Syrian Catholic posted an amazing video on Ecce Agnus Dei. Check it out.

LOL Saints Submission

LOL Saints posted one of my submissions. Its a post about St Sebastian, one of the patron saints of Soldiers.

Adopt A Catholic Blog

I originally published this in September, but I decided to make it a sticky and leave it on the main page for a bit.


I came up with an idea this morning of adopting a blog. I thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that this sort of thing should start within St Blog's Parish before it moved out into the greater blogosphere.
By adopting you would keep the author(s) in your prayers and link to their site on your sidebar (if you have a site). But you would also read their blog with some frequency, maybe blog on one of their posts, and comment on his or her blog as you see fit.
Here's the basic ground rules:
1) You pick a blog and leave a comment under this post marking which blog you adopted. I am not going to assign the blogs out. I am deploying soon and I don't think I'll have time for that.
2) If someone has already taken that blog please move on and find another one there are plenty out there. I know everyone wants to adopt the Curt Jester, but lesser known bloggers need your prayers too. That's not to say that that you can't still pray for Jeff at the Curt Jester on top of your adopted blogger.
3) Tell other bloggers in St Blog's Parish. I have a lesser known blog and I don't have the visibility of the Curt Jester or American Papist. Besides, I am leaving soon and I don't know how much time I will have for blogging.

So true

Catholic Cartoon Blog hits back in the culture war with more witty satire.

My Adopted Blog

As part of the Adopt A Catholic Blog project, I adopted Faith and Country. Maybe its my short attention span, but I like that her blog has lots of pictures. I also really enjoy her posts on faith and politics. It was on her blog, for instance that I heard about Sam Brownback. I really wish that he had won the nomination; it seems to me like he would have brought great Catholic values to the White House.

Sunny, know that you are in prayers.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,

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.

Anti Dinoscopus

This blog only has one post so far, but judging from that one post I hope that there are many more to come.

GI June

I discover GI June today. Its a site authored by wives of servicemen. I like the list of patron saint they have on the side:

Our Lady Queen of Peace

St Genevieve, who encouraged her countryment to
employ fasting and prayer in the face of a military invasion

St George
the Dragon Slayer, Patron Saint of the Cavalry

St Sebastian, Patron
Saint of the Grunt

St Barbara, Patron Saint of Artillery and
Artillerists, explosive handlers and sappers.

St Michael, Patron Saint
of Paratroopers and Commandos.

St Theresa, Patron Saint of Aviators

Saints Brendan and Brigid, Patron Saints of Navigators and Sailors

St Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of Servicewomen

St Leonard, Patron
Saint of Prisoners of War

St Martin of Tours, Patron Saint of Soldiers

St Columba, Patron Saint of Sailors and Warriors

I would also like to mention St Ignatius of Loyola, (who was once a Spanish Soldier) St Francis of Assisi (a Soldier also), Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun (a US Army chaplain martyred by Communist Chinese), and St Florian ( a Roman Soldier). Heck, the Pope was even a Soldier!

As a Soldier I like the idea behind their site, especially as my own wife knows well that I will leave soon.

Beijing Olympics 08 Logo

I found this picture on Faithmouse:



That about captures the spirit of the 08 Beijing Olympics. They can build stadiums and new olympic facilities but that doesn't hide the fact that its one of the most oppressive regimes in the world. This image is also on UWants.com
Well, it turns out there are several sites in the blogosphere that heave this image and they all linking each other so here they are:
SFO Mom
Blogs4Brownback
kaj la hundro iris kun ili...
Lina Lamot Club
Olympics in Den Ketten
Beijing 2008: Olimpikoj en Cenoj
Conservababes
Causa Nostra Laetitiae
Free Republic Thread
The Good Life
Blogging from the Bog
Hell on Earth
Irish Blogs
Scarlet Crusader
Team-Swap
Berlin Wall Between Church and State
Boycott 2008 Communist
Faith and Country
Waving or Drowning?
Young Dead Elms

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.

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

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.

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.

Congratulations to Sarah

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

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

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

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.