From the Associate&

     Let us return to the question of an authentic development of doctrine, concerning the first person of the Trinity.  Some feminists have argued that the language of God and the Catholic liturgy is too patriarchal.  Some priests, deacons, music and liturgical ministers, in agreement, choose to alter liturgical language to be more "inclusive" of sex genders with reference to God, or to eliminate gendered language altogether: for example, when I arrived at this parish, St. John the Baptist, two and one half years ago, the parish was not used to praying the Gloria or the Nicene Creed, both of which refer to the first person of the Trinity as Father.  Many contemporary songwriters also eliminate language, which refers to God as Father, most often replacing it with the neuter title: "God."  In my home parish in St. Cloud (St. Paul's), where I grew up, one might hear the petitions introduced and prayed in this way: (1) "Let us pray to God for those who are hungry." (Brief silence) (2) "God provide food for the world; may every Christian see and respond to the needs of all peoples, especially those who go without food . . . (3) we pray to God."  And the people respond, (4) "God hear our prayer."  Each petition follows the same pattern, so that 'Father' and 'Lord' (also considered a masculine term) are never mentioned, the neutered title of God used redundantly (4x above).  Is this a true development of doctrine?
      The attempt here to be inclusive is goodly motivated, but theologically vapid.  St. Paul says, "You have received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, Abba, 'Father!'  The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:15, 16).  The word, Father, in the Scriptures, is close to the English, "Daddy."  It is an address filled with intimacy, and in fact it is the Holy Spirit within us Who teaches and inspires us to call God our Father.  Sadly, those who would eliminate the name of Father, exchange the beauty and intimacy of God's self-revelation for a human construct.  They have reasoned that God is not male (which is true, "God is [pure] Spirit" (John 4:24)); therefore He should not have a male title.  But an authentic doctrinal development would not eliminate the Trinity (in favor of some idea of God such as 'Thea,' or a goddess called 'Sophia'), nor ignore the first person of the Trinity.  There are many metaphors for God, both masculine and feminine, which give us insight into the nature of God.  I love some of the beautiful feminine Scriptural metaphors for God: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . how often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings" (Luke 13:34; Jesus speaking of Himself); "Thus says the Lord . . . like a son comforted by his mother will I comfort you" (Isaiah 66:13), and my favorite, "From the womb before the dawn I begot you" (Psalm 110:3, the Liturgy of Hours translation; Jesus interprets this Psalm as speaking about the Messiah - cf. Matthew 22:41-46, Whom we know as Jesus Himself, an eternal priest like Melchizedek; the feminine image portrays the begetting of the Son by the Father).    Still, not every metaphor is equal, or the same.
     

     The metaphor of the first two persons of God as 'Father' and 'Son,' is a metaphor and a name (however we wish to understand this concept, of name, in the analogy of being): we begin each liturgy, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," and we baptize every Christian in the same name!  It is Jesus Christ Who has revealed the Father to us, and taught us to call God our Father: "Pray then in this way: 'Our Father in heaven' . . . " (Matthew 6:9).  The idea of Father does not eliminate the feminine metaphors for God, but incorporates them, and no true doctrinal development would eliminate Mary either: as our mother (a subject about which many feminists are silent).  It is God Who has ordained for her to be our mother (John 19:26,27; Revelations 12:17), and we have the incredible joy of possessing her as mother for all eternity! 
     In conclusion, (1) to eliminate the name of the first person of the Trinity as Father is heretical, and a testimony that one has yet to be awakened by the intimacy and knowledge of the Father, which the Holy Spirit brings.  (2) Feminine images of God can provide insight into the Divine nature; they are most obvious and beautifully displayed in the icon of Mary, who is our mother for all eternity: she brings us compassion, sweetness and life, flowing from the heart of God.
Fr. Michael

Seniors&
FANNY HILL DINNER THEATER, EAU CLAIRE, WI.
We will have a bus trip to Fanny Hill Theater for lunch and a show on Thursday, October 25.  We will leave St. John's at 10:15 and return at approximately 4:30 p.m.  Price is $42/each and includes coach transportation, lunch and dinner theater show.  More information and              reservation forms are in the senior slots at the east and west entrances to the church.

Prayer Vigil&
The St. John the Baptist Adoration Committee will be presenting the first of their information meetings on September 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria.  After a short introduction a video entitled, "In the Presence of Our Lord" will be shown, with a short question/answer session to follow.  Hand-outs and sign-up cards will be available for those present who are interested in helping organize Perpetual Adoration when the chapel is  complete.  This presentation is sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women ALL PARISHIONERS are invited to attend.

Council of Catholic Women&
All women of the parish are invited to join us for our first meeting of the year on September 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria.  We will open our year with a  presentation on perpetual adoration followed by our business meeting.  Please note the change in date for this meeting only.