67 years ago today...

Our Lady of Akita pray for us.

Keep Mass in Christmas

Every year we see pictures and car magnet with the catchphrase "Keep Christ in Christmas". What about the other part of Christmas...Mass. Even if someone reduces Christmas to Xmas. The Mass and Christ truly present in the Mass are still in the word. That's not to say I am defending the Xmas abbreviation. I find it repugnant and a blatant attempt to remove anything religious from our culture. What I am saying is that our majority Protestant culture in the United States conveniently overlooks the Catholic origins of Christmas and denies the Catholic foundation of all Western culture.

Keep Mass in Christmas...




Adopt a Catholic Blog

Mary Moments Carnival

Catholic Carnival 200 is up at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering.
I just discovered the Mary Moments Carnival today. Its a monthly Carnival dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Check out November
I filed it under Catholic Carnival because I didn't want to create another category (I already have too many) and its still Catholic and a Carnival.

Adopt A Catholic Blog

Not all return

Please keep 1LT William Jernigan and his family in your prayers. He was a friend of mine.

100 places

In no particular order, 100 Places I want to see in my life. Just thought I'd share.

1. The Holy Land
2. Arctic Ocean
3. Vailankanni
4. Indian Ocean
5. Antarctic Ocean
6. Falkland Islands
7. Lalibela, Ethiopia
8. Possible site of Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia
9. London
10. Lourdes
11. Athens
12. Thermopylae
13. Ruins of Ephesus
14. Moscow
15. St Petersburg
16. Chichen Itza
17. Pyramids of Egypt
18. Istanbul
19. New York
20. Boston
21. Philadelphia
22. Montreal
23. Australia
24. New Zealand
25. Tahiti
26. Hawaii
27. Ulan Baatar
28. Lome, Togo
29. Rio de Janeiro
30. Washington, DC
31. Lisieux
32. Rouen
33. Chunnel
34. Gibraltar
35. New Orleans
36. Gettysburg
37. Valley Forge
38. American Battlefield Cemetery in Mexico City
39. Village at the bottom of the Grand Canyon
40. Las Vegas
41. Lichtenstein
42. Andorra
43. San Marino
44. Nazca Lines
45. Monaco
46. Avignon
47. Monte Cassino
48. Kathmandu
49. Zanzibar
50. Dar-es-Salaam
51. Charleston, SC
52. Ireland
53. Fulda, Germany
54. Oberomergau, to see the Passion Play
55. Havana
56. Akita
57. American Battlefield Cemeteries in Europe
58. Crazy Horse
59. Stone Mountain
60. Dubai
61. All 50 States-27 down, 23 left
62. Pearl Harbor
63. Guadalupe
64. Easter Island
65. St Helena Island
66. Leaning Tower of Pisa
67. St Pierre et Miquelon
68. Prague
69. Budapest
70. Malta
71. Taj Mahal
72. Goa
73. Versailles
74. Alamo
75. Vicksburg
76. Transylvania
77. West Point
78. Stonehenge
79. Lexington/Concord
80. Yorktown
81. Arlington
82. Costa Rica
83. Belize
84. Victoria Falls
85. Amazon River
86. Lake Itasca
87. Amsterdam
88. Cape Canaveral
89. Dakar
90. Dodge City
91. Auschwitz
92. Marathon
93. Bataan/Corregidor
94. Naples
95. Florence
96. Venice
97. Great Salt Lake
98. Dead Sea
99. Maccu Piccu
100. Singapore

--green bold indicates I have been there since I wrote this list (6 complete so far)

Premio Dardos

Sunny from Faith and Country has honored me with the Premio Dardos award.
This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.
The rules to follow are :1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to other 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment.
Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
My 15 blogs of choice:

1. Catholic Cavemen
2. B Movie Catechism
3. The Curt Jester
4. Infused Knowledge
5. Transitus Tiber
6. Steve Ray's Blog
7. Dominican Idaho
8. Aussie Coffee Shop
9. Adrienne's Catholic Corner
10. Maureen Martin
11. Idaho Hicks in Austria
12. Sonitus Sanctus
13. Ironic Catholic
14. Holy Cards for your Inspiration
15. Alive and Young
    

Sunny, I still keep you and your blog in my prayers.
There are still lots and lots of Catholic blogs out there to adopt.

Sacrifice

I have decided to use this deployment to finally read the Bible cover to cover. Genesis and Exodus were fairly quite despite all the "begats". Leviticus is a bit dry to say the least and is proving a challenge.
With that said, what I have read has given me something to think about in regards to sacrifice. There is a lot said about sacrifice in these first three books.
Exodus says at least three times that I can recall that the Israelites are to dedicate, that is sacrifice, their firstborn from their animals and among their children. Donkeys however can be redeemed by sacrificing a lamb instead and their firstborn children MUST be redeemed. As St Paul wrote, Jesus is the "firstborn of all creation". While God has been merciful to His people and not allowed them to sacrifice their children, He sacrificed His Son, His Firstborn for us.
Of course, Jesus' sacrifice of Himself on the cross was the lasting Sacrifice for all eternity and His Body and Blood offered on our altars is a continuing participation in that one Sacrifice. I couldn't help as I read through these books, but to notice parallels between the Old Testament sacrifices and the Eucharist.
As Isaac carried the wood that was for sacrificing himself up the hill, he asked his father Abraham where was the animal for the sacrifice. His father answered him that, "God will provide the lamb." Over course we know that later, the Lamb of God, carried the wood of the cross up Calvary hill and sacrificed Himself and we share in this Sacrifice every time we partake in the Eucharist.
Also, Leviticus prescribes sacrifices for sins of the people, priests, and individuals. These sacrifices are no longer called for since Christ's Sacrifice is for all sin. Fat from the animals and certain organs were placed on the altar to burn, but the meat was eaten by the priests. Christ as both Priest and Sacrifice now offers us his flesh eternally as His Sacrifice of Self for our sins.
I forget where exactly, but somewhere in Exodus around the Ten Commandments chapters, Moses sprinkled the Israelites with blood from a sacrificed animal as part entering the people into the Old Covenant. I thought about that compared with receiving Christ's Blood internally as part of renewing the New Covenant. I am not sure if there's anything to that, but I thought it was an interesting comparison.
At one point the Law called for the sinner to publicly declare his sins before the sacrifice. I like confession better today.

priceles

Cost for a soda at the PX... $0.65
Cost of a haircut at the FOB barbershop... $3.50
300 minute calling card from AT&T... $27.00
Having a Catholic Chaplain on the FOB... priceless

Some people must have nothing better to do

Lawsuit claims California college threatened to expel students who prayed

Alameda County, CA, Oct 12, 2008 / 08:27 pm (CNA).- Two students filed a federal lawsuit this past Monday against the publicly-funded College of Alameda alleging that school officials at the California school threatened to expel them for praying...

That month, student Kandy Kyriacou visited an instructor to give her a Christmas gift. Kyriacou found the instructor alone in her shared office. When the instructor indicated she was ill, Kyriacou offered to pray for her.

The instructor bowed her head and Kyriacou began to pray. They were then interrupted by another faculty member, Derek Piazza, who entered the room and said “You can’t be doing that here!”

Kyriacou left to join her friend and fellow student Ojoma Omaga. Piazza followed Kyriacou and repeated his rebuke. The students related that they were surprised by his intimidating behavior.

Three days before Christmas, both students received letters notifying them of the college’s retroactive “intent to suspend” them. While school policy requires such letters to state factual bases for the charges, the letter only vaguely accused the students of “disruptive or insulting behavior, willful disobedience . . . persistent abuse of college employees.”

Not only did this instructor barge into the office as some sort of "Anti-Prayer Police", but then followed her around looking for something other reason. In most places that would be considered stalking. Of course, in most places it would also be considered common courtesy to wait until later and politely explain that you disagree with these other people.
It sounds like someone needs a hobby.

You are what you eat.

Another autopost for my readers:

St George pray for Soldiers

I set this post to publish after I have left:

Off to that ancient land
From whence came Abraham

Like Saint Joan of Arc before
I am going off to war

Jonah preached in that land
And I shall walk that same sand

Like Father Emil Kapaun before
I am in an Army at war

Gov Palin's speech

This is a video of Gov. Palin's speech this afternoon at our deployment ceremony. After a month at Ft Irwin baking in the Mojave and another month at home we had our deployment ceremony this afternoon. I will post once more, but after that will be posts set publish on certain dates until things settle down.
Btw, that thing hanging around her neck is a medal given to her and her husband, Todd to recognize them as Honorary Members of the Brigade.

September 11, 1683 Christian forces under the protection of Our Lady of Czestochowa defeated Muslim forces besieging Vienna.

Organ-ic Carnival

Catholic Carnival 189 is up at Organ-ic Chemist.
Among the many great posts is the Chant workout (appeals to my dry sense of humor), a couple of posts about Gov. Palin (it will be neat to see her in person tomorrow at our deployment ceremony), and a post on the Epistle of St James.
Oh and of course yours truly also had a post featured.

I love reading Pearls Before Swine. Its one of only a few comics out there that I still find funny as an adult.
Rat has decided to take down the Communist regime in Cuba. If only...

--Contra

Like a liberal with a baseball bat...

Bucky Katt with the funniest quote that I have heard all week:
"The winter Olympics are like a liberal with a baseball bat: You may not like him, but you have to respect him."

Because Ijust can't stand Che t-shirts.

H/T to Pundit Kitchen

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,

Catholic Carnival 188

Catholic Carnival 188 is at just another day of Catholic pondering.

What the...?

H/t to Ken88

H/t to Stained Glass Buffalo

Sober

First a plug for my fellow Sober Catholics:
Adrienne's Catholic Corner
Sober Catholic
Fallen Sparrow

I don't write many personal posts. I am a private person, but I saw a mention to Paulcaholic (author of Sober Catholic) on Adrienne's blog and remembered her series about the 12 Steps of AA and I was inspired to write. Longtime readers will notice this is considerably longer than most posts. Sorry, I tried to keep in mind as Laertes quipped that "[b]revity is the soul of wit."

As some of you might know, I don't drink. I mentioned it in passing once before on this blog. I made the conscious decision to stop drinking. I never went to meetings nor was I ever confronted by anyone about the problem. I decided one day that enough was enough.
Before I get much further let me just state that I have nothing against alcoholic drinks per se or against the people who drink them. For instance, I am happy for Bill and the Saint for their new found mutual appreciation of beer. Btw, Happy Birthday Bill! Not to mention that the Savior chose for His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity to appear in the guise of wine. I believe that alcohol is not evil as it was created by the Lord, but what we do with it can easily become sinful.
I quit drinking once before in college after having blacked out. Its never good to have to have your friends tell you what an a@# you made of yourself. That lasted about six months and I was back at it.
Then after I graduated college and I had gone to the Pre-Theology program at Mt Angel. I think many parishioners would be scandalized to know how much some Seminarians drink. I didn't have a car so I didn't get out to bars and drink as much as some, but the socials that were held always enough and I wasn't shy about getting tipsy or worse. Most of the others were responsible but myself and a few others were not.
At a fancy dinner for something or other (we were always having nice dinners, so between them blurring together and my blurred memory I don't recall what it was for) I started out outside with about 4 or 5 glasses of wine and a beer. Then we went inside and kept going strong.
I'll just say about the events that followed that no one important found out and that I made a fool of myself. Of course this lead up to a RAGING hangover the next morning. I was so sick and hurting so bad that I skipped morning prayers and daily mass. I barely managed to get myself to class.
Everyone in class could see my color and tell that I was very ill. Most knew why.
Strangely, I didn't decide to quit then. But that night was the last time I drank. A few months later when I had left the Sem and I was making a Eucharistic Visit at a parish near my hometown, I remembered that I had quit before, realized again that I have a problem, and that I had promised as penance that I would swear off the stuff and I resolved to do it for good this time. I prayed for the Lord's help because I knew that I couldn't do it alone; I had already tried that.
The difference this time is definitely my wife. I met her about 2 or 3 months later and since I have known her she has always been VERY supportive of my resolution. No one actively supported me before, but she has since I have known her. There are many reasons why I thank God for her and this is one of them (not a small reason either).

When others ask me for a reason why I choose not to drink anymore, I always think of the Savior's words:
42 And if thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire: 43 Where there worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished. 44 And if thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter lame into life everlasting, than having two feet, to be cast into the hell of unquenchable fire: 45 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished. 46 And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out. It is better for thee with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire: 47 Where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
Mark 42-47 Douay Rheims Translation

And as St Paul warns us in Ephesians 5:18, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury; but be ye filled with the Holy Spirit"

Oil import sources

For all the talk of our energy dependence upon the Middle East, I think it is notable that only 1 of the top 5 sources of oil in the US is from the Middle East. I got this table from the Energy Information Administration which is part of the Department of Energy.
...and yes, that is right. Canada really is our #1 source of oil.
So of the top 10 sources of oil, only 2 are in the Middle East (3 if you count N. Africa as Middle Eastern). And of the top 15 only 3 are on the Arabian Peninsula and 6 are Muslim countries. While on the other hand, 2 of our top 3 are right next door and 5 of the top 15 are in Latin America.

Crude Oil Imports (Top 15 Countries) (Thousand Barrels per Day)
Country	Jun-08	May-08	YTD 2008	Jun-07	YTD 2007
CANADA	1,883	1,840	1,888	1,905	1,881
SAUDI ARABIA	1,479	1,579	1,523	1,501	1,407
MEXICO	1,124	1,116	1,193	1,392	1,454
VENEZUELA	1,085	1,030	1,012	1,135	1,109
NIGERIA	946	851	1,036	893	1,022
IRAQ	693	583	674	573	476
ANGOLA	636	464	496	502	568
BRAZIL	280	318	221	121	158
ALGERIA	269	440	319	504	494
RUSSIA	228	119	109	29	135
KUWAIT	179	263	219	263	193
ECUADOR	178	162	192	166	195
COLOMBIA	177	245	182	143	108
CHAD	107	57	101	80	69
LIBYA	89	96	76	144	66

Did you know...?

A random bit of trivia here, The CSS Shenandoah (yes, CSS as in Confederate States Ship) was the only Confederate ship to circumnavigate the globe. It also raided Union commerce in the Bering Strait of all places.

Married Baptist Minister Converts and Becomes Priest

H/T to Steve Ray

The first known married Baptist minister turned married Catholic priest is about to be ordained (September 6).
David Harris is the only man to be ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Louisville this year and only the second Protestant convert ordained as yet in that Archdiocese.
The article is here.
One part I found very interesting about the article:

His wife and sons remain Baptist, but support him, as do other relatives.

"I'm real happy for him," said his brother, Mike, of Louisa. "My brother has always had a fantastic heart for people."

David Harris said his mother had the most difficulty with his conversion.

"We talk about it, we pray about it," he said. "At this point she's real supportive."

It has to be an awkward family life. Dad/Husband is a Catholic priest while everyone else is still Baptist.

Holy Card of Me Meme

Therese tagged me for the Holy Card meme.
What picture would I use for my holy card, should I make it to sainthood, and of what cause(s) would I want to be patron of?

I would want to be patron of Soldiers and military families. I should probably also put myself down for patron of procrastinators, but I'll do that later.

I tag:
Sunny

Rachel

Paul

Mark

Feast Day of St Christopher

If you look at a Saint of the Day site, you would know that today is the feast day of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. He is a great reformer and a Doctor of the Church, but today is also the feast day of Saint Christopher.
In case you didn't know, his name is Greek for "Christ Bearer". That is because according to his biography he literally carried the Christ child accross a river. However, it can apply to us Christophers today in a more metaphorical sense. We may never carry around God Incarnate, but we can carry Christ spiritually to others and to the world at large. Its a very missionary name when you stop to think about it.

St Gilles & St Maurus

As I was writing the post about St Christopher, I looked for pictures and I found the picture displayed in the St Christopher post. I like the portrayal of St Christopher and the Christ Child, but I wondered who are the saints on the right and left.

Because the picture is actually the center panel of a triptych (Moreel Triptych), I was able to look up info on it and identify the Saints as Sts Gilles and Maurus. I know that St Gilles was a hermit and he took an arrow for a beloved deer who kept him company, but that's about all I know. I don't know anything about St Maurus.

I will probably look up these two later, but if you are like me you have to know who the saints are and what is significant about their iconography.

"Is, Is" problem

Saint Picture Quiz VIII

Yes, he's holding his skin.

Saint Quiz 7

Saint Quiz 6

The patron saint against oversleeping.

Doubt

I, like everyone else I bet, doubt from time to time the Catholic faith and even God himself. But I some relief in knowing that even the apostles doubted. In today's Gospel reading, Peter doubted as he walked out on the water toward Jesus and he almost drowned. At the end of Matthew it says that the eleven were on a mountain worshipping Jesus, but some doubted. I mean they saw all the miracles. For crying out loud He was even raised from the dead, but still they doubted. Even still He chose these doubters as apostles. There's hope for me yet.

Saint Quiz 5

This time I didn't leave the name of the saint as part of the file name.

Saint Quiz IV

Not surprisingly this Saint is the patroness of breast cancer sufferers.

Not sure what to think of this

Cardinal Levada's Letter to Traditional Anglican Communion

I found this letter on the for the Traditional Anglican Communion. Its only a few paragraphs so I will not quote it here.

No more posting for a month

I have to go away for training. I am preparing to deploy with my brigade to Iraq. I will not be able to post until sometime in August.
With that said, here's the second saint quiz. This time I decided to add another saint pic just for fun.

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

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.

Books of the Bible Puzzle

Hat Tip to Daughter of the King
I googled it and found this site. From the site:

Can you find sixteen (16) books of the Bible in this paragraph?
I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible (merely by a fluke). It kept people looking so hard for the facts and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the name of the books were not capitalized, but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now. There really are sixteen names of books in this story.
Give up?
Here's the solution to this books of the Bible puzzle [ click here ]
Bigger challenge
Can you find thirty (30) books of the Bible in this paragraph? Actually, there are 31 if you can find the variant of one Old Testament prophet's name.
There are 30 books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus; there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God Bless.
Give up?
Here's the solution [ click here ]

Parable Meme

This Lent I have been reflecting a lot on the Gospels. I have also been thinking specifically about His parables. With that in mind, I am starting a meme about Jesus' parables.
Heres how it goes:

1. You name your five favorite parables
2. You tag one blogger per parable.
3. It would be nice if you linked back to this post.

My five favorite parables of Jesus:

1. The Prodigal Son
2. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
3. The Good Samaritan
4. The Pearl of Great Price
5. Lazarus and the Rich Man

I tag Kim, Mark, I.C., Sonny, A Simple Sinner

Slavery is Alive and Well

This, sadly, is just one example of outright slavery in our modern age. It still exists; not only in Yemen, but in Sudan, the US, the EU, everywhere. In the US, the EU and other wealthy nations it is not as baltant. It exists mostly as human trafficking, such as. women smuggled in from poor countries and hidden away, forced to work as prostitutes

Father Nguyen Van Ly

From Prisoneralert.com
On February 19, 2007, Father Nguyen Van Ly was arrested in Hue, Vietnam for distributing material “harmful to the state.” In March, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. He has issued statements criticizing the government’s confiscation of church property, lack of seminary training and the influence of the state in church teachings. We invite you to write a letter of encouragement to Father Ly. We have experienced incredible results when readers write to believers who have been imprisoned for their faith. The letters often result in shorter prison sentences. Send a letter of encouragement to Father Ly and let him know you are praying. Also, write to the Vietnamese government requesting he be released. Let your friends know about suffering believers in Vietnam and encourage them to pray and write too. Get involved. Pray and write today.
Address for Father Nguyen Van Ly
Ba Le Thi Phu DungC5/1H Tran Nao, Khu Pho 1
Phuong Binn Khanh, Quan 2
TP Ho Chi Minh
VIETNAM

Please noteWhen writing a letter, never mention the name of the source of your information or the name of any organization such as Voice of the Martyrs or Prisoner Alert. It is not dangerous for a prisoner to receive letters from individuals, but if an organization is mentioned they may be accused of links with ‘foreign organizations’ and receive harsher sentences. Also, please do not state anything negative about their government. For the latest information, including letter writing tools and helps, please visit PrisonerAlert.com.
Excerpt from an actual letter created on PrisonerAlert.com
I gave thanks for you when I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray the eyes, ears and hearts of those who persecute you may open to Jesus. Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Salvation is from the Jews...

In the Gospel reading today we heard Jesus says that "salvation is from the Jews". It reminded me of last weeks readings.
The Gospel reading was of course the Transfiguration and the Old Testament reading was from Genesis and the Lord told Abraham, "All the communities of the earthshall find blessing in you." Just as Jesus chose to ride in Peter's boat to cross the Sea of Galilee, He and the other Persons of the Holy Trinity chose Israel as the vessel to carrry the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. Through the Jews we have Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the Law, and we are blessed by Israel with the gift of Jesus and His New Covenant.
The Transfiguration drives the point home. Jesus was glorified and the Apostles saw Him in His Glory with Moses and Elijah. Moses wrote the Law and Elijah was a great prophet of the Old Covenant who foretold of Jesus' coming. The juxtaposition of these men with the glorified Christ shows Christ's greatness over both and that they preached Christ's message before the Incarnation.

Eco Stations and Passion of the Earth

Fr. Z (and subsequently others) posted about the Ecological Stations of the Cross. Then I remebered something from the Benedictine Monastery near my hometown.
They have what they call the Passion of the Earth.
A quick excerpt before I continue: "And so God dreams and hopes as the cosmos stands poised at a point of decision. A new paroxysm of divine, human, and cosmic energy stands ready to explode and heal. We will decide: a re-creation or continue destruction; a dream of hope or the nightmare of our greed."
While the Ecological Stations of the Cross are at least nominally about the Passion of Christ, these are blatantly just some eco-spiritual... I'll let you decide.
Btw, these are also the same women who pray the Lord's prayer as "Our Mother, Our Father who art in heaven..."

Meme

I have been tagged by Bill
Here are the rules:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) Post the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

1. I don't know why, but I love orange kittens.
2. I have around a dozen books that I have been meaning to finish, some of them for a few years.
3. I have owned the Lord of the Rings trilogy for over 10 years, but I have yet to read any of them.
4. I don't like being outside without a hat of some kind.
5. My toes are almost as long as my fingers.
6. I can tell you exactly which James Bond movie it is just by watching about 30 seconds of it.

I tag ASimple Sinner, Catholicandgop, Anita, Kim, Irenaeus, Mark

Communion on the Tongue

As I waited for Mass to start yesterday, I watched the little kids practicing for their First Communion. The teacher told to receive the Eucharist on their non-dominant hand and to cross themselves after receiving Jesus.
I couldn't help but wonder though, why was there no mention of bowing before you received the host? and why was there no mention of receiving the host on your tongue? After all receiving the Eucharist on the tongue is the most reverent way to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. I think the teacher was doing the children a disservice by not telling them about receiving the Eucharist on the tongue. Then again, she may not know either.

baptism

Yesterday, my daughter was baptized. My little girl joined the New Covenant and was born of water and the Holy Spirit.
I would have pictures, but I forgot the camera at home.

Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral

This is Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Spokane, Washington. I have always found it amusing that directly accross the street from the cathedral is a giant Masonic temple.

Duh

Study Finds that Catholics who Attend Mass are less likely to Divorce

More Catholic Protests in Hanoi

I was reading at Catholic News Agency that Catholics in Vietnam are again protesting against illegal government seizure of Church property. This is of course is after the successful protests to return the nunciature to the Church. Maybe this, like the Solidarity movement in Poland, is the beginning of the end for Communist opppresion in Vietnam.
Our Lady of La Vang, pray for the Church in Vietnam.