Saint Picture Quiz

Inspired by Infused Knowledge, I too am hosting a Saint Picture Quiz.

Who can name this saint?

Ut Unum Sint

There might be a statement made by the vatican regarding the Traditional Anglican Communion within the next few months. I found this article through Catholic Answers Forums:

Traditionalists
wait for Vatican ruling

The
Church of England NewspaperJune 6, 2008AN ANNOUNCEMENT on the Vatican 's
relationship with the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) may be made following
the July 16-Aug 3 Lambeth Conference, sources in Rome tell The Church of England
Newspaper.Leaders of TAC, home to over 400,000 Anglo-Catholics who have left the
Episcopal and Anglican churches over the past thirty years, have been in talks
with the Vatican over creating an Anglican-rite enclave under the authority of
the Bishop of Rome.
While
the curia under Pope John Paul II had opposed attempts to bring Anglicans en
masse into the Roman Catholic fold, under Benedict XVI the Vatican appears to
have adopted a different line. Anglicans wishing to be received into the
Catholic Church are welcome to do so, as individuals, rather than as part of a
larger ecclesial body. The talks between TAC and Vatican , however, have focused
on allowing whole groups to enter the Catholic Church while maintaining their
own orders and liturgy.
The
National Catholic Register reported that "discussions at the Vatican on devising
a possible structure for [TAC] to come into communion with Rome are understood
to be nearing completion." It added that during their May 5 meeting, Archbishop
Rowan Williams asked Benedict that "any potential announcement be delayed until
after the Lambeth Conference."
However,
a spokesman for Dr Williams told CEN the report was untrue. The TAC issue
"didn't come up with the Pope," a press spokesman for the Archbishop said.The Rt
Rev David Moyer, former president of Forward in Faith USA and a Bishop in TAC,
also declined to comment on the negotiations with Rome , stating only that "We
in the TAC are on our knees for something positive to happen.
We
remain very hopeful."The Bishop of Fort Worth, the Rt Rev Jack Iker -- who is
currently in Rome on study leave -- told The Church of England Newspaper
"conversations with TAC - and others-have taken place at high levels in the
Vatican and that it is thought that the Pope is sympathetic to the dilemma of
traditionalists in the Anglican way."However, no formal dialogue exists between
TAC and the Congregation for Promoting Christian Unity -- the Vatican agency
tasked with ecumenical relations.
Speculation
on a possible Anglican enclave within the Catholic Church comes amidst a
tightening of views on women bishops within the Church of England. One
traditionalist leader speculated that theHouse of Bishops' decision to go ahead
with women bishops without providing safeguards for those opposed, may have been
predicated on the calculation that the Catholic Church would resolve the women
clergy issue for the Church of England.

I find that last sentence quite cynical. Not I don't think they should be welcomed into the Catholic Church, but its quite cynical to pass off dissenting views to another Church.
Gospel of St John 17:11 "And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom thou has given me; that they may be one, as we also are."

Ut Unum Sint

Christ and His Church

Today (MAY 30) is the feast day of St. Joan of Arc


About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter.
– St. Joan of Arc

I got the pic from Our Lady's Tears, who in turn got it from Holy Cards for your Inspiration

Captain Catholic: The Movie

I have posted about Captain Catholic before. Those were about the short sketches that Tony DeGennaro uploaded to the internet. He made a movie a while back. I haven't sat down to watch the whole thing yet, but it looks like its just under an hour. From the preview it seems to have combined all the villains from Episodes I-III.
In the meanwhile since the release of his movie, Tony has also released Episode IV. Episode IV is on the Catholic position about immigration, illegal or otherwise. I plan on reviewing the movie and Episode IV later on, but for now that will have to wait until I have time.

Here are the links to the Episodes:
0
I
II
III
IV

Here fishy, fishy, fishy

Here's a picture of my daughter and I having some fun at the park.

Hiatus and Facebook Causes

I have not posted in quite some time. I realize that I have probably lost some frustrated readers. I am sorry for that.
Ihaven't had much free time from work lately, to say nothing of the time a baby demands.

On another note, I have discovered an app on facebook for charitable causes. For those of you who are on facebook, there are many worthwhile causes, Catholic and otherwise, to join. For instance, there is a Serra International cause you can join or donate to. There is also the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, an order that I have posted about before along with posts about their foundress. Again with that order you can join or you can donate.

Catholic Carnival 170

I have been terrible about keeping up with the Catholic Carnival. However, here is this weeks Carnival.

St Athanasius Feast Day

Thank you to Rachel, for pointing out that Friday was the feast day of St Athanasius. I know that I am late, but it deserves mention. Next Sunday is Pentecost, the feast day of this blog.
Athanasius is a personal hero of mine. His heroic tenacity in teaching Christ's true nature in spite of everything is an inspiration, to say the least.
Athanasius contra mundum

Cross Granted

H/T to Bill in Moscow


Over and over we take for granted.He came to show us the way.
The ultimate price to show us God's love.
Piercing, Stabbing, Thorns, Nails.
Oh, Lord what have I done to you.
Whipping, Bleeding, Battered, Falling.
I cry to see your shattered body.
To much to see, to much to bear.
Walking, Carrying, Weeping, Mocking.
You keep going.
Going on.
Please Lord, see my face, tears fall.
Hammer blows.
Sadness, Blood, Water, Death.
Mother holds. Accepts.

Idaho Catholic Blog

I started a new blog for Catholic bloggers from Idaho. Adrienne from Adrienne's Corner and Anita from V for Victory will also be contributing.

Tagged

Sunny tagged with a meme the other day. Btw, thanks Sunny, I know at least that you read my ramblings.

The rules are:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
What I was doing 10 years ago: I was finishing freshman/starting sophomore year of high school.

Five things on my To Do List today: (not in any particular order)
1. Take care of Isabella (wife is at work)
2. Unload the dishwasher and reload it
3. Do a load of wash
4. Pay a bill or two
5. Make dinner
Snacks I enjoy:Reeses Pieces, gum, chips (Sunny said this, but I agree)
Things I would do if I were a billionaire:Give 10% to Church. Have a small bookstore. Kick back and relax.
Three of my bad habits:1. Procrastination
2. Lazy (at least I'm honest about it)
3. I'm incredibly messy.(Sunny also said these, but they apply to me too)
Five places I have lived:
1. Idaho
2. Illinois
3. New Mexico
4. Italy
5. Tampa (the list goes on, but there is only room for 5)
Five jobs I’ve had:
1. Laborer (shoveled frozen sawdust)
2. Telemarketer (Yes, I was that call at dinnertime for all of a month)
3. Laborer (this time I cleaned rooftop air conditioners)
4. Seminarian
5. Soldier

I tag whoever wants to be tagged.

Help him become a priest

Hat tip to Byzantine, TX

From his site:

Since my early childhood and at every major signpost of my life, the warm covering maternal presence of the Most Holy Virgin Mary has been constantly felt. Ultimately, I believe God has been calling me to live wholly for Himself, and I also believe this calling will culminate in my eventually becoming a priest. Specifically, a priest for the Basilian Salvatorian Fathers. The Salvatorians are located in Methuen, Massachusetts and are an order whose charisms include: Prayer, Ministering the Holy Sacraments, Parish Missions, Evangelization, Youth Ministry, giving Retreats. They also have a particular charism and role for fostering Christian unity and reconciliation between the two lungs of the universal Church: the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox...I am now set to embark upon the next phase of my vocation, which is to pursue the ministerial priesthood eventually within the confines of Saint Basil’s Seminary in Methuen, MA. I hope to first be able to begin my Novotiate with the Basilian Salvatorians this September. In order for me to accomplish this goal, I need first to alleviate my student loan debt of $72,000, coming from attending an expensive Catholic university for the past 4 years.The dynamic Catholic orthodoxy of Franciscan University of Steubenville was wonderful, but it was also very costly.
Throughout my attendance I was living mostly on student loans and working part time on the side. Now, in order for me to proceed toward the ministerial priesthood unhindered, I must make an all-out effort to become debt-free. I am presently working two jobs, and am trusting in Divine Providence to help fill in the financial gap via the graciousness of holy and generous would-be benefactors that are willing to support my vocation spiritually and even monetarily. I must not allow this temporary financial hurdle to hold me back from fulfilling God’s call on my life. Mother Teresa reportedly once said, “God has a lot of money; you just have to find out whose pocket it’s in.”And this is why I beseech you, my dear friend(s) and would-be benefactor(s) – to not only adopt me prayerfully and spiritually, thus becoming my spiritual sponsor(s), but if you feel God inspiring you to help me monetarily, then it would be a double-blessing for me and for you as well, who would be investing in a holy priest that will forever enfold you and all your needs in his heart, daily masses and prayers...
Please take note, I cannot begin my Novitiate until I am completely debt free by this September of 2008. All $72,000 must be paid off before I set foot into the Novitiate.

Christos Anesti!

Happy Easter everyone!

The Suffering Servant

I have been thinking about the Suffering Servant in Isaiah since today is Good Friday.
Isaiah 53 (emphasis obviously mine):

Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been
revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.
Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood.
(But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.
Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their
guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.

I can only imagine the agony of the Crucifixion.

Something Not Said by Jesus

I was inspired by PaulCat at Alive and Young so I decided to make my own comic with something Jesus would never say.

Holy Week Catholic Carnival

Marys Aggies is hosting this week's Catholic Carnival.

Catholic Carnival 163

The latest Catholic Carnival is here.

Yes, Virginia there is a Satan

I came across this article at WND.com and this one at New Oxford Review. Both describe the exorcism of an unnamed woman. It was witnessed by multiple people, inlcuding board certified psychiatrist Robert Gallagher, MD.
Clearly this woman was more than disturbed. Disturbed people don't levitate, nor do they have unexplained knowledge of the deaths of other peoples relatives, along with knowledge of how they died. Thye don't speak in languages they have no knowledge of.
This woman did all of these and more. A passage from the WND report:

"The exorcism began on a warm day in June," Gallagher recollects. "Despite the
weather, the room where the rite was being conducted grew distinctly cold.
Later, however, as the entity in Julia began to spout vitriol and make strange
noises, members of the team felt themselves profusely sweating due to a stifling
emanation of heat. The participants all said they found the heat unbearable.

Also this from Dr. Gallagher:

"Sometimes objects around her would fly off the shelves, the rare
phenomenon of psychokinesis known to parapsychologists," reports
Gallagher

Clearly, there was someone else inside than just that woman. Many people insist that such things as demonic possesions don't really happen. The New American Bible I received for Confirmation even went so far as to explain in the footnotes that Jesus really wasn't driving demons out, he was actually curing X disease. How kind of the editors to correct the men who were there and got the info from the horse's mouth, from Truth Himself. Its not as though they are 2,000 years removed from the subject.
I also remember the one time that I watched the Exorcist and the doctors/psychologists told the mother that Catholics still practice the superstition of exorcism, but we keep it quiet because we are ashamed of it. What made The Exorcist so scary was that it was based on a real exorcism. They were able to make it so scary because they based it on the real exorcism of a boy in the US.
Satan is real. Demons are real. Satanic/demonic possessions are REAL. Its not as though the Gospels only mentioned possesions once; they were mentioned multiples times. Jesus even described what happens after a demon is driven out.
Something that is mentioned about the woman is that she was involved with Satanic practices. It seems that she may have opened Pandora's box. I am not going to blame her though, for as it is well known Satan is clever and he is deceiving. It is not her fault that he wishes such harm upon her.

Yes, Virginia there is a Satan. He is real and as St Peter put it, he is prowling like a lion seeking the ruin of your soul.

And may God grant that the unnamed woman be free from demonic possesion so long as she may live. May she be drawn away from the Satanic practices of her past and draw near instead to Him in whom we live, and move and have our being, that living in the light of Truth she may no longer be deceived by the Evil One. Amen.






Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -by the Divine Power of God -cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits, who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

Companions of Christ

I saw online at Catholic News Agency that a community for diocesan priests has been established in the Archdiocese of Denver. It is called Companions of Christ.
I personally think it is a great idea. The diocesan priesthood, I am sure, is a great life, but I can see how it would easily become lonely. Unlike priests in an order very often these men are alone and, especially in the west, separated from other priests.
They already have a website:
http://www.denvercompanionsofchrist.org/

Isabella's first rosary