When I think of St Thomas Aquinas, I always think of the dry philosophy/theology in the Summa Theologica and Summa Contra Gentiles. Today I was scanning thru Catholic Patristics and found this icon. After a quick Google search, I found out that the text on the scroll is apparently of his most famous quotes. I guess he's not all brain after all. Not only that, but it has definitely given me something to think over.

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Finally

The last combat troops left Iraq yesterday.

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Istanbul was Constantinople

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam




May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Church is growing in Malaysia

Its always encouraging to read articles like this:

Church Growing In Malaysia Despite Muslim Resistance

The Catholic faith is spreading in Malaysia in spite of social pressure from the country’s Muslim majority, the AsiaNews service reports.

Although Malaysia’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the Islamic majority exercises considerable control over the country’s society, and Christians are regularly treated as second-class citizens. Last year the nation’s Catholic newspaper was ordered to stop using the word “Allah,” although that is the word commonly used by Christians in reference to God. The newspaper challenged the government’s order, and won a court decision allowing the use of “Allah” in the Catholic publication.

Just over 60% of Malaysia’s 23 million people are Muslims. Christians—predominantly Catholics-- make up 9% of the population


May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Let him sell his coat and buy a sword

I have always pondered on what was going on in Luke 22:36-38 when Christ told them His disciples to get swords and told them it was enough when they showed Him two.

But they said: Nothing. Then said he unto them: But now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a scrip; and he that hath not, let him sell his coat, and buy a sword. For I say to you, that this that is written must yet be fulfilled in me: And with the wicked was he reckoned. For the things concerning me have an end. But they said: Lord, behold here are two swords. And he said to them, It is enough.

I read a commentary once that said that Christ really meant the sword of the Spirit, but that explanation never really satisfied me. This morning I happened to read Unam Sanctam. I don't remember the series of events that led me to read it, but a passage in there dealt with this exact passage from Luke:

We are informed by the texts of the gospels that in this Church and in its power are two swords; namely, the spiritual and the temporal. For when the Apostles say: "Behold, here are two swords" [Lk 22:38] that is to say, in the Church, since the Apostles were speaking, the Lord did not reply that there were too many, but sufficient. Certainly the one who denies that the temporal sword is in the power of Peter has not listened well to the word of the Lord commanding: "Put up thy sword into thy scabbard" [Mt 26:52]. Both, therefore, are in the power of the Church, that is to say, the spiritual and the material sword, but the former is to be administered for the Church but the latter by the Church; the former in the hands of the priest; the latter by the hands of kings and soldiers, but at the will and sufferance of the priest. However, one sword ought to be subordinated to the other and temporal authority, subjected to spiritual power. For since the Apostle said: "There is no power except from God and the things that are, are ordained of God" [Rom 13:1-2], but they would not be ordained if one sword were not subordinated to the other and if the inferior one, as it were, were not led upwards by the other.

This explanation makes a lot more sense. Whenever the disciples didn't get what Christ was saying or bungled it He always reproved them, but in this case He didn't tell them they were wrong just that it was enough. Boniface VIII's explanation makes more sense to me, but I could be wrong and they could both be right and fit together in a way I am not able to see.

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Eucharist and the Incarnation

I have nothing original to post today, so here is some wisdom from one of the Church's great saints:
The manner of our indwelling in Him through the Sacrament of His Body and Blood is evident from the Lord’s own words: This world will see Me no longer but you shall see Me. Because I live you shall live also, for I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. If it had been a question of a mere unity of will, why should He have given us this explanation of the steps by which it is achieved? He is in the Father by reason of His divine nature, we are in Him by reason of His human birth, and He is in us through the mystery of the Sacraments. This, surely, is what He wished us to believe; this is how He wanted us to understand the perfect unity that is achieved through our Mediator, who lives in the Father while we live in Him, and Who, while living in the Father, lives also in us. This is how we attain to unity with the Father. Christ is in very truth in the Father by his eternal generation; we are in very truth in Christ, and He likewise is in us.

St Hilary, bishop of Poitiers

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Dan the author of Living Water in an Empty Desert has asked for someone to adopt him and his blog in prayer.
Please, someone out there adopt his blog here. Just leave a comment accepting him as your adopted St blog/St blogger.

Saints and Scripture Assumption

Today is the Feast of the Assumption (or Feast of the Dormition for Eastern Catholics and Orthodox). As such today, I chose a verse that has to do with Mary, but one that I am sure no one has chosen. I read this on Islam and Christianity two years ago and it has stuck with me since:
Ezekiel 44:1 and 2:
Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, facing the east; but it was closed.
He said to me: This gate is to remain closed; it is not to be opened for anyone to enter by it; since the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it, it shall remain closed.
While writing this post I see that many others also include 44:3 as part of the prophecy:
Only the prince may sit down in it to eat his meal in the presence of the LORD. He must enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and leave by the same way.

Mary is the East Gate and no one else besides the Lord, Jesus Christ, has entered because Mary remained a virgin. I am not sure how to eloquently elaborate on this so I will allow Saints Ambrose and Augustine to do so (H/T to Canterbury Tales for the quotes):
"Who is this gate (Ezekiel 44:1-4), if not Mary? Is it not closed because she is a virgin? Mary is the gate through which Christ entered this world, when He was brought forth in the virginal birth and the manner of His birth did not break the seals of virginity." - Saint Ambrose of Milan (ca AD 390)

"It is written (Ezekiel 44, 2): ‘This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall pass through it. Because the Lord the God of Israel hath entered in by it...’ What means this closed gate in the house of the Lord, except that Mary is to be ever inviolate? What does it mean that ‘no man shall pass through it,’ save that Joseph shall not know her? And what is this - ‘The Lord alone enters in and goeth out by it,’ except that the Holy Ghost shall impregnate her, and that the Lord of Angels shall be born of her? And what means this - ‘It shall be shut for evermore,’ but that Mary is a Virgin before His birth, a Virgin in His birth, and a Virgin after His birth." - Saint Augustine (ca AD 430)

I'm not sure if Ezekiel 46:1-3 are also part of the prophecy but that passage seems an appropriate ending:

Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate toward the east of the inner court shall remain closed throughout the six working days, but on the sabbath and on the day of the new moon it shall be open. The prince shall enter from outside by way of the vestibule of the gate and remain standing at the doorpost of the gate; then while the priests offer his holocausts and peace offerings, he shall worship at the threshold of the gate and then leave; the gate shall not be closed until evening. The people of the land shall worship before the LORD at the door of this gate on the Sabbaths and new moons.

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Small Seed Big Harvest

I saw a quote here:
The Magi set out because of a deep desire which prompted them to leave everything and begin a journey. It was as though they had always been waiting for that star.

Pope Benedict XVI

This quote caused something in me to think of the Magi's story as an metaphor for vocations. They left everything for a calling to follow the star and meet the new King. When Pope Benedict XVI said "It was as though they had always been waiting for that star.", the lightbulb went off and I realized that God calls all of us to do something like the Magi's journey to glorify Him and lead others to Him. How many people over the two millenia since have been inspired by the story or meditated upon it and developed a deeper relationship with Christ.
That got me to thinking about all the minor characters in the Bible and all the Saints who led quiet, unassuming lives, but have been an inspiration to many people and their example and/or writings have led many others into a deeper relationship with Christ. The Magi were minor if you consider how much they are mentioned in the Bible, but they are quite popular so I will use someone else as a better example.
In the Gospels for instance, is the story of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), the blind man who called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" so that he might be healed of his blindness. Among the Saints is St Therese de Lisieux who led a quiet life in the cloister, but her writings have led millions around the world into a deeper life in Christ and she is now a Doctor of the Church.
Obviously, the list goes on and I'm sure that you could also name many, many more. This is going to be the beginning of a weekly segment on my blog (at least for as long as I can remember to keep doing it; I can be forgetful). I'm calling it Small Seed Saturday. I got the name from the Gospel of St John 12:24: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." There are many Saints and others who have been small seeds planted in the ground who have produced much fruit.
Next week, I'll expound more on Bartimaeus.

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

And now for something Byzantine

I am not sure what the actual name of the song is, but here are the lyrics:
It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos, ever blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without stain you gave birth to God the Word. You are truly Theotokos we magnify you.

Theotokos= Mother of God

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

New Page

I was playing around with Blogger today and discovered the Pages feature. I know that I'm behind the power curve but oh well. I added a page for my "Adopt a Catholic Blog" post that I put up back in 2008. You can see the link for the page in the upper right. Eight people, including myself, adopted a Catholic blog in prayer back then. Please feel free to join in and adopt one now. Please also include a link or a post on your blog, its always good to get the word out to pray for one another.

If you don't see the link its also right here.


May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Saints and Scripture Sunday

Psalm 51:15
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will speak out your praise.

This verse is said everyday all across the world as part of the liturgy of the hours. I'm not sure which translation is used for the liturgy of the hours, but in English we say "O Lord open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise." And this is also split between the two choirs.

Through the liturgy of the hours, along with Mass (or Divine Liturgy for the Eastern Churches) the Church never stops praying. Of course there are myriad other forms of prayer such as rosary going on, but at any given moment somewhere in the world two things are happening liturgy of the hours and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Church never stops praying, we pray continuously.

Formalized prayers of the Church are great way to glorify God and to continuously declare His praises. However, the Lord opens mouths and we often find other ways to speak His glories. The best ways I can think of is evangelization. All the Apostles went off to preach the love and the glory of God. Sts Paul and Peter most come to mind when we think of this, but lets not forget St Thomas who went to India nor Sts James, Matthew, and John whose writings are still used to spread the Gospel and continue the perpetual adoration and worship of God. I could name countless other saints, since of course by their nature saints declare the praises of God.

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

I'd pay to see this

source

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

St Thomas in India

From CNEWA's ONE magazine:

“St. Thomas definitely landed on this very spot,” says Philomena Pappachan, caretaker of a chapel that marks where the doubting apostle arrived in southern India in the year A.D. 52. Located a few feet from the cemented banks of the Periyar River, the chapel is dwarfed by a grove of palm trees and a 30-foot cutout of the saint, who is depicted with a staff and an open book on which “my Lord and my God” is printed in English.

No archaeological evidence exists to substantiate or refute her claim. Yet for nearly two millennia, countless numbers of Christians and Hindus have believed “the holy man” journeyed through Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia and finally India, where Thomas died a martyr’s death in the year 72...

Culled from the communities he founded, Thomas ordained priests and deacons to minister to their spiritual and temporal needs. Eventually, the heirs of St. Thomas became dependent on the Church of the East — an Eastern Syriac church founded by Thomas and centered in the Persian Empire. The catholicos-patriarch of the Church of the East regularly sent bishops to southern India to ordain priests and deacons and regulate ecclesial life.

For more than 1,500 years, India’s Thomas Christians were fully integrated into Indian society. Their liturgical practices reflected their Eastern Syriac ties. Other elements of this tradition — such as the architecture of their churches and their way of remembering the dead — revealed their Hindu cultural heritage.

The arrival of the Portuguese at the close of the 15th century, however, dramatically changed the lives of all Indians. When Vasco da Gama staked his claim for his Catholic king, he found not only tea and spices, but a Christian community that joyfully welcomed the Portuguese as companions in the faith. Sadly, the advent of the Europeans triggered the beginning of division among the sons and daughters of Thomas — who now number more than ten million. Their common Christian faith and their devotion to the doubting apostle bind them ever still.

Read the rest of the article...

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

St Thomas in Indian Churches

I found these pictures in a photo gallery about the influence of St Thomas on Christianity in India. Its quite significant since he was the first to preach the Gospel there in 52 AD. I especially like the picture with St Thomas at the foot of the Crucifix holding up his finger covered in Christ's Blood.





May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Transfiguration as icon of Christian Contemplation

Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration. I don't have anything clever or inspiring to say necessarily, but the late Pope John Paul II did. Here are two excerpts from his Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginus Mariae:

“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun” (Mt 17:2). The Gospel scene of Christ's transfiguration, in which the three Apostles Peter, James and John appear entranced by the beauty of the Redeemer, can be seen as an icon of Christian contemplation. To look upon the face of Christ, to recognize its mystery amid the daily events and the sufferings of his human life, and then to grasp the divine splendor definitively revealed in the Risen Lord, seated in glory at the right hand of the Father: this is the task of every follower of Christ and therefore the task of each one of us. In contemplating Christ's face we become open to receiving the mystery of Trinitarian life, experiencing ever anew the love of the Father and delighting in the joy of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul's words can then be applied to us: “Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being changed into his likeness, from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2Cor 3:18).

The mystery of light par excellence is the Transfiguration, traditionally believed to have taken place on Mount Tabor. The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to “listen to him” (cf. Lk 9:35 and parallels) and to prepare to experience with him the agony of the Passion, so as to come with him to the joy of the Resurrection and a life transfigured by the Holy Spirit.

The best part I think is where he calls the Transfiguration "an icon of Christian contemplation". The chosen apostles truly had a great revelation of Christ's nature as they beheld him. Also, on His left and right were Moses, the law giver representing how the Law points to Christ, and Elijah, the prophet showing how all the prophecies pointed to Jesus.

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Great FB quote

"Lord, give us back Kurt Cobain and we'll trade you Justin Bieber"

--Fr Victor from Diocese of Boise



May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Now for something serious/disturbing

This video is hard to watch and not something I would let children watch. Its about human trafficking for purposes of pornography and God's love for Constance (and everyone else) in spite of horrible situations. Its called "Constance" by Mr. J Medeiros.


How many of us could be the young man watching on his laptop? Afraid our wife could find, but just can't seem to help ourselves anyways; cause we're addicted and we don't want to let it go.

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

"I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow"
--unknown

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

7 Quick Takes Deuce

--1--
I have discovered that I cannot just pull out a Capri Sun, stick a straw in it and hand it to my daughter. She won't touch it. First I apparently have to ask her if she wants one. Then I have to ask if she wants me to open it. Then she will drink it. Any deviation means she just sets it to the side and refuses to acknowledge it.
--2--
I have been going to a new barbershop these last few weeks. The last barber did a GREAT job and new what haircut I wanted so I didn't to say anything anymore, I just sat down. I stopped going because it turns out he's a former grand wizard for the local Klan group. He left the Klan but still holds a lot of the racist views. I figured the Stars and Bars on the wall was just a southern pride thing, but after finding out his political/racial views I couldn't go there in good conscience anymore.
--3--
The new barbershop is decorated mostly with pennants. There are a few other random decorations, but the vast majority of the decorations are random pennants (mostly collegiate). I asked about them Monday and I was told that various people have brought in pennants over the last 15 years and he told me that if I brought in a pennant he find someplace to put it on the wall. So now I have to stop being lazy and get around to ordering a University of Idaho pennant so my alma mater can have its spot on the wall too.
--4--
Please pray for Father Nguyen Van Ly. He is a Catholic priest in Vietnam arrested and sentenced to 8 years (about 5 years left) for resisting Communist influence on the Catholic Church in Vietnam. You can put together a letter in Vietnamese to send to him here. I am sure that he could use encouragement and sometimes when enough people write letters the government releases political prisoners.
--5--
Was anyone else taught that you should write an extra s after possessive words ending with s except in the case of Moses or Jesus? For example Chris' instead of Chris's.
--6--
Mental Floss has a Saint Quiz: Catholic Saint or New Orleans Saint? I got to admit that I only recognized one name and failed. H/T to Ironic Catholic
--7--
There are two kinds of people out there: 1. Those who hear their alarm the first time and get out of bed 2. Those of us who hear the alarm, hit the snooze and sleep til it goes off again.

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

I was looking for great quotes on fatherhood and found this gem from the Pope. This is from Pope Benedict XVI's address in Yaounde 18 March 2009 (emphasis mine):
"Speaking to the crowd and to his disciples, Jesus declared: “You have only one Father” (Mt 23:9). There is but one fatherhood, that of God the Father, the one Creator of the world, “of all that is seen and unseen”. Yet man, created in the image of God, has been granted a share in this one paternity of God (cf. Eph 3:15). Saint Joseph is a striking case of this, since he is a father, without fatherhood according to the flesh. He is not the biological father of Jesus, whose Father is God alone, and yet he lives his fatherhood fully and completely. To be a father means above all to be at the service of life and growth. Saint Joseph, in this sense, gave proof of great devotion. For the sake of Christ he experienced persecution, exile and the poverty which this entails. He had to settle far from his native town. His only reward was to be with Christ. His readiness to do all these things illustrates the words of Saint Paul: “It is Christ the Lord whom you serve” (Col 3:24)." --Pope Benedict XVI

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Christians formerly hidden by Buddhist monks

I saw an article on UCAnews about Christians hiding inside a Buddhist temple in Japan. I found it really interesting, since you almost never hear about persecution outside of Europe or Communist countries. The Church has a different history everywhere you go.

Japanese Buddhist monks hid persecuted Christians in a secret room in their monastery. They then chanted sutras outside to drown out any incriminating noise, Catholics learnt during a Church program.

Sixty people, led by Father Makoto Onchi of Hagi Catholic Church in Yamaguchi Prefecture, visited the Houonji Buddhist monastery on July 4. The program was part of the church’s annual visit to sites associated with Christian persecution which occurred at various times from the early 1600s.

The monastery had discovered a secret room attached to its main hall, with a tunnel leading out to the fields behind the temple, chief Buddhist monk Venerable Toshiaki Namba told Father Onchi during an interreligious gathering.

read more...

May God bless all who read my ramblings,

Raising children to stay in the faith

I was reading a post over at Conversion Diary about how to raise children in the Christian faith and raise so that they will stay faithful Christians. The author grew up as an atheist and later converted to Catholicism and so has no background on how to raise a Christian family. She has been asking different Moms how they go about it and different people how their parents went about it. She goes on that of course Christian life is not about formula, but about a relationship with God. She noted 3 common elements in families where the children remained in the faith:

The parents prayed for their children to have faith



The children saw the parents rely on God in real, concrete ways (e.g. if the father didn't get a big promotion at work he'd pray about what God wanted him to do next, express trust that God would bring good out of the situation, etc.)



The parents and children prayed together at least occasionally

The only thing I would add is that it is very important to make sure your children are receiving the sacraments. At the least baptism because prayer and a prayerful example are one thing, but you need your children to also enter into the covenant with God. A relationship with God is paramount and nothing says relationship like a binding covenant. Moreover, insisting upon your children receiving the sacraments (as long as you also receive them) sets an example and one should never underestimate the power of grace received in them, most especially the Eucharist.

May God bless all those who read my ramblings,

500th POST!!

So this is my 500th post on this blog. It took me a little over 5 years but I don't post as often as a lot of others and I had gaps in posting while I was deployed. What do I want to talk about in my 500th post... I don't know I am making this up as I go.
OK, here's something: 2 days ago Pope Benedict XVI established a Syro-Malankar exarchate in the US. I wonder how many people before reading this had heard of the Syro-Malankar rite. I found this article on Zenit. The commentary in green is obviously mine.

New Apostolic Exarchate for Syro-Malankara Church

1st Bishop Will Also Be Visitor to Community in Canada, Europe

NEW YORK, JULY 14, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI erected an apostolic exarchate (I wonder what is the difference between eparchy and exarchate?) for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in the United States, and appointed Father Thomas Naickamparampil (appropriate for a priest to St Thomas Christians) of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum as its first bishop.

The bishop-elect, 49, was also appointed apostolic visitor for the Syro-Malank

ara Catholics in Canada and Europe.

Thomas Naickamparampil was born on June 6, 1961 at Mylapra in Pathanamthitta District of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta.

After completing high school, he joined St. Aloysious Minor Seminary, Pattom, Trivandrum, and then later completed his priestly formation at the Papal Seminary in Pune. He was ordained on Dec. 29, 1986.

He has a doctorate degree in philosophy from the Pontifical University Gregorian in Rome.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church traces its roots back to St. Thomas the Apostle (That's right "Doubting Thomas" evangelized India long before the Age of Discovery brought European powers there. I am personally a big fan of his and I think he got a bum rap. He's no worse for his disbelief than Peter for his denials). The Church split from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in 1930, and then entered into communion with Rome. In 2005, the Eastern Church was elevat

ed to a major archiepiscopal Church. It is currently led by Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis, and currently has eight eparchies and some 500,000 faithful.

The community of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church began to organize in 1984 in New York. Today there are an estimated 10,000 members, 16 parishes and 15 mission stations (The nearest one of these to me is Miami. I am

curious to see their liturgy, but there is a Syro-Malabar parish in Atlanta that I could go to. I would think the liturgy is similiar since they are both St Thomas Christians) of the Church in the United States and Canada. It also counts with 30 priests, and 34 religious.

The new exarchate will have its headquarters in New York City, and the main parish will be the Malankara Catholic Church in Long Island.

Malankara Major Archbishop Isaac Mar Cleemis(above)

On another note remotely related note, the Syro-Malankar and Syro-Malabar rites are based out of Kerala State in India which is home to Vailankanni, which is a major site of pilgrimage because of the shrine to Mary that is there. I first heard about it right after the tsunami and I have wanted to visit there ever since. Maybe some day I will finally get to go.

May God bless everyone who reads my ramblings,

7 Quick Takes

--1--

It wasn't a good idea to check on my daughter before PT on Thursday. Next thing I knew she was awake demanding food, drink and TV, but I had to leave so that meant waking up Hephzibah. This might not sound like a big deal but I had to leave just before 6 AM.

--2--

I have been reading The Count of Monte Cristo with my wife, we take turns picking books to read together, and even though its an abridged version it feels like the book that never ends. Don't get me wrong; I am enjoying the book, but I never seem to have the time to make a dent in it. I am definitely enjoying it more than The Gospel According to Biff. Each page of that was more painful/blasphemous than the page before it.

--3--

If you want to sound smart (or perhaps annoying) you always start saying welkin instead of sky. They mean the same thing, but no one obviously says welkin anymore.

--4--

I just got done writing a nine page paper. Its amazing how being told that you have to do something makes it not fun anymore. I would have studied the Battle of Cowpens for fun, but being told to do it and write a paper killed the fun factor.

--5--

I posted a trivia question about a month ago: What is the only country in the world without a Latin Rite Catholic diocese? The answer is Eritrea. There are eparchies, but no dioceses. Don't ask me how I know these things.

--6--

I posted another Saint Quiz about a month ago. No one has yet answered it. The saint portrayed was St Maron. He is the namesake for the Maronite rite.

--7--

I bought the book "Pope-Pourri". I like a lot of the trivia and history in it, but the author seems to spend an inordinate amount of space on Papal scandal, statistics on how many priests are in favor of married clergy and statistics on how many nuns are in favor of women priesthood. I wish that I hadn't bought it.

God bless all who read my ramblings,

Nudiustertian

So I learned a new word: nudiustertian. It means having to do with the day before yesterday.
I am not sure in which context this could ever be used, but I am actively seeking it.

People seem to sanctify me a lot

Don't say: 'That person gets on my nerves.' Think: 'That person sanctifies me.'
-- St. Josemaria Escriva: The Way

I just remembered this quote today. Its a day late, but still one of my favorite quotes.

He who... does not thank God that he is an American, should in simple consistency betake his foreign soul to foreign shores, and crouch in misery and abjection beneath tyranny's scepter. --Archbishop John Ireland

This would have also been an awesome 4th of July quote, but it was a great posting by Suzanne.
h/t to Big Blue Wave

Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience – almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good (cf. Spe Salvi, 24). Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows, time and again, that “in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation”, and a democracy without values can lose its very soul (cf. Centesimus Annus, 46). Those prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent “indispensable supports” of political prosperity.

++ Pope Benedict XVI, speech at the White House in April 2008.

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

I was reading Rachel's post about how the Devil used fear in Thomas Merton's life and I remember another great passage from Seven Storey Mountain appropriate for the 4th of July.

The eloquence of this liturgy was even more tremendous: and what it said was one, simple, cogent, tremendous truth: this church, the court of the Queen of Heaven, is the real capital of the country in which we are living. This is the center of all the vitality that is in America. This is the cause and reason why the nation is holding together. These men, hidden in the anonymity of their choir and their white cowls, are doing for their land what no army, no congress, no president could ever do as such: they are winning for it the grace and the protection and the friendship of God.

Gilligan's Island based on the Seven Deadly Sins

Creative Minority Report posted that the cast of Gilligan's Island were each based on one of the Seven Deadly Sins. The breakdown went like this:
The Professor – Pride
Thurston Howell III - Greed
Ginger - Lust
Mary Ann - Envy (of Ginger's looks)
Mrs. Lovey Howell - Gluttony
The Skipper - Anger or wrath
Gilligan – Sloth
If that's true it makes me feel bad for laughing. I think its a bit of a stretch though. For instance, Mary Ann never seemed especially envious.
The article is here. You can judge for yourself.

Melkites

I started going to a local Melkite Catholic parish and when I saw this on Byzantine, Texas I knew that I had to post it.

H/T to The Crescat by way of Byzantine, Texas.

As iron sharpens iron

As I look back on the baptism classes I went to before my daughter's baptism, I remember a lot of talk about the role of parents in leading children to a closer relationship with God. However, as I have found out since her birth, that is a two-way street. She's only two so we don't yet have in depth conversations on Theology or the nature of God, but Fatherhood has opened my eyes and made me understand much of Christ's and the Church's teachings and explanations more vivid to me.
Writing this the first thing that comes to mind is the repeated references to the First Person of the Trinity as Father. I understand in a way that was not clear before how much more than I do, God the Father knows what's best for me. Any parents out there know immediately what I am talking about. I know its best for my daughter to go eat fruits and veggies instead of cookies, but she doesn't see it that way. For that matter, I am realizing through her how selfish I am when it comes to what I think is best vs. what the Father tells me is best. She is a wonderful little girl, but after all she is 2 and still doesn't think about much outside of herself.
As a Dad, I can understand now much better the level of love that the father had for his prodigal son. I understood the parable before, but feeling that powerful, unconditional love for my daughter has made it much more real for me. I couldn't imagine not taking her back if she were the prodigal daughter.
The other thing that jumps to my mind as I type this was an example from Story of a Soul. She compared a child who knows that the father is removing things that might trip the child vs a child unaware of the father's actions. The child who knows is more grateful, because the child who is unaware does not know that it happened in order to be grateful. After many times leading my daughter away from harmful things such as tripping hazards, I am realizing everyday that our Father removes many more things from my path and leads me away from many dangers I would have otherwise fallen into. I am grateful, but again the example has become much more vivid as a father.
I think the best example of how much having a daughter has taught me, was the other week at St Ignatios parish here in Augusta, GA. As my daughter and I left church and older lady from the parish remarked that with her penchant for pretty dresses, pretty hats, shoes and purses she is going to be expensive. I replied that "She is worth every penny." The lady said, "Think how much more the Father feels about us."
St Joseph and Joachim, pray for us.

He is that Important

I have never liked the new "Common Era" and "Before Common Era" schema for marking the years. First of all, it obviously offends me as a Christian to see and hear people try to erase anything to do with Jesus from our day to day lives. Secondly, He is still the marker for years you just changed the words at the end of the number. Oh yeah, and btw you are also using a calendar made up by the Catholic Church and named after a Pope.
With that in mind the following picture from The Stained Glass Buffalo about sums it up:

Saint Quiz

Obviously that is Jesus at the top, but who is the Saint beneath him?
Hint: He is popular in Lebanon.

Morelia and Comments

I have noticed some traffic coming here looking for Fr Ben Uhlenkott's blog. The address for that is http://missioninmorelia.blogspot.com
On a totally unrelated note, I will delete all comments on 50 Days After that are not in Latin characters and not in a language I can read. I have had repeated spam comments with Chinese characters that lead to site of questionable intent.
Peace,

Archbishop Broglio's Statement on Proposed Legislation

Archbishop Broglio, as the Archbishop for the Military Services has published a statement on homosexuals in the military asking Congress not to allow open service:

In a response to a request from the Chiefs of Chaplains of the Armed Forces I communicated some considerations and concerns regarding the proposal to change the existing legislation regarding persons with a homosexual orientation in the military. In fulfilling my role as the chief shepherd of Catholics in the United States Armed Forces, I have had the opportunity of visiting many installations in the recent past. A number of chaplains and commanding officers have expressed concerns about the effects of a change. There is a request for guidance.
The teaching of the Catholic Church is clearly expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,140 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."141 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

Consequently, those with a homosexual orientation can expect respect and treatment worthy of their human dignity. The prohibitions regarding sexual harassment and intimidation refer just as much to homosexuals as to anyone else. However, unions between individuals of the same gender resembling marriage will not be accepted or blessed by Catholic chaplains. Furthermore no restrictions or limitations on the teaching of Catholic morality can be accepted. First Amendment rights regarding the free exercise of religion must be respected.
This means that Catholic chaplains must show compassion for persons with a homosexual orientation, but can never condone—even silently—homosexual behavior. A change might have a negative effect on the role of the chaplain not only in the pulpit, but also in the classroom, in the barracks, and in the office

more.

Personally, I hope his words have some effect.