Furthermore…

As I understand it an ‘elevator pitch’ is a short capsule presentation about available offer(s) that a salesperson has ready to use when the only chance to talk to a prospect that can be gotten is a brief time together such as riding up in an elevator together. I’m thinking that in my next class teaching 5th graders about Catholicism I’ll get them working together on composing an ‘elevator pitch’ on why they think being Catholic is a good thing, something to have ready to tell their little friends, family members, interrogating teachers (they go to public school) and other challengers. I think it would be a good exercise for them in thinking through and putting together something useful that encapsulates their faith.

Recently, going to Confession, I mentioned to the priest that during examination of conscience and preparation for the sacrament I always have a vague sense of definitely being in need of cleansing and grace, extending beyond the sins and faults that I can single out and mention, but that I can’t seem to identify what is behind or related to that general and inchoate guilt-like discomfort or anxiety, as though I were reaching an arm into a dark hole from which a bad smell is arising, feeling about and exploring the dark cavern, but not able to put my gloved hand on anything palpable. It reminds of once hearing someone jokingly say that in Confession he would always felt inclined to state that he was guilty of being himself!

This recent time the priest, who knows me fairly well, and has heard much similarly vague maundering from me, suggested that I ought to try starting a journal about the matter, and maybe such an exercise would bring me to some clarity or insight. And I was pleased to note that shortly after, as I only began to contemplate what I might put down in the journal, a very welcome insight occurred to me giving me hope that I was making real progress toward laying the matter to rest.

Some of the questions the 5th graders in the class I teach about the Church reminded me how at their age kids have a lot of questions about what is real and what is unreal in the big world they are getting acquainted with. One day a wore a string tie with a big red glass stone as center piece. One little girl eyed it and asked me “Is that real?”
On another occasion I happened to mention leprechauns and Santa Claus as examples of things familiar but not real. They wanted to know more about what, if anything, is behind all the Santa business, and for that matter, the Easter Bunny. I talked a bit about St. Nicholas, the fecundity of rabbits and the association of eggs with new life. Then, being cute I suppose, they wanted me to talk about the tooth fairy. I didn’t go there!
I remember how, at their age, I wavered between thinking Santa was real, or merely some kind of culturally propagated fiction. There seemed to be so much information about Santa Claus – could it all be a put on? I didn’t want to think so.

At our Monday prayer meeting we always stand and sing some lively songs for a while, then we sit down and remain quiet, waiting for and allowing anyone who feels so impelled to utter a ‘prophecy’ or spiritual statement, often phrased in such a way as though spoken by God.  I myself have begun to occasionally so speak, but not very often, perhaps once in an evening, and not even every evening. 

 One recent time as I sat there vacantly observing the situation, 15 or 20 people sitting quietly in something of a loose  circle and opening themselves to spiritual awareness, it became for me almost a modern version of the scene in the Upper Room when Jesus’ disciples were visited by the Holy Spirit and blessed with tongues as of fire above them.  I didn’t see any ‘tongues,’ but it seemed like they ought to be and, in a way, were present.  We were united,  ’of one accord’.

Preparing for my class teaching 5th graders, I thought  ‘I’m going to talk about them asking Jesus to help them,  by doing a switch on the catchy old “Help Me, Rhonda” song by the Beachboys.  Part of it is

Help me Rhonda
Help, help me Rhonda
Help me Rhonda
Help, help me Rhonda
Help me Rhonda
Help, help me Rhonda
Help me Rhonda
Help, help me Rhonda
Help me Rhonda
Help, help me Rhonda
Help me Rhonda
Help, help me Rhonda
Help me Rhonda yeah

Get her out of my heart.

Which would become

Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus Lord
Get You into my heart.

The 5th graders probably don’t even know the song or the Beachboys either.  They could pick it up fast though.   Yeah.

The Catholic Friends group I visit online (catholicfriends.multiply.com) has been having an exchange on the subject of talking and chatting in church.  I found it interesting that  a member from Poland mentioned that in her country such bad behavior is hardly exists, while American members recognize it as pervasive.  I posted that at my parish it is not only done by strangers unfamiliar with our mores, but even by parish leaders.  It occurs to me that people may well be “chatting” about various aspects of God’s work (such as that the time of a meeting has been changed, an order of printed flyers has arrived, etc.)

Confronted, what might they say?  Everyone does it…  We were only whispering…  This is the only chance to pass on this information…  The Lord would want us to share this… The Lord understands… No harm is being done…  Some of those old rules don’t make sense anymore… and the old standby, Who appointed you to tell people what to do?

I’m thinking of seeing if a notice might be placed in the parish bulletin urging people to respect the sacred space where Jesus dwells.  Ask whether we might have a sign in the entrance area asking people to try to observe silence in the church.   Speak to the pastor or the priests about what can or should be done (Nothing?  I hope not!)  A temptation to basttle: toss in the towel and join in the buzzing  and socializing.

The white, simple, almost tasteless sacred host, with its appearance as a wafer of unleavened flat bread, can be marvelously suggestive of Our Lord because a person can look upon it almost as looking through a window to Heaven, or as watching a movie screen upon which any personal conception of Him may be projected.  It seems to me that if it were in any more complex or elaborate, it would lend itself less effectively to letting those gazing upon it be able to surrender the ordinary, banal way of perceiving things and enter into a rich, personal, prayerful expression of devotion to Jesus made possible by the Holy Eucharist which He instituted for us at the Last Supper.

Yesterday in our efforts as catechists to the 5th graders we concentrated on prayer.  A chapter in the textbook is devoted to the subject, giving us a base on which to build.  At the beginning of the class I attempted to introduce the boys and girls to the idea that the book, just as are other presentations to which they are exposed, is the product of thought and planning in order to achieve a goal, in the case of the textbook,  to effectively expose them to and lead them through the truths of the faith.  The chapter opened with the antiphonal praying of a psalm.  Ten the book set forth the five kinds of prayer, praise, thanksgiving, intercession, repentance and petition (the one most people think of in connection with prayer).    We read the contents aloud, and the two of us teachers added comments based on our own experience.  My teaching partner is a family man who raised six children, so he brought some very realistic examples of prayer in family life to the subject.  After going over these five ways of praying,  I asked the kids if they previously had heard of there being five kinds of prayer; they hadn’t.  The book had a reproducible page showing  chart allowing for planning the prayers for one week with respect to time to pray and what to pray,  so we handed out and talked about copies of it.

This morning my teaching partner and I went to a nearby parish for a gathering of catechists, one of a series held Saturdays at different parishes during the school year.  I believe it must have been assumed at this gathering that we already know the rudiments of teaching, because the subject matter  presented was largely about the contents of our faith and our lives, in a more or less free discussion format.  The presenter would talk for a bit, and then all of us were invited to comment.  I was pleased that no arguing or contention arose: I guess we had so much in common — Catholics, volunteers, teachers, gathered together for enrichment, enjoying refreshments — that agreeableness ruled the day. How different from the the image of teachers I formed back when I used to serve professional teachers at the library where I worked, helping them secure films to show to their classes.  To me they seemed driven, strong willed, outspoken, all business.  These ladies and gentlemen this morning seemed open to listening, accepting , thoughtful, laid back.  But then, maybe the distinction is more geographical than anything else: the first bunch ws in Chicago, and today’s was in Florida.

Tuesday evenings my parish has novena service for Our Lady of Perpetual Help that lasts about one half hour.  We sing two hymns to Mary, read together prayers in a booklet /1/, and have Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

I am always touched by the prayer sequence for families in the booklet.   I don’t have the booklet with me, but the following, which I found online /2/,  although shorter, has many of the same words.

We ask you to bless all parents. May they love and cherish the children * whom God has entrusted to them. May they always give them the example * of a truly Christian life. Help them to bring up their children * in the love and fear of God. Bless all children * that they may love, honor and obey * their fathers and mothers. To your loving care * we especially entrust the youth of today.

/1/ booklet

/2/  http://home.pacbell.net/polgas/novena.html