Full show notes for today's program will be available on Monday. Thank you for your patience.
Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Father Mark O'Connell
Today’s guest(s): Fr. Joseph Mozer, Judge at the Metropolitan Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Boston
Today’s topics: Fr. Mozer, his work at the Metropolitan Tribunal; misconceptions about Declarations of Nullity; the Gospel readings for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.
A summary of today’s show: Scot and Father Mark O'Connell
1st segment: Scot and Father Mark welcomed Msgr. Robert P. Deeley as the new Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia as of September 1st. Before Msgr. Deeley went to work in Rome, he worked in the Metropolitan Tribunal here in the Archdiocese of Boston. Father Mark said that having Canonical training will be a good influence on Msgr. Deeley's leadership style in such a key office to the Archdiocese. Father Mark also highlighted that having good connections in Rome and a worldwide perspective on the Catholic Church will be a great help to Boston.
2nd segment: Scot welcomed Father Joseph Mozer, a Canon lawyer and Judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal. Father Joe explained that he first heard the call to be a priest in his teens, reenforced by time spent with the Neumann Club and Catholic Center at UMass Amherst. He explained his membership in what was nicknamed the "CCC" - the "Confused Catholics Club," made up of students who were considering vocations in to the religious life, working as a volunteer, and to the married life. Father Joe said that experiencing his own parents' divorce, declaration of nullity, and remarriage helps him understand the situations that he works with in the Tribunal, as well as his outside work with Catholic Engaged Encounter.
3rd segment: Father Joe spoke about his work with Catholic Engaged Encounter, a program that prepares couples for marriage. The program uses techniques from the Marriage Encounter program, especially one called dialoguing that encourages discussion between the couple about issues they may face in the future of their relationship. Father Joe said he became involved in the program when he attended a weekend to more accurately recommend it to couples asking him about marriage preparation programs.
Scot also highlighted Father Joe's favorite hobby - motorcycle riding. Father Joe explained that he first started riding as a family activity with his mother and stepfather, and enjoyed it so much that he got his own bike. He was at Bike Week in Laconia, New Hampshire on Wednesday and said that riding is his favorite way to de-stress and enjoy the road. He rides his motorcycle to work at the Pastoral Center when weather permits. Scot asked Father Mark about his hobbies, and Father Mark said he goes golfing and enjoys spending time with his friend Father Soper.
Scot asked Father Joe to describe what is commonly known as an Annulment, but is known in the Church as a declaration of nullity. Father Joe explained that the crux of a valid marriage is the willingness and ability of both spouses to enter into the partnership of the whole of life that the Church understands as marriage. He explained that a Judge in the Tribunal reviews evidence presented in Declaration of Nullity cases to determine whether a marriage is valid.
4th segment: Father Mark, Father Joe, and Scot discussed the Old Testament and Gospel readings for this upcoming Sunday.
Old Testament (First Reading) for Trinity Sunday (Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9)Early in the morning Moses went up to Mount SinaiAs the LORD had commanded him,taking along the two stone tablets.
Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses thereand proclaimed his name, "LORD."Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity."Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord,do come along in our company.This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins,and receive us as your own."
Gospel reading for Trinity Sunday (John 3:16-18)
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in him might not perishbut might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world might be saved through him.Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Fr. Mark's quote from Romano Guardini's "Prayers from Theology":
In Christ, the depth of the hidden life of God is disclosed to us. His being, speaking and doing are completely filled with the reality of the Holy One. But from that reality emerge living figures: the Father in his omnipotence and goodness; the Son in his truth and redeeming love; and between them the selfless, the creating, the Spirit.
It is a mystery that passes all understanding; and the danger of objecting to it is great. But I do not want a God who abides by the limits of my own though and how is fashioned after my own depicting. I want the real God, and know that he must exceed the bounds of my thoughts. Therefore I believe in your mystery, living God, and Christ, who cannot lie, bears witness to it.
If I wish to share a common intimacy, then I must turn to other people; but, however close we may be, and however deep our love, we are always apart. You, however, find your "other" within yourself. In your own depths you hold eternal converse. In your own richness takes place the everlasting giving and receiving of love.
O God, I believe in your triune life. For your sake I believe in it, since this mystery covers your truth. If it is once surrendered, your image fades in the world. But for our sake, too, I believe in it, O God, for the peace of your eternal life must become our dwelling. We are your children, O Father; your brothers and sisters, O Son of God, Jesus Christ; and you, Holy Spirit, are our friend and teacher.
That is the eternal life that was ordained for us. Our hope goes out to it. Preserve me, O God, from the light ever being extinguished which shines so distantly and yet with such holiness across to me. Amen.