More Than a Fish Story
Thank you for the beautiful article by Jack Taylor (“Will You Also Go Away?” April 1996). Fifteen years ago, from a non-Catholic, I first heard the theory that the miracle of the loaves and fishes could be explained as people bringing out hidden food. As a recent convert, I was stumped then as to how to respond. The subject has come up again in our family, and with his article I now am well prepared.
The article focuses on the significance of the loaves. As the accompanying photos graphically remind us, however, the Lord multiplied loaves and fishes. What was the significance of the fish? Jesus apparently did not explain the significance of the fish as he did the significance of the loaves (John 6). But two other fish miracles can help us understand this one.
When pondering the meaning of the multiplication of the fish, the disciples could recall the miraculous catch of fish before which Jesus had preached from Peter’s boat and after which he had promised to make them “fishers of men” (Luke 5:1-11). That miracle had hit home to Peter as had none of Jesus’ previous miracles. He had been struck with fear, because the other miracles had concerned things outside his experience, “but fish were different: he knew all about fish” (Frank Sheed, To Know Christ Jesus).
Mark introduced his account of the feeding of the 5,000 by noting that Jesus “had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). After the resurrection, Jesus directed the apostles to another miraculous catch of fish, then served them breakfast on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and commissioned Peter as chief shepherd of his flock (John 21:1-17).
So what is the significance of the fish? As Msgr. Ronald Knox said concerning the first miraculous catch, “Those are you and me, those fish. All the souls that have been brought into the Church of Christ all through the centuries have been brought there because they were drawn by the grace of Christ, not for any other reason . . . Yes, it is Peter who spreads the net, but it is Christ who draws the fish into it. … Peter’s boat by the Lake of Galilee, or Peter’s Chair at Rome-what difference does it make? From one as from the other Incarnate Truth spoke, and speaks.”
Thus we have in this miracle two signs-loaves and fishes-pointing to two inseparable mysteries the Eucharist and the Church: we who “nourished with the Body of Christ, become the Body of Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 777).
Bob Elder
Annandale, Virginia
Trapped in Trappings
You’re not going to be surprised when I tell you we have a priest here who is still doing “the real miracle of the loaves and fishes is that Jesus inspired the crowd to share . . .” Modernism has gone full-cycle; now the demythologizers are passé. If only they were able to see how silly they appear-to have the “trappings” of religion but none of the substance!
Marc Desimone
via the Internet
Loaves and Fishes in RCIA
The article about watering down the miracle of the loaves and fishes hit home. This is something that parish priests at my church have been doing. I teach RCIA and have been fighting this trend but with insufficient apologetic data. Your article has enriched my understanding on this Bible story.
Charles Shunk
via the Internet
From the Author Himself
I was pleased to see you used my article “Will You Also Go Away?” as the cover story for the April issue. The cover, by the way, is superb, a great photo! I have already had feedback about the article from Sheldon Vanauken, who wrote me a very complimentary post card.
Michelle Arnold’s letter in the same issue raises an interesting idea: that God granted parallel privileges to women and men. Through childbirth new individuals, body and soul, enter the world via women, and through the priesthood the Eucharist — the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ — enters the world via men.
It makes one wonder about the strength of the connection between the diminished respect for childbirth and the diminished respect for the Eucharist, and even the connection between abortion and unworthy receptions of the Eucharist. If these twin evils are so intrinsically bound together, then perhaps the most powerful place to be in the fight against abortion is not on the street in front of the clinic, but on our knees in front of the Eucharist.
Jack Taylor
Herndon, Virginia
Worldwide Apologetics
Praise God for your Catholic Answers World Wide Web site! This past Friday evening I got into a discussion with a good friend’s brother; he is a Bible Christian who has spent much time studying the Scriptures and has suspicions that the Catholic Church is an agent of Satan.
I, a recent convert to the faith, was at a loss at his barrage of scriptural quotations. Luckily, my wife, a graduate of Steubenville, came to my rescue. We were able to open his heart to listening to us and becoming willing to read books and listen to tapes that we own. I was concerned that I would not be able to find answers to all of his questions. At the Web site you have given me the resources I need.
Dean Cummings, SFO
via the Internet
Resuming Catholic
Finally I have found a site that I have been looking for! I have spent a good portion of my evening browsing your site and I will be returning again. I am a resuming Catholic. Your site has helped me to better understand the Church that I am trying to return to.
I wanted to drop you a quick a quick note to thank you for all of your hard work in putting up this site. I am also involved in writing my church’s home page, and I will be submitting your site for approval to establish a link.
Bill Fitterer
via the Internet
No Man’s Above The Pope
I read with interest Mr. Joseph P. Klock, Sr.’s letter and your reply (February 1996). I agree totally with the point of your reply: that the pope does not need to ask permission of anyone before repeating something that the Church has always taught. I would like to add, however, that the bishops of the world totally accepted the doctrine on male-only ordination collegially. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which was promulgated on November 16, 1992, states that ordination is reserved to baptized males only. The Catechism was accepted unanimously by the whole body of bishops.
Marie Wolf
Prosser, Washington
It’s 1952 All Over Again
This letter is about the exceptional article in your December 1995 issue, “The Elizabethan Apostasy.” I find it hard to believe this article, written in 1952 by George Andrew Beck about England in the late 1500s, can actually relate to our situation here in the U.S. in the 1990s. The points of similarity are:
1. The “internal weakness that any decisive action on the part of the Holy See . . . would . . . have turned the scale in favor of Catholicism.” This has reference to the act of excommunication, given against Elizabeth I, which I feel John Paul II should have levied by now against certain dissident clergy, bishops as well as priests.
2. “Deep and far-reaching change took place . . . a change in the essentials of religious worship.” This has reference to the Novus Ordo now, and in the minds of many Catholics, the changes are too close to Protestant practices to be truly Roman Catholic.
3. “We must also give full weight to the habit of implicit obedience to the civil authority.” This can be applied especially to the U.S. bishops and Catholic politicians who have backed the Democratic Party and the Democratic-controlled Congress, by their silence or by their outspoken approval of such issues and abortion and euthanasia.
4. With regard to the increasing attitude of complacency on the part of American Catholics who blindly accept what the clergy offers, we have a “lax attitude [that] had served only to increase weakness and to undermine Catholic courage. As long as a lax attitude was taken with regard to those who failed in this way, it was impossible to establish a firm and constant line of conduct.”
In conclusion, it seems we have to suffer what often is said: History is bound to repeat itself. This brings me to a question I often ask: “John Paul II — where are you?”
Francis X. Wrenn
Hawthorne, New Jersey
Editor’s reply: Where is he? In Rome, still doing his job. I must say I am troubled by your phrasing: “too close to Protestant practices to be truly Roman Catholic.” This implies the present Mass isn’t Catholic, which is an untenable position. It is one thing to prefer the old rite. It is something else to doubt the validity of the new one. Another clarification: The present Congress, which has done nothing to halt abortion or euthanasia, is controlled not by the Democrats, but by the Republicans, many of whom are vocally pro-abortion and pro-euthanasia.
Instant Converts
Several years ago I was serving as an associate pastor in a parish here in Louisville. A Catholic lady was teaching a group of children religion in one of our CCD classes. I had just baptized one of her children. Then one of our parents told me that this teacher had just joined another religion! Since her husband had also joined this church, I asked if I might talk to both of them in their home. She agreed.
The story was this: Her husband worked in a factory. One day at noontime, her husband joined in conversation with a Mormon worker. He asked the Mormon to tell him something about the Mormon religion. Several days later, the Mormon came to their door with several other Mormons. As a result, they completely brainwashed both these Catholics — whose baby I had just baptized weeks earlier.
I showed them a tract about such tactics, but it was too late. They were attending classes every Saturday, and the four “teachers” came to their home every Wednesday.
I am now 88. At the time, I was retired and living in another parish. By a unique arrangement, our county school board rented our Catholic school building. I taught our Catholic children in three groups, using the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism, one class each week.
Obviously, I could not make the children memorize the questions each week, but where the parents did their part, bringing the children to Mass and having daily prayers, I think these children did learn the basics of their Catholic faith.
By contrast, in many parishes today, neither Catholic parents nor their children hear any doctrinal or moral instruction, even in Catholic schools. Recently I asked a boy who had just finished seventh grade in a parochial school (where sex education is mandatory, by the way), “Who made you?” He replied, “Oh, my mom and dad, I guess.” I asked him, “Why did God make you?” He said, “I don’t know.”
Another example: I asked a group of boys who attend Catholic school, “What is the Mass?” They seemed well-disposed to me, and there was a silence. Then they asked, “That is some kind of prayer service, isn’t it, Father?”
My solution is this: Our parish priests should teach from the Baltimore Catechism or an abridged edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Unless our Catholic bishops wake up soon, it is entirely possible that the Church in this country will almost evaporate within one or two generations, just as it did in England several centuries ago.
Fr. Paul Russell
Louisville, Kentucky
Subcontinental Greetings
A few days ago I received a large box with many back issues of This Rock. Thank you for so kindly sending them to me. I do admire you and the work you do for God and his Church. Only he can and will bless you. You are always in my prayers.
I wish I could help you financially, but we are not allowed to make payments in dollars freely. However, when one of my sons-in-law was visiting England, I asked that $170 be sent to you. It is a small contribution, but it is all that I could remit at the moment.
We need much prayers because Planned Parenthood in India has infiltrated into our archdiocesan school board, and we are now not being allowed to make our prolife sessions in Catholic schools. Our Family of Faith Foundation, which you know about, is, in a very small way, trying to educate our Catholics just as you are doing. Do pray for us.
Kevin L. Fernandes
Bombay, India
Doubly Chosen
I am a convert to Catholicism from Judaism (1983), and I can’t begin to tell you how much your literature has been of help. As you might imagine, my family (the Jewish part, anyway) was underwhelmed.
I am now in formation for the permanent diaconate. God willing, I’ll be ordained on June 7, 1997, so please keep me in your prayers.
Keep up your excellent work. Although my story is unique only to me, it is still a miracle for me to be where I am. If I can be of any help to you and your apostolate, please let me know. You may have some people who are searching from a background similar to mine.
Michael E. Suden, D.D.S.
St. Louis, Missouri
There and Back Again
I was a convert to Catholicism at eighteen in 1953. After Vatican II, I thought so much was changed that Roman Catholicism couldn’t be the true Church. I left for eighteen years and even succumbed to Mormonism. It lasted about a year. I read everything they gave me and then began to research the Church (Catholic) on my own. I found, much to my surprise, that our wonderful Church had not changed after all; just a few theologians had. I’m back, thank God!
Janice Tobergte
Erlanger, Kentucky