Sagrada Familia Can Be Built!!

I really have several reasons for writing this post. The first resulted from an article I recently came across. It contained some astonishing news. Apparently, in June of 2019 the city of Barcelona finally approved the construction of the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. 

If you've experienced delays and problems getting governmental approval for construction or other purposes, just thank God you don't live in Barcelona. I suspect that city may well have set a world record. You see, the original construction request for Sagrada Familia was submitted in 1885, only 134 years ago before it was finally approved. I would guess, although I can't be certain about this, the architect, Antonio Gaudi, the local bishop, and the Sagrada Familia Foundation just assumed approval was pending and went ahead with the construction anyway. Why the city took so long, nobody is saying. But one thing is certain: the foundation, even though it's a not-for-profit organization, had to fork over 4.5 million Euros to get the construction license. Considering the basilica is perhaps the city's most popular tourist attraction, that seems a bit excessive to me...but, hey, what do I know? I'm not a European.

If you've ever been to Barcelona, I would hope you visited Sagrada Familia, this remarkable, yet still unfinished, church conceived by the great architect, Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926). If you've been to Barcelona and didn't visit the basilica, I suggest you return to the city as soon as possible. Sagrada Familia is well worth another trip.

Sagrada Familia (Nov 2010)

Ten years ago Diane and I spent about a week in Barcelona, a trip that included a full day at Sagrada Familia. Of course I had heard of the basilica and seen many pictures of it, but encountering this magnificent church up close and personal took my breath away. Quite honestly, as someone who appreciates the gothic, I didn't expect to like Gaudi's decidedly different architecture... until I was surrounded by it. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. I remember Diane saying, "I've never been anywhere more beautiful." We both came away converted, convinced that Gaudi was a true genius. It's also apparent why he was called, "God's Architect." 

Here are a few of the many photos I took back in 2010.

The Four Evangelists High Above

Sagrada Familia Interior

Light and Reflections

An Exterior Façade: The Nativity 

Antonio Gaudi

Interestingly, the basilica is still unfinished. Its construction is ongoing and the current team of architects plans to complete the work six years from now in 2026. Sadly, Antonio Gaudi died in 1926 after being hit by a Barcelona streetcar. The architects, then, hope to complete construction on the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death. That will certainly be quite a day for Barcelona and for all of Spain, assuming that Catalonia is still a part of Spain in 2026 -- but that's a whole other story. Fittingly, Gaudi, a devout Catholic who lived a life of ascetic poverty, was buried in the basilica's crypt. His cause for sainthood is ongoing. I include him in my intercessory prayers. 

Another landmark day in the life of the basilica was its dedication by Pope Benedict XVI on November 7, 2010, just 128 years after construction actually began in 1882. This day was particularly interesting for Diane and me, and our friends, Deacon Walter and his wife Ellen, because we happened to be in Barcelona at the time. Although we didn't have tickets for the basilica's dedication, we managed to see the pope as he passed by quickly in his pope-mobile. The photo's not very good, but he was moving fast and the crowd was a bit pushy.

Pope Benedict XVI on his way to Sagrada Familia

We are fortunate Sagrada Familia still stands since it was burned by Catalan anarchists and communists in the 1930s during the Spanish Civil War. Seeing the same kind of activity by anarchists, communists, and others in our country today, we pray that our churches suffer no more damage than they already have.

Eight Unconnected Thoughts

Diane and me at GU (Statue: Bishop John Carroll)

Hoya Hypocrisy. Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States, has invited Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, to speak as a part of the university's Lecture Fund. Not only does Ms. Richards run the largest abortion provider in the nation, she also recently bragged about aborting her fourth child because three children were enough. In response to criticism, the Jesuit-run university claimed that Georgetown “deeply values our faith tradition that encourages the free exchange of ideas." I'm embarrassed to admit that before I entered the Naval Academy back in the early 60s, I attended Georgetown for a year. It was a very different institution back then. And I suspect GU's founder, Bishop John Carroll (1735-1815), would not be pleased with the changes.

Tough Guy. Some months ago Donald Trump publicly denigrated John McCain, a highly decorated Navy pilot and POW, as a bogus war hero because he was shot down, captured, and tortured by the North Vietnamese. This from a man who spent the Vietnam War dodging the draft. He talks real tough -- "I'll bomb the s--- out of ISIS" -- but doesn't have a clue about what that really means to those who must do the bombing. I expect the young Trump was motivated by the same thing that motivated most of the draft-dodgers I met during the Vietnam era. After a few beers they would let down their guard, drop the political excuses, and admit they just didn't like the idea of getting shot at. News flash: Who does? But when you do everything you can to avoid serving...well, we used to call that cowardice.

Just Wages. In his general audience Pope Francis stated that the Church doesn't want donations from the affluent if they exploit or underpay their workers. And while I completely agree with the Pope, I think he should direct some of his attention internally. Every survey I've seen indicates that the Catholic Church pays its lay employees somewhere between 15-30 percent less than those in equivalent jobs in Protestant churches and even less than those doing similar work in the private sector. In many instances the Church does not pay what could reasonably be considered a just or living wage, and retirement benefits are often non-existent or minuscule. Perhaps we should clean our own house first as an example to others. Too many Catholics simply do not support the Church and its mission, and too many bishops seem afraid to demand that they do so. Here's an article on the subject: Just Wage. 

Historical Myths. I've been a part-time student of the history of Islam for years and have always been puzzled by those historians who claim that Islamic Spain was a multicultural paradise in which Christians and Jews were treated with respect and dignity by their Muslim rulers. This is especially puzzling since virtually all of the contemporary evidence contradicts this belief. If you would like to learn the truth about Islamic Spain, you can find it in this wonderful, well-documented history by Darío Fernández-Morera, The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise. It's a page-turner. Read it. 

The Beheading of St. Eulogius of Cordoba in Muslim Spain

Catholic England. Another book of revisionist history has been around awhile. First published in 1992 and republished in a second edition in 2005, The Stripping of the Altars, by Cambridge professor Eamon Duffy, tells the story of the late medieval Catholic Church in England. It covers the period immediately before and during the early years of the Reformation, from 1400 to 1580. I've been meaning to read the book for years but just never got around to it. And then the other day I spotted a copy on our parish's free book shelf and grabbed it. It's a lengthy tome (over 600 pages of fairly small print) but filled with remarkable insights. 

Pistol-packin' Deacon. A few days ago my son, a former Marine, and I stopped by a local gun shop here in Florida where I picked up the forms needed to apply for a Florida concealed carry permit. When I mentioned this to one of my brother deacons he was apoplectic: "You're an ordained deacon, how can you carry a weapon?  It's not something Christians do." When I asked if Christians had a right to defend themselves and their families, he seemed to think it was alright but not if they used guns. I refrained from asking if I could use an ax. When I mentioned that as a Christian I always carried a sidearm when I flew as a Navy pilot, he mumbled something about wartime being different . As they say in New York, "Go figure!" Actually I just enjoy shooting and a permit will let me carry a pistol or revolver to a range without a lot of hassle.

God Exists. I keep encountering new, at least to me, revelations of God's presence in His creation. One day last week, in the late afternoon, while Maddie (our dog) and I were strolling through the neighborhood, I noticed the flicker of a fast-moving shadow on the nearby grass. Looking up I encountered a  marvelous sight: 42 white pelicans (I counted them) flying in two equally balanced V formations. The setting sun cast an amber glow that turned their wings to gold. They were perhaps 200 feet overhead and, despite their numbers, flew by us in complete silence. It was another of those beautiful, unrepeatable experiences that force you to accept the truth: the world is no accident. "And God saw that it was good."

Critical Vote. While the November elections in the United States could well determine the direction our nation will take for years to come, they are not the only 2016 elections with long-term worldwide ramifications. On June 23 the British people will vote in a referendum on Britain"s continued membership in the European Union (EU). Cleverly called "Brexit" (British Exit), the referendum has been scheduled as early as possible by Tory Prime Minister Cameron in the hope that the EU's growing troubles won't escalate much before June. Interestingly, although Cameron strongly favors continued  EU membership, many in his cabinet and as many as 150 Conservative MPs favor Brexit. Daniel Hannan, an elected Member of the European Parliament, explains here why Britain should vote to leave the EU and put him out of a job.

No Big Surprise: Abortion Increases With Contraceptive Use

For years (decades?) supporters of abortion have been telling us that as contraceptive use increases the abortion rate will certainly decrease dramatically. The pro-life community, however, has consistently disagreed with this speculative theory, knowing that increased contraceptive use will lead to increased promiscuity and an increase in abortions when contraceptives fail. Recent data from Spain shows that the pro-lifers have been correct all along.

A Spanish medical journal that focuses on contraception recently published the results of a study that followed a group of women of child-bearing age for over a decade. The results? Although contraceptive use increased from 50% to 80%, the abortion rate doubled. In the minds of many women, therefore, abortion has become just another method of contraception. Similar results have been observed in every country where abortion has been made legal, including the United States. Oh, yes, as you might expect, the folks who conducted the study are completely befuddled by the results. They have decided it will require more study.

Abortion is a tragedy whenever and wherever is occurs, but it's particularly sad to hear about these results in formerly Catholic Spain. Let's pray that the Holy Father's visit to Spain this August for World Youth Day will have a positive impact and bring Spain back to the faith.

For more information on the study mentioned above, click here: Abortions Double in Spain

Will the Pope Be the Catylyst for Spain's Conversion?

After writing today's earlier post on secularism is Spain, I came across a video showing the remarkable enthusiasm of the Spanish people who greeted Pope Benedict XVI during his visit in November. As I mentioned in a post early last month, Diane and I were privileged to have seen the Holy Father as he made his way across Barcelona in the Popemobile en route to Sagrada Familia. We saw the pope only for a moment and were nowhere near his destination, so I really can't comment on the size of the crowds at the basilica. As you can see in the video, though, some Spaniards have obviously kept the faith and gave Pope Benedict a truly warm welcome during his visit.

Perhaps our pope will be the catalyst for the re-conversion of Spain. He will be back again in August to celebrate World Youth Day in Madrid and what better people to begin the evangelization of Europe than its young people. Pray for its success.

Secularism and the Church in Spain

Having just returned from a trip during which we spent about a week in Barcelona, I couldn't help but notice the obvious secularism of the people. I believe it's safe to say that Spain, sadly, is no longer a "Catholic" country. On Sunday morning, for example, we attended the 9 a.m. Mass in the Barcelona Cathedral, joined by only a scattering of worshipers. Although I can't be certain, it seemed as if the majority of this small congregation were foreign visitors like us. The 11 a.m. Mass, which included a full choir, was only slightly better attended. Indeed, by noon the square in front of the cathedral was packed with people who came only to listen to the music of a live orchestra and take part in the Sardana dance that celebrates Catalan culture, unity and pride.

Hundreds gather outside the cathedral on Sunday...but there are few disciples in the pews and no Zacchaeus in the tree looking for Jesus

I recently read that although 94% of Spaniards are Catholic, Mass attendance has dropped from 44% in 1980 to only 19% in 2008. Considering the rate at which this change has taken place, I expect it is even lower today. The most recent figure I've seen for Spain is 13%. (For details on worldwide Mass attendance, click here to access the tables published by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate -- CARA -- at Georgetown University.) Spain, of course, isn't the only European nation to have largely abandoned the Faith. 2008 attendance among German Catholics was at 22%, among the French only 12%, and in the Netherlands a minuscule 7% of Catholics attended Mass weekly.

I don't think I'm going out on a limb to assert that Catholics who have stopped attending Mass are, in effect, no longer Catholic. Without the grace of the sacraments, without the opening up of the Word of God, without the guidance of Church teaching on moral and other matters, without the support of a loving community of faith...in essence, without the Church, one drifts ever more deeply into a life where God too is absent, into a state where the urgings of the Spirit are no longer recognized.

During our recent visit, I saw lots of evidence of a Catholic past, but very little of a Catholic present. Most people with whom I spoke seemed to view the Church as something that once mattered to their ancestors, and perhaps even to their parents or grandparents, but certainly did not matter to them. One young man who worked at our hotel said he was an atheist, but still considered himself a Catholic. As it turns out, he cannot let go of his Catholic heritage which forms such an integral part of his cultural identity. Completely uncatechized, he knows absolutely nothing about the Catholic Church except what he encounters in the secular media. God and Faith and Church, then, play virtually no active role in his life which seemed to be focused solely on worldly success and pleasure. I told him I'd pray for him. He looked surprised, but then said, Thanks." Perhaps a sign of hope? Maybe he'll be urged by the Spirit to attend the World Youth Day scheduled for August 15-21 in Madrid. I pray he will respond.

This young desk clerk in Barcelona is really not that far removed from many American Catholics who, for a variety of reasons, have drifted away from the Church but still call themselves Catholic. They might not be declared atheists, but they live lives of virtual atheism in which God is largely forgotten. Believe it or not, we can even find these folks among regular weekly Mass attendees. Not long ago a man approached me after Mass and said, "Nice sermon. I don't usually like coming here to Mass." Half-jokingly I asked him, "Well, then, why do you come?" He just pointed to his wife and said, "She makes me."

All of this came to mind when I read a story about a group of Spanish activists whose planned disruption of a speech by Madrid's archbishop, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, forced the cancellation of the event. The cardinal had been invited to speak at the Autonomous University of Madrid on December 1. His subject? “The God who Is Unknown to 21st Century Spaniards.” It seems that, for some Spaniards, the "unknown God" will remain that way, at least for a while.

It's remarkable how left-wing activists no longer even pretend to believe in freedom of speech or other traditional, liberal concepts. Now they simply attack anyone whose beliefs differ from their own, particularly those who speak of God and His plan for humanity. The Catholic Church, then, has become their most frequent and hated target. Read more here: Activists Force Spanish Cardinal to Cancel Lecture.

Spanish Youth Praying & Singing at Montserrat Monastery

Keep the Spanish people and the Church in Spain in your prayers. Many young Spaniards, dissatisfied with the emptiness of the world's attractions, are turning to the Church and rediscovering the Faith of their ancestors. And so, pray too for the success of World Youth Day 2011.

Pax et bonum...

Spanish Doctors Choose Jail Over Abortions

Well, it's starting. It looks like the persecutions will begin soon, and in Western Europe of all places, the very cradle of Christendom. The Spanish Minister of Justice made the statement that there was no room for a conscience clause in the country's new abortion law. In a rare act of courage in these days of moral weakness, Spanish pro-life doctors have responded by stating that they would go to jail before performing abortions. God bless them and pray for them and their nation. And don't stop there, but pray for our nation as well...because the persecutions are coming. I have no doubt that they will migrate across the Atlantic soon enough.

Here's the story out of Spain from the Catholic News Agency...

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Madrid, Spain, Aug 20, 2009 / 01:55 pm (CNA).- Dr. Esteban Rodriguez, spokesman for the organization Right to Life (Derecho a Vivir) in Spain, responded yesterday to comments by the country’s Minister of Justice, Francisco Caamano, who said there was no room for a conscience clause in the new law on abortion.

“We are willing to go to jail rather than following a criminal law, Rodriguez said, “and we are willing to commit the supposed crime of disobedience before the crime of abortion.”

“We will not kill our patients, nor will we commit a crime against the public health deliberately harming the heath of women, no matter how much the Minister of Justice threatens us and abuses his power,” the doctor said.

“We doctors are not soldiers, nor policemen, nor executioners. There is no civil disobedience in the refusal to kill a human being, but rather the fulfilling of our professional obligation,” he added.

If the government carries out the threat by the Minister of Justice to penalize conscientious objectors as disobedient, Rodriguez said that a “new category of victims of the laws on abortion and the regulation of conscience will be created in the gynecologists who wish to carry out their moral obligations in the face of an imposed ideology.”

After recalling that the statute in the Spanish constitution allowing conscientious objection must be respected, Rodriguez expressed his surprise that the law would shield from prison some doctors who have been convicted of performing illegal abortions, while punishing with prison those doctors who have fought to defend the lives of their patients and the health of women.

“We recommend they think about creating a new level of officials at the ministries of Justice and Equality: fetal executioners,” Dr. Rodriguez remarked.

“We find the totalitarian intentions of the Ministry of Justice, in conjunction with those of Equality, to be highly troubling. If the former Minister of Justice stirred things up with officials in the judiciary, this one is going to accomplish the same thing with medical professionals,” he warned.

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He never said that being a disciple would be easy.