The Catholic Carnival is up at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering. The post is here.
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Thursday, October 05, 2006
Friday, September 29, 2006
Where to invade next
I'm all for laying the smack down on Iran and/or North Korea, but at least I know the difference between those two and Australia.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Ramblings
Lately, I have been stuck on what to write about. I have thought about saying something about the Muslim reaction to the Pope's speech. I have a lot of thoughts about it, but everyone else is writing so much about it. Besides, I think charity would fail me.
I have seen in other blogs that sometimes the authors will start a series on some particular subject. I have thought about different things. I tried posting about a different religious order each week, but that didn't seem like what I am looking for so I have abandonned that.
I have been thinking about writing a series sometime about the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, especially the mystic woman, Conchita, who inspired Fr. Felix de Jesus Rougier to found that order. I have even thought about writing some posts on the other related orders (La Familia de la Cruz or the Family of the Cross). I feel drawn somehow to them and I feel like the Holy Spirit might be directing me to write about them.
But I have this sort of writing block and I am soliciting suggestions. Let me know what you think and feel free to suggest something else.
I have seen in other blogs that sometimes the authors will start a series on some particular subject. I have thought about different things. I tried posting about a different religious order each week, but that didn't seem like what I am looking for so I have abandonned that.
I have been thinking about writing a series sometime about the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, especially the mystic woman, Conchita, who inspired Fr. Felix de Jesus Rougier to found that order. I have even thought about writing some posts on the other related orders (La Familia de la Cruz or the Family of the Cross). I feel drawn somehow to them and I feel like the Holy Spirit might be directing me to write about them.
But I have this sort of writing block and I am soliciting suggestions. Let me know what you think and feel free to suggest something else.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
persecution for His sake
HIstory classes teach us about the great persecutions of the Christian Church in the Ancient Roman Empire, but I find at least that I forget quite easily that the persecution of Christians continues to this day.
Its easy to forget in our daily lives that being a Christian can be difficult. It is always difficult to lead Christian lives, but we don't have persecution on top of it. In the US we might get hassled for being Christian (or unfortunately other Christians hassle us for being Catholic), but we have it easy. But as Hebrews 13:3 reminds us, we should remember the persecuted members of the Church.
Muslim persecution of Christians exists wherever Islam is the dominant religion. From Pakistan to Morocco Christians are persecuted for believing (and rightly so) that Christ is much, much more than merely a prophet.
In India, Christians are persecuted by hardline Hindus. Some Indian states have outlawed conversion to Christianity.
The Berlin Wall may have fallen, but Communist oppression of Christ's Body persist. There are over a billion people in China and about 6 billion in the world. That's right over 1/6th of the world remains under Commie oppression! They not only oppress the Church in China, but try to subvert it with the Catholic Patriotic Association.
Its great that we went across the globe to liberate the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan, but just 90 miles off of our shores the tyrrany of Communism remains. The Church remains persecuted in Cuba, China and other Marxist nations. Its speaks volumes when people would rather risk drowning, dehydration, storms and hunger to float 90 miles on an inner tube than stay at home.
But enough of the bad news though. We know who will eventually win. Christ has promised us the eternal victory.
But the battle is not over yet and there is much we can do to help our brothers and sisters that we so often forget are still persecuted and often martyred like so many saints before them, including our first Vicar of Christ, St. Peter.
There are many organizations such as the Voice of the Martyrs, the Bible Site, Aid to the Church in Need, and the Cardinal Kung Foundation actively working with the persecuted Church.
We can take comfort in the Church's triumphs over persecution in ancient Rome and the Eastern Bloc (thanks in no small part to our former Pope JPII), but as Our Lady of Fatima reminded us prayer is necessary to avoid even more horrible evils that may come of Communism.
Our Lady of Fatima and St Joseph the worker, pray for us!
Its easy to forget in our daily lives that being a Christian can be difficult. It is always difficult to lead Christian lives, but we don't have persecution on top of it. In the US we might get hassled for being Christian (or unfortunately other Christians hassle us for being Catholic), but we have it easy. But as Hebrews 13:3 reminds us, we should remember the persecuted members of the Church.
Muslim persecution of Christians exists wherever Islam is the dominant religion. From Pakistan to Morocco Christians are persecuted for believing (and rightly so) that Christ is much, much more than merely a prophet.
In India, Christians are persecuted by hardline Hindus. Some Indian states have outlawed conversion to Christianity.
The Berlin Wall may have fallen, but Communist oppression of Christ's Body persist. There are over a billion people in China and about 6 billion in the world. That's right over 1/6th of the world remains under Commie oppression! They not only oppress the Church in China, but try to subvert it with the Catholic Patriotic Association.
Its great that we went across the globe to liberate the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan, but just 90 miles off of our shores the tyrrany of Communism remains. The Church remains persecuted in Cuba, China and other Marxist nations. Its speaks volumes when people would rather risk drowning, dehydration, storms and hunger to float 90 miles on an inner tube than stay at home.
But enough of the bad news though. We know who will eventually win. Christ has promised us the eternal victory.
But the battle is not over yet and there is much we can do to help our brothers and sisters that we so often forget are still persecuted and often martyred like so many saints before them, including our first Vicar of Christ, St. Peter.
There are many organizations such as the Voice of the Martyrs, the Bible Site, Aid to the Church in Need, and the Cardinal Kung Foundation actively working with the persecuted Church.
We can take comfort in the Church's triumphs over persecution in ancient Rome and the Eastern Bloc (thanks in no small part to our former Pope JPII), but as Our Lady of Fatima reminded us prayer is necessary to avoid even more horrible evils that may come of Communism.
Our Lady of Fatima and St Joseph the worker, pray for us!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Hammertime
Where do celebrities do when they are no longer in the spotlight?
MC Hammer blogs apparently.
MC Hammer blogs apparently.
Holy gossip?
I was thinking about today's Gospel reading. Jesus healed a deaf man and as usual told everyone not to tell. And as usual they went and told everyone they knew.
I wonder sometimes why Jesus told them not to tell others. As God, He had to have known they would tell the whole world (after His death and Resurrection quite literally). So why bother?
My personal theory is that He realized gossip travels faster than any other kind of news. So by telling everyone to keep it under wraps, He might have been encouraging them to speak of Him far and wide...
or perhaps I am just cynical.
I wonder sometimes why Jesus told them not to tell others. As God, He had to have known they would tell the whole world (after His death and Resurrection quite literally). So why bother?
My personal theory is that He realized gossip travels faster than any other kind of news. So by telling everyone to keep it under wraps, He might have been encouraging them to speak of Him far and wide...
or perhaps I am just cynical.
order of the week
This week is the Society of the Divine Word (Societas Verbi Divinus, aka SVD). SVD is an order founded in Germany during the Bismark era. It survived and even grew despite the Kulturkampf. It is now spread throughout the world and is dedicated to preaching the Gospel to the world.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Another week, another order
This week: The Clerics of Saint Viator
It is clerical order in countries around the world dedicated to catechism, education and evangelization.
It is clerical order in countries around the world dedicated to catechism, education and evangelization.
Peter's Barque
Lord, the wind and waves assault the hull and the sail
Yet, You guaranteed the gates of hell will not prevail
Despite the storm You sleep in the back, unafraid
"Lord Jesus", we cry, "Awake and come to our aid."
On the command of His voice the storm is gone
Even now, we are in awe like Peter and John
Who is this Man who commands and calms the storm
He is the Word made flesh, He is the incarnate Lord
Still today many journey with Jesus in Peter's boat
We journey to our home, Heaven so remote
Still today we hear his words, "Do not be afraid."
Death and pain may come, but He is our aid
Storms and trials will come, but the boat will not sink
Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!
Yet, You guaranteed the gates of hell will not prevail
Despite the storm You sleep in the back, unafraid
"Lord Jesus", we cry, "Awake and come to our aid."
On the command of His voice the storm is gone
Even now, we are in awe like Peter and John
Who is this Man who commands and calms the storm
He is the Word made flesh, He is the incarnate Lord
Still today many journey with Jesus in Peter's boat
We journey to our home, Heaven so remote
Still today we hear his words, "Do not be afraid."
Death and pain may come, but He is our aid
Storms and trials will come, but the boat will not sink
Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!
Friday, September 01, 2006
Search for life
That's right, search for life (and I'm not talking about SETI). There's now a search engine that donates half of its ad revenue to pro-life organizations.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Miraculous Medal
The other day I was doing a Google image search for images of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. I noticed actually that I had better luck with just Miraculous Medal, but that is neither here nor there. What I am getting to is that it reminded me of how that medal and particularly Our Lady came into my spiritual life.
I didn't used to have much of a devotion to Our Lady. I used to dread saying rosaries or other Marian devotions. I was unsure about Marian devotion, but a series of events changed all that.
The story begins with Google of all places. I was looking for something about St. Therese de Lisieux. I forget what it was but one of the results caught my attention so I opened it. It was an excerpt from a book called AA-1025: Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle. The plotline immediately intrigued me. Could a communist really infiltrate the seminary and actually become a priest for the sole purpose of trying to undermine the Church? For regular readers of my blog you have surely noticed a healthy anti-Communist sentiment. The commie's ideas on how to achieve this are the same ideas decried by traditional Catholics.
But I digress; back to Mary. I didn't want to buy since I was quite broke, so I checked and it turns out the Mt. Angel Library had it. The "seminarian" had a girlfriend (Raven Hair) on the side and he couldnt stand the sight of the Miraculous Medal around her neck. He couldn't stand that she had it in other places such as the curtains. He eventually talks her into taking it off of her neck and giving it to him.
It also played a role in driving off the Communist sympathizer paid to assist him in his mission to get through the seminary. In short it played a role in the book that I found quite intriguing.
Then a day or two after I finished the book (btw, the intro of the book claims that it is a true story) I was going the cracks of the recliner in my seminary room and found an unusually large Miraculous Medal. As thick as I am, even I realized that it was a sign.
I finally go the hint. There were some other that added in, but these two were the clearest. Needless to say, Mary, especially as represented in the Miraculous Medal, has become much more than just a Biblical character. She has become a mother and someone to pray with. Just as she gave birth to Jesus to fulfill prophecy and bring Him into the world as a man, still today she brings Jesus more fully into lives such as mine.
Btw, I highly recommend the book. Its a quick and easy read (less than 200 pages).
I didn't used to have much of a devotion to Our Lady. I used to dread saying rosaries or other Marian devotions. I was unsure about Marian devotion, but a series of events changed all that.
The story begins with Google of all places. I was looking for something about St. Therese de Lisieux. I forget what it was but one of the results caught my attention so I opened it. It was an excerpt from a book called AA-1025: Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle. The plotline immediately intrigued me. Could a communist really infiltrate the seminary and actually become a priest for the sole purpose of trying to undermine the Church? For regular readers of my blog you have surely noticed a healthy anti-Communist sentiment. The commie's ideas on how to achieve this are the same ideas decried by traditional Catholics.
But I digress; back to Mary. I didn't want to buy since I was quite broke, so I checked and it turns out the Mt. Angel Library had it. The "seminarian" had a girlfriend (Raven Hair) on the side and he couldnt stand the sight of the Miraculous Medal around her neck. He couldn't stand that she had it in other places such as the curtains. He eventually talks her into taking it off of her neck and giving it to him.
It also played a role in driving off the Communist sympathizer paid to assist him in his mission to get through the seminary. In short it played a role in the book that I found quite intriguing.
Then a day or two after I finished the book (btw, the intro of the book claims that it is a true story) I was going the cracks of the recliner in my seminary room and found an unusually large Miraculous Medal. As thick as I am, even I realized that it was a sign.
I finally go the hint. There were some other that added in, but these two were the clearest. Needless to say, Mary, especially as represented in the Miraculous Medal, has become much more than just a Biblical character. She has become a mother and someone to pray with. Just as she gave birth to Jesus to fulfill prophecy and bring Him into the world as a man, still today she brings Jesus more fully into lives such as mine.
Btw, I highly recommend the book. Its a quick and easy read (less than 200 pages).
Order of the week II
This weeks order is the Oblates of St Joseph. The order was founded by St Joseph Marello. Their charism is mostly mission work (priests to areas lacking and foreign missions) and catechism.
weekend trip
I went to Andersonville National Park yesterday. There isn't really much there aside from the museum. Other than the museum there is an open field with some monuments, a few recreations, some of the earthwork defenses remain, but overall it is mostly an open field.
We decided to take a driving tour of the site, so we rented a CD tour. When we went to get it the Park Ranger/cashier didn't want to rent to me because I only had a $20 bill. Why she couldn't give me change I don't know. To top it off I had to leave my driver's license with her for a $1 CD rental. That was astounding.
When we left we saw a sign for the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site just 26 miles down the road, so we went there too. It was kinda interesting that they declared the whole town a historic site. We stopped into the old high school which is now the visitor center.
We decided to take a driving tour of the site, so we rented a CD tour. When we went to get it the Park Ranger/cashier didn't want to rent to me because I only had a $20 bill. Why she couldn't give me change I don't know. To top it off I had to leave my driver's license with her for a $1 CD rental. That was astounding.
When we left we saw a sign for the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site just 26 miles down the road, so we went there too. It was kinda interesting that they declared the whole town a historic site. We stopped into the old high school which is now the visitor center.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
order of the week
Ok, so I am going to try something new and see how long I can keep it up before I start spacing it. I am going to have small posts about a different religious order each week.
This week is the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit. This order was founded in Mexico by a priest, Fr. Felix Rougier, based on the mystical visions and insight of their co-foundress Conchita (I can't remember her given name). Christ the Priest Province is their US province. So far, their presence in the US is only on the west coast.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
St Teresa's Parish
This weekend I am going to try a new parish. St Michael's is a good parish (except for last weekend when we sang "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" by Martin Luther), but I'd like to check this out St Teresa's. From what I have seen so far it seems to be an extraordinarily active parish. I drove by it the other day to make sure that I could find it tomorrow and it is a huge compound. It would be a big parish anywhere, but I was amazed considering I am in Georgia.
The other parish that I want to visit some time is the Melkite parish downtown. I went to a Maronite mass once and it was a good experience. I like seeing the celebration of the Mass in the different rites.
The other parish that I want to visit some time is the Melkite parish downtown. I went to a Maronite mass once and it was a good experience. I like seeing the celebration of the Mass in the different rites.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
solution
Here's a possible solution to abortion: We allow our unborn to practice their Constitutional right to bear arms. That abortionist would be in for one heck of a surprise.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
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