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November 9, 2008
Faith intersects with culture everyday and everywhere
Our faith intersects with our culture everyday and everywhere. In the news media, on TV and radio, on the silver screen, in the mall and stores, at dinner parties and events on the sports field, just to name a few. When you look at life through the lens of your Catholic faith, you can see this intersection everyday and everywhere.
With that in mind, I would like to use this space, from time to time, to examine where faith and culture meet. Often, it will be about noteworthy stories from Chicago and around the world that give us an opportunity to look at life through the lens of faith. Other times it will be a hodgepodge of things. I’ll try to keep it relevant and interesting. And I always welcome your feedback. Feel free to e-mail me comments or suggestions at [email protected]. Here we go.
Heaven calling
If Jesus decides to call you on your cell phone during Mass, you’re not going to be able to take the call in some parishes in Mexico.
According to an Associated Press story from Oct. 18 (“Churches installing cell phone jammers”), four Catholic churches in Monterrey purchased and installed Israeli- made cell phone jammers in their buildings and turn them on at the start of Mass so parishioners won’t be distracted by their phones ringing.
“There are still many people who don’t understand that being at Mass is sharing a moment with God,” Father Juan Jose Martinez told the AP. “Sadly, we had no other choice but to use these little gadgets.”
Cell phone jammers are illegal in the United States so we don’t have to panic about missing calls here. But this story reminds us to take just a few minutes away from our phones, text messages and smartphones to spend time with Jesus at Mass. He’s only asking for 60 minutes, and he’s a better conversationalist than anyone who is on the other end of that call, text or e-mail.
Hello, this is the Vatican
Vatican City might be the last place in the developed world where you won’t get an automated recording when you call their main phone number. Instead, you get one of a team of gray-habited, multilingual religious sisters on the line.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Oct. 27 (“Vatican switchboard sees a human touch as the answer”) that for 50 years, the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master have been the “gatekeepers of the Holy See.”
There is a recorded message that can answer such inquiries as papal events and lodging facilities, but Vatican officials wanted to preserve the human touch so the sisters find their ministry there.
In this age of 24/7 communication, keeping in touch with real people and real community is a challenge. But both of these stories speak to the importance of making time for God and the importance of valuing the time of those around you.
