Charity

Last week, Happy Catholic talked about ways of being charitable. They were good ideas but I don't see homeless people in my sleepy little community (and I no longer work in Boston).

However, people who need our help are all around us.

What about the widow who is having trouble making ends meet? She's your neighbor and you know that she is not well off. Buy a gift card from the local supermarket and slip it under her front door when she isn't home.

What about the friend who just took in 2 of her neices because their mother is using drugs and can't (won't) get clean? Offer her some help, anonymous or otherwise.

Use your imagination!

We Report, You Decide

Who comes off looking like they don't understand the significance of the TLM?

New England Cable News report on the TLM, pretty fair and balanced, I'd say...

(H/T to Catholic Church Conservation)

Dr Keroack left his post

Looks like they got to him and so he was forced to resign from his top federal family planning position.

Keroack resigned last week as head of the US Office of Population Affairs, which is responsible for providing low-income women with access to contraceptives, after he was notified that the state's Medicaid office had launched an investigation into his private practice. The office, whose investigations generally focus on Medicaid fraud, declined to provide specifics about what it is investigating but confirmed there was a pending case dating back a "few years."

source

Hymn to Mary

 

Beth Nielsen Chapman has a lovely album of Catholic hymns (called Hymns), 10 of which are in Latin. However, "Oh God of Loveliness" and this one, "Hymn to Mary", are in English. She was raised Catholic but has since fallen away from the faith. Here are the words to "Hymn to Mary" which she wrote,

Holy Mary draw through my heart the sweetest arrow of thy praise.
Lift my sorrow's deepening shadow, so that I may may see your face.
I know I will not be forsaken, gently held in your embrace.
Blessed Spirit, whispering softly, cool the fires of my shame.
Even as I run from your arms, my soul keeps calling out your name.
You were always right here inside each tear of joy, every drop of rain.

New clinic addresses intersex and gender issues - for children

On February 23, a new multidisciplinary clinic at Children's Hospital Boston's saw its first patients with what are called disorders of sexual differentiation (DSD). The program primarily serves infants, children, adolescents and young adults with genitourinary or hormonal disorders or other medical issues that may make it difficult to
determine their sex, and that may interfere with sexual and
reproductive function.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis.

Why am I not surprised?

That almost every heretical book in our parish library was previously owned by a nun?

Virtual Lourdes Tour

It's been a Lourdes kind of weekend...

At St Pat's in Stoneham, MA, they had a virtual tour of Lourdes with a woman from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers along with a chaplain from Lourdes. They presented a slide show of Lourdes and spoke of St. Bernadette, the thousands of miracles that have occured there and the Shrine/Basilica at Lourdes.

Coincidentally, I had rented "The Song of Bernadette" from Netflix and have begun reading the book by the same name. The movie highlighted how difficult a private revelation is on the person who experiences it and their family.

For those of you who would like your own personal tour of Lourdes, the official Lourdes website has several different webcams set up. They are preparing for the upcoming 150-year anniversary of the apparitions in 2008.

Happy Earth Day!

 

Source

Divine Mercy

 

A gift for fellow bloggers from A Catholic Mom in Hawaii.

Thanks!

You Can't Legislate Morality

That slippery slope better known as Texas versus Lawrence continues its downhill slide. It is being used as the basis for arguments for gay adoption, polygamy and now incest.

"When we first read some of the language about dignity and how the state doesn't have a right to impose its moral code on its citizens, we thought this decision would be extremely powerful and widely followed," Katine told TIME. "I am disappointed that the lower courts have not followed some of the language that is contained in Lawrence."

Note the argument in the Times article that society cannot "legislate morality".

Oh really? Catholics know that argument is nonsense. For an excellent refutation of that argument, listen to Mark Shea's 6-minute podcast on this very topic. His talk was so clear and easy to understand that I loaded it onto my iPod and brought it into the nineth grade CCD class I was teaching.

Here's the link to Catholic Exchange's Rock Solid podcast archive page, look for the podcast on January 15th.

(H/T to In God's Image on Long Island for the Times article)

President Bush at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast

President George W. Bush talks with Mother Assumpta Long after addressing the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast Friday, April 13, 2007, in Washington, D.C. "One of the reasons that I am such a strong believer in the power of our faith-based institutions is that they add something the government never can, and that is love," said the President in his remarks.

Send a Birthday Greeting to the Pope

From Salve Regina's blog,

Salve Regina: Send a Birthday Greeting to the Pope

The Pope will be 80 on April 16th.

Dave Barry blogs 24

I knew Dave Barry blogged about 24 during each episode of 24 (but forgot).

Here, read, enjoy!

The Dark Before Dawn

From CatholicExchange.com, written by Sylvia Dorham

April 6, 2007

It's Friday night, after they have hastily entombed the body.

John brings Mary back to the house. He puts her downstairs in a sleeping room, and climbs the ladder to the Upper Room.

Peter is sitting on the floor against the wall. John tells him what happened. Peter curls into fetal position on the floor and sobs.

John looks up to see Mary climbing unsteadily into the room. Peter's cries have roused her.

Mary, consoling Peter, sits with him on the floor, wiping tears from his beard and staunching his running nose. She sops his sweat with her mantle, and he sees blood on it. He bursts into a fresh paroxysm of tears. She hugs his head to her, rocking him. Petting his head, reminding him to strengthen his brothers.

He is ashamed that she is nursing his weakness as she only recently nursed her son's strength, but it is without bitterness that he climbs to his feet and, with her encouragement, begins to welcome each of the disciples as they trickle furtively back into the Upper Room, each as ashamed as Peter at their betrayal.

It is the Sabbath.

Like criminals, stealthily, they have returned to the place they were last together. Peter seats them at the table. He breaks the bread and blesses the wine, serving each. They choke it down, remembering.

Peter has John tell what happened.

He tells them how Mary is their mother now. They must care for her.

The others relate what they heard during the night. Plans to hunt down and kill the disciples. Earthquake damage reports. Rumors about Judas' suicide. Anger and disbelief over what he did. Incomprehension. In fury, they cry.

Peter tells them to sleep, and they curl up on the floor, miserable but together.

All day, the Sabbath, they sleep, eat when they can, pray quietly, and make Mary comfortable. Everyone is very quiet for fear someone will come and drag them away to be crucified.

Each disciple glances at Mary, now their special charge, who, looking dazed, spends much time holding John's hand. She is very quiet. At mid-day, she puts a veil over her face. An occasional caught breath is the only indication of her emotion.

James travels covertly through the city and brings other women to the upstairs chamber to sit with her. They try to get her to eat.

The women plan a proper burial. Too hasty, last night. The men quietly slip into the streets to obtain supplies. They cannot travel far. Several friends provide the hundred pounds of herbs, ointments, and spices. The women will stay overnight.

Peter doesn't want to go. There is a guard detail at the tomb, he's heard. They'll arrest him the moment they see him. No one will bother an old lady and her companions as they embalm a dead body, but him! He fights the urge to run.

The day creeps into evening, and the pit in Peter's stomach grows heavier. He decides to go home. To Capernaum. At least he can still fish, even if the townspeople laugh at him for his itinerant preaching days.

In the morning. He'll go in the morning.

A distant roar wakes John. It's a heavy noise which reverberates like a living sound over the sleeping city. He gets up and tiptoes past the somnolent disciples to waken the women. It is still dark, but the sun will be up and the Sabbath over by the time they are ready. Each woman will carry a heavy jar of ointment. Mary will take the spices.

John opens the front door furtively, peering up the street before beckoning with his hands to the women, a silent black parade who follow him as far as the edge of the garden, where Mary insists he return home. John is almost back to the house when he is overtaken by running soldiers. They are disheveled with wild eyes. Some are missing their equipment.

John presses himself against a house, hoping to be overlooked, but the soldiers fly past as if the very gates of hell were loosed at their heels. John steals back to the Upper Room, not missed by the sleeping disciples.

The sun creeps up. Peter's been asleep. Warm. Comfortable. It's the moment between waking and remembering.

The door is flung open by a wild, round-eyed woman, yelling! The disciples are dazed. Half asleep, they tell her to calm down. Dust dances in the streams of sunlight pouring through the windows she's thrown open.

They shield their eyes, annoyed. Wondering at her impropriety.

From the ashes of anguish in Peter's heart, there leaps a bolt of ecstatic hope at her words. Oh God! Can it be?

Exchanged looks with John. This would be just like Jesus! Their eyes meet in wordless agreement. They bolt from the house, clattering down the ladder past the woman who is breathing hard, too excited to say more.

She follows Peter and John and the other apostles who are struggling into coats and straggling after them through quiet, early morning streets.

A million thoughts fly through Peter's brain — "Son of Man will rise again," is this what he meant? Oh God! Oh God! Please! Please!

John gets to the garden first and runs to Mary, who is standing, still and beautiful, a look of profound peace on her countenance. He stands with her, looking into the tomb.

Peter stumbles to them, and stops short, gasping, digging fingers into his side against the cramp. He tries to make sense of the massive boulder flung like a child's toy away from the entrance. It is fifty cubits UP the hill, lodged behind a clump of trees.

Several spears and helmets are scattered about as if abandoned in great haste.

Impulsively, unable to think, he shoulders past Mary and John and plunges into the cool darkness of the tomb.

The cave is deep, but light pours in through the entrance. Peter gives a strangled cry and falls to his knees, clutching at the burial shroud.

It is empty.

Sylvia Dorham is a mother of eight, freelance writer and voice over artist from Maryland. She and her husband are converts to the Catholic Faith.

Because Mass is not a soap opera

More from Father Z regarding the status of the motu proprio.

Sometimes we just need to realize that it's not all about us (Americans), as we wait for the announcement of the motu proprio.

My favorite quote in the article, "Because Mass is not a soap opera, it is not necessary to understand the words; it is a rite of communion with God and not an instruction sheet for installing a washing machine."

Novena to The Divine Mercy Chaplet

It's not too late to start (it is typically started on Good Friday).

From EWTN...

(updated to correct the title)

Conqueror of Death

 

Source

Massachusetts Interdict?!

From the Curmudgeon's Cave, an idea whose time has come...

Pope Leo XIV has declared that, in response to events over the last decade within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States, and particularly in response to events in the last three months, the entire Commonwealth will be placed under prohibition, beginning on the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, July 31, 20xx. Beginning on that date, no sacraments of the Church may be celebrated in the Commonwealth, except for the benefit of those in danger of death.

Happy April 1st!

A Tale of Two Vocations Videos

Update! See below...

Watch these 2 videos and vote for your favorite below...

Jesuits - Holy Boldness




Grassroots Films - Fishers of Men

Actually, this is just a trailer of the video. The entire video is about 19 minutes in length.



The original Jesuit video has been removed from Youtube and replaced(?) with this one.



I still think this can be an interesting comparison.

Which video did you like better?
	Jesuits, Holy Boldness
	Grassroots Films, Fishers of Men
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Take "Care" of Your Soul!

C.A.R.E. - Confession, Adoration, Rosary and Eucharist!

Archdiocese of Boston and Harcourt Press Provide Cover for “Talking About Touching.”

I just discovered this.

she [Claudia Glaze] states that the Committee for Children has “collaborated” with Harcourt Religion Publishers and “religious educators from the Boston Archdiocese” to publish a “Call to Faith – Talking About Touching Correlation Guide.” She goes on to state that correlation guide, “is a wonderful breakthrough for Catholic educators who are teaching the Talking About Touching program within a religious-education context.” In other words, we will now be able to wrap TAT in Catholicism. However, for those who oppose the use of TAT and other like programs in our Catholic schools, this “Correlation Guide” will not quiet the outcry to remove these programs from our Catholic schools and religious education programs.

It's a little short on details but it's nice to know that the Archdiocese of Boston is making it easier for our children to learn about sex.

If I find more info, I'll post it here. Maybe Cardinal Sean's blog has more details...

Father Fessio on the Family (the Monastery of the New Dark Ages)

This was from an excellent speech he gave at the 1996 Wanderer Forum...

So I think that the home is already, but must continue to be and grow in numbers to be the monastery of the new Dark Ages. Each family must be a monastery.

The speech, over 10 years' old, is very prescient. Go read the whole thing!

Ouch!

 

Bishop Sheen's famous quote

I've read part of it before but never the whole thing. Crossed the Tiber posted the whole quote on his blog a few weeks ago...

"There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church—which is, of course, quite a different thing.

These millions can hardly be blamed for hating Catholics because Catholics “adore statues;” because they “put the Blessed Mother on the same level with God;” because they “say indulgence is a permission to commit sin;” because the Pope “is a Fascist;” because the Church “is the defender of Capitalism.” If the Church taught or believed any one of these things, it should be hated, but the fact is that the Church does not believe nor teach any one of them. It follows then that the hatred of the millions is directed against error and not against truth. As a matter of fact, if we Catholics believed all of the untruths and lies which were said against the Church, we probably would hate the Church a thousand times more than they do.

If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hates.

My reason for doing this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be hated as He was when He was on earth in the flesh. If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world. Look for the Church that is hated by the world, as Christ was hated by the world. Look for the Church which is accused of being behind the times, as Our Lord was accused of being ignorant and never having learned. Look for the Church which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord because He came from Nazareth. Look for the Church which is accused of having a devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils. Look for the Church which the world rejects because it claims it is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because he called Himself the Truth. Look for the Church which amid the confusion of conflicting opinions, its members love as they love Christ, and respect its voice as the very voice of its Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly, it is other-worldly. Since it is other-worldly, it is infinitely loved and infinitely hated as was Christ Himself. ... the Catholic Church is the only Church existing today which goes back to the time of Christ. History is so very clear on this point, it is curious how many miss its obviousness..."

Dr Spitzer in the news again

Dr Robert Spitzer, the psychiatrist who identified attention deficit disorder (ADD), is now saying that many children (maybe 30%) are misdiagnosed.

This is an interesting news story but this isn't the first controversy that Dr Spitzer has been involved in. From his bio on Wikipedia...

He was chair of the task force of the third edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) which was released in 1980. He has been referred to as a major architect of the modern classification of mental disorders which involves classifying mental disorders in discrete categories, with specified diagnostic criteria...
He was controversial in 1973 for arguing that homosexuality is not a clinical disorder. The mainstream psychiatric community agreed, and declassified homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

In 2001, Spitzer delivered a controversial paper at the 2001 annual APA meeting arguing that "highly motivated" individuals could "successfully" change their sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual.

A recent article by the publisher of Venus Magazine (a magazine geared towards black gays and lesbians) stated that she has given up the lifestyle and wants to encourage others to do so.

Redeemed! 10 Ways to Get Out of the Gay Life, If You Want Out
by Charlene E. Cothran, Venus Magazine Publisher

Over the past 29 years of my life I have been an aggressive, creative and strategic supporter of gay and lesbian issues. I’ve organized and participated in countless marches and various lobbying efforts in the fight for equal treatment of gay men and lesbians. I have kept current on the issues and made financial contributions to those organizations doing work about which I was most passionate.

As the publisher of a 13 year old periodical which targets Black gays and lesbians, I have had the opportunity to publicly address thousands, influencing closeted people to ‘come out’ and stand up for them selves, which is particularly difficult in the African-American community.

But now, I must come out of the closet again. I have recently experienced the power of change that came over me once I completely surrendered to the teachings of Jesus Christ. As a believer of the word of God, I fully accept and have always known that same-sex relationships are not what God intended for us.

Go read the whole article!

God bless Ms. Cothran for speaking the truth.

A Report Card (updated)

A report card on Cardinal Sean, based on his hirings and those with whom he surrounds himself... These items are in no particular order.

August 2005

Massachusetts Catholic Conference – new head

The selection of Edward F. Saunders, a longtime credit union lobbyist and Massachusetts Turnpike Authority appointee, as the new executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference has provoked controversy among pro-life and pro-family activists.
Just days after the official announcement was made by Boston’s Archbishop Sean O’Malley on July 7, press reports revealed that Saunders had been a political contributor to numerous left-wing politicians who support abortion, homosexual marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, and “emergency contraception.”
The “culture of death” politicians that Saunders contributed to include Massachusetts Senate President Robert Travaglini, Boston City Council President Michael Flaherty, Massachusetts State Sen. Marian Walsh, State Rep. Michael Rodriguez, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Shannon O’Brien
When asked by The Boston Globe, Saunders declined to say what his personal views on such “social issues” as abortion were.

Saunders was selected by a search committee led by Fr. J. Bryan Hehir, former dean of the Harvard Divinity School and a longtime staffer at the United States Catholic Conference, where he authored pastoral letters critical of the Reagan administration on nuclear defense and the economy.
Before going to the United States Catholic Conference, Fr. Hehir had made a name for himself as a leader of the revolt against Humanae Vitae at St. John’s Seminary in Boston. In 1974, in an important article for Theological Studies, Fr. Hehir argued that the Church should stay silent on contraception issues, suggesting that “contraceptive practice [be left] as an issue of private morality which the Church continues to teach for its members, but not an issue of public morality.”Also in 1974, when he was associate secretary for the International Justice and Peace office at the USCC, critics accused him of undercutting the Vatican’s attempts at the UN’s Population Conference in Bucharest by urging the Holy See to take a “low profile” on the question of means of population control. This was at a time when the Holy See, represented by the then Archbishop Edouard Gagnon, was rallying Third World countries against population control mandates urged by the Henry Kissinger’s National Security Study Memorandum 200 (NSSM 200).
Recently, Fr. Hehir, who was appointed cabinet secretary for social services for the archdiocese in 2004, has emerged as an influential clerical adviser to Archbishop O’Malley.

March 2007

Boston is represented at the LA Religious Ed Conference
(period 5)
5-25 DANCING IN THE LIGHT

This workshop will offer participants an experience of a prayer service using gesture, movement and dance. This session is for those who are looking for ways to incorporate embodied prayer in their parish life and religious formation programs. The prayer service will be inspired by the Gospel of the Transfiguration and will use the music of Bernadette Farrell and Paul Melley.
Robert VerEecke, SJ
Fr. Bob VerEecke has offered workshops on movement prayer in the United States, Jamaica, Canada, Australia, France and England. He has served for nearly 20 years as Pastor of St. Ignatius Church in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Fr. VerEecke is also Director of the Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble and is Jesuit Artist-in-Residence at Boston College.
Jamie Huggins
Jamie Huggins, Associate Artistic Director of the Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble, received his formal dance training from the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. He has danced with the Louisville Ballet, the Berkshire Ballet, and numerous other dance companies. Huggins co-teaches the Summer Study in Sacred and Liturgical Dance at Boston College, and has worked with Fr. Bob VerEecke for more than 20 years.

The Ongoing Battle Against TAT

TAT – Talking About Touching
Still forced upon children and parents in the Archdiocese of Boston

This particular problem came to a head in 2005

Our Lady Help of Christians
Father Walter Cuenin - problem not addressed until financial improprieties arose
Often spoke at Gay Pride events in Boston

Our Lady Help of Christians

2006 - more problems at Our Lady, Help of Christians

Father John Sassani

A parishioner recently posed a good question at a meeting: Is it possible to belong to the church without believing in every teaching of the church? His [co-pastor Father John Sassani's] answer is YES. God’s hospitality is embodied in tangible ways among us and beyond parish boundaries. Hospitality embodies desire for growth.

December 2005

Boston Catholic Charities planned to honor a pro-abortion politician (Menino).
It wasn’t till there was a huge out-cry by the Boston pro-life community that the Cardinal decided to not attend.

Boston archbishop pulls out of Catholic Charities fundraiser

Boston, Nov. 23, 2005 (CWNews.com) - Boston's Archbishop Sean O'Malley will not attend a December dinner honoring the city's Mayor Thomas Menino. The dinner is a fundraising event for the local office of Catholic Charities.
The archbishop's withdrawal from the December 9 event follows a series of protests from lay Catholic leaders, who have pointed to Mayor Menino's record on key moral issues. C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, cited the mayor's "relentless opposition to the moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church" in a November 17 statement urging the archbishop not to attend the dinner. Doyle pointed out that although Menino is a Catholic, he has consistently supported legalized abortion on demand and has been a stalwart proponent of homosexuals, even sponsoring a "gay prom" for local high-school students at City Hall. When a Massachusetts court cleared the way for legal recognition of same-sex marriages, Mayor Menino personally welcomed the first homosexual applicants arriving at City Hall for marriage licenses.
Mayor Menino was chosen as the honoree for the December fundraiser because of his support for Catholic Charities.
The Boston arm of Catholic Charities came under fire in October when it was revealed that the office was actively helping homosexual couples to adopt children, despite Church teaching that such adoptions are "gravely immoral." Father J. Bryan Hehir, the head of Catholic Charities in Boston, explained that the Church agency assisted in homosexual adoptions in order to qualify for state funding that underwrites other adoption services. "If we could design the system ourselves, we would not participate in adoptions to gay couples, but we can't," he said; "We have to balance various goods."

Boston Catholic Charities Board Members Resign over Church Defence of Children

by Hilary White

BOSTON, February 27, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Seven members of the board of Catholic Charities of Boston have resigned in “outrage” over the Catholic Church’s opposition to homosexual adoption. The Massachusetts bishops are in the midst of a legal battle to have the Catholic Church exempted on grounds of religious freedom from the state law that says homosexuals must be allowed to adopt children.
In a unanimous vote in December, the 42-member board of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston refused to accede to the request by Archbishop Sean O’Malley and the Catholic Conference of Massachusetts to cease including homosexual partners as adoptive parents.
President of Catholic Charities in Boston, Rev. Brian H. Hehir, a prominent academic and social liberal, said at the time that the board’s decision to continue placing children with homosexual partners was taken in order to allow Catholic Charities to continue, within the state law, to find loving, normal families for needy children.
“If we could design the system ourselves, we would not participate in adoptions to gay couples, but we can't,” said Hehir. “We have to balance various goods.” The Catholic Church, however, has repeatedly made it clear that there is no “good” to be found in either allowing children to be placed with homosexual partners, or in lending legitimacy to the homosexual “lifestyle.” A document from the Vatican said plainly that homosexual adoption is a form of child abuse.



Jean Marchant


Am I to understand that those of us whose dying parents and relatives who have been foolishly charmed into believing that what she is doing is valid sacramentally, and died without the Last Rites of our Church (the pardon for all the sins they had committed in their lives), that you "greatly value" what she has done and you consider her contributions "vital" to the life and mission of Christ's Church?

If you are unaware of how traumatizing that statement is to people who understand the authentic faith, I certainly would be happy to give you my own personal experiences with my mother who was medflighted to Brigham & Women's hospital in a coma with a broken neck. She was "blessed" by a priest who had been removed from a parish by Cardinal Law for working with a woman in a ministry together which had feigned sacraments. I luckily had access to a priest who was willing to come and administer the official sacrament of the Church to her. As bad as I knew things were, I had no idea this was going on. When I explained my experience to the undertaker, he told me this was the norm in hospitals in Massachusetts - lay chaplains have wormed their way into positions where they can hijack the Sacrament of the sick. It's frightening that you greatly value these kinds "contributions" by feminists stampeding our faith.

July 2006

"Appreciate Ms. Marchant's many years of service"? Sorry. I don't.

Last year, the director of healthcare "ministry" for the Archdiocese of Boston lied about her name and pretended to be "ordained" a priest. She came clean recently, quit her job, and got a lovely, flattering spread in the Boston Globe for doing it.

Spokesman Terrence Donilon:

"We greatly appreciate Ms. Marchant's many years of service in healthcare ministry. The archdiocese greatly values the ministry of lay and religious women. Their contributions are vital to the life and mission of the church."

I think this is a load of bleep. In any case, I do not "appreciate" Jean Marchant's "service."

I do not appreciate that, as far back as 2001, while in the Archiocese's employ, Jean Marchant attended the 2001 "ordination " of Mary Ramerman of Spiritus Christi Church, Rochester, New York. (Google this "church" if you can stomach it.)

I do not appreciate that the Archdiocese's employee, Jean Marchant, said that she "always seen my role as to stay within the church and to push the boundaries."

But far more seriously, I do not appreciate the fact that, since her "ordination," Jean Marchant has "quietly `anointed' some sick people and privately `consecrated the Eucharist'."

In fact, I find it worse than appalling.

Understand that I do not judge Jean Marchant. However, I strongly condemn the statement of "appreciation" released by the Archdiocese.

May God have mercy on us.

August 2006

Archdiocese of Boston Entertains Dissenters by Deal W. Hudson

The Boston Globe reports that on Friday Cardinal Sean O'Malley will meet with members of the dissenting group Voice of the Faithful. A spokesman for the Archdiocese, however, explained that the meeting does not represent a change in policy regarding VOTF.

Voice of the Faithful is presently forbidden from meeting in Boston parishes.

Catholics in the Boston area, who have been battling the Voice of the Faithful since its inception, are concerned that this meeting will give the group credibility. Leaders of Voice of the Faithful are already claiming a symbolic victory.

Carol McKinley, a founder of the group Faithful Voice, has been Boston's leading lay critic of Catholic dissent. She is deeply disturbed by the Cardinal's decision: "Boston Catholics are appalled by continued statements from the Archdiocese giving the appearance that the Cardinal welcomes a group with a side-car mission that is heretical and invalid sacramentally. We're in real trouble."

Voice of the Faithful began in Boston over four years ago during the sex abuse scandal. From the beginning the group was closely associated with dissenters and leaders of the far left in the Catholic Church. For example, Jim Muller, the VOTF founder, issued a public letter calling for a national convention to ratify a constitution for an American Catholic Church separated from the authority of the Vatican.

Subsequent leadership, notably president Jim Post, tried to address similar issues under the banner of seeking "structural change." But most ecclesial leadership had already recognized VOTF's true intent and shut their doors. Only a handful of chanceries and parishes in the United States will host their meetings.

The latest reinvention of VOTF, as represented by their Web site, is an attempt to recover the outrage generated by the sex abuse scandal. The Web site also contains clear assurances of VOTF's obedience to Church teaching and Vatican authority. Their long-awaited statement on the meaning of "structural change" is innocuous and reflects nothing of the debate the group has expressed through its media coverage over the past four years.

C. J. Doyle, another leading critic of dissent in Boston, heads the Catholic Action League. Doyle says VOTF has little life outside its coverage in the Boston newspaper: "I hope the Archdiocese will do nothing to extend life support to this dying organization of left wing revolutionaries posing as Catholics. This organization has no public existence outside of Michael Paulson's articles in the Boston Globe."

VOTF has retained some presence in Boston because it receives moral support from institutions like Harvard and Boston College and financial backing from well-connected Catholic business leaders who agree with their dissenting attitude toward Church authority. A good example is O'Malley's appointment of Jack Connors, Jr., a prominent businessman and highly vocal critic of the archdiocese, to oversee the renewal of parochial education. Business leaders like Connors also sit on the board of Boston's Catholic Charities, an organization necessary to the survival of archdiocesan social ministries.

The appointment of Connors by Cardinal O'Malley was the first of several notable appointments that have been questioned by lay Catholics in Boston. Another example is the appointment of Dorothea Masuret, CSJ, as director of the office of Pastoral Ministry. She is a well-known heterodox nun who has worked closely with Jean Marchant, who earlier this week resigned from a position in O'Malley's cabinet. Marchant revealed that she had been secretly ordained last year and has been "quietly blessing" the sick and performing "Masses."

On the Cardinal’s meeting with VOTF

William Cousins, a long-time resident of the Boston area and Knight of Malta, comments, "I am hoping that Cardinal O'Malley will tell them what the rules are. In other words, that their desire to change the structure and doctrines of the Church is out of bounds. I am also very concerned about what he's saying to the relatives of the people who were given invalid sacraments by the woman health-care cabinet officer."

Whether the Archdiocese will release any information on the meeting is unknown. However, you can be sure that Voice of the Faithful will be telling the press how much their point of view is appreciated by the Cardinal.

Cardinal O'Malley's meeting with VOTF not only gives them credibility but also gives them the opportunity to represent the meeting any way that serves their purpose.

Jesuit Urban Center

VOTF Winchester Area, MA (representing 22 towns)

The highlight of our activities in July was an Evening of Prayer on July 28 [2003] for the new Archbishop of Boston, Sean O’Malley. The service focused on the possibility for renewal and reconciliation, from the opening hymn (“We Will Rise Again”), the first reading (Jeremiah 23:1-6, “I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble”), the psalm (Psalm 23, in a version written by John Baldovin, S.J. of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology), the communal song (“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”), and the prayers of the faithful. Members had been encouraged to write prayers or the service, or to post them on our web site. One of the prayers read at the service was written by Svea Fraser, and perfectly captured our hopes and aspirations: “Dear Lord, please continue to make our new servant leader Sean O’Malley a channel of your peace; and may all your people in Boston join hands and hearts in mutual support for Your glory and the good of all the Church.” Regina Pontes with assistance from Mary Lou Burke, Judy Eisel, Clare Keane, John Mahoney, and others prepared the brilliant order of worship. Bonnie Rogers of our group presided. After the service, attendees signed a card for the new Archbishop. Bonnie thereafter delivered the card, prayers for the new Archbishop posted on our web site, as well as a stole made for him, to the Archdiocese’s offices in Boston. (Some of the prayers submitted appear in this issue under “Prayers for a new Archbishop”)
We welcomed two guest speakers in July. On July 7, Sister Betsy Conway CSJ, and Sister Dorothea Masuret, CSJ, Assistant Director of the Office for Pastoral Ministries for the Archdiocese of Boston, discussed their different perspectives on their experiences in the sisterhood, and the challenges ahead for Sisters and the Church. Sisters Betsy and Dorothea provided a wonderful example of dialogue and respect for those in the Church who do not see eye to eye on a number of issues. On July 14, we welcomed Edward Vacek, S.J., Professor of Moral Theology at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Fr. Vacek addressed the Church’s teachings on sexual ethics, and explained how teachings on a wide variety of issues have changed over time.

Why is someone who works in the Archdiocese speaking at VOTF meetings?!

Does Cardinal Sean have 2 sides? A blogging/podcasting, beautiful homilies side and a side which hires (and/or retains) heterodox staff...

Update:

To add a bit of balance, Cardinal Sean is well-respected by many orthodox young Catholics in the Boston area. He is also highly thought of by Father Benedict Groeschel, some one I have immense respect for. And last, but not least, if he is disliked by someone like this, can he be all bad?

Psalm 23 (for work)

received via email (thanks Rita)...

The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want. He gives me peace, when
chaos is all around me. He gently reminds me to pray and do all things without
murmuring and complaining.

He reminds me that he is my source and not my job. He restores my sanity
everyday and guides my decisions that I might honor him in all that I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes, unrealistic
deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors
and an aging body that doesn't cooperate every morning,
I still will not stop--for He is with me! His presence, His peace, and His power will see me through.

He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me. He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go. His Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus check.

His retirement plan beats every 401k there is!

When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I WILL BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.

What is Your Style of American Catholicism?

You scored as Traditional Catholic. You look at the great piety and holiness of the Church before the Second Vatican Council and the decay of belief and practice since then, and see that much of the decline is due to failed reforms based on the "Spirit of the Council". You regret the loss of vast numbers of Religious and Ordained clergy and the widely diverging celebrations of the Mass of Pope Paul VI, which often don't even seem to be Catholic anymore. You are helping to rebuild this past culture in one of the many new Traditional Latin Mass communities or attend Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy. You seek refuge from the world of pornography, recreational drugs, violence, and materialism. You are an articulate, confident, committed, and intelligent Catholic. But do you support legitimate reform of the Church, and are you willing to submit to the directives of the Second Vatican Council? Will you cooperate responsibly with others who are not part of the Traditional community? http://saint-louis.blogspot.com - Rome of the West Traditional Catholic 98% New Catholic 76% Neo-Conservative Catholic 62% Radical Catholic 57% Evangelical Catholic 45% Lukewarm Catholic 5% Liberal Catholic 0% What is your style of American Catholicism? created with QuizFarm.com

True Girl

If you have a daughter, grand daughter, niece or family friend between the ages of 10 and 18, she may be interested in this wonderful (and truly Catholic) girls' magazine called True Girl. Right now it is only published bi-monthly but it is a new publication so I'm hoping it will go monthly some day...

It has lots of great articles, uses 'real' girls as models, typically touches on at least one aspect of the Catholic Faith and is just an uplifting read. I wish this magazine was around when I was that age.

It is a refreshing respite from the other girls' magazines out there (Seventeen and Cosmos Girl). Also, a fellow blogger is a contributor to the magazine, Denise Hunnell aka Catholic Mom.

From their website;

True Girl is dedicated and consecrated to Mary, the ultimate role model for all women, who always directs us to her Son, Jesus. By following her example and living by His will rather than ours, we will find ourselves on the path to truth. Please keep our ministry in your prayers!

The Corporal Works of Mercy

We all know them, right?

-- Feed the Hungry
-- Give drink to the Thirsty
-- Clothe the naked
-- Shelter the homeless
-- Visit the sick
-- Visit the imprisoned
-- Bury the dead

At Amy's website, she has asked for examples of good (small) charities that do some of the above.

A day or so ago, she also posted a link to blog by Jim Myers of the Diocese of Colorado Springs who is currently working with Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. It was good to see someone report on their work with a first-hand account.

From Atheist to Priest

From my inbox...

By the time this volume appears, I shall have left the world, and
entered the Dominican Order.

My beloved wife, Elisabeth, prayed incessantly for my return to the Catholic Faith. Daily for this intention, she accepted and offered up
all her sacrifices, trials, sufferings, and at the end, even her death.

But she did this secretly.

She never argued with me; she never spoke to me of the supernatural side of her life, save by her example.

I have, since Elisabeth's death, learned to appreciate the power of
her silence. God heard the constant prayer it concealed, and, when her sacrifice was accomplished, completed the conversion that was begun in me by her influence and by my reading her diary, which I found after her death, and which I present to you here.

Renunciation, detachment, sacrifice, and utmost charity toward God and neighbor: these are the themes on each of these pages.

Reading them, you might say, "This is admirable, but I couldn't follow so steep a way. In the incidents and worries of daily life, how could anyone?"

But Elisabeth, too, was a woman of the world: we liked to have guests and to pay visits;
we had a comfortable home; we led a varied existence.

Her example shows how to live an intense spiritual life and to practice the highest virtues in the midst of outward activity.

When I married Elizabeth, I was profoundly anti-religious.I had been
raised Catholic but lost my faith in medical school. Materialistic
influences, assisted by my own passions, carried me on to paganism and
atheism. I searched for weapons against Catholicism.

I set myself to attack Elizabeth's Faith,
to deprive her of it, and
— may God pardon me! —
I nearly succeeded.

At the beginning of July 1913,
she was struck down by her last illness,
which for ten months was her Calvary,
until the end came on May 3, 1914,
when she was forty-eight years old.

Her Journal shows how Elisabeth
endured these terrible afflictions.
She comforted those around her,
never complained,
and looked to the Eucharist,
and to prayer and self-sacrifice,
for the support she needed.

During her last months,
when she suffered a martyrdom of pain,
she contented herself, while the crisis lasted,
with repeating in a gentle plaintive voice,

"My God, have pity on us, on me!"

— even now naming herself last.
And then, when the crisis passed,
she became once more smiling and valiant.

When I think that I was foolish and criminal enough
to try to destroy the Faith that lifted her so high
and sustained her so powerfully!
To what a Hell would I have reduced her
and condemned myself at the same stroke!

I can only implore my dear Elisabeth to
pardon me and to prove her pardon
by asking God to inspire me with her ardent faith,
some of her great Christian virtues,
and the self-giving and self-sacrifice she practiced.

During the unhappy days after her death,
before her burial, while she still lay on her bed
with a calm expression and a truly supernatural beauty,
there was an uninterrupted procession at her bedside.

People came to pray near her,
to bring her a last token of affection,
and I thus saw in my home numbers of people
whom I did not know, whom I had never seen before
and have never seen since, and who gave free vent
to their sincere and touching grief.

A great many people attended her funeral.
They expressed such real and unanimous emotion
and gave witness to such an uncommon distress
that the clergy assisting at the service
were utterly astonished.

They made inquiries, and their questions
were at once reported to me:

"But who was this woman?
We have never seen
such a funeral before!"

Since God has taken her to Himself
I am not alone in praying to her,
and it has been told to me in confidence
that special graces are believed to have been
obtained by her intercession.

I know of happy events that may be said
to have been brought about by her intervention;
and indeed the evolution in my own mind and life
bears witness to her supernatural influence.

I have already told how irritated I had been
by the failure of my campaign against her faith,
and how obstinately I was bent upon
controverting all her religious opinions.

But from 1908 my attitude was modified.
When I saw how ill she was,
and how she endured it with equanimity,
I was struck to see how her soul
had so great a command of itself;
and knowing that she drew this
tremendous strength from her convictions,
I ceased to attack them.

I could never weary of admiring her moral force
in the midst of a real martyrdom.
And what a look of immortal beauty
she wore upon her deathbed!
Her face, peaceful now after the last suffering,
had the calm of another world.

After Elisabeth's death,
when everything seemed to collapse around me,
I came upon the Spiritual Testament
she had written for me, and her Journal too.

I read and reread them,
and a revolution took place in my whole moral being.
I understood the celestial beauty of her soul
and that she had accepted all her suffering and offered it
— and even offered her very self in sacrifice —
chiefly for my conversion.

She had concluded with God a kind of pact,
vowing to exchange her life for my return to the Faith.
Her sacrifice was absolute,
and she was convinced that God would accept it
and would take her early to Himself.
She was equally persuaded that
He would ensure my conversion.

One day, she told me
with absolute assurance:

"I shall die before you.
And when I am dead,
you will be converted;
and when you are converted,
you will become a religious.
You will be Father Leseur."

Some weeks before her death,
we were speaking of her belief in a future life
and the Communion of Saints.
She ended with this pronouncement,
spoken with almost solemn authority:

"You will come and find me again
— I know it."

And so I perceived clearly
the inner meaning of her existence,
so grand in its humility.
I began to appreciate the splendor
of the faith of which I had
seen such wonderful effects.
The eyes of my soul were opened.

Although Elisabeth seemed to have gone,
I felt her come to me, to direct me.
All that I found of hers,
all the manuscripts I gathered together,
brought me her inspiration,
and my former hostility quickly gave way
to the wish to know Catholicism.

I turned toward God,
who called to me.

In the spring of 1915,
I confessed my faults to a priest
and was reconciled to the Church.

I had found the harbor, the peace of soul that
allows grief to remain but assuages bitterness.

Elisabeth had led me to the truth,
and even today, in my inmost being,
I continue to feel her guiding my steps
to a more perfect union with God.

Fr. Felix Leseur, O.P.
(ca. 1940)

I resolved to publish Elisabeth's writings,
particularly the Journal,
which had become my daily reading.

I drew from it so much support,
sweetness, and certainty
that I told myself it might well be
of the same great benefit
to other souls as it had been to mine.

It is a book of rare beauty.
The designs of God's Providence
are shown plainly in
Elisabeth's life and work.

I am convinced that by reading these pages
many torn hearts will find the means
to endure with courage the sacrifices
which have been imposed on them.

I now, therefore, give to you
these precious pages.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will spread them far and wide
and that they may help to work in as many souls as possible
the renewal they have accomplished in my own soul.

Thus will be realized and perpetuated
the apostolic work to which God called
my holy and dear Elisabeth.

Felix Leseur

* Felix's words are excerpted from In Memoriam,
his 1917 introduction to Elisabeth's
Journal et pensées de chaque jour.

www.sophiainstitute.com

The Motu Proprio

Father John Zuhlsdorf has a wonderful 'spiritual boquet' for the Motu Proprio.

For my part, I will do two things daily until 22 February for the softening of the hearts of those who are being obstinate in this matter or who may be causing an unreasonable delay in the issuing of the document. I will offer one decade of my daily rosary for the intention that God will soften hearts in this matter and I will say the Memorare each day for the same intention.

Father Z's blog

Let's join him!

Hell (and how one gets there)

A frequent commenter on Dom's blog gives all of us a lesson on how to get to Hell. The commenter, a priest, is talking about Father Drinan, who was buried today, God rest his soul.

Folks, it is not a lack of charity to say that someone who—OBJECTIVELY—led countless thousands of others "into temptation" during his life as a priest may very well now be suffering the flames of hell and eternal damnation.

I do not preclude the possibility of Fr. Drinan having repented (on or near his deathbed) and having received the supernatural grace of the Sacrament of the Sick. However, considering his continued public stance in favor of abortion—that is, the mal-formation of his conscience over years of habitually informing it apart from the authentic magisterial authority of the Church—it is extremely unlikely that he moved himself to true and perfect contrition toward the end of his life.

This is not to presume knowledge of the state of Drinan's soul; it is merely a logical conclusion based upon what we know about virtue and vice and the effect each has on the conscience and soul of a human being. Virtue begets virtue; vice begets vice. To presume even a CHANCE of Fr. Drinan's experiencing perfect contrition for the ENORMITY of his crimes strains credulity.

But even were he to (somehow) allow such grace to enter his soul and to move it to repentance, there is still the considerable problem of justice and reparation.

The fact that there is no death-bed statement renouncing his position on abortion, expressing sincere regret for having misled two generations of politicians and Catholics, and having personal culpability for Heaven knows how many deaths—this fact implies that there was effectively nothing done by Fr. Drinan to counteract the grave evils which he facilitated. Nor did he do anything to reprove and re-instruct any of those he misled. Only such a death-bed statement could begin to restore justice to that which is seemingly to be remembered as Drinan's life's work (see today's Boston Herald).

Frankly, for me and others NOT to speak of the enormity of his crimes and the eternal consequences thereof would put our own immortal souls in jeopardy; it would be effectively minimizing the extreme danger we put ourselves in by facilitating (or even not speaking against) any grave sin, but especially the sin of abortion.

Bottom line: it is not easy to undo the damage one does through sin; it requires active cooperation with God's grace and substantial work to restore justice. Belief that it likely happens an instant before death is foolhardy.

I pray for more priests like this one! God bless you Father. May you preach for many more years.

Curt Jester is at it again!

Jeff Miller (Curt Jester) heard from Father Z that there is a new date for the announcement of the TLM Indult. Given that other dates have come and gone, Jeff is going to make us laugh by randomly generating a 'date' for the announcement. What the heck! It has as much chance of being correct as the rumored date...check my sidebar for the 'date'.

It's not too early to start thinking about Lent

Here are some sites I bookmarked from last year,

Lenten Guidelines.

Catholic Culture's Overview of Lent

And last, but not least,

40 Options for Lent

1. Learn about your patron saint.

2. Pray for — by name — people you don't like and for people that
don't like you.

3. Participate in a healing service.

4. Read a Catholic magazine every time you visit the library.

5. March 19, in honor of St. Joseph, patron saint of carpenters and
fathers, build or build upon a relationship with one of your children.

6. Buy two of everything on your grocery list, and give the duplicates
to the local food pantry.

7. Find out why you should have fun on Laetare Sunday, and then do so.

8. Start a "cuss bowl." For every unkind word you utter, put in a
dollar — two dollars during Holy Week. After Easter, give the money to
an English as a second language program.

9. Bring a "Baltimore Catechism" to a gathering of Catholic friends,
and start asking each other questions.

10. Give away a material item you really value.

11. Pray for those, e.g., children, parents, spouse, siblings, who
have left the church.

12. Talk to a neighbor you rarely or never talk to.

13. Keep a dish of ashes in a prominent place as a constant reminder
of the season.

14. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

15. Test your knowledge of Scripture.

16. Read a biography about Archbishop Oscar Romero and/or watch the
video "Romero."

17. Open a Christmas Club account with the intention of giving the
money to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

18. Visit a church when you don't have to.

19. Reserve a button on your car stereo for the Relevant Radio station
in your area.

20. Pray the news — for the people whose stories of hardship are
reported daily and weekly.

21. Read an entry from a Catholic encyclopedia.

22. Attend Mass at a parish other than your own

23. Tithe your tax return.

24. If Catholic schools get NCAA tournament bids, learn for whom those
schools were named.

25. Observe five minutes of silence every day.

26. Instead of watching the Academy Awards, watch "The Passion of the Christ."

27. Use a Lenten theme in decorating part of a room.

28. Memorize a Proverb.

29. Participate in a faith formation presentation.

30. Tell someone your story(ies) of faith, how God has made a
difference in your life.

31. Disconnect the TV and/or the computer.

32. Identify your God-given gifts, how you use them, and how you could
use them better.

33. Fast from gossip.

34. Pull the rosary out of your drawer and say it. Too boring? Say the
Scriptural rosary.

35. Remove your watch before leaving for church on Palm Sunday.

36. Develop a prayer list.

37. Read a history of the papacy.

38. Find out who Raamah, Putiel, and Uzzah are.

39. Sacrifice your time in order to help others.

40. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the Gospel at all
times, and when necessary use words."

I wish I could remember where I found these 40 options but alas, I can't.

Quote of the Day

At Open Book, Amy asked people to explain "why they came back to Catholicism".

 

Here's the money quote...

 

"The pro-life movement is the gateway drug to Catholicism."  - Annie

 

Something to think about...

Could it be that the post-Vatican II suppression of the Tridentine Mass was providential, a God-permitted evil from which the Church could finally gain the kind of profundity of understanding and depth of gratitude for her liturgical treasure that she could never posses absent the experience of almost losing it? Would the level of devotion, richness, and depth of perspective regarding traditional Catholic liturgy and culture, evinced in the writings of this journal, have been possible absent the post-Vatican II crisis?

See the post, "Contemplating the past".

Adoration and Benediction

If you've never been to Adoration, you might be surprised at how enjoyable it is. Adoration is when the Consecrated Host is placed in a monstrance. The monstrance is placed on the altar and everyone is encouraged to sit in the pew and adore Him. It is very quiet, no conversations, no singing, no vocal prayers (the exception is during the Benediction which I'll cover in a bit).

People typically bring a book or two of devotional or spiritual reading or they may just sit and mentally converse with God.

I began doing this a month or so ago and now I am addicted. When I arrive, I feel like I'm in a hurry about something. It feels very strange then to just sit there and hear nothing and do nothing. But the calm/peace comes over me pretty quickly and I just let my mind wander, talking to God about this, that, or the other thing. The hour passes pretty quickly. You certainly don't need to stay for an hour but time flies!

By the way, when you enter, most people get down on both knees, i.e. they don't do a simple genuflection. I think after Vatican II it was changed (I know, I know) so that is no longer necessary but just because something is not necessary doesn't mean it isn't worth doing.

Then, about 15 minutes before the end of Adoration, the Benediction begins.

At our parish, we say the Divine Mercy Chaplet. If Father Carroll
leads the chaplet, we may get one of his wonderful homilies. Then, we sing Tantun Ergo (in Latin!!!)* and say the Divine Praises (in English)**. Then we sing "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name". Finally, the priest puts on a humeral veil and picks up the monstrance, turns to face those of us in the pews and blesses us by raising and lowering the monstrance 3 times (while a lay person incenses the monstrance).

After the blessing the priest replaces the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle (the Reposition) and genuflects.

The first time I attended the Benediction, I walked out in a daze. It
was so beautiful and holy. Now, I try to attend whenever possible.
It's on a Saturday at our church so it's a little challenging to get to sometimes...

* Tantum Ergo
Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.

Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et iubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.
Amen.

** The Divine Praises
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.

To Be A Priest

Several days ago, Curt Jester (Jeff Miller) blogged about vocations in
an entry called "Heed the Call". One of his readers posted the comment below and he (the commenter) gave me permission to post it here.

You might want to consider printing it out and sending it to your favorite (or even your not-so-favorite) priest.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think it is going to take more than appealing videos. We really need to resurrect the culture of the hero because that is exactly what priests are: heroes.

The primary job of the hero is to save people. This means saving
people from any danger from any source -- even if that means trying to save someone from themselves. The hero accomplishes this task through sacrifice. He will constantly cast aside any concern for his own well-being to do the right thing. Not the easy thing -- the RIGHT thing.

The main method of heroic sacrifice is: waiting. The hero must be constantly ready. He must wait for and wait on.

He waits for trouble. Much like your mother lion, Clark Kent, or policeman; the hero remains in a position of readiness so he may counter strike at any moment. The cool thing about being a priest is that his job is to counter strike evil itself. There are a lot of jobs in this world that involve taking on evil, but none so courageously direct than that of the priest. It is such a horrifically important burden. And that is exactly what makes it so darn cool.

The hero also waits on -- the poor, the afflicted, the victims of evil. What is the point of stopping bullets if you are not protecting those innocents who need your protection?

A lot of noise is made about the discipline of celibacy but the tomes of both pop culture and literature make it clear that when you marry the hero, you end the romance of adventure. Superman, Batman, Captain America and Spiderman are all unmarried (they try every now and then in comics but it totally kills the story), Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, and Aragorn are also all unmarried. This is not some logic of Catholicism imposed upon the story by force but the true nature of the universe shinning through the veil of fiction. Marriage is a different kind of adventure. The Priesthood is wild and free like a fire. But it is also focused and controlled like a lantern. Priests are a light unto the darkness.

To be a priest is to be a hero.

Amen.

We Finally Took the Christmas Tree Down!

We were late putting it up this year (December 21st) and it finally came down yesterday. There's only 2 days of the year that I hate having a real tree...the day we put it up and the day we take it down.

I've had real trees each Christmas for over 25 years, before my husband and I were even an item. I love the look and the smell of them. When I was growing up, we had real trees for a while (I think) but most of my childhood, I remember that ugly silver Christmas tree with the colorwheel that sat on the floor and shown colors on the tree. Because the tree was metal (aluminum!), we couldn't put electric lights on it.

Who knew! I just googled aluminum Christmas tree and sure enough, there's a website for them.

Isn't the Internet great?!

Finkelstein and Jesus

Jesus was wandering around Jerusalem when He decided that He really needed a new robe.

After looking around for a while, He saw a sign for Finkelstein, the Tailor. So, He went in and made the necessary arrangements to have Finkelstein prepare a new robe for Him.

A few days later, when the robe was finished, Jesus tried it on and it was a perfect fit!

He asked how much He owed. Finkelstein brushed him off: "No, no,no, for the Son of God ? There's no charge! However, may I ask for a small favor? Whenever You give a sermon, perhaps You could just mention that Your nice new robe was made by Finkelstein, the Tailor ? "

Jesus readily agreed and as promised, extolled the virtues of his Finkelstein robe whenever He spoke to the masses.

A few months later, while Jesus was again walking through Jerusalem, He happened to walk past Finkelstein's shop and noted a huge line of people waiting for Finkelstein's robes.

He pushed his way through the crowd to speak to him and as soon as Finkelstein spotted him he said: "Jesus, Jesus, look what You've done for my business! Would You consider a partnership?"

"Certainly," replied Jesus. "Jesus & Finkelstein it is."

"Oh, no, no," said Finkelstein. "Finkelstein & Jesus. After all, I am the craftsman." The two of them debated this for some time.

Their discussion was long and spirited, but ultimately fruitful and they finally came up with a mutually acceptable compromise.

A few days later, the new sign went up over Finkelstein's shop.

Can you guess what it read?

click here to see new sign

Overheard at Mass

A little old Italian man, after receiving Holy Communion and returning to the pew, was heard to say, "I love you".

Show About Benedict XVI on EWTN - 1/27/07

Actually, it's a two-part series on il Papa, beginning January 27th (60 minutes) on their EWTN Global Showcase program at 8:00 pm (EST).

Oh joy!

Ten Reasons Your Dog's Hair Cut Costs More Than Yours

10. Your hairdresser doesn't wash and clean your rear end.
9. You don't go for 8 weeks without washing or brushing your hair.
8. Your hairdresser doesn't have to give you a sanitary trim.
7. Your hairdresser doesn't have to clean your ears.
6. Your hairdresser doesn't have to clean boogies from your eyes.
5. You sit still for your hairdresser.
4. Your haircut doesn't include a manicure or pedicure.
3. Your hairdresser only washes and cuts the hair on your head.
2. You don't bite or scratch your hairdresser. (I hope not anyway).

And the Number 1 reason your dog's haircut costs more than yours...

1. The likelihood of you pooping or peeing while your hair is being cut is extremely slim.

Our Lady of America

Have you heard about Our Lady of America?

This statute was presented to the Bishops at the November 2006 Conference of USCCB by Archbishop Raymond Burke.

Our Lady of America
It was on the eve of the feast of the North American martyrs, September 25, 1956, that Our Lady appeared to Sr. Mary Ephrem. In 1938, Sister began to have what seem like mystical spiritual experiences. She thought little of them, presuming all religious have them. As these visits took on the nature of a specific program of devotion to Mary which Sister was asked to propagate, she then turned to Monsignor Paul F. Leibold. Monsignor Leibold, later Archbishop of the Cincinnati, Ohio Archdiocese, would be her spiritual director from many years until 1972, when he suddenly died due to an aneurysm. Archbishop Leibold had become so convinced of the authenticity of this message that he approved Sister's writings and placed his imprimatur on the design of the medal. Our Lady had asked Sister to have struck a medal that would bear the image of Our Lady of America on the front and the symbol of the Christian Family and the Blessed Trinity on the back.

Thoughts?

Stuff for Your iPods

For those of you who got an iPod for Christmas, you can get Greg and Jennifer Wilits of Rosary Army saying the 4 sets of Rosary Mysteries (Glorious, Luminous, Joyful and Sorrowful). They are dated October 5, 2005 in the archive. Download them, import them into iTunes and put them on your iPod. They have a beautiful scripture for each of the 20 mysteries.

A Fantasy Bulletin Notice

I love our pastor and our parochial vicar, both hard-working orthodox priests. Every parish could use a little tightening up, though, and so I am tempted to adapt this to my church and put these in the bulletins some week.

In an attempt to restore the sacredness to the Holy Mass, and piety to the people, the following changes will be implemented immediately at [insert name here] Parish:

Sacred Silence is prescribed for 15 minutes before and after every Mass. Please refrain from socializing in front of the Blessed Sacrament. You are encouraged to spend this time in prayer, in preparation for the Mass and in thanksgiving to God.

Effective immediately, [insert name here] Parish will no longer be allowing girls to altar serve. Since altar serving is traditionally a stepping stone to the priesthood, only boys will be encouraged to serve.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are no longer required. The priest will be distributing Communion, and even though this may take a few moments longer, your cooperation is requested.

Applause is not encouraged, nor will it be tolerated during the Mass. If you wish to acknowledge another person's achievements, please do so privately after Mass.

Please refrain from visiting the sacristy prior to Mass, as the priest needs to spend some moments in prayer as he vests for the Mass.

Parishioners will notice a change to the choir in the coming weeks. We will be singing more Latin hymns, with special emphasis on sacred songs that reflect the Divine Mysteries of the Mass. Only an organ will be used for musical accompaniment. Anyone wishing to learn Gregorian Chant, please see the choir director after Mass.

We are looking for volunteers to re-install the communion rails and the kneelers. If you can help with this, please see Father to sign up.

hat tip to Salve Regina...

Celebrating Justice (Saddam Hussein)

From the excellent blog, Iraq the Model, an excerpt...

Executing the dictator renews the hopes of not only Iraqis but also of other oppressed peoples in the world in having a better future where they enjoy freedom. It's time for other tyrants to learn from this lesson and realize that a similar fate is on the way if they refuse to change.
Yes, it was the people though their elected government who put Saddam on trial and who says otherwise should go back and learn about how Saddam humiliated, murdered and tortured Iraqis and plundered their fortunes in his stupid adventures.

Stem Cell Quiz

I found this quiz on another site. I'll credit the blogger if I can remember where I found it...

Test your knowledge while finding out current information on stem cell research and how to get involved in human trials ASAP

My Prayer Journal

I went to Barnes & Noble, looking for a calendar or two but found a beautiful journal which I will use for my prayer journal. I'm hoping this will inspire me to pray more.

Worth Repeating

I love a good quote, which is one of the many reasons that I love the Happy Catholic blog. Here's another collection of good quotes I stumbled across the other day...

Sometimes people can hunger for more than bread. It is possible that our children, our husband, our wife, do not hunger for bread, do not need clothes, do not lack a house. But are we equally sure that none of them feels alone, abandoned, neglected, needing some affection? That, too, is poverty. --Mother Teresa

(F)eminists' ideological effort to free women from families rather than strengthen their ties to them reveals a breathtaking disregard for the principal cause of poor women's poverty. --Elizabeth Fox-Genovese

Go read the rest!

Heresies in Homilies

In researching the Navarre Study Bible, I found this article in a back issue of This Rock. It startled me because this was so similar to the theme of the homily I heard at my church this morning (sigh). Don't worry, it was a visiting priest. Just goes to prove, there are no new heresies...just wish we didn't hear them in homilies.

Marcionism

How could the God who commanded adulterers to be stoned be reconciled with the God who let them go free? This was overcome by postulating the existence of two gods. Marcion concluded that the tyrannical Creator-God of the Old Testament, Yahweh, was in opposition to the merciful and loving God of the New Testament.

Merry Christmas!

Catholic Devotions Meme

My first meme! I was memed today by Jayne of So Many Devotions So Little Time.

CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS MEME

1. Favorite devotion or prayer to Jesus?
I just recently started saying the Divine Mercy Chaplet but the one I say most often is the Litany of Humility (it's the one I need the most).

2. Favorite Marian devotion or prayer?
I love the Memorare but I still don't have it memorized.

3. Do you wear a scapular or medal?
Yes, the Brown Scapular (Our Lady of Mount Carmel). The one I bought came with the Miraculous Medal.

4. Do you have holy water in your home?
As a general rule - no. But I brought some home from church to bless the Advent Wreath. I want to buy at least one font soon.

5. Do you 'offer up' your sufferings?
When I think of it, yes.

6. Do you observe First Fridays and First Saturdays?
I just started the First Friday devotion in December. We'll see how I do!

7. Do you go to Eucharistic Adoration? How frequently?
Yes, my parish has it weekly on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 2:45 pm but I've only been able to get there once a month or so...

8. Are you a Saturday evening Mass person or Sunday morning Mass person?
I go to the 7:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday.

9. Do you say prayers at mealtime?
No unfortunately. I'm going to try and change this in 2007.

10. Favorite Saint(s)?
Padre Pio

11. Can you recite the Apostles Creed by heart?
Not yet!

12. Do you usually say short prayers (aspirations) during the course of the day?
Sometimes, not often enough but when I do it's usually "Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner".

13. Bonus Question: When you pass by a automobile accident or other serious mishap, do you say a quick prayer for the folks involved?
Yes, I say a Hail Mary for them.

Thanks Jayne for forcing me to post another entry! I hope to blog more in 2007 (I'm already putting a lot of pressure on myself for next year, aren't I?)

I shall pass the meme baton to Dom of Bettnet, Kelly of The Lady in the Pew and Jen of Jenny Sais Quoi.

Pumpkin Egg Nog?!

Who knew? I had to try it. It's delicious. (limited time only by Hood)

The Blessing of the Thorns

I received this via an email list I belong to.   I had to pass it on...

 

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Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door.

Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole that from her.

During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come for the holiday.

Then Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. She has no idea what I'm feeling, thought Sandra with a shudder.

Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" The shop clerk's approach startled her.

"I....I need an arrangement, " stammered Sandra.

"For Thanksgiving? Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving "Special?" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this thanksgiving? "

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."

Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Just then the shop door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said,
"Hi, Barbara...let me get your order." She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses.
Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.

"Want this in a box?" asked the clerk.

Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.

"Yes, please," Barbara, replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd
think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest. And she left with her order.

"Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh....she just left with no flowers!

"Right, said the clerk, "I cut off the flowers. That's the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."

"Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra.

"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling much like you feel
today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery."

"That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk, "and for
the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no
children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow
any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.

"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and never
questioned the good things that happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask questions! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but
it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."
Just then someone else walked in the shop. "Hey, Phil!" shouted the
clerk to the balding, rotund man.
"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving Special....12 thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.
"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that?"

"No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from "thorny" times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"
"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said. "It's all too...fresh. "
"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.
"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a
minute."
"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read: "My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."
Praise Him for your roses; thank him for your thorns!
-- Author Unknown