Wednesday, August 29, 2007
St John the Baptist
From today's Gospel reading:
I was really struck as I read through today's Gospel by the last phrase. The inference seems to be that even the wicked and those gone astray are drawn to the Gospel message. Obviously, all of us having been created by God, have within us a desire to draw near to Him. Even Herod who slaughtered the innocent babies and took his brother's wife, even if he didn't quite understand, still was drawn to the Gospel message.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.
I was really struck as I read through today's Gospel by the last phrase. The inference seems to be that even the wicked and those gone astray are drawn to the Gospel message. Obviously, all of us having been created by God, have within us a desire to draw near to Him. Even Herod who slaughtered the innocent babies and took his brother's wife, even if he didn't quite understand, still was drawn to the Gospel message.
New York City’s school chancellor wants an Islamic public school
Ann Arbor, Aug 28, 2007 / 09:13 am (CNA).- The New York City Department of Education approved a proposal to open a publicly funded Muslim school. The decision, however, is not going by unchallenged.
The Thomas More Law Center announced yesterday that it will represent a group of citizens opposed to the Sept. 4 opening of Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA)...
The school will immerse its students in Islamic culture and has three fundamentalist Islamist imams on its Board of Advisors, as well as other promoters with connections to militant Islamic organizations, the Law Center pointed out.
Wow! A publicly funded madrassa! Now, isn't that special?
The New York Department of Education denies it will be a madrassa, but even still it obviously fails the Lemon Test not to mention that under the 14th Amendment if an Islamic school is supported with publich funds any religion should (in theory) be able to have a school supported by tax dollars.
One more excerpt from the article:
I was going to comment on this paragraph, but I think it speaks for itself about the growing malice toward Christianity in our country.
Ann Arbor, Aug 28, 2007 / 09:13 am (CNA).- The New York City Department of Education approved a proposal to open a publicly funded Muslim school. The decision, however, is not going by unchallenged.
The Thomas More Law Center announced yesterday that it will represent a group of citizens opposed to the Sept. 4 opening of Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA)...
The school will immerse its students in Islamic culture and has three fundamentalist Islamist imams on its Board of Advisors, as well as other promoters with connections to militant Islamic organizations, the Law Center pointed out.
Wow! A publicly funded madrassa! Now, isn't that special?
The New York Department of Education denies it will be a madrassa, but even still it obviously fails the Lemon Test not to mention that under the 14th Amendment if an Islamic school is supported with publich funds any religion should (in theory) be able to have a school supported by tax dollars.
One more excerpt from the article:
The Law Center also noted that New York City School Chancellor, Joel Klein, who is aggressively promoting this Islamic school, also refused to allow two Christian students to display a Nativity Christmas. This is “another example of how political correctness is leading to a malicious double standard when it comes to religious expression in public schools,” said Thompson.
I was going to comment on this paragraph, but I think it speaks for itself about the growing malice toward Christianity in our country.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Che compared to Christ??!!
This is another instance of people should think before they comment. You have all the time in the world to think it over before you hit the submit button. Over at Being Frank there was a post by Filia Day about Che T-shirts, which I have posted about before. It was a thoughtful post and I really enjoyed it, however one of the comments left me shaking my head in disbelief.
Mr Sullivan, it seems has not caught on that Communism is bad. He went on to suggest:"Why not reclaim Che’s face by seeing it as a icon of Christ - the good things Che did by Christ working thru him ?"
Let me say at this point that I wish Mr Sullivan well. I pray for him and I am sure that he is a decent well meaning guy, but his comment has provoked within me a need to rant. With that said, we now return to the post/ranting.
As for the atrocities that Che committed in Africa and throughout Latin America he says simply: "But, hey, that’s nothing more than the Jews expected the Mesiah to do to his political enemies (and when he didn’t you can see why they thought he wasn’t really the Messiah). And king David lined up his enemies and systematically executed every third man.
Pot, kettle, black."
Let's not mention that while comparing Che to Christ, Mr Sullivan makes no mention that Christ in all His righteousness never laid a hand on any of His enemies while He walked the Earth. As for King David, I admit I don't have a clever comeback, but that's not to say that it justifies Che's murders in any way.Che's mission in life was to establish a utopia where men and NOT God become the height of all existance. He and his ilk sought to eliminate the divine from every facet of humanity, though some regimes tried to replace religion with philosophies i.e. Il Juche (N. Korea) and the New Man Philosophy (Che Guevara). Marxism failed of course, not the least of the reasons because men and women pitted their weak, frail humanity against an omniscient, omnipotent God.
Even after Mary's warnings at Fatima, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Cold War and the countless revelations of atrocities and sundry evils conducted by Communist governments around the world some people seem unable to believe Communist not only does not work, but it is just as evil, if not worse, than the Nazi regimes of Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito. The Black Book of Communism does a great job of revealing the brutality and evil of the world's Marxist governments. So do the recently opened archives in Berlin and Moscow among others.
Worse yet, some people such as Mr Sullivan seem to think Marxist Socialism is somehow similar, even compatible with Christianity (of course most claim that it is because of the theoretical endstate of Communist utopia). I personally don't understand how atheism is compatible with any religion, but the delusion persists to this day.
I understand and indeed I believe that the Communist system described in the Acts of the Apostles is ideal. However, with that said, the Communist system described in the Communist Manifesto is set against the Apostolic Communist system. The Manifesto is very clear (yes, I have read it, unlike many Communists) that 1) revolution is needed to establish Socialist states as a stepping stone to Communism (each according to his needs) and 2) God is a human invention and detrimental to human progress.
The Apostolic system that was Mr Sullivan mentioned and compared to the Marxist ideal system was not established by shedding anyone's blood. And certainly it recognizes that mankind is God's invention and essential to human progress. Not to mention that while Marxism sees Communism as the end state, the Apostolic system realizes that it is only the best possible system on Earth while we await the joy of Jesus' Heavenly Kingdom.
In short Communism is pretty much the Christian ideal perverted. While it may have similarities to Christianity, seeing more than just coincidental similarities can lead you down a dangerous slippery slope that may leave your soul in mortal peril.
As generation upon generation of Christians have discovered over the last 2,000 years Jesus is the only source of eternal joy and happiness, not some political/philosophical system.
St Joseph the Worker pray for us and for an end to Marxism in the few nations where it prevails and in free nations where people believe in its false promises.
Our Lady warned us about 90 years ago, but I guess not everyone got the memo.
I got the picture from Protest Warrior
Friday, August 24, 2007
One foot in the grave
Anita over at V for Victory! just wrote about the possible demise of our neighboorhood Communist, Castro. As she put it:
She also called him Beardo the Weirdo. I wish I were that creative.
Is it bad of me to wish he is indeed deceased? The only bad news there would be if his brother wished to keep a Commie system. And of course there is the continuing reign of Comrade Chavez in Venezuela. He controls our 3rd largest source of oil. If it isn't disturbing to you that he's in our backyard AND he could potentially grind down our economy by denying us oil, then perhaps you need to check if YOU are alive.
I frankly am still not convinced that that really is Old Busywhiskers parading around in front of the press, and that he didn't in fact assume room temperature, on the general principle that anytime a Communist regime says anything about anything, it's safest to believe the opposite.I am also inclined to believe he is dead and that a body double (Saddam style) is standing in for him and making it appear that the Revolution lives.
She also called him Beardo the Weirdo. I wish I were that creative.
Is it bad of me to wish he is indeed deceased? The only bad news there would be if his brother wished to keep a Commie system. And of course there is the continuing reign of Comrade Chavez in Venezuela. He controls our 3rd largest source of oil. If it isn't disturbing to you that he's in our backyard AND he could potentially grind down our economy by denying us oil, then perhaps you need to check if YOU are alive.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Traditional Catholic Carnival
September 3 is scheduled to be the first edition of the Traditional Catholic Carnival. It will be held over at A Faithful Rebel. The homepage for this brand new Carnival is here.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Mass and Communal Celebration
I have heard the question asked many times. Its always something to the effect of: Why can't I worship God by myself/at home? Why do I have to go to Mass with a bunch of other people?
And I have heard, as well as given, many responses to this question. I read the best one yet, yesterday at Steve Ray's blog.
He linked on his blog to a pdf file where a woman told her revert story. In it she said that a priest told her that she shouldn't think of it so much as having to go to Mass, so much as it is getting to go Mass. That really hit home.
Mass is an obligation, yes. But it is a privilege much more than an obligation. Just like people gather together for concert to hear a good band play, we gather together to be in the presence of Our Lord. We come together because we want to be part of the Heavenly Liturgy of the Mass and able to see and to RECEIVE Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist.
Cake, Audioslave, and Newsboys are bands that people enjoy and gather together from all over to see in concert, but surely Jesus is a bigger attraction than any of them could ever hope to become. Sadly, such a big name is very often ignored or even scorned. It is a privilege and a pleasure to go to Mass and sit right in front of Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
"Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day."
Gospel of St John 6:54, 55
And I have heard, as well as given, many responses to this question. I read the best one yet, yesterday at Steve Ray's blog.
He linked on his blog to a pdf file where a woman told her revert story. In it she said that a priest told her that she shouldn't think of it so much as having to go to Mass, so much as it is getting to go Mass. That really hit home.
Mass is an obligation, yes. But it is a privilege much more than an obligation. Just like people gather together for concert to hear a good band play, we gather together to be in the presence of Our Lord. We come together because we want to be part of the Heavenly Liturgy of the Mass and able to see and to RECEIVE Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist.
Cake, Audioslave, and Newsboys are bands that people enjoy and gather together from all over to see in concert, but surely Jesus is a bigger attraction than any of them could ever hope to become. Sadly, such a big name is very often ignored or even scorned. It is a privilege and a pleasure to go to Mass and sit right in front of Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
"Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day."
Gospel of St John 6:54, 55
Athanasius Contra Mundum
I discovered a quote over at Reasoning Repaired that really hit me. Its a quote by the doctor of the Church, St. Athanasius:
"If the world is against truth, then I am against the world."
Not only is it a great quote from any moral standpoint of simply standing up for what is right and just, but the word truth (at least for me) takes this to a much deeper and indeed a theological level.
By "Truth" I think he may have meant Jesus Christ. It seems like Martin Luther's quote: "I can do no other" (except minus the heresy, cause even heresiarchs have great quotable moments). It is the statement of a man who loves God so much that he must continue loving Him in the face of everything and everyone. It is the statement of a man who knows that fulfilment and joy come only from Christ and he is willing to suffer anything to attain it.
It also made me think of that famous Latin phrase: Athanasius Contra Mundo (Athanasius Against the World). He was the salmon swimming upstream; Athanasius stood against impossible odds for the truth that Jesus Christ is true man AND true God, that is of the same substance of God the Father (I used to know the Greek term in the sem, but I forgot.) Despite, exile, mocking and the impossible odds Athanasius won out. Christianity survived the Arian Heresy. Which further proves the validity of the Christian religion, since nothing (not even Arius and his many followers) could cause it to stray from the same truths taught since Jesus walked the Earth.
The truth that Athanasius stood for was affirmed at the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed has always been considered the basic definition of what Christians believe. I quoted an English translation of it below (emphasis mine of course):
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
"If the world is against truth, then I am against the world."
Not only is it a great quote from any moral standpoint of simply standing up for what is right and just, but the word truth (at least for me) takes this to a much deeper and indeed a theological level.
By "Truth" I think he may have meant Jesus Christ. It seems like Martin Luther's quote: "I can do no other" (except minus the heresy, cause even heresiarchs have great quotable moments). It is the statement of a man who loves God so much that he must continue loving Him in the face of everything and everyone. It is the statement of a man who knows that fulfilment and joy come only from Christ and he is willing to suffer anything to attain it.
It also made me think of that famous Latin phrase: Athanasius Contra Mundo (Athanasius Against the World). He was the salmon swimming upstream; Athanasius stood against impossible odds for the truth that Jesus Christ is true man AND true God, that is of the same substance of God the Father (I used to know the Greek term in the sem, but I forgot.) Despite, exile, mocking and the impossible odds Athanasius won out. Christianity survived the Arian Heresy. Which further proves the validity of the Christian religion, since nothing (not even Arius and his many followers) could cause it to stray from the same truths taught since Jesus walked the Earth.
The truth that Athanasius stood for was affirmed at the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed has always been considered the basic definition of what Christians believe. I quoted an English translation of it below (emphasis mine of course):
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Tobias's Prayer
And Tobias said: Lord God of our father, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee. 8 Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper. 9 And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever. 10 Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health.
Tobias 8:7-10 (Douay Rheims Translation)
Friday, August 17, 2007
Chuck Norris
Before he goes to bed every night, the Bogeyman checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
Chuck Norris doesn't mow his lawn, he dares it to grow.
Chuck Norris doesn't mow his lawn, he dares it to grow.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Assumption
Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As I looked over the readings before Mass I was struck by the first line of today's reading from Revelation:
"Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple."The rest of the reading was about a woman standing on the moon, giving birth (Mary). What struck me was that the first line, though seemingly disconnected was also about Mary. She is the Ark of the New Covenant. The verse was talking about seeing her in heaven, very poignant for today.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Sober Catholic and Being Frank
I discovered a new blog today. Its a blog about a subject dear to me, sobriety. The blog is about staying sober. I have never been to an AA meeting but I made the decision, a little over a year ago, to quit drinking. It has made my life easier and eliminated some problems.
The blog is called Sober Catholic. Check it out.
While I was cruising around I discovered a Kiwi Catholic blog. Being Frank is a blog run by twenty something Catholic and it is apparently connected with the national Catholic newspaper in New Zealand. Check it out here.
The blog is called Sober Catholic. Check it out.
While I was cruising around I discovered a Kiwi Catholic blog. Being Frank is a blog run by twenty something Catholic and it is apparently connected with the national Catholic newspaper in New Zealand. Check it out here.
Pewsitter
I received an email the other day from the people at Pewsitter.com asking me to help put the word out. So here is an excerpt from the email:
I have seen their site. Right now they don't seem to have any diocesan news going, but they have a GREAT news aggregator.
Pewsitter.com is a unique Catholic news web site that was launched earlier this year. We are based in the U.S. and the preponderance of news on the site is from the U.S,
we do feature Catholic related news from around the world.
The news on the site comes from two sources. The main source is from the conventional secular and Catholic press. We scour the news every day and put on Pewsitter those stories about the Catholic Church, faith, religion and the important moral and spiritual struggles
of the day.
The second news source is the Catholic lay faithful. The concept behind the site is to enlist an army of "pewsitters" to be the eyes and ears for Pewsitter - hence the name. By submitting newsworthy items to Pewsitter, the laity can help shape and influence the Church and be a powerful force for positive change.
Pewsitter's initial focus will be on the national and international news on its home page. Its mid term objective is it to feature the Catholic news of the day within each of the 189 Catholic dioceses throughout the U.S.
I have seen their site. Right now they don't seem to have any diocesan news going, but they have a GREAT news aggregator.
Prayer to Saint Joseph for Workers
Prayer To Saint Joseph for Workers
Joseph, by the work of your hands
and the sweat of your brow,
you supported Jesus and Mary,
and had the Son of God as your fellow worker.
Teach me to work as you did,
with patience and perseverance, for God and
for those whom God has given me to support.
Teach me to see in my fellow workers
the Christ who desires to be in them,
that I may always be charitable and forbearing
towards all.
Grant me to look upon work
with the eyes of faith,
so that I shall recognize in it
my share in God's own creative activity
and in Christ's work of our redemption,
and so take pride in it.
When it is pleasant and productive,
remind me to give thanks to God for it.
And when it is burdensome,
teach me to offer it to God,
in reparation for my sins
and the sins of the world.
I found the prayer and others here.
Joseph, by the work of your hands
and the sweat of your brow,
you supported Jesus and Mary,
and had the Son of God as your fellow worker.
Teach me to work as you did,
with patience and perseverance, for God and
for those whom God has given me to support.
Teach me to see in my fellow workers
the Christ who desires to be in them,
that I may always be charitable and forbearing
towards all.
Grant me to look upon work
with the eyes of faith,
so that I shall recognize in it
my share in God's own creative activity
and in Christ's work of our redemption,
and so take pride in it.
When it is pleasant and productive,
remind me to give thanks to God for it.
And when it is burdensome,
teach me to offer it to God,
in reparation for my sins
and the sins of the world.
I found the prayer and others here.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Hat tip to Ironic Catholic
I have no idea who Kaniel Gersham is and I can't find him in the Bible, but I was curious after I saw it on Ironic Catholic. I wonder what the shark eating the guy is all about?
| Your Biblical Name Is... |
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I have no idea who Kaniel Gersham is and I can't find him in the Bible, but I was curious after I saw it on Ironic Catholic. I wonder what the shark eating the guy is all about?
Saturday, August 04, 2007
St Expeditus Prayers
IOur dear martyr and protector, Saint Expeditus, you who know what is necessary and what is urgently needed.
I beg you to intercede before the Holy Trinity, that by your prayers my request will be granted.
(State your petition) May I receive your blessings and favors.
In the Name of our Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Place flowers next to statue of St Expeditus in gratitude when prayer is answered.)
II
I come before you, St Expeditus, to remedy economic problems in my work and in my home and to ask for your powerful support.
Saint Expeditus, protect my income, that I may obtain sufficient money for necessities, and tranquility and joy will reign in my house.
By your grace, blessed saint, I request and I pray that I will achieve my desire.
(State your petition)
And I will give thanks for your glorious intercession. Amen.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Church opposes Marxist and totalitarian socialism in Venezuela, says cardinal
Well, I should hope so.
The very best line from the article and it sums it all up:
"He went on, the Church cannot support a system 'that ruined every nation that was a part of Marxist socialism.'"
Well, I should hope so.
The very best line from the article and it sums it all up:
"He went on, the Church cannot support a system 'that ruined every nation that was a part of Marxist socialism.'"
Funny pages
Calvin and Hobbes used to be my favorite comic strip of all time. However, it lost out went I was in Augusta and I discovered Get Fuzzy through the local paper. I am not sure who is more funny Satchel Pooch or Bucky Katt. I also enjoy the side characters quite a bit, especially Shakespug and Chubby Hugs.
What's you favorite comic strip?
What's you favorite comic strip?
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