Irritable & Sharp Tongued, Sensitive & Thin Skinned

Discipleship

2011-07-26T10:38:00.000-05:00

Last Friday on July 22, we celebrated the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene. In 2006 Pope Benedict XVI spoke about her in his Angelus talk, and once again he nailed it. In one sentence, just one, the Holy Father defined what countless authors have written thousands of books and articles about. He writes:
The story of Mary of Magdala reminds us all of a fundamental truth: a disciple of Christ is one who, in the experience of human weakness, has had the humility to ask for his help, has been healed by him and has set out following closely after him, becoming a witness of the power of his merciful love that is stronger than sin and death.
http://www.piercedhearts.org/benedict_xvi/angelus/july%2023_06.htm

You may want to go ahead and do a search on Catholic Discipleship both on Google for articles and on Amazon.com for books to learn how to follow closely after Jesus and how to witness to the power of Jesus' merciful love. Or you might want to spend some serious quiet time with your Bible meditating on the little we know about St. Mary Magdalene who gives us such a powerful example of discipleship.
His entire homily can be found here:

Prodigal Son

2011-07-20T15:42:00.001-05:00

Recently, I was trying to meditate upon the parable of the Prodigal Son, specifically about the Father's remark to the Elder Son, "All that I have is yours."

What the Father said was literally nothing more than the truth. Under the ancient birthright laws, the estate was broken into equal shares and then elder son got two: the birth right portion. When the younger son demanded his share of the estate the father divided his property -- 2/3s to the Elder and 1/3 to the younger. The younger son squandered his inheritance, it was all gone. Everything that was left of the estate belonged to the elder son.

When the younger son returned home he had no rights, no property, nothing. It all belonged to the Elder Son.

As I was thinking about this suddenly I understood something about this parable that I had not understood before. It isn't only about a wronged Father's love and forgiveness. It is about grace. The robe, the ring, the shoes were all unmerited favor -- grace, but more than that from the moment the Gather embraced the prodigal to the day that the prodigal died, every mouthful of food he ate, every piece of clothing he put on, the bed he slept in and the chair he sat on and the roof over his head, it was all grace.

I am the prodigal, I deserve death but Jesus died for me and so each beat of my heart, each breath I draw, is nothing less than grace -- the infinite, unmerited favor of God.

The other thing I understood in trying to meditate on this parable was that when the Father told the Elder Son that "All that I have is yours," He was making a statement of legal fact. The entire remaining estate was legally the Elder son's by right,

This is where the parable parts from fact. The only person in the universe who deserves the Father's estate by right is Jesus Christ. Jesus is our elder brother and we are joint heirs by faith and grace.

The elder brother in the parable, of course, was not Jesus. In fact, when he said that he had served the Father all these years and never once disobeyed Him, he was lying, because he did not have the Spirit of the Father. He did not love as the Father loved and he did not forgive as the Father forgave.

We cannot serve and obey the Father if we do not share His Spirit and follow His example as seen in His Son Jesus.

All Love Comes from God

2011-07-19T09:57:00.000-05:00

Recently during my prayer times, I have come to realize what most Catholics already know, that all love comes from God. It cannot come from anywhere else. It does not spring up spontaneously out of the human heart. It is not a 'natural' feeling of a mother for her infant.

Love is always from God. No matter how evil a soul may be, if that person has even the smallest spark of genuine love in his/her heart for even God's smallest creature -- that love came from God and is proof that soul is not beyond God's grace and redemption.

I have a cat named Ginger. God sent Ginger to me. God gave me the love I feel for Ginger. I firmly believe that God will never let His gifts go to waste. So I feel confident when out of the love God gave me I pray for Ginger who God also gave me, that God will hear and answer (whatever that answer may be) out of that same love.

Love is the greatest and most important gift that God gives to us. In fact, all His 'lesser' gifts come out of that great gift. Salvation, life, Church, creation, the job we hate, all the angels and saints, everything we have is nothing more than a reflection of God's love for us. Because we ourselves are God's gift to others, we also are a manifestation of God's great gift of love to all we meet.

If I recognize that I am a manifestation of God's love, and that I am His gift to those I come in contact with, what does that demand of me? How must I live and conduct myself in light of that understanding?

In Humility

2011-07-17T10:06:00.001-05:00

Recently I came across a painting by Simon Dewey titled "In Humility". It is a close up of Jesus washing the feet of one of His disciples. You actually see very little of the disciple because the painting is focused on Jesus on his knees, holding the foot and washing it.

It is a beautiful picture and I purchased five 5 X 7 prints of it. One for me and the others to give as gifts. If you are interested in seeing it go to http://www.altusfineart.com/

I look at the picture and and think about humility and sometimes I almost get it. Have you ever really concentrated on the mystery of the Trinity and sometimes for maybe a nano second, it is perfectly plain and understandable and then just that quick it is gone?

Well that is how humility is with me, but this morning, for a a brief moment, I almost had it and I want to share a few thoughts on it before they are completely gone. Now you need to understand, they may not be correct in all (or any) points, because I am just trying to work this through.

Humility isn't about "oh, I'm so unworthy" or "I'm nothing". Jesus and Mary are perfect models of humility and they didn't feel or think that way. Washing the feet of the disciples was an act of humility, but it wasn't humiliating for Jesus because He knew exactly who and what He was.
In fact, I am thinking that in order to practice true humility we must know exactly who and what we are too.

I am an adopted daughter of God, a joint heir with Christ and His little sister. He shed His perfect sinless blood to purchase my salvation = how valuable does that make me? My mother is the Queen of all the Angels and Saints. My mother is the daughter of God the Father, the mother of God the Son, the spouse of God the Holy Spirit by whom she conceived Jesus.

What that means is that nothing I do, nothing that is done to me, and nothing people think about me can humiliate me. Therefore, I don't have to worry that something might be beneath me. Likewise, I don't need to do things to make myself look more important, or more holy or more anything in the eyes of anybody, I particularly don't need to put people down so that I look bigger in comparison. I am free to perform acts of love for God and man with no thought of the opinions of others.

Jesus, Creator of the universe and Savior of mankind could perform the ultimate act of humility and leave the throne of heaven and become human and like a servant wash the feet of His disciples out of love because it in no way lessened who He was -- and even if it would, for the love He bore us He wouldn't care and would do it anyway.

More Thoughts on Benedict

2011-07-14T15:08:00.000-05:00

On April 9, 2008, Pope Benedict spoke at length (about 5 pages worth) on St. Benedict, the Patron of his pontificate.

www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud...

I just love the way the Pope writes/speaks. He referred to St. Gregory the Great's Dialogues Vol. II which is the most important source on St. Benedict's life. The Pope said, "Gregory wished to illustrate the ascent to the peak of contemplation which can be achieved by those who abandon themselves to God. He therefore gives us a model for human life in the climb toward the summit of perfection [St. Benedict]."

Once again in two sentences, the Holy Father, provides material for hours of consideration and a concise summary of a book, that somebody really needs to sit down and write.

St. Benedict climbed toward the summit of perfection. He provided us a Rule to help us make that climb and lived a life that we can take as an example of how to make that climb ourselves. St. Benedict ascended to the peak of contemplation, and whether St. Gregory here uses contemplation as that level of prayer which is pure gift or as a synonym for meditation, the way St. Benedict made that ascent was through self-abandonment to God.

Peak of contemplation -- abandon themselves to God -- summit of perfection, they are like jigsaw puzzle pieces that interlock together making a whole that quickens the heart of all Catholics who long to strive for holiness. This whole is the work and journey of a lifetime.

But this whole requires a foundation, St. Benedict knew that and provided for it. He lived in what is now known as the Holy Grotto in Subiaco for three years as a hermit. Pope Benedict says, "The period in Subiaco, a time of solitude with God, was a time of maturation for Benedict. It was here that he bore and overcame the three fundamental temptations of every human being: the temptation of self-affirmation and the desire to put oneself at the center, the tempation of sensuality, and, lastly, the tempation of anger and revenge."

Three years alone with God, speaks of a time of serious prayer, which Pope Benedict refers to as "the foundation of his existence." and "Without prayer there is no experience of God." St. Benedict himself describes prayer as an act of listening, which must then be expressed in action. The Pope goes on to say, "However, Benedict states that in the first place prayer is an act of listening (Prol. 9-11), which must then be expressed in action. .. . . Thus, the monk's life becomes a fruitful symbiosis between action and contemplation, 'so that God may be glorified in all things' (57, 9)." Of course, action in the life of a Catholic is synonymous with obedience. "In the exercise of obedience practiced by faith inspired by love (5,2), the monk achieves humility (5,1) . . . . In this way, man conforms ever more to Christ and attains true self-fulfillment as a creature in the image and likeness of God."

So more pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fit and the picture begins to be seen. St. Benedict, the hermit, prays alone for three years. He overcomes self-affirmation, sensuality and anger/revenge. Three sins whose underlying foundation is pride and which can only be vanquished by humility. Prayer - fruit (the grace of overcoming sin). Prayer - obedience. Prayer - humility. Prayer - grace of abandonment - contemplation - the summit of perfection. As the pieces fit together, it becomes obvious that it isn't a picture that emerges at all, it is instead the view through a kaleidoscope that is constantly changing at first glance it looks like a picture of prayer, but no it is a picture of discipleship, but actually it is a picture listening but really it is a picture of humility, but . . . .

. . . . . but pictures are whole, not linear. Life is four dimensional not flat. This is why St. Benedict is a model for us in the climb to the summit of perfection. His life began with prayer, continued in prayer, persevered in prayer and ended in prayer. That prayer gave him the grace to overcome sin, the grace to obey, the grace of humility, the grace to listen. the grace to love. It is all grace, even prayer.

Benedict: the Pope and the Saint

2011-07-13T09:27:00.000-05:00

Today I was reading some remarks Pope Benedict made about St. Benedict on July 10, 2005. The Pope pointed out that the Saint Benedict taught his monks that the search for God is the fundamental - the one and only - aim of life. As the Saint said, "Prefer nothing to Christ".

Pope Benedict then proceeded in one sentence make a statement about this, that the sentence itself was worthy of an entire homily and hours of meditation. In one sentence, the Holy Father summarized what should be the contents of an entire book - and I really want to read that book, so I wish somebody would sit down and write it.

The Pope's sentence started out: "Holiness consists of this" referring to the Saint's teaching to prefer nothing to Christ. Pope Benedict describes St. Benedict's teaching as a "sound proposal for every Christian" He goes on to suggest that making that proposal is "a real and urgent pastoral need in our time."

I interpret this as meaning that here and now, "in our time" (which the Pope describes as being "when we feel the need to anchor life and history to sound spiritual references") there is a "real and urgent" need for our priests to propose to every Catholic that we strive for holiness in our lives and to inform us that holiness consists in preferring nothing to Christ.

How many times have we been reminded that we are ALL called to holiness? That we are to be holy as our Father in Heaven is holy? But no one has ever explained to us how we sinners could ever possibly attain that holiness? Here the Pope reminds us that the Saint has already explained it: Prefer nothing to Christ.

In his remarks, Pope Benedict went on to remind us that, "Mary Most Holy is a sublime and perfect model of holiness who lived in constant and profound communion with Christ."

Of course, I feel the need to state the obvious and to connect the dots. In all her life from birth to the present day, Mary never preferred anything to Christ. He was her son, her Lord and her Savior. She preferred Him to life itself, and as the Pope said, "Holiness consists of this."

Recently I have spent a lot of time considering the grace of humility. Thinking about the Pope's remarks, I have come to the conclusion that humility also consists of preferring nothing to Christ. Mary, perfect model of holiness" is also a model of humility precisely because she preferred nothing to Christ. Preferring Christ above all else, she happily embraced the role of "handmaid of the Lord." Likewise, if I prefer Christ above all else, particularly above myself, I cannot be proud or haughty.

Here is the Pope's sentence just as he spoke it. Ignore my thoughts and pray and meditate over it.

Holiness consists of this, a sound proposal for every Christian that has become a real and urgent pastoral need in our time, when we feel the need to anchor life and history to sound spiritual references.

Here is the link where you can read his remarks in their entirety.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/angelus/2005/documents/hf_ben-xvi_ang_20050710_en.html

Litany of Humility

2011-07-12T10:18:00.001-05:00

Litany of Humility

by Merry Cardinal del Val, secretary of state to Pope Saint Pius X

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, Grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, Grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,

Jesus, Grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, Grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, Grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, Grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, Grant me the grace to desire it.

(accustomed to be said after celebration of Mass, by Merry Cardinal del Val, secretary of state to Pope Saint Pius X)
(for private use only)

Gotta Love Those Disciples

2011-06-28T10:13:00.000-05:00

Today's Gospel Reading came from Mt 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

Here we have the disciples terrified out of their minds by this storm. It was a very big storm and it was a very little boat. They had good reason to be afraid. What is Jesus doing? He's sleeping the sleep of the innocent without a care in the world. So the disciples wake Jesus up. I'm just guessing here, but I'm going to bet it wasn't a gentle waking. I imagine that one or more of them grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him a really good shake while the rest of them were screaming like little girls, "Lord, save us!"

Jesus wakes up and says, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith."

Now, the "why are you terrified" bit is perfectly justified. Jesus is probably more than a little disappointed, how could they possibly think that anything bad could befall them while he was with them? But the "O you of little faith" bit doesn't really seem fair to me, after all they did come wake him up. They didn't wake him up and say, "Jesus, we're going down, grab something bouyant!" No, they woke him up and begged him to save them. To my mind that is the very essence of faith. It may not be perfect faith, which in this case would be manifested as - Jesus is with us, of what should we be afraid? But it is faith in that there was no doubt in their minds that Jesus would save them. Yes, they were afraid. Yes, they pretty much figured their boat was sunk. And YES, they knew that their salvation lay entirely in Jesus' hands. In fact, their faith was stronger than ours often is because they did not tell Jesus HOW to save them as we so often do.

Jesus got up, rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. The Bible doesn't mention one way or the other, but I have always thought that he then laid down and went back to sleep.

So, the storm is over. The disciples should be happy, right? But with these fellows nothing's ever easy. "The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” They believed Jesus would save them. Jesus did save them, How they expected him to save them, I don't know, but it clearly wasn't by commanding the winds and the waves. Their faith was strong enough to never doubt the saving power of Christ, but it wasn't strong enough to believe that he could control the forces of nature.

Perhaps that is the message of this Gospel passage, faith is not static, it ebbs and it flows. Faith is based on relationship and as that relationship grows, so will the resulting faith. Yesterday the disciples knew that they could trust their friend and companion Jesus to save them. Today the disciples know that their friend and companion Jesus is so much more than they exer imagined and they can still trust him to save them.

A Variety of Third or Secular Orders

2010-11-24T10:59:00.001-06:00

Third Order Info on the Internet:
Augustinians—www. augustinian.org
Benedictines—www.osb.org
Carmelites— www.carmelnet.org
and
Dominicans—www.laity.op.org
Franciscans—www.nafra-sfo.org
Marists—www.maristlaity.org
Mercedarians—www.orderofmercy.org
Minims—www.minimi.it
Norbertines— www.premontre.org
Servites—www.servite.org
Trinitarians—www.trinitarianhistory.orgwww.ocdswashprov.org

A Beginning - Order of Carmel Discalced Secular (OCDS)

2010-11-23T10:19:00.000-06:00

If you have a devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa of Lisieux or some other Discalced Carmelite Saint, and if you feel a call to a contemplative prayer life while still living in the world according to your state in life, perhaps you have a vocation to the Secular (or Third) Order of the Discalced Carmelites.

I have only just begun the process of attempting to discern whether or not I have a call to Carmel. Vocations are rather like love affairs, the question always arises - Is she in love with him or is she in love with being in love? Being in love with the idea of being in love is much easier than being in love with a person. Love is beautiful. People are messy and complicated. Vocations are romantic, living a vocation is a constant dying to self - sometimes messy and often unpleasant.

In his Rule, St. Benedict wrote that when accepting a novice the concern must be whether he truly seeks God and whether he shows eagerness for the Opus Dei-the "Work of God," (AKA the Liturgy of the Hours) and for obedience and trials (RB 58.7). This holds true for discerning a Carmelite vocation as well, the basis for contemplative prayer is desiring God, and seeking his Face, and in the Secular Order the major hours of the Office are prayed daily. Daily Mass (to the extent possible) is required as is 30 minutes of mental prayer each day.

It is my thought to jot down my thoughts as I journey through this process. Please feel free to comment, just so I know I'm not alone here and talking to myself.

Catholic Influence In History Part I.

2010-03-12T17:03:00.000-06:00

Catholicsim has been used as a scapegoat by her enemies, on which to place blame for the cause of wars and problems and persecutions throughout history. These arguments are often used to detract from the positive force in this world that is The Catholic Church, as well as justify the protestant reformation. But a serious and honest study of history proves quite the contrary. I would like to post a series of threads, from time to time, regarding the postive, and often leading and ground breaking, influence of The Catholic Church for the sane and peaceful progress of this world and the development of civilization in an otherwise violent and evil world of tribes, kingdoms, and empires.

The first item I would like to share deals with the European (primarily Spanish) exploration, colonizaton, and exploitation of the New World. Catholic scholars, missionaries, and the papacy were pioneers in the development of international law and the concepts of individual liberty. The selection below is taken from "Conceived In Liberty", by Murry Rothbard, pages 28-29, Mises Institute:

"The pattern of Spanish colonization was based upon conditions in Spain in the late Middle Ages. In conrast to Europe generally, where aggressions against non-European territories had been checked by the growth of Turkish power, the Spanish and the English could still pursue the conquest of lands and peoples against the Spanish Arabs of Granada and the Celts of Ireland. Thus, the two major land-conquering and colonizing powers, Spain and England, preceded their respective transatlantic conquests by the conquest of neighboring peoples--the Moors of Granada by Spain in the late fifteenth century, and the Irish by the English, particularly during the sixteenth century. In these aggressions both the Spanish and the English not only acquired the skills and appetites for further violence, but also established the attitudes and policies to be applied to alien peoples through conquest, extermination, or enslavement.

Due to geographical and political conditions, Spain retained the military spirit of feudalism for a longer time than other European countries. The arid climate and the frontier wars with the Muslims caused the Spanish ruling class to remain essentially horsemen, who in place of agriculture emphasized sheep and cattle farming, occupations in which horseman could be untilized and trained for war. This style of life had a profound influence on Spanish colonization. The Christian and Muslim farmers conquered by the Spanish nobles were kept in feudal serfdom to provide foodstuffs for the ruling class, to whom their villages had been granted. This feudal system, which had been imposed on the conquered lands of Granada and the Canary Islands, was then applied to the larger lands of the West Indies and later to Mexico, Venezuela, and Peru. The native villages were granted to Spanish conquistadores, who were to govern them so as to live upon the work of the natives. The hapless natives were compelled to provide food, cotton, and forced labor for building the great cities where the Spanish lived and from which they governed, and to work for large mining operations of the Spaniards. Alongside the agriculture of the Indians, the conquistodores developed the raising of sheep, cattle, horses, and mules to provide profits for themselves as well as work and plentiful meat for their keepers. Generally the Spanish colonists did not pursue productive work; instead they entered government and privileged occupations, in which to live from the work of the natives whom they enslaved.

The right to conquer, coercively convert, govern, and enslave the natives of the New World was subjected to intense criticism in a series of lectures in 1539 at the University of Salamanca by the great Dominican scholastic philosopher Francisco de Vitoria. In international law based upon the natural law, insisted Vitoria, the native peoples as well as European peoples have full equality of rights. No right of conquest by Europeans could result from crimes of errors of the natives, whether they be tyranny, murder, religious differences, or rejection of Christianity. Having grave doubts of the right of the Spaniards to any government of the natives, Vitoria advocated peaceful trade, in justice and in practice, as against conquest, enslavement, and political power, whether or not the last mentioned were aimed at individual profit, tax revenue, or converstion to Christianity. Although the Spanish government prohibited further discussion of these questions, the Vitoria lectures influenced the New Laws of 1542, which gave greater legal protection to the natives in America.

Nevertheless, there were defenders of imperialism in Spain who rejected international law and scholastic individualism and returned to the slave theories of the classical authors. Based on the theory of natural servitude--that the majority of mankind is inferior and must be subdued to government by the ruling class, of course in the interest of that majority--these imperial apologists proposed that the natives be taught better morals, be converted, and be introduced to the blessings of economic development by being divided among the conquistadores, for whom they must labor.

The serfdom of the Indians was most strongly and zealously opposed by the Dominican missionary Bishop Bartolome de Las Casas. Tireless in working to influence European public opinion against the practices of Spanish officials in America, Las Casas argued that all men must have freedom so that reason, which naturally inclines men to live together in peace, justice, and cooperation, can remain free and unhampered. Therefore, concluded Las Casas, even pursuit of the great objective of conversion to Christianity cannot be used to violate these rights. Not only was all slavery evil, but the natives had a right to live independently of European government. The papacy, in 1537, condemned as heretical the concept that natives were not rational men or were naturally inferior persons. These progressive views were also reflected in the abolition of conquistador feudalism in the New Laws of 1542; however, this abolition was revoked by the Spanish Crown three years later."

Send the Pope a Christmas Card

2009-12-16T16:42:00.001-06:00

Send the Pope a Virtual Christmas Card
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 15, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican Web page Pope2you.net has made it possible this Christmas to send Benedict XVI a personalized Christmas card through e-mail or the social networking site Facebook.
Father Paolo Padrini, the project's coordinator, told ZENIT of the site's newest features for Christmas.
Upon visiting the site, launched by the Vatican Council for Social Communications in May, click on "Send the Pope your Christmas Greetings." Simply follow the instructions and a personalized, virtual card will be sent to the Holy Father. Even a picture can be included.
Pope2you.net is also offering a Facebook application that one can use to send Christmas cards to friends that feature an official picture of the Pope as taken by L'Osservatore Romano, accompanied by the Pontiff's "words of hope and peace."
The cards can be sent in English, Italian, Spanish, German and French, and there are four options to choose from.
Pope2you.net is an official site of the Vatican, and it aims to bring the words and message of Benedict XVI to the youth. In only eight months, the site has received 7 million visits.
--- --- ---
On the Net:
www.pope2you.net

On Divorce, State Coercion, and Education in the "Live Free or Die" state

2009-12-16T06:12:00.000-06:00

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of a 10-year-old home-schooled girl who critics say was ordered into a public school because of her Christian faith. The Court Order, linked in the article below, is well worth the read.

Unfortunately divorce battles, like most battles, tend to claim innocent victims. But just how much coercive power should the State have?

Daddy's Little (Christian) Girl

On Popes, Personalities, and Economics

2009-12-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

The writings of Thomas E. Woods Jr. were a big influence on me in my journey to Catholicism. Here he takes a very interesting and critical look at "Caritas in Veritate"

Tom Woods on Caritas in Veritate

While We're Still at The Mount...Catholic Health Message!

2009-11-19T09:14:00.000-06:00

Make a point of checking out CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood this Sunday November 22 at 9:00am for an interview with Fr. Leo regarding his Grace Before Meals.

Father Leo and Grace Before Meals

Father Leo (currently teaching in the Seminary at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary) and Father Brian (currently chaplain at Mt. St. Mary's University), were both priests at my local parish long before I decided to join the Catholic Church. Their homiles as well as their dedicated examples as men of God went a long way in breaking down the prejudices and misconceptions I held regarding Catholicism. This past Easter, they both came back to that parish to participate in the Easter Vigil at which I was confirmed and received the Holy Eucharist for the first time. I was blessed as they were among the priests who laid hands on me when I was confirmed.

May God continue to bless these dedicated servants as they minister to God's Church in the Holy Priesthood!

God bless all!!!

Truely Heavenly Music!!!

2009-11-18T13:13:00.000-06:00

The Seminarians of Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, have recorded one of the most inspirational CDs of sacred music that I have ever heard. I highly recommend it for anyone who truly loves beautiful sacred music. The music is prayerful, worshipful, and spiritually uplifting!

Check out some samples at:

Mt. Saint Mary's Seminary: Vespers Schola

Please feel free to share your thoughts here after you listen to this CD.

P.S. The young seminarian in the top row all the way to the right, now an ordained deacon, provided excellent instruction to my R.C.I.A. class this past year! Keep all these young men in your prayers as they prepare to enter the Holy Priesthood!

God bless all!!!

Where in the world...er, ummm, ...in the Sanctuary is Jesus?

2009-11-16T10:48:00.000-06:00

From the Fundamental Beliefs section on the official Seventh-day Adventist website Official SDA Website:

24. Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary:
There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent. (Heb. 8:1-5; 4:14-16; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; 1:3; 2:16, 17; Dan. 7:9-27; 8:13, 14; 9:24-27; Num. 14:34; Eze. 4:6; Lev. 16; Rev. 14:6, 7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:12.)

When I was an Adventist we were taught that in 1844, as mentioned above, Jesus moved into The Holy of Holies behind the veil, from the Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary.

A couple of questions:

1. Do Adventists still believe that Jesus moved, in the heavenly sanctuary, into The Holy of Holies, from the Holy Place, in 1844 at the end of the 2300 day prophetic period?

2. If so, which I believe they do, how do they explain the following assertion of the apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 6:19 This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

It seems that Paul wrote this quite a few years, hundreds of years...over a thousand years, before 1844, and either Paul was confused or lying, or the Adventists' sanctuary teaching is in error, and completly falls apart.

Who is correct? Paul and the Holy Scriptures...or the SDA denomination?

God bless all!!!

On Spreading Democracy, "Fixing" the Vatican, and Moral Dilemmas

2009-11-12T07:39:00.000-06:00

The U.S. Invasion of the Vatican

A short thought provoking essay by Jacob Hornberger, founder and president of The Future of Freedom Foundation, posted on LewRockwell.com today.

The Bread of Heaven/The Bread of Life

2009-11-09T09:57:00.000-06:00

As I grow, or descend, deeper in the world of blogging by creating a post for the first time, I would like to share a prayer that sings and expresses my love of, and devotion to, Jesus in The Eucharist. Sensitive seems to be the appropriate way to begin for me. There will be plenty of time and subjects for irritablity and sharp tonguedness...but for now...

ADORO TE DEVOTE

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore,

Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,

See, Lord, at Thy service low lies here a heart

Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.

Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived:

How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;

What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;

Truth Himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.

On the cross Thy godhead made no sign to men,

Here Thy very manhood steals from human ken:

Both are my confession, both are my belief,

And I pray the prayer of the dying thief.

I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see,

But can plainly call thee Lord and God as he;

Let me to a deeper faith daily nearer move,

Daily make me harder hope and dearer love.

O thou our reminder of Christ crucified,

Living Bread, the life of us for whom he died,

Lend this life to me then: feed and feast my mind,

There be thou the sweetness man was meant to find.

Bring the tender tale true of the Pelican;

Bathe me, Jesu Lord, in what Thy bosom ran

Blood whereof a single drop has power to win

All the world forgiveness of its world of sin.

Jesu, whom I look at shrouded here below,

I beseech thee send me what I thirst for so,

Some day to gaze on thee face to face in light

And be blest for ever with Thy glory's sight.

Amen.