly arrive at by his
own powers, the order of divine revelation” (Vatican I, Dei Filius, 1870). In
a word, we really cannot know God
until our powers of reason are enlightened by faith.
Faith is what enables us to see that
God not only created a marvelous universe but that he also freely and lovingly planned for us to come to know
and love him intimately as he
revealed himself and drew near to us
in human history. What a crucial message “…[i]n a world where the name of
God is sometimes associated with
vengeance or even a duty of hatred
and violence” (Pope Benedict XVI,
Deus Caritas Est, 1).
GOD’S PLAN
In many ways, God’s plan to save us
and draw us to himself is what this
whole series of articles in Columbia is
about. It is about “the intrinsic link”
between God’s love and human love
(Deus Caritas Est, 1). The
Compendium of Catechism of the
Catholic Church sums up God’s plan
in one breathtaking sentence. It
speaks of a plan “of sheer goodness”
in which God “freely created man to
make him share his own blessed life.
In the fullness of time, God the Father
sent his Son as the Redeemer and
Savior of mankind, fallen into sin,
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL USE
1. Possessions, while not bad in themselves, can never be great or
numerous enough to satisfy the human heart. If happiness can’t be
bought, then why do so many people try? Think of the happiest people you have known. What was the source of their happiness?
2. Every person is created with an inescapable desire for truth and
happiness, which ultimately can only be fulfilled by God. Why might
many people, such as popular atheist authors like Christopher
Hitchens, be annoyed by this truth? What happens when people
grow to accept it, like St. Augustine in his Confessions?
The 2008 Ordo reads:
World Day of Migrants and Refugees (Jan. 14) has been
promoted by many Episcopal Conferences in the world in
communion with the one promoted by the UNO on June
20.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, celebrating this
year its centenary observance, begins Friday, Jan. 18
(USA). This year’s theme is: “Pray
ADDITIONAL Without Ceasing.” The Mass for the
Unity of Christians (#13), and
RESOURCES
“For the Spread of the Gospel” (#14)
would be appropriate. Prayer services with other groups
of Christians would also be fitting. See the Book of
Blessings, nos. 553-573 or Catholic Household Book of
Blessings and Prayers, 160.
The January issue of Columbia magazine features an
article about Father Paul Wattson, a Fourth Degree
Knight, who is considered co-founder of the Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity.
The birth of Martin Luther King Jr. is celebrated Jan. 21
(USA). Prayers for the end of racial discrimination may
fittingly be inserted into intercessory prayer this day. At
Mass, the prayers for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
would be most fitting. Today’s table blessing may recall
his birth (see Catholic Household Book of Blessings and
Prayers, 195).
Jan. 22 is the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court
decision, Roe v. Wade (1973). This day shall be observed
in all diocese of the United States as a particular day of
penance for violations to the dignity of the human person
If you would like to receive future
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thus calling all into his Church and,
through the work of the Holy Spirit,
making them adopted children and
heirs of his eternal happiness”
(Compendium, 1). This is God’s plan:
to go in search of us in spite of our
tendency to substitute our possessions
and false loves for him. ■
3. Bishop Lori states, “Our search is not futile. On the contrary, God
revealed himself to us both through the created world in all its wonder and through his plan of redemption.” What is the role of reason
in our search for God? What is the role of faith, and how does it
relate to reason?
4. The first sentence of the Compendium of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church states: “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him
share in his own blessed life.” How does this sentence compare with
our own or others’ understanding of God and the “meaning of life”?
What implications does it have on how we should view our faith
and our daily lives?
committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for full
restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life
(GIRM, no. 373). The Mass “For Peace and Justice” (#22)
from the “Masses for Various Needs and Occasions,”
should be celebrated with violet vestments. The national
March for Life will be held in Washington, D.C., and
many states hold similar observances. Knights play key
roles in these efforts, so some thought may be given to the
how the council can contribute to ongoing culture of life
initiatives.
A Chaplain’s Challenge: A Knight at the Movies
Suggest to your grand knight or other council office or
chairman to start a “Knight at the Movies” program.
Consider watching Becket or The Count of Monte Cristo
both available through Ignatius Press (www.ignatius.com
or 800-651-1531). The Supreme Council has numerous
informational DVDs, including ones on vocations to the
priesthood, religious life for women, marriage and the
laity. Visit www.kofc.org to order these or call the
Supreme Council Department of Fraternal Services at
203-752-4270.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE SERVANT OF GOD
FATHER MICHAEL J. McGIVNEY
Jan. 2, 1878 — Assigned to St. Mary’s
Church, New Haven, Connecticut
Jan. 9, 1882 — Calls a meeting of Catholic
men to determine the type of Catholic association that
would respond to their practical needs
Jan. 30, 1878 — Officiates at a marriage for the first time
Jan. 20, 1890 — Becomes seriously ill with pneumonia
Encourage Knights to join the Father McGivney Guild
at www.fathermcgivney.org
CHAPLAIN’S Report
1 Columbus Plaza New Haven CT 06510-3326
DEEPEN ONE’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE
CATHOLIC FAITH WITH QUALITY BOOKS
E
ver since its founding
the Knights of
Columbus has been
involved in evangelization.
In 1948, the Order started
the Catholic Information
Service (CIS) to provide lowcost Catholic publications
for parishes, schools, retreat
houses, and individuals who
request them. Acquaint the
members of the council
with this important program of their Order and
encourage them to read the books online, to listen to
the books via podcasts or to order the books and build
a library of their own. The featured title for January is
Lord, Teach Us to Pray: The What, Why and How of
Prayer. A free copy can be obtainted from from the
CIS Web site, www.kofc.org/cis, or by writing: CIS,
PO Box 1971, New Haven, CT 06521-1971
Another way to grow in one’s faith is by participating in the Supreme Knight’s Book Club. This is an
online discussion of a
book chosen by Supreme
Knight Carl A. Anderson
for its importance to the
Order and its members.
In January, the featured
book is Benedictus: Day
by Day with Pope
Benedict XVI. This is a
compilation of writings
by Pope Benedict XVI
from throughout his
career through the first
year of his pontificate.
Each day of the year has a short meditation penned
by the Holy Father printed alongside images of sacred
art. The book can be ordered from its publisher,
MAGNIFICAT (www.magnificat.com or
www.ignatius.com) or from the Knights of Columbus
(http://www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/publications/books/in
dex.html). Supreme Knight Anderson and Benedictus
editor, Dominican Father Peter John Cameron, will
be taking questions about the book online on Jan. 24
at 5 p.m. (ET).
PUBLISHED 12 TIMES A YEAR BY THE
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SUPREME COUNCIL
1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326