2008 Triduum Retreat

Today, I've posted all of the audio I recorded during our 2008 Triduum Retreat, which was held at Serra Retreat House in Malibu:

• The Triduum - Dr. Eric Hansen


• The Stations of the Cross in Art - Dr. Eric Hansen


• Good Friday at 3 PM: Miserere Mei Deus - Fr. Don Woznicki


• Suffering - Barbara Nicolosi


• Mary, the Bread of Life, and the Mystery of Holy Saturday - Clayton Emmer


• The Last Things - Clayton Emmer

Subscribe to the podcast series in iTunes

Listen to individual recordings by visiting the podcast feed

Have a blessed Triduum!

The Sacrament of Marriage

Today I've posted the audio recording from our class on the sacrament of marriage, which was led by guest speaker Patrick Coffin, now the host of the radio show Catholic Answers Live. The class was held a year ago this week.

Click here for the links to the audio and the materials we read in preparation for the class.


Coming up next... the recordings from our 2008 Triduum retreat: on the stations of the Cross, Good Friday, and suffering....

The Virtues, The Passions, and The Artist

Today I've posted the audio recording from our class on virtues, passions, and the artist, which was led by guest speakers Dr. Daniel McInerny of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture, and Dr. Michael P. Foley of the Great Texts Program at Baylor University. The class was held almost a year ago to the day.

Click here for the links to the audio and to all of the materials we read in preparation for the class.


Coming up next... the recording from our class on human sexuality and the sacrament of matrimony, led by guest speaker Patrick Coffin, who is now the host of Catholic Answers Live.

Pope Benedict's apostolic visit to the US

I've finally edited and posted the audio from our class on Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic visit to the United States in April of 2008. Topics include the contrast between media coverage of the events and what the Pope actually said, and an in-depth look at several of the texts from his visit, including the question and answer session held on the plane trip to the US, the Pope's words to the bishops, to leaders of Catholic institutions of higher education, and to ecumenical leaders. Duration: 91 minutes.

Click here for the links to the audio, as well as to the Vatican's website, which contains the text of all of the Pope's addresses during his visit.


More audio on the way soon... from our class on the virtues and the passions, led by guest speakers Dr. Daniel McInerny of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture, and Dr. Michael P. Foley of the Great Texts Program at Baylor University.

more podcasts coming

I apologize for the long delay in posting to this blog. I still have many sessions from last season to post as audio podcasts! From here on, I'll be attempting to post one a week.

The next session posted will be the class on Pope Benedict XVI's recent pastoral visit to America. Especially in light of the recent election, I thought it would be timely to look at the range of issues the Pope considers important for Catholics in America at this time.

wrapping up the 2007-2008 season

We held our last RCIA class last Saturday, May 10.

So far, we've received into the Church six participants... one more to come on May 18. Photos and details will be forthcoming.

Also, there's plenty of audio from past sessions that I have not yet had the chance to edit and post. That will be my task over the summer. I'm particularly excited about posting some of the sessions -- such as the class on marriage taught by Patrick Coffin, the sessions from the conference on "Movie Making in an Apocalyptic Age," and our review of the addresses from Pope Benedict XVI's recent apostolic visit to the United States.

We have decided to rework the program in significant ways for the 2008-2009 season, and we have also decided to create an extended program for those who have completed the RCIA program and are interested in ongoing formation. This program will be a monthly meeting to study together important works of Catholic spirituality, including works by Saint Augustine, Saint Francis de Sales, Saint Teresa, Saint John of the Cross, Saint Therese of Lisieux, and others.

Keep checking this blog over the summer for more details.

#28 - Final Session - Spiritual Direction, Saints, Charisms, and Life in the Church

Our final class of the 2007-2008 season was a wrap-up discussion of the spiritual life, saints and charisms, and what to expect from life in the Church after full reception.

This final session was held at Family Theater on Saturday, May 10, from 10 am-noon... one day before Pentecost!

A) SPIRITUAL DIRECTION / ACQUIRING HABITS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Reading: Chapter 1 of Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay, SM: "A Question of Relevance"

B) SAINTS AND SPIRITUAL CHARISMS IN THE CHURCH

C) MYSTAGOGY: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SACRAMENTS – LIVING IN THE CHURCH
Discussion with newly initiated about the experience of initiation, as well as developing a strategy for ongoing formation

#27 - Catholic Social Teaching

On May 3, I led a discussion of Catholic Social Teaching, drawing especially from Vatican II and the Catechism.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

Reading: CCC 1877-1948; Gaudium et Spes (Vatican II)

#26 - Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Visit to the USA

During our class on April 26, we discussed Pope Benedict XVI's recent visit to the United States (April 15-21, 2008).

What did he say to us? What does the Pope see as the challenges and opportunities for the United States moving into the third millennium of Christianity? What can we learn from his insights, both as Americans and specifically as artists in Hollywood?

Reading: You can find all of the individual addresses on the Vatican's website at this link.

Listen to audio from today's class:
Click here for a visual demonstration of the process for subscribing to a podcast in iTunes

Click here to subscribe to the RCIA Hollywood podcast via iTunes

Download / listen to our discussion of Pope Benedict's visit

NOTE: I apologize for the lower quality of this particular recording. I think I downsampled the audio more than I should have. Also, we were meeting this day in the upper lobby at Family Theater, so there's a lot of traffic noise from Sunset Boulevard in the background.

#25 - Commandments 4, 5, 7 and 8

Barbara led our class through a discussion of four of the the ten commandments on April 12.

COMMANDMENTS 4, 5, 7 and 8 / ON RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY, MURDERING, STEALING AND LYING
Instructor: Barbara Nicolosi
Reading: CCC 2197-2246, 2258-2317, 2401-2449, 2464-2503

#24 - Jesus Christ (Part II)

JESUS CHRIST - PART II

On Saturday, April 5, 2008, Father Willy Raymond, CSC, led the discussion.

Instructor: Fr. Willy Raymond, CSC

Reading:
CCC 512-679; 2nd half of Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI

received into full communion on Easter!

Jennifer and Ryan Dornbush were received into full communion in the Catholic Church at the 5 am Mass on Easter Sunday at Saint Andrew's in Pasadena.



View all the photos here.

Welcome home, Jen and Ryan!

#23 - The Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell/Purgatory

THE LAST THINGS: DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN, HELL/PURGATORY

Reading:
CCC 988-1014; 1020-1050

Resources:
The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
Fundamentals of the Faith: Essays in Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft

Listen to audio from today's class:
Download / listen to the discussion of the last things (recorded on Holy Saturday during our Triduum retreat)

Mary, the Bread of Life, and the Mystery of Holy Saturday

This meditation was given during the Triduum retreat for the RCIA Hollywood program:

text version

Listen to today's meditation:
Click here for a visual demonstration of the process for subscribing to a podcast in iTunes

Click here to subscribe to the RCIA Hollywood podcast via iTunes

Download / listen to the meditation (recorded on Holy Saturday during our Triduum retreat)

#22 - Suffering

SUFFERING

Reading:
He Leadeth Me by Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ

On Good Friday, Barbara Nicolosi led a discussion on suffering, using Fr. Ciszek's book as a point of reference.

Listen to audio from today's class:
Click here for a visual demonstration of the process for subscribing to a podcast in iTunes

Click here to subscribe to the RCIA Hollywood podcast via iTunes

Download / listen to the discussion of suffering (recorded on Good Friday during our Triduum retreat)

Good Friday at 3 PM: Miserere Mei Deus

This musical meditation on the Miserere Mei Deus was led by Fr. Don Woznicki during the three o'clock hour on Good Friday.

Listen to the meditation:
Click here for a visual demonstration of the process for subscribing to a podcast in iTunes

Click here to subscribe to the RCIA Hollywood podcast via iTunes

Download / listen to the meditation (recorded on Good Friday during our Triduum retreat)

The Stations of the Cross in Art

This presentation on the Stations of the Cross in art was given by Dr. Eric Hansen during the Triduum retreat for the RCIA Hollywood program:

Listen to the presentation:
Click here for a visual demonstration of the process for subscribing to a podcast in iTunes

Click here to subscribe to the RCIA Hollywood podcast via iTunes

Download / listen to the presentation (recorded on Good Friday during our Triduum retreat)

NOTE: I apologize for the poor quality of the audio. The microphone was placed too close to the slide projector!

#21 - The Triduum

This meditation on the Triduum was given by Dr. Eric Hansen during the Triduum retreat for the RCIA Hollywood program:

Listen to the meditation:
Click here for a visual demonstration of the process for subscribing to a podcast in iTunes

Click here to subscribe to the RCIA Hollywood podcast via iTunes

Download / listen to the meditation (recorded on Good Friday during our Triduum retreat)

Holy Week Retreat

Thursday, March 20, Noon - Saturday, March 22, 1 pm, 2008

Serra Retreat Center
3401 Serra Road
Malibu, California 90265

Registration Deadline: March 15, 2008

Complete retreat details and registration form available here.

#20 - Sacrament of Holy Orders; Religious Life

THE SACRAMENTS OF VOCATION, PART II: PRIESTHOOD / RELIGIOUS LIFE

Reading:
CCC 1536; 1572-1584
The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

Resources:
Presbyterorum Ordinis (On the Life and Ministry of Priests), Vatican II
Vita Consecrata by Pope John Paul II
Virginity by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa

For journal:
Is God calling me to priesthood or religious life? Why or why not?

#19 - Human Sexuality and The Sacrament of Matrimony

THE SACRAMENTS OF VOCATION I: MATRIMONY AND HUMAN SEXUALITY (COMMANDMENTS 6, 9, 10)

Instructor: Patrick Coffin

Time / Location: Wednesday, March 12, 2008, 7-9 pm; Family Theater Productions (meeting downstairs in theater)

Reading: Good News About Sex and Marriage by Christopher West; CCC 1601-1617, 1625-1658

For journal: How do I understand matrimony? The hardest part of being married would be/is… The most wonderful part of being married would be/is…

Listen to audio from today's class: Download / listen to our discussion of the sacrament of marriage (130 minutes)

#18 - Discipleship in Hollywood / Morality of The Passions / The Virtues

Saturday, March 8, 2008 – 10 am-noon

Instructors: Dr. Daniel McInerny of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture, and Dr. Michael P. Foley, Great Texts Program at Baylor University

A) DISCIPLESHIP IN HOLLYWOOD – THE HOLINESS OF THE ARTIST, NEEDS OF THE AUDIENCE IN STORYTELLING
Reading: The Letter to Artists, Pope John Paul II
For journal: What are the greatest spiritual challenges I experience as a Hollywood professional? What is my strategy to turn these from stumbling blocks to stepping stones?

B) THE MORALITY OF THE PASSIONS / THE VIRTUES
Reading: CCC 1762-1775; 1803-1845
To learn: The Four Cardinal Virtues; The Three Theological Virtues; The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (see p. 192 in the Compendium)

Listen to audio from today's class:

Download / listen to our discussion of the virtues, the passions, and the artist (96 minutes)

Session #17: Double Effect / The First Three Commandments

Saturday, March 1, 2008 – 10 am-noon

A) DOUBLE EFFECT
Resources: Wikipedia entry on double effect

B) COMMANDMENTS 1-3: LOVING GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL, AND MIND
Reading: CCC 2052-2188

Listen to audio from today's class:
Click here for a visual demonstration of the process for subscribing to a podcast in iTunes

Click here to subscribe to the RCIA Hollywood podcast via iTunes

Download / listen to the discussion of double effect / the first three commandments

Session #16: Private viewing

On Saturday, February 23, 2008, we viewed the movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

a listener asks about Puritanism in America

A listener to the RCIA Hollywood podcasts was kind enough to write on 2/21/08:

Hi Mr. Emmer,

Thanks for starting to upload RCIA Hollywood Podcasts again.

As I told Ms. Nicolosi via email last year, I came across the Tiber in the Easter Vigil of 2007, and I wished that my RCIA experience was as thorough as what the Catechumens are receiving in your program. It has been great going through the podcasts. It's been quite reinvigorating. I have especially enjoyed the bibliography posted. I never would have read any of the books or watched any of the movies listed without this site. What a treasure chest!

This most recent podcast I must applaud you on as the sound quality has improved by leaps and bounds!

Please keep up the good work.

I wanted to ask you a question about your comments in the Catholic Vision of the Moral Life. You referenced that America was not founded as a Christian Country; especially, your comments about Puritanism being a dualistic faith.

As a former UCC member, and having Mayflower ancestors, I would like to more about this concept. Any recommended readings?

Thanks.

PS: I am also subscribed to your DoxaPod Audio. I didn't know that you were related to both sources.

Thanks for the feedback! Finally (three months later) I am getting around to a thorough response to your question.

First, I meant to say that America was not founded as a Catholic country.

When Puritans came to America, they imported their Calvinist theology with them, a theology that is deeply dualistic. Literature that would demonstrate the way this dualism played itself out would be: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards, The Scarlet Letter and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

After reading all of this literature, I wrote a poem based on Young Goodman Brown which explores Puritan dualism.

You might also be interested in a paper I wrote in college about the Puritan roots of Thoreau's transcendentalism. I think it goes a long way toward explaining the way American Catholics tend to misunderstand the place of authority and conscience in the moral life, as well as the role of the Church as a mediator of grace and revelation. I've posted the entire paper on my blog.

Finally, I, too, am a descendant of those who came to America on the Mayflower; John Alden (whose story is recounted in The Courtship of Miles Standish) is an ancestor of mine. So perhaps you and I are related!

Thanks again for writing, and for your patience in waiting for a reply!

Session #15: Life in Christ - A Catholic Vision of the Moral Life

On Saturday, February 16, we covered:

LIFE IN CHRIST / THE VOCATION TO BEATITUDE / MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS / CONSCIENCE
Reading: CCC 1691-1802

Listen to audio from today's class:

Download / listen to the discussion of a Catholic vision of the moral life

Session #14: Temptation & Penitential Acts; Sacraments of Healing

On Saturday, February 9, we covered:

A) TEMPTATION AND PENITENTIAL ACTS
Reading: CCC 1434-1439; "The Grand Inquisitor" from The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky

For journal:
What is it that tempts you? How do you respond to temptation?


B) THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING: PENANCE AND ANOINTING OF THE SICK
Reading: CCC 1440-1470, 1499, 1511-1525

To memorize:
The Act of Contrition

For journal:
How do I understand the sacrament of reconciliation? What role will it play in my ongoing spiritual journey?

Session #13: Divine Revelation - Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

Here's what we covered during the RCIA session on Saturday, February 2.

A) DIVINE REVELATION / SACRED SCRIPTURE AND SACRED TRADITION
Reading: Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation - Vatican II)

B) THE SEASON OF LENT
For journal: What is something good that I can forego as fasting? What is something extra that I can do as almsgiving? What will my commitment of prayer be for the season of Lent?

Click here for a summary of the Lenten obligations for Catholics.

In addition, the following handouts will be soon made available as supplementary material: Tertullian (from The Teachings of the Church Fathers); St. Justin Martyr (from Four Witnesses: The Church in Her Own Words)

Audio: The audio podcasts for this topic may be found here. During the Feb 2 class, we listened to some of this audio, but note that the audio posted on the website includes material we did not have a chance to listen to / discuss. Please take the opportunity to listen to this additional audio material when you have time.

In addition, you may be interested in the discussion of scripture and, in particular, Matthew's gospel that is posted here.

Meet the Mentors

We held a meeting with candidates and mentors at Family Theater on Thursday, January 31 at 7:30 pm. Barbara Nicolosi discussed what the RCIA mentor relationship is about, and candidates had a chance to meet the Catholics who have volunteered to be their mentors this year.

If you were unable to make it on Thursday, please review the audio from the meeting.

Session #12: The Lay Faithful, The Holy Spirit and the Sacraments of Initiation

Here are the readings we covered on January 26.

A) THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
Reading: CCC 687-693, 731-741, 1830-1832

B) THE SACRAMENTS OF BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION
Reading: CCC 1210-1216, 1229-1274, 1285-1314; The River by Flannery O’Connor

We also concluded our discussion of Lumen Gentium, by discussing the role of the lay faithful in the Church.

At the end of class, we watched some video clips from the third season of LOST that take up the theme of baptism. Click here to watch the video clips.

For journal: What can confirmation mean in your life? What will make the difference in what it could mean, and what it will mean?

Listen to audio from today's class:
Click here for a visual demonstration of the process for subscribing to a podcast in iTunes

Click here to subscribe to the RCIA Hollywood podcast via iTunes

Download / listen to the discussion about the role of the lay faithful and the way the Holy Spirit acts through the sacraments

Download / listen to the discussion about the sacraments of baptism and confirmation

Session #11: The Church (Part II) -- Hierarchy, Apostolic Succession, Infallible Magisterium

Here are the readings that were covered during the RCIA Hollywood session on Saturday, January 19, 2008:

THE CHURCH AND THE MAGISTERIUM, THE DEPOSIT OF FAITH, DISCIPLINES AND DOCTRINES, WHO CAN BE SAVED?

Reading:
Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church -- Vatican II)
CCC 748-870

Listen to audio from today's class:
Click here for a visual demonstration of the process for subscribing to a podcast in iTunes

Click here to subscribe to the RCIA Hollywood podcast via iTunes

Download / listen to the discussion of the Church's teaching on Peter, apostolic succession, and papal infallibility

Download / listen to the discussion of disciplines and doctrines, the deposit of faith, and salvation as it relates to those outside the communion of the Church

Session #10: Rosalind Moss on the Eucharist and the Mass

This weekend, the RCIA Hollywood program at Family Theater Productions had a special guest: Rosalind Moss (Mother Miriam of the Lamb)

THE EUCHARIST AND THE MASS
Reading: CCC 1322-1405; “The Body and Liturgy" from The Spirit of the Liturgy by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

About the Guest Instructor: Rosalind Moss is a staff apologist with Catholic Answers, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Catholic faith through all forms of media. She was born and raised in a Jewish home, and in her adult years embraced Jesus as the Messiah of the Jewish people. Her initial conversion took her from a 15-year business career as a successful executive with corporations in New York and California to full-time Evangelical ministry, earning a master's degree in Ministry from Talbot Theological Seminary. A series of events in the Summer of 1990 set her on a compelling course to find out if the Catholic Church is in fact the Church Christ established 2,000 years ago. After 18 years of Evangelical Protestantism, she entered the Catholic Church at Easter 1995.

Rosalind now travels the world speaking and teaching through parishes, conferences, women’s and family retreats, books and publications, TV and radio. She is the editor of Home at Last, 11 Who found their Way to the Catholic Church, which includes her own journey to the Church. In addition to her semi-monthly radio program, “From the Heart” on "Catholic Answers Live," Rosalind, together with Kristine Franklin, co-hosts EWTN's "Household of Faith" and "Now That We're Catholic!"

Listen to audio from today's class:

Download / listen to Barbara Nicolosi's prayer for an end to the writer's strike

Download / listen to Introduction to the Second Half of RCIA Hollywood 2007-2008

Download / listen to Rosalind Moss' talk on the Eucharist and the Mass

2007-2008 RCIA Hollywood program

I'm in the process of reviving this blog for this year's program. In the meantime, please check out the posts and audio podcasts from previous seasons.

2006-2007 RCIA program

Just an update, since I haven't updated this blog since last October: We're approaching the end of the 2006-2007 RCIA season. We have five candidates preparing to be received into full communion during the Easter season, in three Los Angeles parishes. I've continued to audio record the sessions, and between last season and this season, I'm hoping to have some audio for nearly every session in the yearly syllabus. The challenge is finding the time to edit all of the audio -- between 1 1/2 and 2 hours per session.

But more audio podcasts are coming... when time allows. In the meantime, please pray for our five candidates. We have one more class on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, and then a Triduum retreat, again at the Serra Retreat House in Malibu...

Sacraments of Initiation

PENTECOST
Sunday, June 4
5:15 pm

Church of Saint Victor
8634 Holloway Drive
West Hollywood, California 90069

Final Session (#25)

COMMANDMENTS 4-10

"YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF"

The family in God's plan; respect for human life; the vocation to chastity; the social doctrine of the Church; respect for the truth; purity of heart and poverty of heart

Reading: CCC 2197-2246, 2258-2317, 2331-2391, 2401-2449, 2464-2503, 2514-2527, 2534-2550

Complete quiz on Church Doctrine before class; we'll discuss the answers during this session

No class on May 22

We will meet again -- for the final time before the sacraments of initiation -- on Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day).

Session #24

THE MORAL LAW / DECALOGUE / COMMANDMENTS 1-3

"YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND"

Reading:
On the moral law: CCC 1950-1972
On the Decalogue: CCC 2052-2074
Commandments 1-3: CCC 2083-2132, 2142-2159, 2168-2188

Session #23

THE SACRAMENTS OF BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, and MARRIAGE

Reading:
On the sacraments of initiation: CCC 1210-1216, 1229-1274, 1285-1314
On marriage: CCC 1601-1658

For journal:
Did you attend the Easter Vigil? If so, what are your thoughts and questions after experiencing this? What can full initiation into the Church mean in your life? What will make the difference in what it could mean, and what it will mean?

April 24 Field Trip!

On Monday, April 24, in place of our regularly-scheduled RCIA session, we'll attend a talk by Amy Welborn about The Da Vinci Code. Amy is a popular Catholic blogger and author of De-Coding Da Vinci.

The talk begins at 7:30 pm at Saint John Fisher in Rancho Palos Verdes. Here is a PDF flyer about the event.

We'll return to our regularly-scheduled class schedule on Monday, May 1 with a sesison on original sin, baptism and confirmation.

Easter Monday

There will be no class tonight -- Monday, April 17.

We will meet again next Monday, April 24. Have a blessed octave of Easter!

Holy Saturday

In the morning, Barbara will give the following talk:

SUFFERING

Reading:
Silence by Shusaku Endo

Our retreat will end mid-afternoon.

Good Friday

At 10 am, Fr. Dave will give the following talk:

SACRAMENTS OF HEALING: RECONCILIATION AND ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Reading:
CCC 1422-1424, 1440-1470, 1499, 1511-1525

To memorize:
The Act of Contrition

For journal:
How do I understand the sacrament of reconciliation? What role will it play in my ongoing spiritual journey?


In the afternoon, Clayton will give the following talk:

THE FINAL HOURS OF THE LIFE OF JESUS: FROM JERUSALEM TO GOLGOTHA

Reading:
The Lord by Romano Guardini, Part Five, chapters 1-14

For journal:
What in your life has been impacted because of your belief that Jesus loves you?

Holy Thursday

Our retreat at the Serra Retreat House in Malibu begins on Holy Thursday. Please try to arrive between 2 and 3 pm. Bring a journal.

THE TRIDUUM: THE LITURGY OF HOLY THURSDAY, GOOD FRIDAY, AND HOLY SATURDAY

Fr. Dave will be giving the first talk, about the Triduum, sometime around 3 pm.

We will attend the Mass of the Last Supper at the retreat house on Thursday evening.

Session #22

THE SACRAMENTS OF VOCATION I: PRIESTHOOD / RELIGIOUS LIFE

Guest Speaker: Msgr. George Parnassus

Reading:
CCC 1536; 1572-1584
excerpts from Vita Consecrata by Pope John Paul II
The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

For journal:
Is God calling me to priesthood or religious life? Why or why not?

DUE TONIGHT - For those of you who wish to become Catholic at Pentecost: Please write a letter stating why you want to become Catholic and what this process of Catholic study has meant in your life.

Anima Christi

During the session on the Eucharist tonight, Barbara mentioned some prayers that could be prayed after Communion, includng the Anima Christi. I'll reprint it here:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen.

Session #21

WORSHIP, THE MASS AND THE EUCHARIST

Reading:
CCC 1322-1405
Right and Reason, chapter 16 ("Worship")

DUE MONDAY, APRIL 10 - For those of you who wish to become Catholic at Pentecost: Please write a letter stating why you want to become Catholic and what this process of Catholic study has meant in your life.

a reader writes: where are the podcasts from recent sessions?

Hello to those coming to this blog for the first time after hearing Fr. Roderick mention the podcasts for our program in episode #99 of the Daily Breakfast.

A recent visitor asked:

I'm puzzled that I can't seem to find any more podcasts of the class more recent than October. Am I looking in the wrong place, or for some reason did they decide to quit podcasting?

Actually, we have been recording most of the sessions since October, but I haven't had much time to edit the audio. And when Fr. Roderick contacted me and offered to help produce / edit the podcasts, and encouraged me to upgrade to some better recording equipment, I stopped posting new content. I don't know how soon additional podcasts will be available, but be assured that we will resume posting additional casts as they are available.

Session #20

GRACE AND THE CHURCH

Reading:
Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church -- Vatican II)
CCC 748-870; 1996-2005; 2041-2043

No class on March 20

Session #19

CONSCIENCE / EVIL, TEMPTATION AND SIN

Reading:
CCC 309-314; 385-412; 1846-1869
Right and Reason, chapter 6

To commit to memory:
The types of sin and conditions necessary for serious (mortal) sin

For journal:
What is it that tempts you? How do you respond to temptation?

Session #18

THE SEASON OF LENT / PENITENTIAL PRACTICES / CONSCIENCE

Reading:
CCC 1434-1439
Right and Reason, chapter 13 ("Conscience")

For journal:
What is something good that I can forego as fasting? What is something extra that I can do as almsgiving?

Ash Wednesday

Mass with Fr. Willy Raymond
Family Theater Productions, Hollywood
7 pm

Session #17

THE HUMAN PERSON AND FREEDOM / HAPPINESS

Reading:
CCC 355-379; 1700-1709; 1731-1742
Right and Reason, chapters 3, 4, 15

For journal:
"I thank you my God, for I am fearfully, wonderfully made" (Psalm 139)

No class on February 20

Session #16

PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS
Tonight's presentation on philosophy and ethics, with a view to the world of art, will be given at Family Theater by two brothers from the Community of Saint John

Presentation from 7-8 pm

Holy Hour from 8:30-9:30 pm

Session #15

JESUS CHRIST - PART I

Reading:
CCC 430-463
The Lord, chapters 1-12

For journal:
"And you, who do you say that I am?"

Session #14

CREATION / CREATIVITY / ANGELS

Reading:
CCC 279-308, 325-349

For journal:
How has my creativity been a way of sanctification for me? How has it been a spiritual stumbling block?

Session #13

THE HOLY SPIRIT / COMMANDMENTS 1-3

Reading:
CCC 687-693, 731-741, 1830-1832; 2083-2188

To prepare for class:
a 3-minute reflection to be shared with the group re: how you have experienced the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What has your relationship to the Holy Spirit been?

Session #12

THE TRINITY / GOD THE FATHER

Reading:
CCC 238-256 (for memorization: #266), 268-271; handout from Spiritual Passages; handout from Roots of Christian Mysticism, "God: Unity and Difference"

For journal:
What is the greatest paradox in my own life of faith? For me, is God the One, the True, the Beautiful or the Good?

Session #11

FAITH AND THE ONE GOD / FRIENDSHIP AND HOLINESS

Reading:
CCC 142-144, 153-163, 203-209, 222-227; handout on Hilary of Poitiers from The Roots of Christian Mysticism

For journal:
Write your own faith journey, based on the one of Hilary of Poitiers

hiatus until January 9

We will not be meeting on the following Mondays (December 19, December 26, and January 2) due to the Christmas holiday. Classes resume on January 9.

Session #10

PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Reading:
CCC 2558-2565, 2626-2643, 2697-2699, 2700-2724, 2725-2745

To learn:
The five forms of Christian Prayer
Blessing and Adoration, Petition, Intercession, Thanksgiving, Praise

The Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

A Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Additional resources on prayer: Audio podcasts on vocal prayer and mental prayer

Session #9

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED (continued)

Session #8

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED: THAT CATHOLIC THING

Reading:
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Session #7

Reading:
Gospel of Matthew, chapters 7:13 - 8

Session #6

Reading:
Gospel of Matthew, chapters 6 – 7:12

audio podcasts now available

The opening session of the program is now available as a series of audio podcasts.

To subscribe to the feed for this podcast, you will need to use the following URL in your podcatching program (such as iTunes):
feeds.feedburner.com/RCIAHollywood

For a visual (Flash) demonstration of how to subscribe to a podcast, click here.

If you're using iTunes, this is the easiest way to subscribe.

Session #5

THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS

Reading:
Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5:17-48

Download / listen to the session on the Teachings of Jesus (in Matthew 5)

Session #4

DIVINE REVELATION / SACRED SCRIPTURE AND SACRED TRADITION

Reading:
Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation – Vatican II)

Download / listen to a discussion about All Saints Day and All Souls Day
Download / listen to a discussion about the Scriptures in the Church (Dei Verbum)

Session #3

Reading:
Gospel of Matthew, chapters 4 - 5:16

Download / listen to the introduction to session 3
Download / listen to a discussion about the temptation of Christ in the desert (Matthew 4)
Download / listen to a discussion about salt and light (in Matthew 5)

recommended supplementary materials

Here is a list of supplemental materials for this year's RCIA program. We won't have time to cover all of them in class, but the ones listed in bold will be required reading, and will appear on the forthcoming syllabus.

BOOKS

The Complete Short Stories - Flannery O'Connor

Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

The Power and the Glory, The Quiet American, The End of the Affair - Graham Greene

The Diary of a Country Priest - George Bernanos

The Moviegoer - Walker Percy

Silence - Shusaku Endo

"The Grand Inquisitor," from The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Inferno - Dante Aligheri

The Stations of the Cross - Caryll Houselander

Man's Search for Meaning - Victor Frankl

The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis

Mr. Blue - Miles Connolly

The British Museum is Falling Down - David Lodge

Mariette in Ecstasy - Ron Hansen


RECOMMENDED CATHOLIC THINKERS
Bob Barron
G.K. Chesterton
Dorothy Day
Henri de Lubac
Benedict Groeschel
Scott Hahn
Peter Kreeft
Jacques Maritain
Thomas Merton
Henri Nouwen
Karl Rahner
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Benedict XVI)
Frank Sheed
Edith Stein
Jean Vanier
Hans Urs Von Balthasar
Christopher West
Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II)

FILMS
Andrei Rubelev
Babette's Feast
Becket
Black Robe
Blue, Red, White (Kieslowski)
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
Dead Man Walking
A Man for All Seasons
The Mission
Romero
The Seventh Seal
The Song of Bernadette

Session #2

ABOUT MATTHEW’S GOSPEL

Reading:
Gospel of Matthew, chapters 1 - 3

Download / listen to introduction to session 2
Download / listen to a discussion of the world of Matthew's gospel
Download / listen to a discussion of Matthew, chapter 1
Download / listen to a discussion of Matthew, chapter 2
Download / listen to Matthew, chapter 3

Pentecost sequence

During the time of prayer last night, we prayed the Pentecost sequence, which is attributed to Pope Innocent III. I'll reprint it here:

Holy Spirit! Lord of light!
From Thy clear celestial height,
Thy pure, beaming radiance give:

Come, O Father of the poor!
Come, with treasures which endure!
Come, O light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best,
Visiting the troubled breast,
Doth refreshing peace bestow:

Thou in toil, are comfort sweet;
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal! Light divine!
Visit now these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill.

If Thou take Thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds -- our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend stubborn heart and will;
Melt frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.

Thou on those who evermore
Thee confess and you adore,
In Thy sevenfold gifts descend.

Give them comfort when they die;
Give them life with Thee on high;
Give them joys which never end. Amen.

the beginning

Last night, we kicked off this year's RCIA program with an opening session led by Barbara Nicolosi. It included introductions, an overview of the program, and reflections on the Beatitudes.

I hope to make the audio from the program available on this site so that others can participate virtually. I'll also be posting resources and materials that we're using in the program.

The next class will be Monday, October 17. We'll be discussing the gospel of St. Matthew, chapters 1-8.

Session #1

ORIENTATION/INTRODUCTION – THE BEATITUDES

Reading:
Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5:1-12

Download / listen to introductions
Download / listen to syllabus and book/film recommendations
Download / listen to discussion of The Beatitudes