Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Rejoice in God’s Attentiveness to You

If we're lucky, we reach a point in our spiritual life when we look back on the days when we were living outside of God's grace, days when we thought we were the enlightened ones and Christ's Church just hadn't caught up with our ginormous intellects, the days of indulgence, and we taste what we have been missing.

This is a spectacular description of it.


From: Prayer of the Presence of God
Dom Augustin Guillerand
A Carthusian Monk [1877-1945]

The Saints have written wonderful pages on the theme of the divine friendship. “What dignity and what glory on the part of Almighty God,” says St. John Chrysostom, “to be ever attentive to listen to us.”

Weak creatures, poor beings of a day, tiny flowers born at dawn, only to fade by evening--we have but to turn to Him, and at once He gives us audience. He speaks to us, caresses us; He gives himself. He stoops to our wretchedness and raises us up to His throne. He bids us enter His chamber--the chamber that is His love--the very movement of His being and life. I would tire the best of friends or the most leisured, were I to present myself thus at any hour. My unconstrained and easygoing manner would hurt the kindest of men. Yet God receives me always, and excuses and overlooks my lack of courtesy.

Not only does He receive me; He spoils me. He shows me the splendors of His palace. He has always some new light to offer to my mind, some delight to my heart. And should that light be one already known to me, He clothes it with the freshness of an early spring flower.

Should He think it necessary to leave me in darkness, that night becomes day, and the deepest shadows are transformed into the brightest light. And if He refuses me pleasures of the senses, He makes me find in the prayer of the desert superior delights that enchant my childlike faith in my Father.

These divine relations would suffice me a thousand times, if He presented Himself alone, for He is all, and all to me. But He is accompanied by a great and wondrous company. The greatest souls of all times, raised up and radiant with light that surrounds them, are there with Him, as loving and as good as He. They show me the same love; they offer to share with me their happiness, and the joy of their relations with HIM WHO IS and who Gives Himself. They take my prayers before they have risen from my heart to my lips. They present them to God, enriched with their fraternal supplication; they impart to them the perfume of their smile. They add to them their own merits.

In such company we forget the earth; we no longer think of men and their littleness (and our own); we forget all that depresses or saddens us. We become serene and almost in Heaven. We feel great, strong, and consoled.

How the adversaries of our salvation appear despicable--and indeed they are! God, His grace, the virtues with which He fortifies and ennobles us; the eternal happiness that He promises and of which He occasionally gives us a foretaste; Heaven growing nearer and almost opening--all this can help us to forget the dangers and the hours of desolation of the way. Prayer brings the soul into the presence of these realities; indeed, more than into their presence, for we actually enter the divine presence-chamber.

“Prayer”, says St. John Climacus, “unites us to God, sustains the world, renders souls beautiful, blots out sin, preserves us from temptation, and defends us in the time of battle. It consoles us when the storm breaks, is the mother of fertile tears, and changes tears of regret into tears of love. It feeds our spiritual joys, and nourishes our activities which give birth to them. The perfect virtues, the higher graces, the delights of hearts transformed and made one in God, the most profound lights, the quiet feeling of security and assured hopes, the great progress of souls and the striking divine interventions--all depend upon prayer.”


THIS is what Bryan Hehir, John Unni and those like them are robbing from their flocks. God help them.

(Much thanks to TTC friend Susan for typing this out!)

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

It's about time...

Congress is finally investigating Planned Parenthood's sex trafficking and abortion business.


I couldn't count the number of times Planned Parenthood would show up to testify on sex ed/parental consent bills and proceed to explain how many 13-year-olds coming to them for contraception.

The Commonwealth sets the age of consent at 16. The age of consent recognizes the immaturity of a child's perception puts them at risk for being coerced. Every healthcare provider is a mandated reporter. Yet, for decades, adults mentoring female children to be sluts would parade in with their stories and the Massachusetts legislators wouldn't bat an eyelash. Mass lawmakers would rig the hearing to permit Planned Parenthood to testify until 8 or 9 at night. When the opposition thinned to a handful of people, they would let opposition testify. By then, the only people left to hear testimony were the chairwoman and the janitors.

This is a huge step forward.

Kudos to Lila and her team.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Accurate Historical Information about the Crusades

Everyone and their brother with an ax to grind against Catholicism repeats urban legends about the Crusades.

Here's a half hour from Michael Voris with accurate information on the Crusades. Comes in handy when you run into somebody who learned about Catholicism through Huffington Post and Dan Brown novels...or Saint John's Seminary during the glory days of Woodstock.

:)




n.b. You will note that comment moderation is back on. The Tenth Crusade is being pursued by individual who believes there is an implicit blogging commenters freedom granted by the United States Constitution. I am apparently transgressing this constitutional freedom when I delete posts opining that Catholics are butchers and mass murderers who do not give to or serve the poor. He has threatened to call the blogging police. I am barricaded in my home. Send Ramen noodles.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Sitting in Church Doesn't Make You Catholic....


...anymore than standing in your garage makes you a car.

The Pope shot a flare across the bow of lukewarm Catholics...

I Remember How You Saw Me with the Eyes of Your Grace



Happiness

FROM THE PASTOR
September 25, 2011
by Fr. George W. Rutler

There is a seemingly endless list of “How to Be Happy” books, and most of them are depressing. That is because they miss the point. Happiness, for which we are “hardwired” by God, cannot last unless it comes from God, who is everlasting. In the venerable cadence of the Baltimore Catechism: “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.” There are almost countless establishments in our busy neighborhood that advertise “Happy Hours” but none that offer “Happy Lives.”

The happiest moments in earthly life are mixed with some sort of sorrow, knowing that we cannot enjoy them eternally while still in time and that our mortal bodies cannot contain immortal joy. So sometimes, sublime music or images move us to tears rather than laughter, and we seem ready to “burst with joy.”

Christ wept the most raucous tears when moved by the sight of sad people, because it contradicted the joys of heaven, and He wept for the earthly Jerusalem because it had become so shabby compared to the heavenly Jerusalem. Only the eternal Lord could say with a human voice: “So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you” (John 16:22).

A recent survey by the University of Chicago listed the ten “happiest jobs.” The clergy are number one, and I would agree with that. Some of the others are teachers, artists, authors, counselors, and firefighters. Since I teach, paint as a hobby, write, counsel, and am an honorary firefighter, I have every claim to unconfined bliss. But the point that so many “How to Be Happy” books miss, is that true satisfaction has little to do with money or that sort of thing. Einstein found his greatest happiness with just “a table and a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin.”

The saints are joy made visible. Saint Robert Bellarmine, a Doctor of the Church, had the consolations of a splendid intellect and the prominence of a cardinal, yet he was especially happy scrubbing the pots and pans in his seminary. He writes in The Ascent of the Soul to God: “Therefore consider that to be for your real good which brings you to your goal and that to be really bad which cuts you off from this goal. Prosperity and adversity, riches and poverty, health and sickness, honour and ignominy, life and death should not be sought after for themselves by the wise man nor are they to be avoided for themselves; if they contribute to the glory of God and your eternal happiness, they are good and to be sought after; if they are obstacles to this, they are evil and to be avoided.”

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Thursday, September 22, 2011

Fomenting Rebellion and Confusion at Huffington Post

Is this the drivel these poor souls are swimming in?

Yowza.

Troy Davis and the Death Penalty

Another hectic few days (headache and hassles of having my wallet ripped off rounding off the week from hell) prevented me from writing about the Troy Davis story but this troubling situation has very much been on my mind, heart and in my prayers.

Longtime readers here know my heart is with the Church on the death penalty. There are rare occasions where it is necessary to protect life and the common good.


This one haunted me. It still haunts me.

For several reasons. Chief among them: This case just didn't come anywhere near being such a threat to the common good that it warranted killing him. He wasn't engineering crimes outside or even inside of the prison.


I've heard it said that the death penalty is 'justice'. Killing for the sake of avenging another's death could never be called justice. At least, not in the land of the just.

Davis proclaimed his innocence right up until his last moments. Only God knows if he was telling the truth but his voice, and a face that lacked any traces of a tormented criminal, added to my anguish.

In his final moments, as Davis was strapped to a gurney in the death chamber, he nodded slightly to his attorney, and then made a statement saying he was not responsible for the 1989 slaying of Mark MacPhail. “I am innocent. The incident that happened that night is not my fault,” Davis said.

Davis told his supporters to “continue to fight the fight.”

AP reporter Greg Bluestein, one of five reporters to witness the execution, writes that Davis gave a message to executioners just before he was given the lethal injection, saying: “God have mercy on your souls.”


Very troubling.

Even if he were guilty, in this case, carrying out a lethal injection was barbaric. It just doesn't pass the sniff test when compared to Catholic teaching on the death penalty.

Some people might think "Well, that's easy for you to say. It didn't affect you but this took a son, a father". But actually, I know it all too well. Several years after my father died from smoking at the age of 40, my Mom re-married. My stepfather worked as an Inspector for the T. His beat was downtown Boston. He knew all the police who worked for the City of Boston in that area. One day, somebody robbed a store at Downtown Crossing. He came running out waving the gun in the air. The police chased him, knocked him to the ground. My Mom and stepfather were shopping and when he saw the commotion and a colleague on the ground, he ran over to help. He was killed. The policeman was severely wounded. I won't go into the details of how that act changed our lives, other than to say I'm in the know of what it all means for the people left behind.

You have two choices when something like this happens in life. You can sit on the edge of your seat waiting for the day of revenge or you can let go of the anger and bitterness and give it to God. We chose the latter.

I heard some of the statements of the policeman's family before and after Davis' death. I was disturbed by them. I can't imagine living life and love if we had wrapped it all up in bitterness and revenge. I was sorry to see they were on that road.

I can't think of anyone who was served by it.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Miracle of the Blood of St. Januarius

Miracle of the blood of St. Januarius

Wow

The Parable of the King's Subjects

The Parable of the King's Subjects

Once upon a time there was a king - who so loved his subjects that he left his
palace to live among them and assist them to build a mansion wherein all of them
could reside together with him forever.

But as he dwelt in their midst they gradually forgot his dignity and the love
and gratitude they owed him and they began to lose their reverence for him. They
spoke of him without respect. They no longer paid homage to him or, if they did,
they were ridiculed and reprimanded by his courtiers.

When they came in his presence they talked and laughed with one another and paid
him no heed at all. They took no care of their dress and appeared before him in
rags, immodest garb and beach wear.

When he invited them to sup with him they did not even wash themselves. They
came to his supper without preparation. There especially they disregarded all
the rules laid down by the king's chamberlain.

They mocked the king's chamberlain. They said to each other, "He's an old man, a
foreigner. he doesn't understand us. If only he knew how rich we are, how
privileged we are, how well educated we are, he would understand that we know
better."

They permitted those who serve at table who were unacceptable for such a
position. They brought along court jesters with painted faces to entertain - and
dancing girls to distract the attention of their guests from their host, the
king.

Their conversation was to and about one another. And there was much socializing
and good fellowship, but the king was ignored. They stripped the king's room
bare - pictures of his family and friends - and adorned them with gaudy and
trivial things.

Eventually they moved the king out of his chamber because they needed the space
for meetings, shows and concerts. And they thrust him into a closet in a side
chamber. He was no longer allowed to hold court. His golden throne was discarded
and those who wanted to come to see him privately often found the doors locked.

His personal attendants were given other jobs to do. And his personal affairs
were made subservient to politics, fund raising and community socials. The
mansion they had been invited to build was forgotten because it was a prospect
for the future and they were only interested in the present.

The king, in his closet, wept because he loved them. And he knew that if they
continued on this way their future would end in destruction.

- Fr. Bill Casey, C.P.M., from his talk "The True Presence Combats a Feeble
Faith"

A Real Man...

A real man is a woman's best friend. He will never let her down. He will comfort her after a bad day. He will inspire her to do the things she never thought she could do. He will enable her to express her deepest emotions. He will enable her to be confident and invincible...no wait. Sorry. I'm thinking of wine. It's wine that does that. Nevermind.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Using Obama as the bar, Nero would have been elevated to Sainthood...

This is a big OUCH..but good reading. Obama's approval rating is falling by the hour. Stinks to be him, eh?

With all the political talent in the US, I sure hope our side comes up with a cute little slogan that slays what is left of Obama's political career. All they need is about 30-40 good zingers for debates and he'll go down faster than a spoonful of cocaine in Charlie Sheen's living room.

I have some thoughts about the Presidential race to share at some point. Perry executed close to 300 people during his ten years? I'm 100% behind the teaching of the Church that permits executions of criminals for the common good...but 300 people isn't what the Church has in mind. 300 people is using the death penalty as retaliation and punishment. There are better choices for Catholics to support than Perry, but I will say that if it came down to the phoney baloney proabortion Romney and Perry, when you get right down to a number crunch on lives that would be lost, the sanctity of life is far better off with Perry.

Anyway - enjoy this piece.



Nero in the White House


By Mychal Massey


Three significant historical events have been eclipsed by Obama: 1) Jimmy
Carter will no longer be looked upon as the worst president in American
history; 2) Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton will no longer be recognized as
the greatest liars in presidential history; 3) Clinton's stain on Monica's
dress, and what that did to the White House in general and the office of
the president specifically, will forever pale in comparison to the stain
and stench of Obama.

I need not spend much time on the failure of Obama as president. His
tenure has been a failure on every measurable level. So much so, in fact,
that some of the staunchest, most respected liberal Democrats and
Democratic supporters have not only openly criticized him – some even more
harshly than this essayist – but they have called for him to step down.
Richard Nixon's words "I am not a crook," punctuated with his involvement
in Watergate, and Bill Clinton's finger-wagging as he told one of the most
pathetic lies in presidential history, in the aftermath of Obama, will be
viewed as mere prevarications.

Mr. Nixon and Clinton lied to save their backsides. Although, I would
argue there are no plausible explanations for doing what they did, I could
entertain arguments pursuant to understanding their rationales for lying.
But in the case of Obama, he lies because he is a liar. He doesn't only
lie to cover his misdeeds – he lies to get his way. He lies to belittle
others and to make himself look presentable at their expense. He lies
about his faith, his associations, his mother, his father and his wife. He
lies and bullies to keep his background secret. His lying is congenital
and compounded by socio-psychological factors of his life.

Never in my life, inside or outside of politics, have I witnessed such
dishonesty in a political leader. He is the most mendacious political
figure I have ever witnessed. Even by the low standards of his
presidential predecessors, his narcissistic, contumacious arrogance is
unequalled. Using Obama as the bar, Nero would have to be elevated to
sainthood.

As the stock markets were crashing, taking with them the remaining life
saving of untold tens of thousands, Obama was hosting his own birthday
celebration, which was an event of epicurean splendidness. The
shamelessness of the event was that it was not a state dinner to welcome
foreign dignitaries, nor was it to honor an American accomplishment – it
was to honor the Pharaoh, Barack Hussein Obama. The event's sole purpose
was for the Pharaoh to have his loyal subjects swill wine, indulge in
gluttony and behavior unfit to take place on the property of taxpayers, as
they suffer. It was of a magnitude comparable to that of Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski's $2 million birthday extravaganza for its pure lack of respect for the people.

Permit me to digress momentarily. The U.S. Capitol and the White House
were built with the intent of bringing awe and respect to America and her
people. They were also built with the intent of being the greatest of
equalizers. I can tell you, having personally been to both, there is a
moment of awe and humility associated with being in the presence of the
history of those buildings. They are to be honored and inscribed into our
national psyche, not treated as a Saturday night house party at Chicago's
Cabrini-Green.

The people of America own that home Obama and his wife continue to debase
with their pan-ghetto behavior. It is clear that Obama and family view
themselves as royalty, but they're not. They are employees of "we the
people," who are suffering because of his failed policies. What message
does this behavior send to those who today are suffering as never before?
What message does it send to all Americans who are struggling? Has anyone
stopped to think what the stock market downturn forebodes for those 80
million baby boomers who will be retiring in the next period of years? Is
there a snowball's chance in the Sahara that every news program on the air
would applaud this behavior if it were George W. Bush? To that point,
do you remember the media thrashing Bush took for having a barbecue at
the White House?

Like Nero – who was only slightly less debaucherous than Caligula – with
wine on his lips Obama treated "we the people" the way Caligula treated
those over whom he lorded.

Many in America wanted to be proud when the first person of color was
elected president, but instead, they have been witness to a congenital
liar, a woman who has been ashamed of America her entire life, failed
policies, intimidation and a commonality hitherto not witnessed in
political leaders. He and his wife view their life at our expense as an
entitlement – while America's people go homeless, hungry and unemployed.

Cardinal Burke on Reception of the Eucharist...

Wedding Dress Shopping and the Taming of the Shrew in Blogosphere


I apologize for the scant blogging this week. My oldest daughter is getting married in the Fall of 2012 and we were/are shopping for a wedding dress. Of course at a size 2, everything had to be pinned up which doesn't do justice to the design of the dress...and so the search continues. She did find a few she really likes and we may well go back to them - but I'm really hoping for a 'this is it' moment for her.

I approached shopping for a wedding dress with my daughter with the sensitivities that what I want her to wear and what she may fall in love with in a dress are two different things. I don't want to impose my style on her...just be there to make sure the Sacrament is the focus and help her to find the wow factor in the styles of the dress. Many blessings as we make our way to it.

Anyway, I wanted to followup on the problems in blogosphere.


Catholic blogging, especially at this time in our history, is about helping to free up truth from the negligence and errors of unfaithful priests and Bishops. Each of us has their own calling and mission. Christ ministered to people's spiritual and temporal needs in numerous ways, according to the situation. Some - like Judas, He tried to set an example for through loving him gently. Others, He provoked by saying they were dogs unworthy of reception. Others, He took the whip to drive them out. Other times, in His omnipotence - He knew the situation called for truth and mercy. There is temperament of the persons, spiritual warfare and other things involved in the reasons for these different approaches.

Christ could, of course, do it all and in an instant. He could see it all, knew it all and in His perfection, could create a perfect storm for healing. Healing requires a submission of the person. If it relied solely upon God, everyone would be perfect in health and mind and spirit. There are different ways and different approaches according to the circumstances.

In our humanity, we cannot. To make up for those deficiencies, each of us has been imparted with gifts to carry out only a part of it.

I have my own mission in this spiritual vortex as we try to carry on Christ's ministry. Shea has his own mission. Terry Nelson has his own mission. Voris has his.

Instead of working as the Mystical Body of Christ, two things are happening in blogosphere.

1. People suffer from the affliction of believing their own calling and mission is the sole ministry of Christ.

2. The mission gets trumped by one that protects the ego, emotions and feelings of people.


All of us can and do fall into these pits along our way.

As our faith matures, we grasp number 1.

Number 2 is always hanging around in some form or way - either in minor ways or it can take over the animus of the mission and the people near it.

The discussions about Communion in hand at Abbey Roads were so immersed in both of these spiritual challenges that my presence in bringing them into to the light was only serving to dig heels more deeply into these flaws.

Since my own mission is more of the emergency search and rescue, I have a tough time watching people swimming in the river of denial without trying to cast the net. I can't seem to keep my mouth shut. Since I felt this was conflicting with Terry's mission and what he wanted to do on his own blog, I unlinked him. It seems by doing so, it's led to an impression that I think he is unorthodox or unfaithful - which is absurd. Nor should my unlinking him imply I believe him to be spiritually inferior.

There were numerous posts that whipped up a frenzy of contempt for Voris, Corapi and others, ridiculing the person for foibles and troubles and sins, excuse it by implying they are carrying out the mission of mortification of souls. That's a new one on me. You can't do this and then claim you're trying not to create cliques because that is exactly what you are doing.

To protect feelings and emotions and egos, others chime in to dump on the the mission of the exposition of priests Cardinal who are sexually exploiting children and adults, leading their flocks into temptation, sin and spiritual death, sacrilege of Christ's Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity or even hiring people to kill the unborn to make a profit, enabling or supporting the killing in some way to as having the same motives and objectives.

But, these two things couldn't be any further apart.

One is a mission of liberty from evil.

The other is a combination (and fruit) of number 1 and 2 above.

The taming of the shrews requires acceptance that Christ's ministry has many facets, for many reasons that cannot be seen with the eyes in our head. An admission that Christ's gifts and ministry which He witnessed to had to be divy'd up among the donkeys. It would require support and prayer.

Until that day comes, you gotta know when hold em. Know when to fold em. Know when to walk away and know when to run.

Otherwise, you can do more damage to the souls with their panties in a twist than if you had said and done nothing at all.

***ADDENDUM

I wish I could write more about this subject today, but I simply MUST make my way through my adoring fans and papparazzi to run some errands!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Bishop Zurek Places Fr. Pavone On Leave

My first thought was that the Bishop could be a little skittish in light of Fr. Euteneuer and and Corapi and was perhaps being cautious, making sure everything is on the up and up. But then I read this public statement and I just can't get the stink of skullduggery out of my nose.


Just imagine yourself as a parent having a fracus with one of your grown children and prematurely putting out a character assassination statement filled with evidence of your inability to control your emotion.

Not when you have both oars in the water.

The reader's digest is, the Bishop accuses Fr. Pavone of thinking he's all that and the Bishop feels the need to bust up an effective prolife ministry, right before a presidential election, so he can feel as though he has control of Fr. Pavone. Of course, he wants everyone to withhold donations to Priests for Life. It strikes me as odd that the Bishop, standing there with his miter and crozier, crybabying about about somebody else's ambition.

Oddly enough, I did a quick search on the Bishop and abortion and I can't find anything he's ever said or done to protect the unborn - though admittedly, it was a quick search. More diligence later.

I've met Fr. Pavone. The Bishop's description of him is completely out of character with my experience. He was generous of his spirit, time and money.

Fr. Pavone categorically denies any financial impropriety - and explains his board of directors has numerous bishops on it who oversee the finances--and has appealed to Rome.


How timely that Mark Shea and others have signed onto ceasing and desisting from ridiculing their fellow Catholics. Their vitriol in situations like this will not be missed.

Monday, September 12, 2011

The Vague and Ambivalent Crowd Who Turn a Blind Eye to Dingbat Theology, Evil and Sin




While they allow evil and sin to flourish, all in the name of charity, they get downright nasty with virtually any Catholic from the faithful crowd.

They support smear campaigns, threaten, bully.

The war for the soul of the Church with theologically malformed crowd look Catholic and sound Catholic isn't anywhere near reaching a truce.


You can take that to the bank!

(You don't suppose Michael read the don't take a stand on evil pearls written by a blogger that sounds like Ring being tossed about in blogosphere, do you?)

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Antidote


Great reflection from Mark Mallet.

In the Unforgiving Mind, the Cherished Memory of Hurt that Makes the Tongue Unkind

Isn't it amazing that on the tenth anniversary of jihad on our country, the readings today are about forgiveness?

With Christ and faith, ALL things are possible.

My oldest daughter (29) called me this morning as she was watching the tributes to talk about that fateful day in 2001. She left the nest a few short weeks before to live at college. She reminded me that I called her cell phone shortly after it happened and told her to wake up, get out of bed and find a priest to seek the Sacrament of Confession. I have no recollection of it, but we had a good laugh over it being just like me to think about salvation, being prepared to stand before Christ, sinful and sorrowful in that moment. She told me her college roommate remembered it with her over the last few days, as well.

Right afterwards, she spoke about a homily she heard yesterday. The priest teaching about the Sacrament of Baptism told the people in the pew nothing about the pardoning of original sin. He said the Sacrament of Baptism wipes away FUTURE sins.

Why... this enlightenment should be spread all over Christendom: There is a magical priest in Boston! His Baptisms wipe away every sin you commit from birth unto death!

We simply must arrange pilgrimages from all over the world to this man!

I forgot to ask her how old the priest was...my guess is 60-ish or he is a product of our seminary of Weston as that drivel has not been taught at St. John's for quite some time.

What are the odds there are people driven to Sacrament of Confession to prepare their souls in that place?

Lots of luck to them in these upcoming days of purification.

Anyhow, I wanted to pass something along to you that I read earlier this week in The Likeness of Christ. (Especially since it was timely for me and go along with this week's readings.)

From Thursday's readings:

Brothers and Sisters: We know that all things work for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.

The chapter in the book focuses on The Three Kings of the Orient who traveled to see the face of God. How many failed to recognize Him in the humble circumstances of poverty. How each one of us fails to see Christ and the daily epiphanies in our own lives surrounded by poverty of mind and spirit.

There are daily Epiphanies in our lives. The grace of God is ever pointing out to us where the Child is. And we at the outward circumstances, the mean disguises, the, to us, unworthy surroundings; we decide that God cannot be THERE were the star stands, and so we pass on and miss the Manifestion. God is always wrapped in the same garments in which He was enveloped at His coing into the world and in His passage through it. To us, He always presents Himself in what thwarts the concupisences of the flesh, in what contradicts our self-will, in what wounds our self-love, in a word, in pains, and trails, and disappointments, in sorrow, in opposition and in failure. He expects us, as he expected the kings, to recognize Him under these habiliments. Every cross as it were, a reliquary containing God. If we embrace it with faith it will open and reveal His Presence to us. When too much influenced, too much governed, too much determined by human external appearances, we decide that surely God could not and would not take such a form for His Manifestations, we fail in faith, we have not the docility and the simplicity of the Magi....Jesus comes to us in everything that ends to mortify our self-love and our pride, in everything that tends to break down the obstacles that prevent the development of our interior life, our growth in the vision and in the love of God. He manifests Himself to the religious in the uncongenial task, the irritating opposition, and in the uncouth companion -- in all the multiple disabilities, annoyances and inconveniences arising for us from the failure or imperfection of creatures. But at every conjuncture God wishes us to discover Himself, however disconcerting be the guise in which He comes. It is not easy---it requires a strong faith to see Him in the long, dull sequence of squalid, obscure and pointless miseries that condition our daily lot. In the dullness and weakness of our faith, we pause disconcerted before the humble appearance; we decide that God is not there and pass on our way...
Seeing the state of things in the world and in the Church..it's something to keep in mind in days ahead of us...least we trip and fall ourselves and land in the pit. Be on your toes...as

Wrath and Anger are Hateful Things, Yet the Sinner Clings Them Tight

Rather...some great advice from Fr. Worthley: Be merciful to others, just as Christ is merciful to you. If you forgive others from your heart, you will win. If you do not forgive others, you will lose.

Saturday, September 10, 2011




addendum: from the Pope on Sunday, September 11th.



Pope Benedict concluded : "A Eucharistic spirituality, then, is the real antidote to the individualism and selfishness that often characterize daily life, it leads to the rediscovery of gratuity, of the centrality of relationships, starting from the family, with particular attention to healing the wounds of those that are broken. A Eucharistic spirituality is the soul of a church community that goes beyond divisions and conflicts and promotes the diversity of charisms and ministries by placing them in the service of the unity of the Church, its vitality and its mission. Eucharistic spirituality is a way to restore dignity to man’s everyday life and therefore to his work, in the search to reconcile it with times of celebration and family life and with a commitment to overcome the insecurity and uncertainty of the unemployment problem. A Eucharistic spirituality will also help us to draw close to the different forms of human frailty aware that they do not overshadow the value of the person, but require closeness, welcome and help. A renewed educational vitality can draw force from the Bread of life, attentive to witness the fundamental values ​​of existence, of knowledge, of our spiritual and cultural heritage, its vitality will help us live in the city of mankind with the willingness to spend ourselves for the horizon of the common good to build a more just and fraternal world ".

You can't help but love John Boehner...

Monday, September 5, 2011

Use of the Stanley Cup for Baptismal Font

Imagine sitting around your living room with your newborn child, thinking about the Sacrament that cleanses him or her from original sin...

Celebrant: Do you reject Satan?

Response: I do.

Celebrant: And all his works?

Response: I do.

Celebrant: And all his empty promises?

Response: I do.

Celebrant: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?

Response: I do.

Celebrant: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

Response: I do.

Celebrant: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

Response: I do.


..thinking about the holy water that will be poured over his or her head, where you are literally placing your finger into the water that gushed forth from the wound on Christ's Chest, holy water which purifies and exorcises us from venial sin...

..and saying to yourself "I have an idea!! Let us do it in the Stanley Cup!!"

These poor misguided souls do not appear to be Catholic from the photographs. Interestingly enough, one really can't even tell whether the individual baptizing the child is a woman or a man.

Striking in light of yesterday's readings..If you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, I will hold you responsible for his death.

Terry at Abbey Roads has a post up that is thought-provoking. (Be sure to check out the picture and his description of it - Dada's Magic Bishop)

The Bishop referenced in the post actually DID speak up, as Larry D points out, but Terry brings up an important point.

There are periods in the Church's history when the priests and Bishops fail in their sacred duty to be a physician of souls. They think their vocation is to be nice and reminding us of our wicked natures so that we will be called to the Sacrament of Confession will make the uncatechized think the priest is not being nice.

In periods such as we are in, when priests and Bishops recoil from their vocation of dissuading us from our wicked nature, that duty falls to the faithful and God cultivates the courage and zeal in the people He raises to do the job. At the same time, of course, we warn the Bishop about his failures so that he has the opportunity to accept this fraternal warning or reject it. Most just take the easy way out and let laity do their job. I wouldn't want to be them on their day of judgment. Nor do I want Christ to hold me accountable for seeing it and saying nothing about it while calling it piety.

For those like Michael Voris, who are called to the role he is in, there are only two choices and one of them is, if we do not speak out to dissuade the wicked, we will be held accountable for his spiritual death. Not an option at all, really.

Of course, all along the way, the people who see with the eyes in their head instead of the eyes of the soul have a field day trying to torment those answering that call...as is memorialized in the comments section of Terry's blog post.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

SSPX Meeting at Vatican on September 15th


Great analysis HERE.

Here's the cut to the chase:

1. that the SSPX will not change or even mollify their position and,

2. the Vatican will not throw out the Council....

So let us take just one example and try to explain the complexity of the issues to the good bishop and those who agree with him:

1. There is no definitive Magisterial teaching which condemns the New Mass. Fact.

2. Everyone who finds fault with the New Mass must therefore make a theological argument based on other teachings about the Mass and apply those teachings to the New Mass.

3. Where there is a theological argument, there is room for individual error and there is the potential for theological disagreement.

4. When there is theological disagreement in the Church, and this disagreement reaches critical proportions, it is the Holy See which has the final say.

5. The final say on the Catholic character of the New Mass rests with the Holy See.


Deja vu all over again.

Why don't they just give it up. They are a shining example of how to rebel against Christ Himself on theology. There isn't a dime's worth of difference between SSPX and the rebellions of truths by Joan Chittister and all the characters at NCR, Vox Nova and America Magazine.

The Mass and Sacraments are valid. Get over it.

Did the Woodstock nutjobs take the liberty to innovate, desecrate the Holiest of Holies and defile a generation of souls?

They sure did.

Are there priests using invalid matter and prayers?

Indeed they are. But the people sitting in their pews, giddy over the false doctrine these priests teach them are getting exactly what they deserve. Bubkis.

The Sacraments are valid at the overwhelming number of parishes. It is a mess but it is valid.

Give it up. Admit you were wrong. Come back to Christ's Church where you are desperately needed and where you can lead by example.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

The Economy is So Bad...

The Economy is So Bad ……… My neighbor got a pre-declined credit card in the mail. CEO's are now playing miniature golf. Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen. I saw a Mormon with only one wife. If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them. Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America. Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names. My cousin had an exorcism but couldn't afford to pay for it, and they re-possessed her! A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico. A picture is now only worth 200 words. When Bill and Hillary travel together, they now have to share a room. The Treasure Island casino in Las Vegas is now managed by Somali pirates. "There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword and the other is by debt." John Adams, 1826

Knock your socks off hour from Voris

Give yourself a powerful gift. Run this video from your laptop with the volume up as you do your chores around the house today. Absolutely edifying. What a gift from the Holy Spirit.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Remember This Next Time You Run Into A Combox Crybaby

Those of us who were not born as the next coming of Mother Teresa can identify with this post. Here's a little taste of her talking points... I’m a big meany. I’m a mean, mean, meany-pants, and I carry a cane with me at all times, in case I see some pretty flowers that need whacking.
Take a closer look at an issue that is usually presented as black-and-white. Subtlety is not a sin. For instance, I can say, “People who dress modestly aren’t necessarily virtuous,” and that’s not the same as saying, “Let’s all wear hot pants to Mass.” Describe people in frank and colorful terms, if the goal is realism, not cruel mockery. Painting a recognizable verbal picture is not a sin, it’s just descriptive. Vagueness isn’t the same as charity. It’s wrong to encourage people to mock and look down on each other. But if my goal is to be clear and poignant when describing a scene, then specifics are fair play. Use figurative language without warning, “The following is a metaphor, and not intended as a technical manual or a page from the catechism.” Helpful readers often suggest that I add the words, “In my opinion” or, “I may be wrong, but it seems to me.” This kind of verbal clutter helps out writing the same way a crocheted dolly helps out toilet paper.
Priceless post.

How about...

...that little cleverhole Obama, thinking he was outsmarting the republicans? Way to reach across the aisle and bring the country together, eh? He went a-scampering into the corner with his tail between his legs when the doodoo hit the fan. Fortitude does not seem to be one of his attributes does it. ....and how about all the drama between the tranvestites on dancing with the dysfunctionals? Some pregnant transvestite is moping around journalists because she got dumped for Chastity Bono. ...and how about Archbishop Dylan's Birdcage memorial at St. Paul the Apostle for the souls massacred by terrorists on September 11th? Do you think there will be a tribute to the patron saint of clapping fornicators Michael Judge? A lot of drama while my lights were out!