I am quite excited by news that the current Pope has extended a hand to disgruntled Anglicans who wish to joing the Catholic Church without giving up everything they loved about their own faith. It will be somewhat like when the USSR collapsed, and we found out what our kind of faith our separated brothers and sisters had still in place, since Vatican II had basically happened without them. It's not the same, but the Catholic Church did not tell those people not to be Catholic anymore, it just accepted them under slightly different rules. It's kind of like how the Tridentine and Byzantine Rites exist under Vatican authority.
This article was very interesting. I am excited to see what will happen next. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17493
Showing posts with label catholic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label catholic. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fr. Corapi on corruption in the Catholic Church
I love Fr. Corapi. He is so aware of what's going on. Thanks, Jeff, for posting this on Facebook.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
My Domestic Church
is never organized.
Like you didn't know that.
Anyway, this article gives me some more direction. I'd like to find it, and I think I'm getting there, slowly. Too much social time til Wednesday, but then I can get back to work. I do know what I'm going to do next, at least: paint. And I can hardly wait!
I hope you enjoy this article. I absolutely love this magazine, and I highly, highly recommend it for every Catholic family, or anyone else raising a family who doesn't mind reading an unabashadly Catholic family magazine.
Enjoy!
http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/features/simplify_your_domestic_church
Like you didn't know that.
Anyway, this article gives me some more direction. I'd like to find it, and I think I'm getting there, slowly. Too much social time til Wednesday, but then I can get back to work. I do know what I'm going to do next, at least: paint. And I can hardly wait!
I hope you enjoy this article. I absolutely love this magazine, and I highly, highly recommend it for every Catholic family, or anyone else raising a family who doesn't mind reading an unabashadly Catholic family magazine.
Enjoy!
http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/features/simplify_your_domestic_church
Friday, June 19, 2009
Defending Anti-Catholic free speech
Urr, you say???
Well, it was a good article, that makes a good point.
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6254&Itemid=48
Well, it was a good article, that makes a good point.
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6254&Itemid=48
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Strange premonition
I was sleeping this morning (of course), and at about 6am, Dominic woke me up and I changed his diaper and put him back in there. Thank goodness, it appears he went back to sleep.
Either before or after that, I had a sort of prayerful dream thingy. I guess I was wondering about the news, and I'd just had a really weird facebook conversation in which I was informed that religious people all suffer mental pain, even if they don't know it, and religion hurts everyone. That was annoying. That conversation may or may not be still running. It's taking a lot of diplomacy on my end. Sometimes that level of patience is worth it. I like to think it's always worth it. Sometimes I'm not so sure.
So this dream thing included my thought that it was somewhat odd that Obama was taking so long to appoint the ambassador to the Vatican. I thought, you know, he really should pick a university professor, but one from, say, Benedictine, Ave Maria, or TAC. Or Fr. Spitzer, who is currently leaving Gonzaga. He would have been perfect!
Then this morning, one of the first things I saw was that he had indeed picked a professor. He picked a liberation theologian. Oh dear. But we do need someone who can talk to both sides and be taken seriously. Maybe this guy is it, maybe he's not, but it will be interesting to see what the Vatican says. Personally, I was beginning to wonder if Mr. Obama was going to sever diplomatic ties with the Vatican or something, it was taking so long. Here's the initial news report on this guy:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16129
I also find his appointment for the Supreme Court very, very interesting. So far, I kind of like her, but we'll see. If she is a strict constitutionalist like she says she is, then that's better than I had hoped for from Obama. Time will tell. She is rather perplexing.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/27/sotomayor.problems/index.html
My beef lately is that he appoints quite a few Catholics to important positions, but they are all liberal Catholics. The implication for me is that we're going to teach this country that only certain kinds of morality fly, and you can only be successful if you think a certain way. If you think like a conservative pro-life religious person, someone who goes to church every week, there is something wrong with you. More and more people are seeing this as their example, and it's going to make ridicule, and dare I say, bigotry, of Christians the way to go. The irony is completely missed! I mean they just don't see it! It's so weird!
This is partly why I stay on Facebook. If there are people out there who normally have no contact with reasonable conservatives, but they know me, then they know that the talking heads on tv who regularly shout down their guests are not really the norm. I know, that should be obvious to people. But how many people really understand that? If they go to work 40-60 hours a week, are surrounded by people who think like them at work, then come home and only watch certain tv channels, why would they think any other way? So in my own way, I am also an ambassador to the Vatican. My people are important, and they have brains. They are often too busy doing good in the world to be noticed or to toot their own horn, but they are so very important to the fabric of society.
The whole point of what I'm trying to say can be summed up right here, at
Ragamuffin Studies. This lady is smart, and she gets my point completely right. And she also brings up what our governnment is up to.
It's a good thing the weather is good lately. Sometimes I really need to get out there in God's creation and remember, this life is just a blip on the radar of eternity, and eternity is what I can hardly wait for. What wonders and joy await! Sometimes that's hard to remember, but that is really the point, isn't it?
Either before or after that, I had a sort of prayerful dream thingy. I guess I was wondering about the news, and I'd just had a really weird facebook conversation in which I was informed that religious people all suffer mental pain, even if they don't know it, and religion hurts everyone. That was annoying. That conversation may or may not be still running. It's taking a lot of diplomacy on my end. Sometimes that level of patience is worth it. I like to think it's always worth it. Sometimes I'm not so sure.
So this dream thing included my thought that it was somewhat odd that Obama was taking so long to appoint the ambassador to the Vatican. I thought, you know, he really should pick a university professor, but one from, say, Benedictine, Ave Maria, or TAC. Or Fr. Spitzer, who is currently leaving Gonzaga. He would have been perfect!
Then this morning, one of the first things I saw was that he had indeed picked a professor. He picked a liberation theologian. Oh dear. But we do need someone who can talk to both sides and be taken seriously. Maybe this guy is it, maybe he's not, but it will be interesting to see what the Vatican says. Personally, I was beginning to wonder if Mr. Obama was going to sever diplomatic ties with the Vatican or something, it was taking so long. Here's the initial news report on this guy:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16129
I also find his appointment for the Supreme Court very, very interesting. So far, I kind of like her, but we'll see. If she is a strict constitutionalist like she says she is, then that's better than I had hoped for from Obama. Time will tell. She is rather perplexing.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/27/sotomayor.problems/index.html
My beef lately is that he appoints quite a few Catholics to important positions, but they are all liberal Catholics. The implication for me is that we're going to teach this country that only certain kinds of morality fly, and you can only be successful if you think a certain way. If you think like a conservative pro-life religious person, someone who goes to church every week, there is something wrong with you. More and more people are seeing this as their example, and it's going to make ridicule, and dare I say, bigotry, of Christians the way to go. The irony is completely missed! I mean they just don't see it! It's so weird!
This is partly why I stay on Facebook. If there are people out there who normally have no contact with reasonable conservatives, but they know me, then they know that the talking heads on tv who regularly shout down their guests are not really the norm. I know, that should be obvious to people. But how many people really understand that? If they go to work 40-60 hours a week, are surrounded by people who think like them at work, then come home and only watch certain tv channels, why would they think any other way? So in my own way, I am also an ambassador to the Vatican. My people are important, and they have brains. They are often too busy doing good in the world to be noticed or to toot their own horn, but they are so very important to the fabric of society.
The whole point of what I'm trying to say can be summed up right here, at
Ragamuffin Studies. This lady is smart, and she gets my point completely right. And she also brings up what our governnment is up to.
It's a good thing the weather is good lately. Sometimes I really need to get out there in God's creation and remember, this life is just a blip on the radar of eternity, and eternity is what I can hardly wait for. What wonders and joy await! Sometimes that's hard to remember, but that is really the point, isn't it?
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Notre Dame Response
There's been a lot in the paper about Notre Dame inviting President Obama to their commencement tomorrow. There's also been a lot of stupid commentary. Several news commentators think that some "rogue Catholics" are trying to tell the US president how to think, even though he's not Catholic. No, we are not. We are asking a Catholic University to uphold Catholic teaching. We are not asking non-Catholics to do anything. The bishops and archbishops are shepherds of Catholics, not everyone, and they know that. By keeping silent, they are letting their flock be mislead. They've been patient a long time, perhaps thinking people would come around, but it's only gotten worse. Many people think that the few students who've decided to protest and not attend their own graduation are a bunch of lunatics. They are not. They apparently went to a Catholic university on purpose, not because it was The Fighting Irish. It's not just for the football, people.
I don't know where this is going, but it's going somewhere. We are not infringing on others' opinions, we are simply asking Catholic institutions to BE Catholic, and if they don't want to be, then please feel free to leave. Flaunting the request of bishops is not at all the job of a university president. I know academia has gotten into the habit of disobedience, but it has got to stop.
Another fun thing I keep seeing in comments after news articles is that "the Catholic Church's biggest worry should be that it will be a much smaller church if all these people leave." YES! It WOULD be! I don't remember the Bible asking us to keep a certain number of followers of Christ. It asks us to be faithful. If we cannot do that, there are many other churches to belong to, and that's ok. If that's their journey of faith, let them follow it. What I'm tired of is people trying to "liberalize" the Church. It's the body of Christ! Christ isn't modern enough because he doesn't go along with what the world wants? Since when??
Anyway, I'm done with that soapbox... for now. Let us continue to be "a sign of contradiction."
Please enjoy this video from NDresponse.com
I don't know where this is going, but it's going somewhere. We are not infringing on others' opinions, we are simply asking Catholic institutions to BE Catholic, and if they don't want to be, then please feel free to leave. Flaunting the request of bishops is not at all the job of a university president. I know academia has gotten into the habit of disobedience, but it has got to stop.
Another fun thing I keep seeing in comments after news articles is that "the Catholic Church's biggest worry should be that it will be a much smaller church if all these people leave." YES! It WOULD be! I don't remember the Bible asking us to keep a certain number of followers of Christ. It asks us to be faithful. If we cannot do that, there are many other churches to belong to, and that's ok. If that's their journey of faith, let them follow it. What I'm tired of is people trying to "liberalize" the Church. It's the body of Christ! Christ isn't modern enough because he doesn't go along with what the world wants? Since when??
Anyway, I'm done with that soapbox... for now. Let us continue to be "a sign of contradiction."
Please enjoy this video from NDresponse.com
Saturday, April 25, 2009
A real Shepherd
Wow. I'm blown away. How about you? Really, it's a pdf file worth reading, from a Right To Life convention in Kansas.
http://www.diocese-kcsj.org/_docs/Gospel-of-Life-04-09.pdf
And a hat tip to Fr. Farfaglia, who is also endorsing the movie "Fireproof", and saying how it helps him, because he is married to his parish.
http://www.diocese-kcsj.org/_docs/Gospel-of-Life-04-09.pdf
And a hat tip to Fr. Farfaglia, who is also endorsing the movie "Fireproof", and saying how it helps him, because he is married to his parish.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Divine Mercy Sunday
I'm just getting to know Divine Mercy Sunday. It turns out there's a reason: It was not made an official day by the Vatican until the Jubilee Year of 2000. It is the Sunday following Easter, and has everything to do with St. Faustina Kowalska, who was a contemporary of Pope John Paul II.
There seems to be a very spiritual connection between them, possibly St. Therese of Liseaux, and "Anne" A Lay Apostle, who, with her bishop's permission, has been publishing something called "The Volumes" and three other books. Her website is at Direction For Our Times. I have read some of the Volumes and also her first book, Climbing the Mountain. It is so very refreshing and encouraging to read any of what she has written. She believes she is receiving inner locutions (like a voice, but more like an inspiration outside of one's self -- very possibly how the apostles and disciples wrote the Gospels). She has been instructed by Jesus and Mary to write them down.
There is a little bit of "end times" themes running through some of the things you'll read, but unlike many apocalyptic writings, it is realistic and encouraging. No exact timeline, of course, because our prayers make all the difference. But her visions of Heaven make me want to go right now. The encouragement to do what I am to do exactly where I live is something I need to hear, especially as housewife. Sometimes I need to know that I should work on myself, not on everybody else. It's sort of like that passage about the speck in your neighbor's eye, and not seeing the plank in your own. I'm very guilty of that, and I know should work on myself and my own family first and foremost. These writings encourage me to do God's Will, and do my job exactly where He puts me. I always can tell after the fact, that God put me wherever I am for a reason, and I am to be the best person I can be from that place.
I am going to copy and paste an explanation for Divine Mercy Sunday right here, I hope you all don't mind a rather long post. I thought it was important. Enjoy!
Divine Mercy Sunday
MESSAGE FOR ALL CATHOLICS:
“JESUS IS IN THE CONFESSIONAL”
Despite evil’s attempts at discrediting Catholic Priests, many fallen-away Catholics will soon be returning to the practice of their faith. The reason: the Church’s new feast on the Sunday after Easter. What new feast you might say? It is the “Feast of Divine Mercy”. The Catholic Church has been celebrating this feast ever since the Vatican had made it official on April 30th in the Jubilee year 2000. Why would every Catholic want to come back, you might ask? It is the promise that Jesus Himself made for a complete forgiveness of sins and punishment on that day, even to the most terrible sinner imaginable. God in His great mercy is giving mankind a last chance for salvation.
When did Jesus make this promise and how does one get it? Jesus left all the details in a diary that He commanded Saint Faustina to write in the 1930’s. It was her job to record everything that He wanted mankind to know about His mercy before He returns to judge the world. To get this great promise one has to go to Confession and then receive Holy Communion on that Feast of Divine Mercy, which has now been called Divine Mercy Sunday throughout the whole Church. Jesus said, “Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary, 300) To receive Communion worthily one should be in the state of grace and without serious sin.
How many today receive Holy Communion with souls stained with mortal sins? When a person receives the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in Holy Communion without first going to Confession to cleanse their souls, that soul is going even deeper into sin. Many have not confessed their sins in a long time so this special promise of a complete pardon is an incentive to come to Him, with trust, before He returns again soon.
In Saint Faustina’s diary, she recorded that Jesus also indicated that He Himself is there in the confessional. He told her, “When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity." (1602)
Jesus knew that people would need to hear these words today, so He went on to say “Come with faith to the feet of My representative...and make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyze what sort of a priest that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light." (1725) "Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy.” (1602)
Many feel that their sins are unforgivable but, Jesus said, “Were a soul like a decaying corpse, so that from a human standpoint, there would be no hope of restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. In the Tribunal of Mercy (the sacrament of Confession) ...the greatest miracles take place and are incessantly repeated." (1448) "Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy.” (1602) Every sin imaginable could be forgiven by Him!
So many people are weighed down by sin and their prideful nature keeps them away from the confession of their sins. They are living in misery. Jesus said, “Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God’s mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late." (1448) "Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace." (1074) "There is no misery that could be a match for My mercy.” (1273) Jesus came to restore sinners and one would be foolish to turn away.
On the evening of His resurrection Jesus appeared to His Apostles and the first thing that He did was to give them the power to forgive sins (John 20:19-31). This is done through the power of the Holy Spirit. For sure it was not the Lord’s intention just for the Apostles to forgive sins but rather for that power to be passed down through the Holy Spirit to the priests of today. That is why Confession is so much of an uplifting experience; we are actually receiving heavenly graces and the forgiveness of sins from the Lord Himself!
Most people haven’t spent much time thinking about the future. Some might think that they are brilliant and successful in this life, but what is that as compared to eternity? The father of lies has everyone focused on this life while not thinking about what happens in the eternal life. If you really want to be wise, think about where you are going to spend eternity. We will be there for quite a long time. Many do not believe in the fires of hell. Unfortunately, those are the ones that usually will end up there. Be wise, think about it!
Remember these words of Jesus, “ I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment." (699) "Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity...tell souls about this great mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day of My justice, is near.” (965) Wake up people of the World, and repent of your sins, this just might be our last hope of salvation!
Contact your local Catholic Church and arrange go to Confession as soon as you can, so that you may be ready always to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, especially on Divine Mercy Sunday, when you can receive the total forgiveness of your sins and punishment!
Robert R. Allard, Director
Apostles of Divine Mercy
Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987 Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.
©Copyright 2002, Apostles of Divine Mercy
1-888-732-0722
Email: robertallard@divinemercysunday.com
Website Design by SiteSynergy
Email: webmaster@sitesynergy.com
There seems to be a very spiritual connection between them, possibly St. Therese of Liseaux, and "Anne" A Lay Apostle, who, with her bishop's permission, has been publishing something called "The Volumes" and three other books. Her website is at Direction For Our Times. I have read some of the Volumes and also her first book, Climbing the Mountain. It is so very refreshing and encouraging to read any of what she has written. She believes she is receiving inner locutions (like a voice, but more like an inspiration outside of one's self -- very possibly how the apostles and disciples wrote the Gospels). She has been instructed by Jesus and Mary to write them down.
There is a little bit of "end times" themes running through some of the things you'll read, but unlike many apocalyptic writings, it is realistic and encouraging. No exact timeline, of course, because our prayers make all the difference. But her visions of Heaven make me want to go right now. The encouragement to do what I am to do exactly where I live is something I need to hear, especially as housewife. Sometimes I need to know that I should work on myself, not on everybody else. It's sort of like that passage about the speck in your neighbor's eye, and not seeing the plank in your own. I'm very guilty of that, and I know should work on myself and my own family first and foremost. These writings encourage me to do God's Will, and do my job exactly where He puts me. I always can tell after the fact, that God put me wherever I am for a reason, and I am to be the best person I can be from that place.
I am going to copy and paste an explanation for Divine Mercy Sunday right here, I hope you all don't mind a rather long post. I thought it was important. Enjoy!
Divine Mercy Sunday
MESSAGE FOR ALL CATHOLICS:
“JESUS IS IN THE CONFESSIONAL”
Despite evil’s attempts at discrediting Catholic Priests, many fallen-away Catholics will soon be returning to the practice of their faith. The reason: the Church’s new feast on the Sunday after Easter. What new feast you might say? It is the “Feast of Divine Mercy”. The Catholic Church has been celebrating this feast ever since the Vatican had made it official on April 30th in the Jubilee year 2000. Why would every Catholic want to come back, you might ask? It is the promise that Jesus Himself made for a complete forgiveness of sins and punishment on that day, even to the most terrible sinner imaginable. God in His great mercy is giving mankind a last chance for salvation.
When did Jesus make this promise and how does one get it? Jesus left all the details in a diary that He commanded Saint Faustina to write in the 1930’s. It was her job to record everything that He wanted mankind to know about His mercy before He returns to judge the world. To get this great promise one has to go to Confession and then receive Holy Communion on that Feast of Divine Mercy, which has now been called Divine Mercy Sunday throughout the whole Church. Jesus said, “Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary, 300) To receive Communion worthily one should be in the state of grace and without serious sin.
How many today receive Holy Communion with souls stained with mortal sins? When a person receives the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in Holy Communion without first going to Confession to cleanse their souls, that soul is going even deeper into sin. Many have not confessed their sins in a long time so this special promise of a complete pardon is an incentive to come to Him, with trust, before He returns again soon.
In Saint Faustina’s diary, she recorded that Jesus also indicated that He Himself is there in the confessional. He told her, “When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity." (1602)
Jesus knew that people would need to hear these words today, so He went on to say “Come with faith to the feet of My representative...and make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyze what sort of a priest that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light." (1725) "Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy.” (1602)
Many feel that their sins are unforgivable but, Jesus said, “Were a soul like a decaying corpse, so that from a human standpoint, there would be no hope of restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. In the Tribunal of Mercy (the sacrament of Confession) ...the greatest miracles take place and are incessantly repeated." (1448) "Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy.” (1602) Every sin imaginable could be forgiven by Him!
So many people are weighed down by sin and their prideful nature keeps them away from the confession of their sins. They are living in misery. Jesus said, “Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God’s mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late." (1448) "Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace." (1074) "There is no misery that could be a match for My mercy.” (1273) Jesus came to restore sinners and one would be foolish to turn away.
On the evening of His resurrection Jesus appeared to His Apostles and the first thing that He did was to give them the power to forgive sins (John 20:19-31). This is done through the power of the Holy Spirit. For sure it was not the Lord’s intention just for the Apostles to forgive sins but rather for that power to be passed down through the Holy Spirit to the priests of today. That is why Confession is so much of an uplifting experience; we are actually receiving heavenly graces and the forgiveness of sins from the Lord Himself!
Most people haven’t spent much time thinking about the future. Some might think that they are brilliant and successful in this life, but what is that as compared to eternity? The father of lies has everyone focused on this life while not thinking about what happens in the eternal life. If you really want to be wise, think about where you are going to spend eternity. We will be there for quite a long time. Many do not believe in the fires of hell. Unfortunately, those are the ones that usually will end up there. Be wise, think about it!
Remember these words of Jesus, “ I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment." (699) "Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity...tell souls about this great mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day of My justice, is near.” (965) Wake up people of the World, and repent of your sins, this just might be our last hope of salvation!
Contact your local Catholic Church and arrange go to Confession as soon as you can, so that you may be ready always to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, especially on Divine Mercy Sunday, when you can receive the total forgiveness of your sins and punishment!
Robert R. Allard, Director
Apostles of Divine Mercy
Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987 Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.
©Copyright 2002, Apostles of Divine Mercy
1-888-732-0722
Email: robertallard@divinemercysunday.com
Website Design by SiteSynergy
Email: webmaster@sitesynergy.com
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Great UN news!!!!
Even the smallest person can change the course of history. -- Galadriel, The Fellowship of the Ring
ZE09040902 - 2009-04-09
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-25617?l=english
Tolkien's Dark Lord at the UN; a Blessed Painter
Hobbit Alliance Brings Triumph of Hope
By Elizabeth Lev
ROME, APRIL 9, 2009 (Zenit.org).- It was an epic tale of triumph worthy of J.R.R. Tolkien. The events at the U.N. Population and Development Commission last week could have been taken straight out of his great trilogy "The Lord of the Rings."
Last week, representatives from 47 countries gathered in New York for the annual meeting of the commission on population and development of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. In view of a world population projected to hit 9 billion in 2050, the commission reviews and assesses the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development approved by the United Nations in 1994.
Behind the optimistic façade of concern for the welfare of a burgeoning population, a darker, most sinister agenda loomed. A new language was insinuating itself amid the hopeful statements of the earlier U.N. documents.
The main agenda item was "sexual and reproductive health and rights" -- the terminology under which many NGOs and U.N. committees promote abortion -- and the codification of a language that would open the door to an array of demands by homosexual activists.
Like the one ring forged by Sauron in the depths of Mount Doom, this term revealed the master plan: "One Ring to rule them all" and to bring them into darkness. Changing the word 'ring' to 'agency,' the specter of the Dark Lord could be replaced by Planned Parenthood, one of the most active NGOs at the meeting.
A prescient few saw the impending menace. Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, noted that "one cannot help but get the impression that populations are seen as the hindrance to greater social and economic development." The prelate also warned that the commission "is giving priority to population control and getting the poor to accept these arrangements rather than primarily focusing upon its commitments to addressing education, basic health care, access to water, sanitation and employment."
But the armies of darkness were strong and seemed invincible. China, Great Britain, Brazil, the Russian Federation, Spain and Germany could be expected to promote this language. The United States, under a new administration in thrall to the culture of death, would use all of its might to advance the reign of Planned Parenthood. All seemed lost.
These international giants, the leaders in economy, development and technology, were certain that no obstacle remained to their plan.
In the statement made by Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, the plan was revealed. She invoked the world financial crisis, and the subsequent difficulty in sustaining programs to improve the health and education of the world's poor. “The financial crisis was threatening to wipe out this hard-won progress."
But her solution was to ensure that "greater attention is paid to population issues and more resources are devoted to women's empowerment and reproductive health, including maternal health care and family planning."
Translating this to the common tongue, her proposal is to teach women that childbearing is dangerous and oppressive; therefore abortion is healthy and liberating. Even the Evil Lord of Mordor never tried to pass off his agenda of death and enslavement of the human race as something "positive" and "empowering."
Obaid then reminded the commission that the Cairo conference had agreed that "every person has the right to sexual and reproductive health," and exhorted the commission "to keep the promise to ensure universal access to reproductive health by 2015."
The great nations nodded and applauded, much like the ring wraiths whose will had long been bound to that of their wicked overlord. The culture of life braced itself to take another loss among the many it had already suffered.
Then help came from an unexpected quarter. Iran took the floor and protested that the "right to sexual and reproductive health" could not be substituted with "sexual and reproductive health and rights."
The Iranian delegate pointed out that this phrase had never been included in any negotiated U.N. document before and urged the commission to revert to previously agreed upon and carefully negotiated language from the original 1994 Program of Action, which is understood not to create any right to abortion.
Immediately four Catholic countries -- Ireland, Peru, Chile and Poland -- picked up Iran's call to strike the wording. It was an unusual alliance, not unlike the dwarves and elves overcoming their differences to fight the common enemy.
Although the Christian community and Iran find themselves opposed on many issues, it was a heartening vision to see the diverse nations cooperating in defense of alliance and dialogue through the culture of life.
But as in Tolkien's great adventure of the fellowship of the nine, it was the smallest of all that saved the day. Like the four indomitable hobbits of Tolkien's epic, the Holy See (a tiny 104-acre state), Comoros (which I had to look up on Googlemaps -- it's in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar) Santa Lucia and Malta all joined the fellowship to break the stranglehold of the forces of evil.
These four hobbit-like states, whose collective national products probably don't equal the operating budget for Planned Parenthood, spoke loudly and convincingly. Malta decried the consistent attempts by the commission to expand "reproductive health" to include abortion.
The delegate from Santa Lucia saw to the heart of the proposed wording and stressed that her delegation understood that this provision did not threaten the right of health care providers to refuse to perform or be complicit in abortions as a matter of conscience.
As Galadrial said to the wavering Frodo, "even the smallest person can change the course of the future."
At the last moment at the close of the meeting, the ring of power was thrown back into the fires of Mount Doom from whence it came. "Sexual and reproductive health and rights" was struck from the text.
In these days of imminent conscience coercion, massive government funding of abortion and other gloomy signs on the horizon, this little fellowship at the United Nations demonstrated what Tolkien's characters whisper during the darkest hours and Pope Benedict XVI exclaims from nation to nation: "There is still hope."
ZE09040902 - 2009-04-09
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-25617?l=english
Tolkien's Dark Lord at the UN; a Blessed Painter
Hobbit Alliance Brings Triumph of Hope
By Elizabeth Lev
ROME, APRIL 9, 2009 (Zenit.org).- It was an epic tale of triumph worthy of J.R.R. Tolkien. The events at the U.N. Population and Development Commission last week could have been taken straight out of his great trilogy "The Lord of the Rings."
Last week, representatives from 47 countries gathered in New York for the annual meeting of the commission on population and development of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. In view of a world population projected to hit 9 billion in 2050, the commission reviews and assesses the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development approved by the United Nations in 1994.
Behind the optimistic façade of concern for the welfare of a burgeoning population, a darker, most sinister agenda loomed. A new language was insinuating itself amid the hopeful statements of the earlier U.N. documents.
The main agenda item was "sexual and reproductive health and rights" -- the terminology under which many NGOs and U.N. committees promote abortion -- and the codification of a language that would open the door to an array of demands by homosexual activists.
Like the one ring forged by Sauron in the depths of Mount Doom, this term revealed the master plan: "One Ring to rule them all" and to bring them into darkness. Changing the word 'ring' to 'agency,' the specter of the Dark Lord could be replaced by Planned Parenthood, one of the most active NGOs at the meeting.
A prescient few saw the impending menace. Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, noted that "one cannot help but get the impression that populations are seen as the hindrance to greater social and economic development." The prelate also warned that the commission "is giving priority to population control and getting the poor to accept these arrangements rather than primarily focusing upon its commitments to addressing education, basic health care, access to water, sanitation and employment."
But the armies of darkness were strong and seemed invincible. China, Great Britain, Brazil, the Russian Federation, Spain and Germany could be expected to promote this language. The United States, under a new administration in thrall to the culture of death, would use all of its might to advance the reign of Planned Parenthood. All seemed lost.
These international giants, the leaders in economy, development and technology, were certain that no obstacle remained to their plan.
In the statement made by Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, the plan was revealed. She invoked the world financial crisis, and the subsequent difficulty in sustaining programs to improve the health and education of the world's poor. “The financial crisis was threatening to wipe out this hard-won progress."
But her solution was to ensure that "greater attention is paid to population issues and more resources are devoted to women's empowerment and reproductive health, including maternal health care and family planning."
Translating this to the common tongue, her proposal is to teach women that childbearing is dangerous and oppressive; therefore abortion is healthy and liberating. Even the Evil Lord of Mordor never tried to pass off his agenda of death and enslavement of the human race as something "positive" and "empowering."
Obaid then reminded the commission that the Cairo conference had agreed that "every person has the right to sexual and reproductive health," and exhorted the commission "to keep the promise to ensure universal access to reproductive health by 2015."
The great nations nodded and applauded, much like the ring wraiths whose will had long been bound to that of their wicked overlord. The culture of life braced itself to take another loss among the many it had already suffered.
Then help came from an unexpected quarter. Iran took the floor and protested that the "right to sexual and reproductive health" could not be substituted with "sexual and reproductive health and rights."
The Iranian delegate pointed out that this phrase had never been included in any negotiated U.N. document before and urged the commission to revert to previously agreed upon and carefully negotiated language from the original 1994 Program of Action, which is understood not to create any right to abortion.
Immediately four Catholic countries -- Ireland, Peru, Chile and Poland -- picked up Iran's call to strike the wording. It was an unusual alliance, not unlike the dwarves and elves overcoming their differences to fight the common enemy.
Although the Christian community and Iran find themselves opposed on many issues, it was a heartening vision to see the diverse nations cooperating in defense of alliance and dialogue through the culture of life.
But as in Tolkien's great adventure of the fellowship of the nine, it was the smallest of all that saved the day. Like the four indomitable hobbits of Tolkien's epic, the Holy See (a tiny 104-acre state), Comoros (which I had to look up on Googlemaps -- it's in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar) Santa Lucia and Malta all joined the fellowship to break the stranglehold of the forces of evil.
These four hobbit-like states, whose collective national products probably don't equal the operating budget for Planned Parenthood, spoke loudly and convincingly. Malta decried the consistent attempts by the commission to expand "reproductive health" to include abortion.
The delegate from Santa Lucia saw to the heart of the proposed wording and stressed that her delegation understood that this provision did not threaten the right of health care providers to refuse to perform or be complicit in abortions as a matter of conscience.
As Galadrial said to the wavering Frodo, "even the smallest person can change the course of the future."
At the last moment at the close of the meeting, the ring of power was thrown back into the fires of Mount Doom from whence it came. "Sexual and reproductive health and rights" was struck from the text.
In these days of imminent conscience coercion, massive government funding of abortion and other gloomy signs on the horizon, this little fellowship at the United Nations demonstrated what Tolkien's characters whisper during the darkest hours and Pope Benedict XVI exclaims from nation to nation: "There is still hope."
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Happy Easter Vigil 2009
The Catholic Church, even in America, continues to grow. They must know something the usual media suspects don't. :)
www.catholicnewsagency.com
Catholic Church prepares for tens of thousands of U.S. converts
Washington D.C., Apr 1, 2009 / 04:09 am (CNA).- Tens of thousands of new Catholics are expected to join the Catholic Church in the U.S. in 2009, with many doing so at the Easter Vigil liturgies on April 11. Converts to Catholicism are known as catechumens if they have never been baptized and as candidates if they have received baptism in another Christian community and now seek full communion with the Catholic Church.
The Archdiocese of Atlanta, where Catholics have traditionally been a minority, estimates that 513 catechumens and 2,195 candidates will enter the Catholic Church in 2009, about 1,800 doing so at Easter. The figures do not include infant baptisms.
Father Theodore Book, director of the Office of Divine Worship for the Atlanta Archdiocese, said the archdiocese has been “blessed with an authentic dynamism” during recent years. He cited the archdiocese’s annual Eucharistic Congress, saying it draws nearly 30,000 participants.
“One of the many blessings that we have received from the Lord is the large number of individuals entering the Church,” he said.
The Archdiocese of Seattle will reportedly welcome 736 catechumens and 506 candidates, while the Diocese of San Diego will baptize 305 and receive into communion 920 other baptized Christians.
The mostly rural Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama reportedly will have 445 new converts. The diocese’s Cathedral of St. Paul could not hold them and their families for the Rite of Election, which had to be held in three separate ceremonies.
At St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, California resident Heidi Sierras will represent North America at the Easter Vigil, where she will be baptized by Pope Benedict XVI.
The 2008 Official Catholic Directory listed 49,415 adult baptisms and 87,363 people received into full communion in 2007.
Copyright @ CNA
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com)
Friday, March 27, 2009
Protestants Defending Catholics -- thank you!
I really liked reading this today. This is much bigger news than it is being given credit for. God bless them, every one.
It's nice to know such wonderful people have noticed and will stand up for us.
BreakPoint.org
Statement of Protestant Leaders Against Anti-Catholic Bigotry
As Protestant Christians and as Americans, we condemn the grotesque anti-Catholic bigotry that is now on display as a result of the Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding the constitutionality of the federal law prohibiting partial-birth abortion.
We denounce as particularly odious a cartoon published by the Philadelphia Inquirer depicting the five justices who formed the majority in the case wearing Catholic bishops’ mitres. Scarcely less offensive were the comments of law professor, and former University of Chicago Law School Dean, Geoff Stone identifying the Catholic religious affiliation of the justices forming the majority and accusing these distinguished and honorable jurists of imposing their religion rather than faithfully interpreting the Constitution.
We believe it is our particular duty to condemn the bigotry we are now witnessing in view of the history of anti-Catholicism in our nation. It is a stain on the Protestant Christian conscience that at one time many of our people accepted the vile teachings of Paul Blanshard in his book American Freedom and Catholic Power, and supported the anti-Catholic agenda of the group founded by Blanshard and others that now styles itself “Americans United for Separation of Church and State” (formerly known as Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State).
Just as Pope John Paul II acknowledged past injustices committed by Catholics, or committed in the name of Catholicism, against Protestants, Jews, and others and pledged to work against any revival of these injustices, we acknowledge past Protestant prejudices against Catholics and pledge to fight against the anti-Catholic bigotry we are now witnessing. Our Catholic brothers and sisters will not have to wait to hear our voices forcefully raised against the bigotry now directed against them.
Because evil begets evil, we are not surprised that bigotry would emerge among those who have placed themselves in the service of the moral abomination known as partial-birth abortion. For our part, we praise any judge, statesman, or citizen—irrespective of religious affiliation—who steps forward to tell the truth about the injustice of this horrific practice, or to expose the lie that baby-killing is somehow protected by our Constitution.
We call on our fellow Protestant Christians of every denomination—including those denominations that do not share our view that the life of the child in the womb must be honored and protected by law—to join with us in condemning the new anti-Catholicism that has, in the aftermath of the partial-birth abortion decision, reared its ugly head. We hope that no Protestant Christian will bring shame on himself or herself and on the great tradition of Reformed Christianity by participating in this appalling bigotry or remaining mute in the face of it.
We also call on groups that present themselves as enemies of prejudice, including “Americans United for Separation of Church and State,” to join with us in condemning the Philadelphia Inquirer cartoon and other manifestations of anti-Catholic bigotry. This is a time of testing for them. Are they selective opponents of prejudice? Do they regard anti-Catholicism as an acceptable form of bigotry? Are they content to see Catholics treated in ways that they would be the first to condemn if the victims were members of other religious traditions or minorities? By responding or failing to respond to our plea to them to join us in condemning the injustice being suffered by our Catholic fellow citizens, we will soon know whether their claim to oppose prejudice and bigotry is an honest one or mere hypocrisy.
Signed//
Gary Bauer
President, American Values
Bishop Wellington Boone
Wellington Boone Ministries
Dick Bott
President, Bott Radio Network
Phil Burress
President, Citizens for Community Values
Dr. Dale Burroughs
President, Biblical Heritage Institute
Alan Chambers
President, Exodus International
Charles W. Colson
Founder, PFM
David Crowe
Director, Restore America
Elizabeth Harmer Dionne
Executive Director, Legacy Law Foundation
Mark L. Earley
President, PFM
Diane Gramley
President, American Family Association of Pennsylvania
Colin A. Hanna
President, Let Freedom Ring, Inc.
Cathi Herrod
President, The Center for Arizona Policy
Dr. John A. Huffman
Pastor, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, California
Dr. Kenneth Hutcherson
Pastor, Antioch Bible Church, Antioch, Washington
Phillip L. Jauregui
President, Judicial Action Group
Warren Kelley, President
Point of View Radio Ministries
Rod D. Martin, J.D.
Founder and Chairman, TheVanguard.Org
Dean Nelson
Executive Director, Network of Politically Active Christians
Dr. Frank S. Page
President, Southern Baptist Convention
Tony Perkins
President, Family Research Council
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon
Chairman, Traditional Values Coalition
Ron Shuping
Exec. VP of Programming, The Inspiration Networks
John Stemberger
President & General Counsel, Florida Family Policy Council
Jim Tonkowich
President, Institute for Religion and Democracy
Rick Warren
Pastor, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California
Dr. Hayes Wicker
Pastor, First Baptist Church Naples, Naples, Florida
Donald E. Wildmon
Founder and Chairman, American Family Association
Dr. Frank Wright
President & CEO, National Religious Broadcasters
Wendy Wright
President, Concerned Women for America
It's nice to know such wonderful people have noticed and will stand up for us.
BreakPoint.org
Statement of Protestant Leaders Against Anti-Catholic Bigotry
As Protestant Christians and as Americans, we condemn the grotesque anti-Catholic bigotry that is now on display as a result of the Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding the constitutionality of the federal law prohibiting partial-birth abortion.
We denounce as particularly odious a cartoon published by the Philadelphia Inquirer depicting the five justices who formed the majority in the case wearing Catholic bishops’ mitres. Scarcely less offensive were the comments of law professor, and former University of Chicago Law School Dean, Geoff Stone identifying the Catholic religious affiliation of the justices forming the majority and accusing these distinguished and honorable jurists of imposing their religion rather than faithfully interpreting the Constitution.
We believe it is our particular duty to condemn the bigotry we are now witnessing in view of the history of anti-Catholicism in our nation. It is a stain on the Protestant Christian conscience that at one time many of our people accepted the vile teachings of Paul Blanshard in his book American Freedom and Catholic Power, and supported the anti-Catholic agenda of the group founded by Blanshard and others that now styles itself “Americans United for Separation of Church and State” (formerly known as Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State).
Just as Pope John Paul II acknowledged past injustices committed by Catholics, or committed in the name of Catholicism, against Protestants, Jews, and others and pledged to work against any revival of these injustices, we acknowledge past Protestant prejudices against Catholics and pledge to fight against the anti-Catholic bigotry we are now witnessing. Our Catholic brothers and sisters will not have to wait to hear our voices forcefully raised against the bigotry now directed against them.
Because evil begets evil, we are not surprised that bigotry would emerge among those who have placed themselves in the service of the moral abomination known as partial-birth abortion. For our part, we praise any judge, statesman, or citizen—irrespective of religious affiliation—who steps forward to tell the truth about the injustice of this horrific practice, or to expose the lie that baby-killing is somehow protected by our Constitution.
We call on our fellow Protestant Christians of every denomination—including those denominations that do not share our view that the life of the child in the womb must be honored and protected by law—to join with us in condemning the new anti-Catholicism that has, in the aftermath of the partial-birth abortion decision, reared its ugly head. We hope that no Protestant Christian will bring shame on himself or herself and on the great tradition of Reformed Christianity by participating in this appalling bigotry or remaining mute in the face of it.
We also call on groups that present themselves as enemies of prejudice, including “Americans United for Separation of Church and State,” to join with us in condemning the Philadelphia Inquirer cartoon and other manifestations of anti-Catholic bigotry. This is a time of testing for them. Are they selective opponents of prejudice? Do they regard anti-Catholicism as an acceptable form of bigotry? Are they content to see Catholics treated in ways that they would be the first to condemn if the victims were members of other religious traditions or minorities? By responding or failing to respond to our plea to them to join us in condemning the injustice being suffered by our Catholic fellow citizens, we will soon know whether their claim to oppose prejudice and bigotry is an honest one or mere hypocrisy.
Signed//
Gary Bauer
President, American Values
Bishop Wellington Boone
Wellington Boone Ministries
Dick Bott
President, Bott Radio Network
Phil Burress
President, Citizens for Community Values
Dr. Dale Burroughs
President, Biblical Heritage Institute
Alan Chambers
President, Exodus International
Charles W. Colson
Founder, PFM
David Crowe
Director, Restore America
Elizabeth Harmer Dionne
Executive Director, Legacy Law Foundation
Mark L. Earley
President, PFM
Diane Gramley
President, American Family Association of Pennsylvania
Colin A. Hanna
President, Let Freedom Ring, Inc.
Cathi Herrod
President, The Center for Arizona Policy
Dr. John A. Huffman
Pastor, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, California
Dr. Kenneth Hutcherson
Pastor, Antioch Bible Church, Antioch, Washington
Phillip L. Jauregui
President, Judicial Action Group
Warren Kelley, President
Point of View Radio Ministries
Rod D. Martin, J.D.
Founder and Chairman, TheVanguard.Org
Dean Nelson
Executive Director, Network of Politically Active Christians
Dr. Frank S. Page
President, Southern Baptist Convention
Tony Perkins
President, Family Research Council
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon
Chairman, Traditional Values Coalition
Ron Shuping
Exec. VP of Programming, The Inspiration Networks
John Stemberger
President & General Counsel, Florida Family Policy Council
Jim Tonkowich
President, Institute for Religion and Democracy
Rick Warren
Pastor, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California
Dr. Hayes Wicker
Pastor, First Baptist Church Naples, Naples, Florida
Donald E. Wildmon
Founder and Chairman, American Family Association
Dr. Frank Wright
President & CEO, National Religious Broadcasters
Wendy Wright
President, Concerned Women for America
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Spiritual and Physical Preparedness
There's a fine line between paranoia and preparedness,and I've been thinking about that a bit lately. I have food in my house to last a month, probably, especially if the power stays on and therefore, the freezer. It's really good to have food for a month in your house. It gives you a sense of security. I bought rice and beans and an emergency kit of food from Costco that has a shelf life of 20 years. In 20 years, if we haven't used it, it's also good for boy scout camp-outs, which we very well may be doing still.
I found this article very interesting. I've never heard of Our Lady of Kibeho, but it sounds like something people should read about. It happened in Rwanda, before the crazy massacres that followed. So sad, but they are actual Vatican approved apparitions. Why does no one care what happens in Africa? Well, we will care, because it seems like half our priests are from there now. They will do for us what we once did for them, change hearts and minds and lead others to Christ.
Please realize that the link below does not call for panic. It calls for waking up and smelling the coffee, and not just hoping things will get better soon. I, too, see things that make me think of the Y2K scare. I realize that some things are just silly. But I also think having things around you need in case you can't go to the store is a good thing. Blizzards, earthquakes, and the like happen everywhere. It's no fun to rely on the government in an emergency if it can't help you, like during Hurricane Katrina. Rely on Jesus, and your community, and yourself. It's much more likely to pay off.
See here: http://www.spiritdaily.com/prudentpreparation.htm
I found this article very interesting. I've never heard of Our Lady of Kibeho, but it sounds like something people should read about. It happened in Rwanda, before the crazy massacres that followed. So sad, but they are actual Vatican approved apparitions. Why does no one care what happens in Africa? Well, we will care, because it seems like half our priests are from there now. They will do for us what we once did for them, change hearts and minds and lead others to Christ.
Please realize that the link below does not call for panic. It calls for waking up and smelling the coffee, and not just hoping things will get better soon. I, too, see things that make me think of the Y2K scare. I realize that some things are just silly. But I also think having things around you need in case you can't go to the store is a good thing. Blizzards, earthquakes, and the like happen everywhere. It's no fun to rely on the government in an emergency if it can't help you, like during Hurricane Katrina. Rely on Jesus, and your community, and yourself. It's much more likely to pay off.
See here: http://www.spiritdaily.com/prudentpreparation.htm
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Comforting Words
I have recently seen it written or said, "If the country fails, we still belong to the Kingdom."
Also, I'm definitely watching too much Battlestar Galactica lately, because today while Gabe was doing his religion work, "Amen" was defined as, "As you say", or "So be it". And I keep thinking...
So say we all? So say we all.
From www.studiobrien.com, the website of Michael O'Brien, Catholic author extraordinaire...
The Word of God is living and active...
Written by Michael D. O'Brien
The night has passed away, day is at hand;
cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
(Romans 13: 12)
Whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed
but glorify God because of the name. For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of God;
if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail to obey
the Gospel of God?
(1 Peter 4: 16-17)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him
and he will make straight your paths.
(Proverbs 3: 5-6)
O Most High, when I begin to fear,
in you will I trust.
(Psalm 56: 4)
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
(John 1: 1-5)
Jesus, you are the Light shining in our darkness
and the darkness cannot overcome you.
Dwell in us, we pray, that we might be light bearers
for your name's sake
and for the good of all those whom we meet.
Also, I'm definitely watching too much Battlestar Galactica lately, because today while Gabe was doing his religion work, "Amen" was defined as, "As you say", or "So be it". And I keep thinking...
So say we all? So say we all.
From www.studiobrien.com, the website of Michael O'Brien, Catholic author extraordinaire...
The Word of God is living and active...
Written by Michael D. O'Brien
The night has passed away, day is at hand;
cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
(Romans 13: 12)
Whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed
but glorify God because of the name. For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of God;
if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail to obey
the Gospel of God?
(1 Peter 4: 16-17)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him
and he will make straight your paths.
(Proverbs 3: 5-6)
O Most High, when I begin to fear,
in you will I trust.
(Psalm 56: 4)
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
(John 1: 1-5)
Jesus, you are the Light shining in our darkness
and the darkness cannot overcome you.
Dwell in us, we pray, that we might be light bearers
for your name's sake
and for the good of all those whom we meet.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Pray for Pope Benedict XVI
I saw this on Spirit Daily today. I thought this kind of harrassment was going to end, since people often get uppity about things for a week or two, and then drop it. But I think our Pope is in serious trouble, and is probably feeling like
Christ is his only friend these days.
Please pray for the Pope. From what I can see, he is doing his ACTUAL job beautifully. It just so happens that many people do not understand what his job is.
Pray for the Pope!
» 02/26/2009 14:12
VATICAN
At Lent, let us pray for the Pope
Bernardo Cervellera
A group of Muslim converts to Christianity asked us to pray for Benedict XVI, who is under attack from all sides. Non-Catholic Churches, progressives and traditionalists, politicians and radicals are all casting stones at the scapegoat of the week. With ideologies and economies in crisis, this is the last attempt to remove a champion of the dignity of man and God himself.
Rome (AsiaNews) – For this Lent we are inviting our readers to devote a special prayer for Pope Benedict XVI. The idea came to us from a number of Muslim converts to Christianity who wrote to AsiaNews launching a novena for the Pontiff. They see in Benedict XVI as a “defender of the weak” and “a sign of Jesus’ love” in a world that is trying to attack him every which way. As new converts they too are among the weak, forced to hide their conversion even from their family. Moreover, the Pope himself had asked for a special prayer.
On the day the Church celebrated the Chair of Peter (22 February), Benedict XVI spoke to pilgrims in St Peter’s Square during the Angelus, asking them to “accompany me with your prayers so that I may faithfully accomplish the high task Divine Providence has placed upon me as Successor to the Apostle Peter” and bishop of Rome. Indeed, the Church is “called to fulfil a special service for the People of God as a whole.”
We all know how difficult ecumenism, the struggle for Christian unity, can be. Every step the Pope takes is met by coldness, indifference and prevarication from other Churches. Here is one example among many. Despite Benedict XVI’s many prayers and attention, the new Orthodox patriarch of Moscow said, a day after his election, that a trip by the Pontiff to Moscow was not possible for the foreseeable future.
The Pope’s search for unity also suffers from trying to hold together various Catholic strands, still too much divided (perhaps confused) between “progressive” and “traditionalists”, “North” and “South”, “rich” and “poor”, each missing the chance of respecting one another other, and acting as one in bearing witness to the faith in a world that is increasingly becoming atheistic.
The lifting of the excommunication on Lefebvrist Bishop Williamson gave many politicians, big and small, an opportunity to accuse the Pope of anti-Semitism, without getting their facts straight or realising that Benedict XVI is the one who build a strong relationship with the Jewish world over the years. It is almost as if everyone got together to cast stones against the scapegoat of the week. In fact Benedict XVI is one of the few voices saying that humans cannot be bought by politics or that the state must serve the public good.
In a continent like Europe where plans are underway to introduce euthanasia and eugenics, the Pope has insisted that “Man will always be greater than all that which makes up his body.” He has slammed the mindset that views life and personal dignity as “based [only] on one's own desire and individual freedom,” giving precedence to the “active faculties, to proficiency, to physical perfection and beauty.”
In all these “incidents” there may have been some errors or clumsiness by the Roman Curia, but in the “war” against Benedict XVI there is above all an attempt to stifle those who tell everyone that there is an absolute value in human beings.
As crises overtake ideologies and economies, overwhelming the world, this is the latest attempt to get rid of God as if he was a final burden.
Photo: CPP
Christ is his only friend these days.
Please pray for the Pope. From what I can see, he is doing his ACTUAL job beautifully. It just so happens that many people do not understand what his job is.
Pray for the Pope!
» 02/26/2009 14:12
VATICAN
At Lent, let us pray for the Pope
Bernardo Cervellera
A group of Muslim converts to Christianity asked us to pray for Benedict XVI, who is under attack from all sides. Non-Catholic Churches, progressives and traditionalists, politicians and radicals are all casting stones at the scapegoat of the week. With ideologies and economies in crisis, this is the last attempt to remove a champion of the dignity of man and God himself.
Rome (AsiaNews) – For this Lent we are inviting our readers to devote a special prayer for Pope Benedict XVI. The idea came to us from a number of Muslim converts to Christianity who wrote to AsiaNews launching a novena for the Pontiff. They see in Benedict XVI as a “defender of the weak” and “a sign of Jesus’ love” in a world that is trying to attack him every which way. As new converts they too are among the weak, forced to hide their conversion even from their family. Moreover, the Pope himself had asked for a special prayer.
On the day the Church celebrated the Chair of Peter (22 February), Benedict XVI spoke to pilgrims in St Peter’s Square during the Angelus, asking them to “accompany me with your prayers so that I may faithfully accomplish the high task Divine Providence has placed upon me as Successor to the Apostle Peter” and bishop of Rome. Indeed, the Church is “called to fulfil a special service for the People of God as a whole.”
We all know how difficult ecumenism, the struggle for Christian unity, can be. Every step the Pope takes is met by coldness, indifference and prevarication from other Churches. Here is one example among many. Despite Benedict XVI’s many prayers and attention, the new Orthodox patriarch of Moscow said, a day after his election, that a trip by the Pontiff to Moscow was not possible for the foreseeable future.
The Pope’s search for unity also suffers from trying to hold together various Catholic strands, still too much divided (perhaps confused) between “progressive” and “traditionalists”, “North” and “South”, “rich” and “poor”, each missing the chance of respecting one another other, and acting as one in bearing witness to the faith in a world that is increasingly becoming atheistic.
The lifting of the excommunication on Lefebvrist Bishop Williamson gave many politicians, big and small, an opportunity to accuse the Pope of anti-Semitism, without getting their facts straight or realising that Benedict XVI is the one who build a strong relationship with the Jewish world over the years. It is almost as if everyone got together to cast stones against the scapegoat of the week. In fact Benedict XVI is one of the few voices saying that humans cannot be bought by politics or that the state must serve the public good.
In a continent like Europe where plans are underway to introduce euthanasia and eugenics, the Pope has insisted that “Man will always be greater than all that which makes up his body.” He has slammed the mindset that views life and personal dignity as “based [only] on one's own desire and individual freedom,” giving precedence to the “active faculties, to proficiency, to physical perfection and beauty.”
In all these “incidents” there may have been some errors or clumsiness by the Roman Curia, but in the “war” against Benedict XVI there is above all an attempt to stifle those who tell everyone that there is an absolute value in human beings.
As crises overtake ideologies and economies, overwhelming the world, this is the latest attempt to get rid of God as if he was a final burden.
Photo: CPP
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Lenten update
Here's a cute picture just to focus on the peace I hope to achieve during Lent.
I'm really not sure when I'm going to be making my Lenten plans.
I do know that I would like very much to have them figured out. I think I need to look at some books and make some easy plans. There is a soup supper and Stations of the Cross over at our parish on Fridays this Lent, and I'd like to make it to those. Tomorrow, being Ash Wednesday, I can go to Mass and then babysit for a good part of the day for my friend Rikki. Good thing we had a good homeschooling day today.
My Lenten commitment is really going to be not yelling at the kids. I know, I know, that's a silly one. First, of COURSE I should not yell at them. Um... yeah. But secondly, can I really do better? We will soon find out. I will also limit my online time much more severely, at least for six weeks. The other thing we need to do is PURGE. I am so going through their TOYS!! Oh. My. Goodness. We do not need this many tiny toys for me to step on. We are going to decide which ones we truly love and get rid of the rest. I mean it this time! Tantrum, tantrum, tantrum.
Rikki showed up this morning with strings of real Mardi Gras beads from New Orleans. She and her husband went some years ago, and they still had quite a bundle, which my children are in love with. They really are fun to see. Someday I'd like to go see the real thing.
In other news, while I am not naming this relative here, I'd like you to pray for them. A relative of mine (not immediate family) is considering Catholicism as a home for the family. They were not raised Christian, but do love God, whatever you may call Him. They have a deep sense of the mystic and spiritual. I am very excited for them and plan to send a little package this Lent. And only really because of Facebook are we even having that conversation. God is so good.
Enjoy Fat Tuesday, see you during Lent!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Pelosi and the Pope
I'd been following it anyway, but The Common Room also noticed this and wondered why this trip was being paid for by taxpayers. That is a very good question. Why can't they do more phone calls these days? Those are expensive trips!
But in any case, this is a pretty good article about what transpired. The culture wars cometh, I tell ya. I mean, they are already here, but I think they are going to get much, much nastier when people finally get fed up and say, "No, you may NOT do this." And then follow through. The follow through is going to be beastly. It's like finally deciding to discipline one's brat of a kid after 10 years of spoiling him. When you finally crack down, it's like the end of the world, so you put it off til you are good and ready.
I'm ready.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Were They At The Same Meeting? [George Weigel]
From the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:
It is with great joy that my husband, Paul, and I met with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, today. In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the Church’s leadership in fighting poverty, hunger, and global warming, as well as the Holy Father’s dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel. I was proud to show His Holiness a photograph of my family’s papal visit in the 1950s, as well as a recent picture of our children and grandchildren.
From the Press Office of the Holy See:
Following the General Audience, the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage. His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception until natural death, which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists, and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of development.
Were Benedict XVI and Nancy Pelosi in the same meeting, or even in the same city, this morning?
Charity requires that one concede the possibility that genuine piety was a part of Pelosi’s (rather boorish, and certainly irregular) insistence on being given a private moment with the pope during her current taxpayer-funded junket to Rome. But her office’s statement on today’s meeting makes it clear something else was afoot: that Pelosi, who shamelessly trumpets her “ardent” Catholicism while leading congressional Democrats in a continuing assault on what the Catholic Church regards as the inalienable human rights of the unborn, was trying to recruit Benedict XVI (“Joseph Ratzinger, D., Bavaria”?) to Team Nancy.
His Holiness wasn’t buying it.
He told Pelosi, politely but unmistakably, that her relentlessly pro-abortion politics put her in serious difficulties as a Catholic, which was his obligation as a pastor. He also underscored — for Pelosi, Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barbara Mikulski, Rose DeLauro, Kathleen Sebelius, and everyone else — that the Church’s opposition to the taking of innocent human life, at any stage of the human journey, is not some weird Catholic hocus-pocus; it’s a first principle of justice than can be known by reason. It is a “requirement of the natural moral law” — that is, the moral truths we can know by thinking about what is right and what is wrong — to defend the inviolability of innocent human life. You don’t have to believe in papal primacy to know that; you don’t have do believe in seven sacraments, or the episcopal structure of the Church, or the divinity of Christ, to know that. You don’t even have to believe in God to know that. You only have to be a morally serious human being, willing to work through a moral argument — which, of course, means being the kind of person who understands that moral truth cannot be reduced to questions of feminist political correctness or partisan political advantage.
As her performance on Meet the Press prior to last year’s Democratic national convention made painfully clear, Pelosi is deeply confused about what her church teaches on the morality of abortion, and why. She may have come to her bizarre views on her own; it’s far more likely that she has been un-catechized, so to speak, by Catholic intellectuals and clerics who find Catholic teaching on life issues an embarrassment among their high-minded friends and colleagues of the progressive persuasion. Whatever the source of her confusion, Pelosi has now been informed, and by a world-class intellectual who happens to be the universal pastor of the Catholic Church, that she is, in fact, confused, and that both her spiritual life and her public service are in jeopardy because of that.
Moreover, it is reasonable to assume that Pope Benedict did not have only Pelosi in mind when he said what he had to say about the obligations of moral reason and the duties of statesmanship. President Obama is not a Catholic, but he should understand that he will get the same message if, as expected, he meets with His Holiness later this year.
— George Weigel is distinguished senior fellow of Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.
02/18 11:19 AM
But in any case, this is a pretty good article about what transpired. The culture wars cometh, I tell ya. I mean, they are already here, but I think they are going to get much, much nastier when people finally get fed up and say, "No, you may NOT do this." And then follow through. The follow through is going to be beastly. It's like finally deciding to discipline one's brat of a kid after 10 years of spoiling him. When you finally crack down, it's like the end of the world, so you put it off til you are good and ready.
I'm ready.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Were They At The Same Meeting? [George Weigel]
From the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:
It is with great joy that my husband, Paul, and I met with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, today. In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the Church’s leadership in fighting poverty, hunger, and global warming, as well as the Holy Father’s dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel. I was proud to show His Holiness a photograph of my family’s papal visit in the 1950s, as well as a recent picture of our children and grandchildren.
From the Press Office of the Holy See:
Following the General Audience, the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage. His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception until natural death, which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists, and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of development.
Were Benedict XVI and Nancy Pelosi in the same meeting, or even in the same city, this morning?
Charity requires that one concede the possibility that genuine piety was a part of Pelosi’s (rather boorish, and certainly irregular) insistence on being given a private moment with the pope during her current taxpayer-funded junket to Rome. But her office’s statement on today’s meeting makes it clear something else was afoot: that Pelosi, who shamelessly trumpets her “ardent” Catholicism while leading congressional Democrats in a continuing assault on what the Catholic Church regards as the inalienable human rights of the unborn, was trying to recruit Benedict XVI (“Joseph Ratzinger, D., Bavaria”?) to Team Nancy.
His Holiness wasn’t buying it.
He told Pelosi, politely but unmistakably, that her relentlessly pro-abortion politics put her in serious difficulties as a Catholic, which was his obligation as a pastor. He also underscored — for Pelosi, Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barbara Mikulski, Rose DeLauro, Kathleen Sebelius, and everyone else — that the Church’s opposition to the taking of innocent human life, at any stage of the human journey, is not some weird Catholic hocus-pocus; it’s a first principle of justice than can be known by reason. It is a “requirement of the natural moral law” — that is, the moral truths we can know by thinking about what is right and what is wrong — to defend the inviolability of innocent human life. You don’t have to believe in papal primacy to know that; you don’t have do believe in seven sacraments, or the episcopal structure of the Church, or the divinity of Christ, to know that. You don’t even have to believe in God to know that. You only have to be a morally serious human being, willing to work through a moral argument — which, of course, means being the kind of person who understands that moral truth cannot be reduced to questions of feminist political correctness or partisan political advantage.
As her performance on Meet the Press prior to last year’s Democratic national convention made painfully clear, Pelosi is deeply confused about what her church teaches on the morality of abortion, and why. She may have come to her bizarre views on her own; it’s far more likely that she has been un-catechized, so to speak, by Catholic intellectuals and clerics who find Catholic teaching on life issues an embarrassment among their high-minded friends and colleagues of the progressive persuasion. Whatever the source of her confusion, Pelosi has now been informed, and by a world-class intellectual who happens to be the universal pastor of the Catholic Church, that she is, in fact, confused, and that both her spiritual life and her public service are in jeopardy because of that.
Moreover, it is reasonable to assume that Pope Benedict did not have only Pelosi in mind when he said what he had to say about the obligations of moral reason and the duties of statesmanship. President Obama is not a Catholic, but he should understand that he will get the same message if, as expected, he meets with His Holiness later this year.
— George Weigel is distinguished senior fellow of Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies.
02/18 11:19 AM
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Lent!
It's almost here! What shall I do???
My friend Holly says that on Fridays, they try to turn out all the lights starting at 3pm and then use candles and go to bed early. I liked that idea. I also want to actually make it to the soup suppers and things they do at our church. I never make it to those things. I wonder if I will this year.
My friend Adrianne tells me it's a great time to actually attempt the Rosary every night and see if it will stick. The kids are all for it, it's their mom who's a bit recalcitrant.
Speaking of Rosary, this is how it went last week:
It might be a REALLY good time for me to conquer a to-do list and offer it up to God. I think that is my main thing. And maybe I should put a quarter in a jar for every time I yell at the kids for no really good reason. Then I can pay off that vacation from last summer, I bet. Hmmm....
I decided that I would like very much to watch our Lord of the Rings DVD collection during Lent with my husband. Obviously, the story of Christianity is very deeply interwoven in the stories of Middle Earth. But also, the sheer tenacity and determination in the face of the whole world telling you you can't possibly do something you know you must do, is what everyone needs to see. I've become more and more convicted that this is not the first time the world has gone mad. Sometimes amazing people have to stand up for what is right, even if they feel all alone.
40 Days for Life in my town starts on Ash Wednesday, too. Pray, pray unceasingly. It has now spread to several countries, and is becoming bigger all the time. I intend to be there, but I have to work out the details. I've decided that bringing kids is a bit much most days, unless it's a big gathering or vigil.
God, help us to love you so very much during this Lenten season. Pray, my friends. It's all we can really do, and it may ultimately be what matters most.
My friend Holly says that on Fridays, they try to turn out all the lights starting at 3pm and then use candles and go to bed early. I liked that idea. I also want to actually make it to the soup suppers and things they do at our church. I never make it to those things. I wonder if I will this year.
My friend Adrianne tells me it's a great time to actually attempt the Rosary every night and see if it will stick. The kids are all for it, it's their mom who's a bit recalcitrant.
Speaking of Rosary, this is how it went last week:
It might be a REALLY good time for me to conquer a to-do list and offer it up to God. I think that is my main thing. And maybe I should put a quarter in a jar for every time I yell at the kids for no really good reason. Then I can pay off that vacation from last summer, I bet. Hmmm....
I decided that I would like very much to watch our Lord of the Rings DVD collection during Lent with my husband. Obviously, the story of Christianity is very deeply interwoven in the stories of Middle Earth. But also, the sheer tenacity and determination in the face of the whole world telling you you can't possibly do something you know you must do, is what everyone needs to see. I've become more and more convicted that this is not the first time the world has gone mad. Sometimes amazing people have to stand up for what is right, even if they feel all alone.
40 Days for Life in my town starts on Ash Wednesday, too. Pray, pray unceasingly. It has now spread to several countries, and is becoming bigger all the time. I intend to be there, but I have to work out the details. I've decided that bringing kids is a bit much most days, unless it's a big gathering or vigil.
God, help us to love you so very much during this Lenten season. Pray, my friends. It's all we can really do, and it may ultimately be what matters most.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Clarification of modern NFP
This is an awesome article sent to me by our parish's youth minister. It also has a survey at the end, which I encourage people to link to and fill out for themselves. Like the woman in the article, I didn't know Natural Family Planning would play such a part in my life, especially that it would help space my kids and ALSO help me get pregnant when hormone problems caused miscarriages. I had no idea it could possibly matter so much, and I hope more and more people will see it as a viable choice. Not an easy, low-maintenance choice, but a good, guilt and health problem-free choice.
Please read this article:
Not Your Mother's Rhythm Method
Please read this article:
Not Your Mother's Rhythm Method
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Book on Japanese Martyrs
This appears to be a self-published book, and I can't find it being sold anywhere. It says it was published by Cereus Publications in Burlington, KY, and it is very good. It covers a lot of history of Japanese Catholicism through the eyes of a 14 year old boy who is sort of ashamed of being Japanese and German in ancestry, and whose mom has already died. His Japanese grandmother helps him understand why his heritage is important and that his German American father really does love him. It's a little bit of a fantasy because there is time travel involved. It reminds me of "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen. Instead of a Jewish girl going back in time to Auschwitz, this boy goes back in time to the 26 Japanese Martyrs of Nagasaki. Then it fast-forwards through many other events, including the Japanese Internment during WWII and the bombing of Nagasaki. I think it was very well done, even if it's not going to win a Pulitzer.
The part that most struck me was the Japanese Internment. These were actual American citizens. Many had been born in the US, even a couple of generations' worth. It was very sad to think that out of fear, their country turned on them. If you haven't read up on it, do. It only happened about 60 years ago. What makes people think that can never happen again? If people forget, it's more likely to happen.
The other important part was that Catholics in Japan were in hiding for 230 years with no outside help or direction. They hid, and kept their faith alive. In the bombing of Nagasaki, and estimated 8000 Catholics were killed. I imagine that is a big part of the reason there aren't that many Catholics in Japan. By the way, the current prime minister of Japan in Catholic. That's a first. But I don't think it's in the culture to talk about that kind of thing much. He never speaks of it.
I'd be happy to loan this out if anyone wants to read. It's probably for kids over 12, especially the part about Nagasaki. Over 14 for sensitive kids. It's not too graphic, but it does not pretend about what happened. It does show the hope and love that Christ brings us as Catholics in the direst of circumstances.
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