Latin Rite Cathedral in Kiev

St Nicholas Cathedral:

Maputo's Cathedral

In case you are wondering, Maputo is the capital of Mozambique. It is named for Our Lady of Fatima.

Noël en toi...

The title of this post translates as "Christmas in you". It was a post that I found on , a French St BlogChemins de lecture (in case you are wondering the blog's name means Paths of Lecture, maybe Learning). I know that December 25 have come and gone, but we are still well withing the 12 days of Christmas. After all, Epiphany is still a week away.
The post on the blog was just a quote:

"Le christ serait-il né mille fois à Bethléem, s'il ne naît pas en toi, c'est en vain qu'il est né" --Angelus Silésius

I have no idea who Angelus Silésius is, but the quote is very beautiful and profound. For those of you who do not read French:
"Christ could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem, if He is not born in you, it is in vain that He was born."

Psalm 42

As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.
My being thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and see the face of God?
My tears have been my food day and night, as they ask daily,"Where is your God?"
Those times I recall as I pour out my soul, When I went in procession with the crowd, I went with them to the house of God, Amid loud cries of thanksgiving, with the multitude keeping festival.
Why are you downcast, my soul; why do you groan within me? Wait for God, whom I shall praise again, my savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you From the land of the Jordan and Hermon, from the land of Mount Mizar.
Here deep calls to deep in the roar of your torrents. All your waves and breakers sweep over me.
At dawn may the LORD bestow faithful love that I may sing praise through the night, praise to the God of my life.
I say to God, "My rock, why do you forget me? Why must I go about mourning with the enemy oppressing me?"
It shatters my bones, when my adversaries reproach me. They say to me daily: "Where is your God?"
Why are you downcast, my soul, why do you groan within me? Wait for God, whom I shall praise again, my savior and my God.

Eucharist as Calvary Continued

I can see in the consecrated Host or the Eucharist a mystical passion, the
continuation of the Lord's Passion at Calvary... It is the same Heart that
suffers, and the same sins It is sacrificed for... I can see Him in a constant
act of atonement, holding back divine justice, searching for souls, but holy,
pure and sacrificed souls that in their union cry out to Heaven for pardon
and mercy... He is tireless in this mystical crucifixion, abandoned in His
solitude, infinitely patient, receiving so much ingratitude in exchange for so
much love.

--Conchita

I don't have any commentary on this. I think its speaks very well for itself.

Conchita on the Tabernacles

Oh my God, my God! What would become of the world if there were no tabernacles?
They are the lighting conductors, the light, the warmth, the life... the
whiteness, the purity that covers the filthy mud of the Earth... Jesus is there,
and almost every time I draw near Him He asks me for purity, purity, crucified
and clean souls to console Him... The Lord is thirsty for purity and for
the Cross, and yet the world is deaf, wallowing in its dirt and sleeping on its
material comforts. A terrible awakening awaits it that makes me tremble, and
also makes that Heart that is all goodness to men tremble (incredible love!). He
wants His Cross to reign in our hearts- only the Cross can save the world;
spirits can only be sanctified through Him.

Conchita, mystical foundress of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit
Other quotes and posts about Conchita here

St Stephen, the First Martyr

The 26th of December is the feast day of St Stephen. He was the first Christian martyr and his death by stoning is described in the Acts of the Apostles.

He is not, by any means, the last martyr. Many, many, many more would also wear the martyr's crown. As a matter of fact Christians die for their faith on a daily basis. In Communist nations such as China, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, and especially North Korea. Christians also die at the hands of religous extremists, mostly Muslim but also Hindu and other religions. Only Christ's return will ever stop the killings.
However, martyrdom only helps to spread the Gospel. It is a powerful testimony to persecutors and Christians alike. It means another soul is in Heaven praying for the continued conversion of souls.
Today being the feast day of St Stephen, Pope Benedict XVI said of martyrdom that it is "exclusively an act of love towards God and all mankind including persecutors". I couldn't have said it better.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas! May the celebration of Christ's incarnation be a time of joy and peace for all of you.

St Joseph's Cathedral

Its Christmas Eve, but I decided to do something off the wall this morning.I have decided to post pictures of a Cathedral from the most random place I could think of. I thought of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. These are pictures from St Joseph's Cathedral in Tanzania. It was built by German missionaries while it was still a German colony. German lost Tanzania and all its other African holdings as a result of WWI.

I know that Easter is a long ways off, but I was so impressed that I threw it in just because.

GK Chesterton- Christmas Poem

I found this on Wittingshire

The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His hair was like a light.
(O weary, weary were the world,
But here is all aright.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast
His hair was like a star.
(O stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(O weary, weary is the world,
But here the world's desire.)

The Christ-child stood on Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown,
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.

--G.K. Chesterton

Carnival

I am late on linking to the Carnival at Aussie Coffee Shop, but here it is.
There is a great posting in there about Frosty the Snowman as a Christian allegory.

Tony Blair is now Catholic

Hat tip to Bloom Where You're Planted

Tony Blair has finally joined the Catholic Church. It has been expected for a while, but now its a done deal.

Top 10 Post Meme

The Ironic Catholic tagged anyone who wanted to be tagged so I consider myself tagged. These are my personal 10 favorite posts on 50 Days After for the year 2007.

1. Catholic Carnival: St Joseph the Worker
2. Catholic Carnival 141
3. Athanasius Contra Mundum
4. 5 Reasons Meme
5. Citizen Soldier by 3 Doors Down
6. TAC asks Rome for Union
7. Top 5 Reasons I am Catholic
8. Ranger Rosary
9. King of Poland
10. And last but actually my favorite: A Soldier's Best Weapon

I tag anyone who wants to be tagged, but I invite everyone to share their top posts of the year.

Book Meme

I have been Memed and I am overdue for a response to Anita. And btw, I think I have met this blogger. From her profile I glanced that she is a lawyer and she lived in Moscow, ID about the same time I went to school there. And I remember an Anita, who was a lawyer from St Augustine's in Moscow.
Temporary deviation from topic at hand: I want to try guest blogging so let me know if you'd be interested in posting on 50 Days After.
Back to the Meme...

1. One book that changed your life...
I know its cliche, and yes I know it is an anthology, but the Bible has changed my life drastically. I actually started reading it when I was in high school, because I was looking for cool quotes to use. I tried to use the author and He used me instead.

2. One book that you have read more than once...
I honestly have never read any book more than once.

3. One book you would want on a desert island...
War and Peace, cause it might be a looong time before help comes.

4. One book that made you laugh...
Father Joe

5. One book that made you cry...
I am not going to admit that any book made me cry, but The Jungle came close.

6. One book that you wish had been written...
Why My Opinion is Never Wrong :)

7. One book you wish had never been written...
Das Manifest

8. One book you are currently reading...
Utopia by St Thomas More

9. One book you've been meaning to read...
The Red Badge of Courage. I started to read it but I had to return it to the library and I have always wanted to finish it.

I tag anyone who wants to be tagged. And as another side note I woud like to share that it is -41 F here this morning.

Christmas Song Riddle

I this on Steve Ray's Blog. I had heard a similiar joke before.
Can you figure oiut which Christmas song this is?

ABCDEFGHIJKMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Second Week of Advent

I am feeling deliquent. I am proud to be a St Blogger but yet its already the second week of Advent and I have remained silent.
I am listening to O Come O Come Emmanuel as I write this. I was thinking about the meaning of the words. "Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel" Just as Israel was and still is His chosen people, we also are a chosen people and indeed we can think of ourselves as the new Israel. Of course, as Christ promised (Matthew 28:20, among other places) He has never left us. We need look no further than the nearest Tabernacle to know that Christ still dwells among us body, blood, soul and divinity.
Nonetheless, we look forward (especially at this time of year) to Christ's return in all His glory and majesty. Every time Mass is celebrated we repeat the same words used by the Ancient Jews of Jerusalem to greet Jesus. "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord." Ever time I hear those words I picture our Lord riding His donkey down the aisle toward the altar to be present for the Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist. That's just me, but I also wonder from time to time about Him riding back to us, the new Israel, but this time He returns in glory to establish peace and justice. As a Soldier, I long for peace more than most. And we know that someday, He will return to do just that. Although, somehow I think He'll forgo the donkey the second time.
The point though, is that as Christians we look not so much backward to the Birth of Christ some 2000 years ago. We look forward to that unknown day when He shall return in all His glory and majesty. That day when the lion shall lay down with the lamb and the child shall play with the asp.
Marana Tha!

I Just Thought I'd Share

As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that repeateth his folly.
Proverbs 26:11

Magnificat in Latin

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,et exsultávit spíritus meusin Deo salvatóre meo,quia respéxit humilitátemancíllæ suæ.
Ecce enim ex hoc beátamme dicent omnes generatiónes,quia fecit mihi magna,qui potens est,et sanctum nomen eius,et misericórdia eius in progénieset progénies timéntibus eum.Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;depósuit poténtes de sedeet exaltávit húmiles.Esuriéntes implévit boniset dívites dimísit inánes.Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,recordátus misericórdiæ,sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.
Glória Patri et Fílioet Spirítui Sancto.Sicut erat in princípio,et nunc et semper,et in sæcula sæculórum.

Great Quote

This morning, I came across this gem from The Cave:
"Yeah, yeah... it's all fun and games 'till someone loses their immortal soul."
I chuckled when I read it. And just so everyone knows that I agree: ugh... heresy... bad. But seriously making movies that propagate heresy is dangerous not only to your own soul but to many, many others.

Adrienne's Meme

And now for an overdue meme response...
I have been tagged by Adrienne over at Adrienne's Catholic Corner for the latest and greatest Meme. I am supposed to say 8 random things about myself. Then I'll tag 8 bloggers. They in turn are supposed to say 8 random things about themselves and tag 8 other bloggers.

1. I have a scar in one eyebrow that I got in the process of stealing a construction sign once upon a time.



2. "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" is my favorite non-Biblical phrase.



3. I have been blogging for about a year and a half.



4. I am over six feet tall.



5. I am about a month out from becoming a father for the first time.



6. I am one of those crabby guys that always complains about Christmas specials that aren't about the birth of Christ.



7. I earned the rank of Eagle Scout.



8. I almost always sneeze twice.

I tag the following:

Kim at Transitus Tiber

Anita at V for Victory

Catholicgop at Faith and Country

The SciFi Catholic

Mark at Dominican Idaho

The Evantine Abbey

Suzanne at Big Blue Wave

Jeff at the Curt Jester

A Little Liturgical Humor This Sunday

GK Chesterton on Soldiers

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."

A Song for Advent

Advent by Seven Sorrows

Soviet Martyrs

Hat Tip to Per Christum
I found a web page that has a long list of Catholic men and women martyred by the Soviets in the Ukraine. These martyrs are all declared Blessed. Its impossible to tell how many more were martyred and not declared Blessed, how many others were martyred and we'll just never know, how many Orthodox and other Christians (and this only those in the Ukraine).
Two stories in particular really struck me:

Blessed Sr. Tarsykia Matskiv was born on 23 March 1919 in the village of
Khodoriv, Lviv District, baptized as Ol'ha. On 3 May 1938 she entered the Sister
Servants of Mary Immaculate. After professing her first vows on 5 November 1940,
she worked in her convent. Even prior to the Bolshevik arrival in Lviv, Sr.
Tarsykia made a private oath to her spiritual director, Fr. Volodymyr Kovalyk
O.S.B.M., that she would sacrifice her life for the conversion of Russia and for
the good of the Catholic Church. The Bolsheviks were determined to destroy the
monastery. On the morning of 17 July 1944 at 8 a.m., a Russian soldier rang the
convent door. When Sr. Taryskia answered the door she was shot without warning
and died.

All she did was answer the door.

Blessed Fr. Roman Lysko was born on 14 August 1914 in Horodok, Lviv Region. He
graduated from the Lviv Theological Academy. He and his wife worked very gladly
with the youth. On 28 August 1941 he was ordained to the priesthood by
Metropolitan Andrei Sheptyts'kyi. On 9 September 1949, he was arrested by the
NKVD (KGB) and put into a prison on Lontskoho St in Lviv. The people of Liviv
reported to one another that after being tortured, the young Fr. Roman sang
psalms at the top of his voice. It was then reported that they had immured him
alive in the prison walls. His death is officially dated on 14 October 1949.

I didn't get it at first so I had to look up the word "immured". I found this at thefreedictionary.com:
im·mure:
tr.v. im·mured, im·mur·ing, im·mures
1. To confine within or as if within walls; imprison.
2. To build into a wall: immure a shrine.
3. To entomb in a wall
They built the wall around the priest. They were so afraid of him that they entombed him in their prison, where they felt he couldn't do them any more harm. How horrible would be to have the wall built all around you? Of course I also wonder, on a lighter note, why do we have a word dedicated to that specific purpose?

As an aside I recommend a book called Tortured for Christ. Its written by a Lutheran pastor about his experiences of persecution and imprisonment in Communist Eastern Europe. You can get a free copy here actually.

Mission Statement

How many of you think that a mission statement is pointless?
It really should go without saying that the purpose of any parish is the salvation of souls. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, "This, and nothing else, is the purpose of the Church: the salvation of individual souls." (I got that from the bottom of Dominican Idaho)

Because I can

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,
Dominus Deus Sabbaoth;
Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria Tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.

Caption Contest

Caption away in the combox.

Samson and the Destruction of the Temple

As I was reading Phatcatholic Apologetics this morning, I read through a post about suicide. One of the links toward the bottom of the post caught my eye: Did Samson Commit Suicide?
Clearly he intentionly meant to end his own life by destroying the temple and the Phillistines within. He even prayed to God that he may "die with the Phillistines" (Judges 16:20). The meat of the response was in two paragraphs:

For what it is worth, the Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Bible, edited by Louis Hartman, C.SS.R., had this to say: “Samson’s death in the Temple of Dagon at Gaza, which he brought down on himself and the assembled Philistines (16:23-30), was not an act of suicide, but rather a return to his mission, to which he had been unfaithful when he betrayed the secret of his strength to Delilah, but which he in conscious response to his call and with a prayer to God on his lips, now fulfilled, even at the cost of his own life.”...
The moralist Heribert Jone, O.F.M.Cap., calls this indirect suicide and says that, while in itself it is forbidden, it may be permitted for a proportionately grave reason. Jone writes: “One kills himself indirectly if, without the intention of committing suicide, he knowingly and willingly does something which not only has an intended good effect, but from which death also follows.”

They cite the example from Ancient Rome of Christians who leapt to their death rather than be sexually violated. I think a more poignant example would be St Maximillian Kolbe who took a man's place while in Auschwitz knowing the man had been condemned to die, even though St Maximilian might have possibly survived Auschwitz.

My Saint and Devotion for the Year

Thanks to Angela Messenger for doing this for the St Blogosphere.
My saint for 2008 is St Anthony of Padua and my devotion for this coming year is the Precious Blood.

Catholic Carnival 147

Living Catholicism has hosted the latest Catholic Carnival. This week is a good one. I am not sure yet if I'll post further on the entries.

More sarcastic humor at Scrappleface.

Psalm 51 in Latin! Because I can

1 MISERERE mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum: deleiniquitatem meam.
2 Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.
3 Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peceatum meum contra me est semper.
4 Tibi soli peceavi, et malum coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.
5 Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
6 Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiæ tuæ manifestasti mihi.
7 Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
8 Auditui meo dabis gaudium et lætitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.
9 Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.
10 Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum reotum innoara in visceribas meis.
11 Ne projicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.
12 Redde mihi lætitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me.
13 Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur.
14 Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meæ: et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam.
15 Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.
16 Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem: utique holocaustis non delectaberus.
17 Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies.
18 Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut ædificentur muri Hierusalem.
19 Tunc aceeptabis sacrificium justitiæ, oblationes et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a safe and blessed Thanksgiving!

AMS new Archbishop

Ever since July when Archbishop O'Brien became the Archbishop of Baltimore, the Archdiocese for the Military Services (USA) has been without an archbishop. No more.
Archbishop Broglio has been appointed as our new shepherd. Welcome Archbishop Broglio!

Catholic Carnival 146

This week's Carnival is at We Belong to the Lord

Pope Pius XI: Spaghetti Western Star

I saw an article quoted (the quote was translated) over at WDTPRS?. The article noted that Pope Pius XI packed heat:

We are not dealing with just any librarian, but with Achille Ratti, who became Pope with the name Pius XI.

And the gun?

Here’s the explanation of this oddity. When he was prefect of the Ambrosian Library in Milan, Ratti kept a a revolver close at had "as a deterent to keep off possible miscreants with gunshots in the air, or the like."

Once promoted to the Vatican Library, he brought his gun with him. And when in 1918 Benedict XV sent him to Poland as an apostolic visitor, he sent to Warsaw via the diplomatic pouch, "a small revolver and ammunition".

As Pope, we don’t know. But it occurs that he could have been a quick-draw, based on the motto he chose for his episcopal caot-of arms: "Raptim transit" , "it goes by swiftly", a citation of Job 6:15.

When I read it I thought immediately of Spaghetti Westerns. Instead of Clint Eastwood, maybe Pope Pius XI could have starred, or maybe co-starred with St Gabriel Possenti.
I thought up a few titles, but please by all means add more in the combox:
For a Few Prayers to St Thomas More
The Good, the Bad, and the Holy
Fistful of Rosaries
Once Upon a Time in the Roman Empire

and there's one title that would fit perfectly:
God's Gun

Why do we go to Mass?

Curious? Listen here.

HT to Catholic Audio

Condoms instead of Bibles

Hotels substituting “intimacy kits” for Bibles
I think this headline speaks volumes about where our society has gone.

CC 145

The latest Carnival is up here.

Blogging will be sparse this week because I am moving.

Established and preserved by blood and prayer
Thrown away with no concern nor care

Christendom, the shining jewel of the Earth
Now suffers from Europe's spiritual dearth

A great jewel formed of the hostile Empire
Its borders marked with many a spire

Much of it torn away by the atheist Marx
The Christian fire in Russia reduced to sparks

The plague of Communism in time spread
The lands Christian legacy officially dead

Complacency and tolerance have done the rest
Such have tarnished the jewel more than Lenin's best

A shame that a jewel made so precious by prayer and blood
Should vanish away like the Earth by the Great Flood

Happy Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day and I would like to thank all the Veterans out there for their service, especially the St. Blog authors at Catholic Cavemen and Quaffs and Quibbles.

I would also like to remember Fr. Kapaun, an Army Chaplain and veteran of WWII and Korean War, who died at the hands of his Communist Chinese captors during the Korean War.

A Veteran's Memorial

Every year we celebrate Veteran's Day on November 11, but few of us realize that November 11 is also the memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, a Soldier in the Roman Army. He is almost always portrayed as a Soldier on horseback, cutting his cloak in half to share it with a freezing naked beggar. That's because he once cut his cloak in half to give one half to a beggar. Later in a dream, it was revealed to Saint Martin that the beggar was really Christ Jesus.
As a side note, the cloak was kept as a relic. French kings took it with them when they went into battle. The Latin word for cloak is capella (my spelling might be off). And of course priests accompanied the relic and they came to be called capellans, after the relic. The "c" in Latin apparently sound like "ch" in English. So that is where the word Chaplain came from. In a way, he could almost be considered the patron saint of Chaplains.
Also, I would point you to point by my good friend from my days in the sem, Matt Libra. He visited the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian, another Saint who was a Soldier in the Roman Army, and Matt has his own Veteran's Day reflections.

A prayer by Saint Martin of Tours:
Lord, if Your people still have need of my services,
I will not avoid the toil.
Your will be done.
I have fought the good fight long enough.
Yet if You bid me continue to hold the battle line
in defense of Your camp,
I will never beg to be excused from failing strength.
I will do the work You entrust to me.
While You command,
I will fight beneath Your banner.

Christ the Convict

H/T to Ironic Catholic posting at National Pray to God Month

Negotiator or Agitator

Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, is in the news for acting supposedly for the Colombian gov't for the release of civilian hostages held by the FARC in their guerrillas war against the Columbian people.
Now, obviously the FARC are Communist guerrillas, but many people don't realize Chavez is by his own admission a Maoist. That's right, the world's 5th largest exporter of oil is run by a Communist. 13% of the crude oil the US receives comes from Venezuela.
His politics and shady history (the first time he tried to be president it was an attempted coup d'etat) make you wonder whether this isn't the fox guarding the hen house. For all we know the 100,000 AK-47s he ordered in 2005 might be in the hands of the FARC or maybe he just gave them his old stock of weapons once he got new AKs.
Colombian law enforcement have found FARC leaders sheltered in Venezuela before. Seems like they were being sheltered by a government trying to Communist to the rest of Latin America. The Soviet Union fell apart and the Berlin Wall fell, but stubborn idealogues seem determined to try and make it work despite its inherent self-destructive nature.

David and Popes

Over at Crossed the Tiber I came across a very interesting post comparing bad and often sinful decisions made by Popes with David's fornication and having the husband, Uriah the Hittite, killed. The main gist of the post was this:

Catholics are often asked how we can believe in the validity of the Church in light of the bad popes, corrupt bishops, bad priests, (sinful bloggers) etc and the recent abuse scandal.

Would Uriah the Hittite have accepted what came to be the Word of God if he knew that the man destined to write a portion of it (Psalms) fornicated with his wife and sent him into battle to die? The Jewish people as well as early Christians accepted the Old Testament as God's Word despite the fact that adulterers, polygamists and murderers wrote fairly large portions of it, including Moses, David and King Solomon. We don't believe the sinful actions of these men affected the truth God inspired them to write.

That's right, just as Sacred Scripture is the inerrant Word of God despite the sinful and sometimes scandalous actions of the writers, just so is the Catholic Church still the one true Church despite the sins and scandals of some Popes. The Holy Spirit is, despite some protestations to the contrary, able to proclaim Truth and overcome the sinfulness of mankind.

Carnivals

144

143

5,000

Woohoo! My blog has made the 5,000 visitors mark!

H/T to Rosetta Stone

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!
-Luke 18:38

Citizen Soldier by 3 Doors Down

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf"
--George Orwell
H/T to Faith and Country for this video
I am not gonna post the lyrics, but she did if you want to see them.
3 Doors Down always has good stuff




I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

Haikus just for cause

Today we recall
the Resurrection's glory
our eternal hope

Heavenly Manna
Nourishes body and soul
Precious Body, Blood

Blessed Sacrament
Jesus' Holy Sacrifice
His Blood shed for all

Dangers of Bread

I found this on Snopes this morning. It cracked me up so I thought I would share.

1. More than 98 percent of convicted felons are bread eaters.
2. Fully HALF of all children who grow up in bread-consuming households score below average on standardized tests.
3. In the 18th century, when virtually all bread was baked in the home, the average life expectancy was less than 50 years; infant mortality rates were unacceptably high; many women died in childbirth; and diseases such as typhoid, yellow fever and influenza ravaged whole nations.
4. More than 90 percent of violent crimes are committed within 24 hours of eating bread.
5. Bread is made from a substance called "dough." It has been proven that as little as one pound of dough can be used to suffocate a mouse. The average American eats more bread than that in one month!
6. Primitive tribal societies that have no bread exhibit a low occurrence of cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and osteoporosis.
7. Bread has been proven to be addictive. Subjects deprived of bread and given only water to eat begged for bread after only two days.
8. Bread is often a "gateway" food item, leading the user to "harder" items such as butter, jelly, peanut butter and even cold cuts.
9. Bread has been proven to absorb water. Since the human body is more than 90 percent water, it follows that eating bread could lead to your body being taken over by this absorptive food product, turning you into a soggy, gooey bread-pudding person.
10. Newborn babies can choke on bread.
11. Bread is baked at temperatures as high as 400 degrees Fahrenheit! That kind of heat can kill an adult in less than one minute.
12. Most American bread eaters are utterly unable to distinguish between significant scientific fact and meaningless statistical babbling.

In light of these frightening statistics, we propose the following bread restrictions:

1. No sale of bread to minors.
2. No advertising of bread within 1000 feet of a school.
3. A 300 percent federal tax on all bread to pay for all the societal ills we might associate with bread.
4. No animal or human images, nor any primary colors (which may appeal to children) may be used to promote bread usage.

Three Church of Ireland Parishes Seek Reunion

Three Church of Ireland parishes are seeking full (corporate) reunion with the Catholic Church. Maybe these will be granted something like the Anglican use in the US or maybe they will join with the Traditional Anglican Communion and maybe form a new rite in the Church. Who knows?
Read the story about the parishes here.

In case you were wondering

Pope Benedict XVI's email address is benedictxvi@vatican.va

Belated Carnival post

I am late with the post linking to the newest Catholic Carnival, but here it is.

IM Saints

Hat tip to Ironic Catholic and The Scriptorium

Let Say Thanks.com

Xerox has a site called letssaythanks.com where you pick one of several cards made by children and Xerox mails it for free to a Servicemember in Iraq or Afghanistan. No money on your part, only a few seconds to pick a card, give your name and hometown, then pick a message and submit your card to be sent.

Traditional Anglich Church asks Rome for Union

That's right! The Traditional Anglican Communion has formally petitioned the Vatican for full union.
I read in an article that I found at Pewsitter.
From the article:

The College of Bishops of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) recently petitioned for “full, corporate, sacramental union” with the Roman Catholic Church recently.
The appeal for union was debated during a meeting of bishops in Portsmouth, England during the first week of October. It was delivered in a letter, which was signed by all the bishops present. The letter was delivered personally to the Holy See by the Most Rev. John Hepworth, Primate of TAC, and two other bishops selected by the college...
With approximately 100 congregations in the U.S., the Anglican Church in America (ACA) is among the largest of several “Continuing Churches” which emerged from the Affirmation of St. Louis and the 1977 gathering of former Episcopalians and other Anglicans.

If it happens, and I pray that it will, this will be the first post-Reformation Church to rejoin the Catholic Church. Maybe it will lead many other Protestants across the Tiber.

Bishop's Wife Converts

I was reading at catholicnewsagency.com that the wife of a Church of Ireland bishop has become Catholic.

Anita Henderson formally converted Sunday in the private chapel of Catholic Bishop John Fleming in Ballina, County Mayo in the west of Ireland. Her husband, Church of Ireland Bishop Richard Henderson, and their three children, were present for the ceremony.

Its always great news to hear that someone else has reconciled themselves to the Catholic Church and joined in the fullness of truth.
The Archbishop who is head of the Church of Ireland, Archbishop Alan Harper had an interesting quote in the article:

"She has made what was for her and her husband a particularly difficult decision and a particularly difficult move. We must now pray that they are sustained in their integrity and continuing ministry. ...There are some awkwardnesses," he said.

I added the emphasis, but I can't help but wonder: how much awkwarness?

Reasons to be a Dad

In Catholic Carnival 141 there was a post that had 40 Reasons to have kids. It was from the Mom's perspective.
I saw yesterday that on Un-Muted Mumblings he had posted 40 reasons from the Dad's perspective. I was eager to see what he had since I will be Dad in late Dec.
Among the reasons I like from his list:

5. Kids make you a better man.
6. The first taught me to value the weak.
7. The second taught me the value of prayer (remind me to post his miracle story)
8. The third teaches me the value of Guardian Angels (notice the present tense)
9. Number 4 finally brought me out of my selfishness.
10. The fifth, well lets say my fifth is a good reason for a good fifth. A spitting image of me, but how different they can be.
11. #6 is the beauty following the beast. As collicy and feisty as #5 was, #6 is sweet and mellow.
12. The seventh (on the way) brought home the value of trusting God. Put away the charts and enjoy the married life. (thank you St. Joseph)...
25. Like a knife tempered in the fire and sharpened on a steel, kids provide both for a man's character.
26. We learn discipline starts with ourselves...
30. Wrestling time. When can getting beat be so much fun. Some day they will be able to beat me for real. I will have to give it up a year before that.
31. Games on a winter afternoon.
32. Having more than 2 really irks the liberals.

I am sure there are more than 40 reasons, but I'll have to wait and find out what those are.

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Persecution of the Church will only end with the Second Coming. Please keep our persecuted brothers and sisters in your prayers.

Congratulations to Sarah

Sarah over at Snoring Scholar has a new addition to her family.

Allergic to everything but 6 foods

I was reading on MSNBC a couple days ago about a 12 year old boy who is allergic to almost everything. By almost everything I mean that they have only found 6 (wow that's a small number) foods that he is NOT allergic to. That poor boy can only eat chicken, tuna, carrots, potatoes, grapes and apples. Even still he has to receive additional nutrients through a tube. He now gets this through a port in his stomach since these daily feedings were rubbing his nose raw.

Its stories like these that make remember that I really should be thankful for my many, many blessings.

Catholic Carnival 141

Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on down, its Carnival time!

October is the month of the Rosary and a couple of posts are about the Rosary.

Elena at My Domestic Church shares her favorite Rosary links and resources.
Melissa from A Third Way also shares various Rosary resources with us.

There are even more posts this week about family and children. These are especially dear to me since my wife and I are expecting our first child in the last part of December.

Sarah, the author of Snoring Scholar, gives us 40 Reasons to have children. At A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars, we have a post about the benefits of an evening spent without television. SFO Mom wrote a Pro-Life post in Just Because its Legal Doesn't Make it Right.

There were also some posts about readings from Mass this last week.

Heidi Saxton posts at Streams of Mercy that the greatest healing is spiritual not physical as Christ's healing was attributed to the Devil. Heart, Mind, and Strength had a great post last week on the importance of thanksgiving, a la Naaman and the Samaritan leper.

Then there were the posts about Catholic writings. St Teresa of Avila and Pope Benedict XVI are mentioned among others.

Catholic Fire has a great post about St Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church and important inspiration to at least two other Doctors of the Church (St Therese of Lisieux and St John of the Cross). Daughter of the King wrote a review of "The Apostles" by Pope Benedict XVI. Christine Schult posts about Pope Benedict XVI's teachings on families. Running Red Lettered considers writing a memoir about her Catholic life and experiences.

Richard has a post about which would be the lesser of two evils if both won their party's nomination, voting for Giuliani or Clinton.

I also want to include a post from Faith and Country about the Life Chain in Kenosha and a post from Dominican Idaho about suffering.

I can't seem to download pictures right now, so those will have to wait.
Good night and God bless all of you.

O Sacrament Most Holy,
O Sacrament Divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving,
Be every moment Thine.

Catholic College in Idaho?

I just found out today that Wyoming has a new Catholic College. I have wondered for some time why Idaho doesn't have a Catholic College and/or university. After all, if the least populated state in the union has enough support to have a Catholic College why don't we?
Montana has fewer people than Idaho, but they have TWO Catholic Colleges. A Catholic college near Moscow would be ideal since a college there could draw on the research and other academic infrastructure already in place at the University of Idaho and Washington State. Reciprocal agreements could allow Catholic students use of their libraries and there is the possiblity of taking some classes at UI or WSU.
Idaho has one of the top five fastest population growths in the US. With the recent explosion of people and business in the Treasure Valley it is more than possible to raise the appropriate support. Of course we only have one Catholic High School as well. I take that back, I know of two. Only one is approved by Bishop Driscoll. I understand that Summit Academy set itself up without his approval and I understand that that isn't cool. But with that said it still seems like Bishop Driscoll isn't very supportive of Catholic education in the diocese.
Boise is a missionary diocese and that's all the more reason to establish more Catholic education, to shine our light unto the rest of the state.

Book Reviews and Catholic Carnivals

Catholic Carnival 140

Hiatus

I haven't blogged much in the last week or so, and it will be few more day before I have time again to blog. Contra will continue, just later in the week.
I shall return.

I am hosting the Catholic Carnival on 16 October. Does anyone have any thoughts on a special theme or a particular Saint's day that week?

Heaven Meme

I was over at Faith and Country with the Heaven meme. It seems like most everyone in the Catholic Blogosphere has already done it except me.
There is only one question:
How do you envision Heaven?
Ok, when I first thought about this I saw the clouds and angels with harps like on the Bugs Bunny Cartoons, etc. Then I thought some more and I remembered Marge's vision of a divided Heaven as she worried ove Bart and Homer becoming Catholics. Although that version of Heaven seemed like a lot of fun, its not really how I envision it.
When I stop and think about it, I think Heaven will be the all-encompassing sense of God: His love, joy, glory and greatness. The Bible says that the angels are forever singing "Holy Holy Holy". So it sounds like they have been singing and praising God with ceasing since their creation. I think it will be an eternity of forever basking in all Jehovah's greatness so far above our own ways. This is just my vision, I long to see how what its actually like.

I tag:
Transitus Tiber
V for Victory!

Mathetes

Catholicgop has tapped me for the Mathetes Award. Its apparently an award spread from blog to blog for discipleship of Christ. She also tagged me with the Heaven Meme, but I'll have to get that one next since it takes more thought.
I am always honored that other people read my humble blog. I am now even more honored that I am awarded for my blog.
So according to the rules I name 5 other blogs and post the following:
As per the rules I'm including the original post, and 5 (6) blogs I would like to honor.

"Mathetes is the Greek word for disciple, and the role of the disciple (per the Great Commission) is to make more disciples. I'd like to take the opportunity to award five other bloggers with this award and badge for acting in the role of a disciple of Christ. These five all share the message in their own creative ways, and I admire them all for what they do.

In the spirit of this award, the rules are simple. Winners of this award must pick five other "disciples" to pass it on to. As you pass it on, I just ask that you mention and provide links for (1)this post as the originator of the award (Dan King of management by God), (2) the person that awarded it to you, and then (3) name and sites of the five that you believe are fulfilling the role of a disciple of Christ. If you know of other deserving recipients of this award, and would like to start a new string, then please post a link to where you've started in in the comments to this post. I would love for many deserving bloggers to be blessed with this recognition."

My five awardees, in no particular order, are:
The Ironic Catholic
The Lair of the Catholic Caveman
Dominican Idaho
V for Victory!
Steve Ray's Blog

Catholic Carnival 139

Catholic Carnival 139 is at Snoring Scholar this week.

Post #300

I don't know why I chose 300 for a posting milestone. Its as good as any other hundred number.
Anyways here's a look back at some of my favorite posts:
Fr Corapi Facts
Athanasius Contra Mundum
Mary Poem
Catholic Carnival: St Joseph the Worker
St Joseph: A real Anti-Communist Hero
Top 5 Reasons I am Catholic
Peter's Barque

Another Catholic blogger meme

I got this meme from V for Victory

1. Do you attend the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo? Usually the Novus Ordo

2. If you attend the TLM, how far do you drive to get there? About a block

3. If you had to apply a Catholic label to yourself, what would it be? Roman Catholic

4. Are you a comment junkie? I honestly don't comment as much as I used to.

5. Do you go back to read the comments on the blogs you’ve commented on? Yes, I am not one that always has to have the last word, but I like to add onto others's sentiments sometimes.

6. Have you ever left an anonymous comment on another blog? No, I would only do that if I was ashamed of what I put. If I am ashamed to put it though, its best to keep it to myself.

7. Which blogroll would you most like to be on? Definitely the Curt Jester

8. Which blog is the first one you check? Faith and Country then I usually check out Dominican Idaho or V for Victory

9. Have you met any other bloggers in person? I know a guy who used to have a blog, but alas I do not know any current bloggers. I'd like to meet the authors of Dominican Idaho, V for Victory and especially the Cavemen

10. What are you reading? Don't Tread on Me by H W Crocker III. He also wrote Triumph

Bonus Question! Has your site been banned by Spirit of Vatican II? If it has, who do you think Father Tim really is? I hadn't of the blog or its list of banned sites, but I am tempted to try for a banning.

I tag anyone who wants to be tagged.

Burnt Book Sale

Over at Dona Nobis Pacem, the author is having a book sale of sorts. You can buy the book and get the ashes along with a picture of it burning.
Hat tip to Dominican Idaho

Mount Angel Abbey

I found this great video of Mount Angel Abbey. The video cuts to different scenes from around Mount Angel Abbey while the monks sing the liturgy of the hours in the background.

Veggie Tales Catholic Carnival

The latest Catholic Carnival is up at Domestic Vocation.

3rd Episcopal Bishop Converting

It says a lot when a Church has bishops that are converting. Its not as though there is only one or only one this year. So far three Episcopal Bishops have swam or declared their intention to swim the Tiber.
From the Catholic News Agency:
Bishop Jeffrey Steenson of Rio Grande, New Mexico is expected to announce his decision on Monday, reported The Living Church.

"I believe that the Lord now calls me in this direction. It amazes me, after all of these years, what a radical journey of faith this must necessarily be. To some it seems foolish; to others disloyal; to others an abandonment," said the bishop in a statement prepared for the House of Bishops, which was meeting in New Orleans...
Bishop Steenson will be the third bishop of the Episcopal Church to become a Roman Catholic this year. Bishop Dan Herzog of Albany moved shortly after his retirement in January. Bishop Clarence C. Pope, retired Bishop of Fort Worth, returned to Roman Catholicism in August.

Idaho Seminarians 07

Please pray for our Idaho Seminarians:


Noel Albiter
Bishop Treinen House of Discernment and Formation
804 North 9th Street
Boise, ID 83702

Bill Busz
Sacred Heart School of Theology
PO Box 61
Hales Corners, WI 53130
Pre-Theology II

Jose Guadalupe Calderon
Conception Seminary
P.O. Box 502
College II

Johnnatan Florez Carmona
La Ceja
Antioquia, Colombia,
College III

Francisco Conterares
Bishop Treinen House of Discernment and Formation
804 North 9th Street
Boise, ID 83702

Camilo Garcia
St. Augustine's Catholic Center
628 S. Deakin Ave.
Moscow, ID 83843
Internship

Jaime Gil
Pontifical North American College
00120 Vatican City State
Europe,
Theology I

Francisco Godinez
Mt. Angel Seminary
P.O. Box 512
St. Benedict, OR 97373
Theology I

Jose De Jesus Gonzalez
Our Lady of the Valley
1122 W. Linden
Caldwell, ID 83605
Internship

Juan Manual Guzman
Bishop Treinen House of Discernment and Formation
804 North 9th Street
Boise, ID 83702

Chase Hasenoehrl
Pontifical North American College
00120 Vatican City State
Europe
Theology I

Alberto Herrea
Sacred Heart School of Theology
P.O. Box 61
Hales Corners, WI 53130
E.S.L.

Jorge Moises Mac
Bishop Treinen House of Discernment and Formation
804 North 9th Street
Boise, ID 83702

Mariusz Majewski
Mt. Angel Seminary
Aquinas Hall # 216
St. Benedict, OR 97373
Theology III

Jose Luis Martinez
Bishop Treinen House
804 N. 9th St.
Boise, ID 83702
E.S.L.

Jeff Mattern
Mt. Angel Seminary
Subiaco Hall #5, One Abbey Dr.
St. Benedict, OR 97373

Brian May
Bishop Treinen House
804 N. 9th St.
Boise, ID 83702
Theology I

José Ramirez
Mt. Angel Seminary
P.O. Box 513
St. Benedict, OR 97373
Theology I

Miguel Ramos
Sacred Heart Seminary
P.O. Box 61
Hales Corners, WI 53130
E.S.L.

Saul Reyes
Mt. Angel Seminary
P.O Box 574
St. Benedict, OR 97373
Theology III

Cirilo Sanchez
Mt. Angel Seminary
P.O. Box 521
St. Benedict, OR 97373
College II

Marcos Sanchez
Bishop Treinen House
804 N. 9th St.
Boise, ID 83702
E.S.L.

Adrian Vazquez
Mt. Angel Seminary
P.O. Box 529
St. Benedict, OR 97373
Theology III

Julio Vicente
Pontifical North American College
00120 Vatican City State
Europe
Theology III

Eladio Vieyra
Holy Rosary Parish
145 9th St.
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
Internship

Thomas Wolter
The American College of Louvain
Naamesestraat 100
B-300 Leuven, Belguim
Theology I

Catholic Chapel in Kabul

There is only one Catholic church in all of Afghanistan and its a chapel in the Italian Embassy compound. Here a picture from inside:

I found a great black and white picture of Fr. Felix de Jesus Rougier, M.Sp.S.
Hat Tip to Proyecto Rougier

Blog Feed

I just change my blog feed to http://feeds.feedburner.com/50daysafter
I am sorry if this caused any trouble.

First Trad Carnival

This coming Saturday will be the first Traditional Catholic Carnival at A Faithful Rebel.

Mission to Mongolia

Its always encourageing to read about the Catholic Church in former Communist nations. In a way its like reading about the triumph of the Early Christian Church over the Roman Empire.
I found this on asianews.it:

Joseph’s long struggle to build a church in his home town
Zuunmod’s 20 Catholics travel 60 kilometres every Sunday to the capital to attend mass. Now Joseph the carpenter is trying to convince the authorities to grant him and his community a permit to build a church in his home town. In the meantime he talks about his faith.

Ulaanbaatar (AsiaNews/UCAN) – Joseph chose his Catholic name because he does the same work that Jesus' father did, carpentry, but the 35-year-old man from Zuunmod, capital of Töv Aimag or Central Province, 60 kilometres south of Ulaanbaatar, is trying to convince local citizens' councils that Catholics need a church. At the same time he tries to explain what Christianity is all about...
In Zuunmod there are 20 baptised Catholics, half of them between the ages of 16 and 25. Five more community members are preparing for baptism next Easter.

We “always go to mass on Sundays, and there are others who would also like to go,” Joseph told UCA News. But “we do not have permission . . . [to carry out any] religious activity in our town yet.”

Still local Catholics meet once a week to discuss the Bible and pray, but since “we still do not have the permit, we do not speak about it, at all,” Joseph said.

Joseph the carpenter is convinced that Mongolians can easily understand Catholicism because of its similarity with traditional Mongolian values.
For example, the Ten Commandments bring to mind the Ten White Merits and Ten Black Sins that every Mongolian knows.
“I have a friend, an 86-year-old Buddhist monk. He understands many things about Christianity and loves the pope and (the Blessed) Mother Teresa,” he explained.

The Catholic Church is not banned in Mongolia but Catholics must apply to local citizens’ (bag), county (sum) and provincial (aimag) councils for a permit.

“Although it is harder, it is also a good thing,” Joseph said, “because this way people in a village do not see a church as something imposed upon them from above by the government, but have a say in whether they want a church in their village or not.” What is more, “we Catholics can share our faith with them and tell them about ourselves, and eliminate misunderstandings.”

Joseph spoke before the councils in March as part of his permit application. “Last time we passed both lower-level councils, and came up only one vote short in the provincial council. This time we passed the bag citizens' council with 56 of 87 votes in favour of our church. We trust in God and eventually hope to pass all three councils and have a church.”
According to Joseph, councillors who voted against the church gave various arguments, but most were based on lack of knowledge or some bad experience...
As the self-appointed chronicler of the local Catholic community and father of two young children, he is taking notes about everything.
“I always take notes of what is happening, because later our children will read it and see that we worked very hard for our church,” he said.
“When they grow up, the church will be big and strong, all ready for them, but they will have to know how it all came about, how much their parents worked and fought for it.”

They have three other churches, all in Ulan Baatar, including a yurt inspired cathedral. I hope they get a new church. I will keep them in my prayers.

Gondola ride from Venice to Vatican

I found this on ANSA.it:

Man rows gondola to St. Peter's
Gondolier 'tired but happy' after charity voyage
(ANSA) - Rome, September 19 - A Venetian man has rowed his gondola down to Rome to raise money for African children and kids with rare diseases around the world.

"I'm pretty tired but it was worth it," said professional gondolier Vittorio Orlo after his craft was hoisted into pride of place in St.Peter's Square ahead of a Wednesday audience with the pope.

Orlo, 43, took 17 days to steer his craft along the Adriatic coast from Venice before crossing Italy on a network of canals and rivers to the source of the Tiber on the borders between Tuscany and Lazio.

"From then on it was increasingly plain sailing as the river grew to give me an easy passage," Orlo said.

"And of course, there are very few craft on the river these days".

But the veteran gondolier said he had had "a few dodgy moments" while negotiating the choppy waters of the Adriatic.

The gondola is a flat-bottomed boat well-suited to Venice's canals but completely out of its depth in the open sea.

"I don't know what I would have done if the coast guard hadn't been shepherding me along," said the intrepid boatman.

Vatican sources said Orlo's feat was "an extraordinary initiative, an example of rare courage in the best of causes".

Funds raised by the charity will go towards helping poor children in the African country of Togo, as well as funding research at a Venice hospital that specialises in rare pediatric diseases.

Children suffering from some of those ailments were on hand with their families to see Orlo's gondola arrive.

Gibraltar Cathedral

Today I had a visitor to the blog from Gibraltar, so in his or her honor I decided to post a picture of the Gibraltar Cathedral, Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned.

Carnival

Catholic Carnival 137 is up.

More than writings

I read a conversion story a couple of weeks ago. I wish I could find that blog post again, but I really can't remember where I found it. Anyways... in the story, a woman related how she was struck by something her pastor (he was converting and she was talking to him about it) said to her about his reason for becoming a Catholic.
He told her, more or less, that Jesus gave us Himself and not a collection of writings. I gathered that what he meant was that Jesus didn't leave us with the Bible, but rather His body and blood in the Eucharist.
God has put things into writing before (think 10 commandments), but Jesus chose not write anything for His children. The Gospels and the other writings of the New Testament were written by early Christians after the death of Christ. Don't get me wrong. The NT is a great thing and it has been very instrumental in the salvation of countless souls, but Jesus left us with something much more personal and intimate.
At the Last Supper Jesus left us with the gift of His body and blood. Almost everyone of us has heard the question, "Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?". Accepting Him however is just a beginning. Jesus is waiting for us in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist we can accept Jesus with more that just words; we can take in His actual body into our own.
The hosts and wine consecrated at each Mass are part of the same Body that hung on the cross 2000 years ago. Jesus comes to us in a very real and physical way as well as the sanctifying grace. We are nourished body and soul by the Blessed Sacrament. Like a lover Christ waits for us to accept Him and His love.
God is Love and he left the gift of Love at the altar every day waiting, like always, for us to to love and accept Him who loved us first.

Tom Wolter the Chaplain Candidate

I found this story on CatholicMil.org:

Wolter: Marine to Study for priesthood in Diocese, Military

For the first time, the Diocese of Boise is entering into an agreement with the United States Military Archdiocese to educate a man for priesthood who will eventually serve some time as a military chaplain.
Tom Wolter, a Marine helicopter pilot who recently served in Iraq and assisted with humanitarian aid in Liberia, will enroll at Mt. Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, Ore., in January as an Idaho seminarian.
"What the Military Archdiocese does to encourage priests to help out in the military is to offer a co-sponsorship for seminarians," said Wolter, son of George and Margarite Wolter, Sacred Heart Parish, Boise. "The Military Archdiocese helps out with the costs of seminary. Then upon ordination, the individual serves three years in the home diocese and then owes three years back in the military. At the end of that service, the bishop for vocations for the Military Archdiocese and the diocese of origin dialogue to decided where the greatest need is at the time. They develop a working relationship."
Wolter, who attended St. Mary's School, Boise, and graduated from Bishop Kelly High School, Boise, in 1991, attended a year at Gonzaga University, Spokane, and then went on to the U.S. Navel Academy. He graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He went on to flight school and has served in a Marine squadron in North Carolina the last five years. He was deployed overseas twice. He has now resigned his commission and is with the Marine Corp Reserves.
While in North Carolina, he made up his mind to pursue priesthood. He contacted the Military Archdiocese and learned about the agreement that could be made with either a diocese or an order. Then he contacted Father Jairo Restrepo, Diocese of Boise vocation director, and Bishop Michael Driscoll.
"They supported everything I've done and encouraged me," he said. "Idaho is where I was raised, so I definitely wanted to come back here to work for our diocese. I've been with the military since 1992 and they have done a great deal for me over the years. I enjoythe lifestyle. I like their structure. I enjoy working with those serving in the military. They are very short on chaplains. Personally, I feel that I would like to return to the military for a time because I understand what those Marines go through and the military structure, and that would be very helpful for a chaplain.
It will take six and a half years for Wolter to complete his seminary training. After ordination, when he returns to the military after three years serving in the Diocese of lloise, he will go in as a Navy chaplain serving the Navy and Marines.
Woiters sees chaplains as a "necessity" is the military.
"Chaplains are much more that just a priest," he said. "They are there as 'force multipliers.' Chaplains offer an ability to assist and aid a commanding officer to be sure his Marines are being taken care of. The chaplains' work enables a unit to be closer and more effective. A good chaplain with a good commanding officer is what we call a 'force multiplier.' Chaplains are able to talk to individuals on a different plane than anyone else in the military. The chaplain can help military personnel work through their personal issues, problems and concerns in a different manner. That is why they are so important."

Tom has actually been a seminarian for a few years. He finished Pre-Theology at Mt Angel and he's now studying Theology at Louvein. He is also a Navy Ensign now, since all Marine Chaplains are actually Navy Chaplains attached to the Marine Corps. I knew him from my time as an Idaho Seminarian. He's a great guy and I look forward to his ordination.

Islamicization

I know that there is a lot of traffic in the blogosphere and media about the Islamicization of Europe. Its not a thought that I relish, however there is a silver lining to the dark cloud.
1. Brings the mission field to us.
Self-explanatory
2. It separates the wheat from the chaff.
Being Christian would no longer be a cavalier matter that people claim out of habit, convention or convenience. It would something special and something dear to be Christian as it is in Communist nations and it was in the Ancient Roman Empire.
3. Great saints always arise to meet such challenges.
Just as the Reformation gave us great saint such as St. Francis de Sales and the Babylonian Captivity gave us St. Catherine of Siena, hard times for the Church always bring great saints to the front. The Church would rise to the challenge and charge forward renewed with the energy of holy men and women.

Poll

I added a poll to the sidebar. In a month I will publish the results, so please participate. If I left out an artist please leave acomment here with the name.

St John the Evangelist Cathedral

Of course it would be wrong to show off Iceland's Cathedral without posting pictures the Cathedral in my home diocese, Boise. I had a good picture of the sanctuary, but I didn't like the Basque liturgical dancing in the picture.
This is St John the Evangelist Cathedral in Boise:

I have been told that the design was based on Notre Dame de Paris.

If the picture went a little more to the left you could see the Treinen House. Its a house of formation for seminarians, mostly for men who need to study English.

Iceland's Cathedral

H/T to Coo-ees from the Cloister

I happened upon their site and saw pictures of Iceland's one and only Cathedral. They went on about the history of the Catholic Church in Iceland and about the history of the Cathedral, but I just wanted to show the pictures. It looks like a cross between Gothic and glacier:


Igot the nighttime picture from wikipedia

Catholic Carnival 136

Every fight is a food fight when you're a cannibal.

all at once

Father Corapi can say 10 rosaries... all at the same time.

The Gospel Advances

From Asia News:

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – Nepal’s Catholics no longer consider the Monarchy’s impositions on the Jesuits valid, now that the country is a secular State and that the king has lost his power. The bishop of Nepal speaks with AsiaNews about the situation of the Church and its’ initiatives.

The accord dates back to 1951 when the then king, Tribhuwan, invited the Society of Jesus to found the Saint Francis Xavier in Kathmandu, after almost two centuries of anti Christian prohibition. But the king only allowed education, forbidding any form of missionary activity and evangelization. A ban that was always respected by the Jesuits, who in 1984 founded a further three schools in the country. But now Nepal is no longer a Hindu monarchy and royal decrees are no longer law, so Catholics are once again free to carry out any type of activity.

I have always found myself drawn for no apparent reason to Catholic missionary activity in the former Communist nations of Asia.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Vandals take on WSU tomorrow. I believe in miracles. St Jude pray for us.

Pro-life Search RIP

As I was cruising the internet this morning, I finally found out what happened to Prolifesearch.com from a blog called Mama says...
The author there received an email from one of the founders of the site, from which I shall post excerpts here:

ProLifeSearch website is no more. Here's what happened:
... Sadly, the bottom line is that some of the
web developers we hired for this project left our employ and
changed all of the passwords to the site. This meant that for
months we could not access the site, change the site, or post any
new information on the site...
As we tried to force the new passwords from these developers, the
URL -- http://www.prolifesearch.com -- expired, and it seems some rock and
roll site was all too ready to snatch it up because of all the
traffic we created over the past 2 years.
Legally, the site now belongs to that organization. We have tried,
but we cannot get it back.