First Martyrs of the Church of Rome

In the first persecution against the Church, begun by the Emperor Nero after the burning of Rome in 64, many of the faithful were tortured and slain. The pagan writer Tacitus testifies to these events in his Annales (15, 44), as does Clement, bishop of Rome, in his letter to the Corinthians (chapters 5-6).

Father,
you sanctified the Church of Rome
with the blood of its first martyrs.
May we find strength from their courage
and rejoice in their triumph.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Long Day

It's going to be a long day. We are headed home today. Almost a thousand miles to travel today. Prayers needed for a safe trip and sleepy children.

Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul, apostles

From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop

This day has been made holy by the passion of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. We are, therefore, not talking about some obscure martyrs. For their voice has gone forth to all the world, and to the ends of the earth their message. These martyrs realized what they taught: they pursued justice, they confessed the truth, they died for it.
     Saint Peter, the first of the apostles and a fervent lover of Christ, merited to hear these words: I say to you that you are Peter, for he had said: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Then Christ said: And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church. On this rock I will build the faith the you now confess, and on your words: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, I will build my Church. For you are Peter, and the name Peter comes from petra, the word for "rock," and not vice versa. "Peter" comes, therefore, from petra, just as "Christian" comes from Christ.

A few pictures

 

 

Oregon Coast

The beach (not my family)

St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

Saint Irenaeus was born around the year 130. Educated at Smyrna, he became the disciple of Saint Polycarp, bishop of that city. In the year 177 he was ordained a priest at Lyons in France and shortly thereafter was made bishop of that city. He composed works defending the Catholic faith against errors of the Gnostics, and it is said that he received the martyr's crown around the year 200.

Father,
you called Saint Irenaeus to uphold your truth
and bring peace to your Church.
By his prayers renew us in faith and love
that we may always be intent
on fostering unity and peace.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Home Away From Home

St. Mary's in Eugene, Oregon

Yesterday, can I tell you how absolutely comforting it was to walk into the Catholic Church in Eugene and just feel at home?

I don't know, there's something about walking into a Catholic Church anywhere (at least, that I've found). Even the Catholic Church in the town where I'm at (and where I elected not to go to church, considering the Resurrexifix and projector screen) felt the same. There's a smell, there's a feeling of home when you walk into a Catholic Church. I truly did feel like I was part of 'one body' when I went to Mass yesterday. The Mass is Mass, thankfully, no matter where you go.

Beautiful church

I went up to Eugene to St. Mary's this morning. It was a beautiful church, though Mass was a little strange. I'll tell ya about that later.  Now we are headed to the coast!

Sunday Feast

The focus every Sunday is to feast with my family, to truly make Sundays a day of rest; which means to refrain from the internet and other technology as much as I can. I'm going to be putting up the previous Wednesday's general audience with Pope Benedict XVI, and I encourage you to read and to study. What are you reading today? What are you talking about this morning?

General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI on the Psalms:


Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In our catechesis on Christian prayer, we have looked to a number of Old Testament figures who represent models of prayer. We now turn to the great “prayerbook” of sacred Scripture: the Book of Psalms. These inspired songs teach us how to speak to God, expressing ourselves and the whole range of our human experience with words that God himself has given us. Despite the diversity of their literary forms, the Psalms are generally marked by the two interconnected dimensions of humble petition and of praise addressed to a loving God who understands our human frailty. In Hebrew, the Psalms are called Tehellim or songs of praise; the prayer of praise is, in fact, our best response to the God who even at times of trial remains ever at our side. Many of the Psalms are attributed to David, the great King of Israel who, as the Lord’s Anointed, prefigured the Messiah. In Jesus Christ and in his paschal mystery the Psalms find their deepest meaning and prophetic fulfilment. Christ himself prayed in their words.

As we take up these inspired songs of praise, let us ask the Lord to teach us to pray, with him and in him, to our heavenly Father.

Do You Dare?

Revelation 15:3-4

Mighty and wonderful are your works,

Lord God Almighty!

Righteous and true are your ways,

O King of the nations!

Who would dare refuse your honor,

or the glory due your name, O Lord?

Since you alone are holy,

all nations shall come and worship in your presence.

Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.

This was part of Evening Prayer awhile back. While I was reading, the underlined part smacked me right in the face. Who would dare? I heard, "Why do you dare?" I heard "How dare you!" I heard an accusation directed right at my heart.
     Do you ever just have a moment when you are reading Scripture, or praying, or attending Mass, and it's like God just opens your heart in one fell swoop? That's what I felt like, reading that verse.

Why do I dare to refuse the honor of God, the truth of God? His Truth is always before me; though I do my darnedst to ignore the evidence.

Why do I dare to refuse God the glory due to Him? I refuse to pray, I refuse to take that extra step to give Him glory & precedence in my life. I haven't been falling in love lately. How do you fall in love? You talk with that person, you learn about them, you spend time with them, you sit with them.

All things I have been failing at lately. But there is always another day.

A Comfort and a Warning

"Behold, I am with you always until the end of the age."

I read this verse and I thought, you know usually people are comforted by this verse, especially in hard times. But I think I should also heed this verse as a warning to myself and how I live my life.

Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Solemnity)

From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop

John was born of a woman too old for childbirth; Christ was born of a youthful virgin. The news of John's birth was met with incredulity, and his father was struck dumb. Christ's birth was believed, and he was conceived through faith. ...

John, then, appears as the boundary between the two testaments, the old and the new. That he is a sort of boundary the Lord himself bears witness, when he speaks of the law and the prophets up until John the Baptist. Thus he represents times past and is the herald of the new era to come. As a representative of the past, he is born of aged parents; as a herald of the new era, he is declared to be a prophet while still in his mother's womb. For when yet unborn, he leapt in his mother's womb at the arrival of blessed Mary. In that womb he had already been designated a prophet, even before he was born; it was revealed that he was to be Christ's precursor, before they ever saw one another. These are divine happenings, going beyond the limits of our human frailty. Eventually he is born, he receives his name, his father's tongue is loosened. See how these events reflect reality.

Zechariah is silent and loses his voice until John, the precursor of the Lord, is born and restores his voice. The silence of Zechariah is nothing but the age of prophecy lying hidden, obscured, as it were, and concealed before the preaching of Christ. At John's arrival Zechariah's voice is released, and it becomes clear at the coming of the one who was foretold. The release of Zechariah's voice at the birth of John is a parallel to the rending of the veil at Christ's crucifixion. If John were announcing his own coming, Zechariah's lips would not have been opened. The tongue is loosened because a voice is born. For when John was preaching the Lord's coming he was asked: Who are you? And he replied: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The voice is John, but the Lord in the beginning was the Word. John was a voice that lasted only for a time; Christ, the Word in the beginning, is eternal.

God our Father,
you raised up John the Baptist
to prepare a perfect people for Christ the Lord. 
Give your Church joy in spirit
and guide those who believe in you
into the way of salvation and peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Are you Thirsty?

We no longer see the horizon of the infinite - our longings & aches are marketed that they can be fulfilled on earth. Cultivate a deep thirst for the infinite.

This is part of the homily from Sunday Mass a few weeks ago. Father talked a lot about the restlessness we all have and that in years past, we would allow that restlessness to be turned towards God and find fulfillment in God. But now, how often we are restless, but we don't allow it to unsettle us to the point of turning towards God. We are marketed to in order to fill the restlessness, but of course everything we try to fill it with will ultimately come up empty.

He challenged us to spend some quiet time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament - which I was going to try to do this month of June, but I haven't gotten over there! I will have to see if I can get over there and take a regular hour.

We're Outta Here!

I'm traveling today! Pray for me and my family, that we would have a safe trip there and back, that we won't drive each other crazy, and pray for God's blessings on my husband's gramma, who is turning 90.

Blog posts are scheduled, though, so check back for good posts. And who knows, I might just blog a picture or two just to make you jealous! ;-)

Strength for the Journey ("Daily")

"Daily" ("Our Father" series)

Now the Catechism does go on to point out that the word “daily” means a lot of other things, too. It’s not just about satisfying our bodily hunger but is related directly to the Bread of Life and reminds us that the Eucharist is not only a foretaste of the kingdom to come but something to be celebrated daily, if possible. Yet, for me the most poignant meaning of the word is the filial trust it demands – to keep asking and believing every single day even when our human eyes don’t see the transformation, the answered prayers, the changes, the gifts of bread.

"Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you" (1 King 19:7). I first read that verse when I was reading Ecclesia de Eucharistia - or "On the Eucharist in Its Relationship to the Church" - by (now) Blessed Pope John Paul II. When I read it, it was like a "D'oh" moment, like, of course! Of course I need my bread daily, otherwise how would I make it through the day? And I mean that literally and spiritually speaking.
    When we are making a long journey, we need daily sustenance, otherwise we grow weak and incapable of making our journey. The same is true for this long spiritual journey we are on. Often I wonder at the fact that yes, of course, we are required to go to Mass every Sunday; but isn't that the bare minimum to get by? Isn't that like purposely starving our souls just because it's what's required, deliberately weakening our system and opening ourselves up for spiritual attack?

Toothy Tuesdays Answer

The word was "remonstrate" (verb).

The guesses:
Puff said: Chide, take to task

Sparrow said: I'll just second Puff's answer. Or, opposed to remonstrance-ing. Either or.


The definition: To argue rebukingly. 

Blackford knew better than to remonstrate on the theme of the Elusive Distinction. (Courtesy of The Lexicon by William F. Buckley Jr.)

St. Paulinus of Nola, Bishop

Saint Paulinus was born at Bordeaux in France in 355. He advanced in the service of the state, married and had a son. Desirous of an austere life, he received baptism and having disposed of all worldly goods, began to live the monastic life in 393, at Nola in Campagna. He later was made bishop of that city and promoted the cult of Saint Felix, assisted pilgrims and diligently alleviated the misfortunes of the day. He also composed poems remarkable for their fine language. Saint Paulinus died in 431.

Lord, 
you made Saint Paulinus
renowned for his love of poverty
and concern for his people.
May we who celebrate his witness to the gospel
imitate his example of love for others.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Falling into the Void

St. Thomas teaches that Humility is a subdivision of the Virtue of Temperance - the rational estimation of one's true merits, seen in the cold light both of one's sins and of God's many gifts. A consistent awareness that all of our good acts are only possible (after the fall) thanks to actual graces and that our very existence is contigent on God's deciding each moment to keep us from falling into the Void... all this should be quite enough to keep the average man from succumbing to Vainglory. (The Seven Deadly Sins by John Zmirak)

It's funny, in a way, how often we call our culture one of death but in an ironic twist this culture and the youth are so far removed from actual death and dying that it's no wonder people scoff at that term.

Culture of death? People scarce know what death is or what it means anymore. I commented over at Subvet's place awhile back on how it seems like the further away we get from teaching our children about sin, death, heaven & hell, the further towards disrespecting actual life we get, the close we are (individually) to inflated senses of self. Conversely, when we start to understand how very close we are, every second, every breath, to 'falling into the Void' and it is only by God's will that we are saved from that - the closer to the earth we become, the more precious we know that each second is.

And yet, we forget. We are slapped in the face by the reality and the tangibleness of our existence... and we forget.

How is that possible? How is that even imaginable that we can simply forget that fact? It's like if you know a bomb had been placed inside of you and blithely carried on as if nothing was different. I've read somewhere (don't laugh, but I think it was cracked magazine) that we forget this to keep us sane - that if we kept that fact forefront in our mind all the time that we would not be able to function and that we would be driven insane.

Toothy Tuesdays

Toothy Tuesdays: It's kind of like Balderdash.

Today's word is remonstrate (verb). Don't cheat!

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was born of the princely family of Castiglione in 1568 near Mantua in Lombardy. Instructed in piety by his mother, he manifested an inclination to religious life. He legally delivered his share of the ancestral dominion to his brother and entered the Society of Jesus. While serving the sick during a plague, he himself contracted the disease and died in 1591. 

From a letter to his mother by Saint Aloysius

Take care above all things, most honored lady, not to insult God's boundless loving kindness; you would certainly do this if you mourned as dead one living face to face with God, one whose prayers can bring you in your troubles more powerful aid than they ever could on earth. And our parting will not be for long; we shall see each other gain in heaven; we shall be united with our Savior; there we shall praise him with heart and soul, sing of his mercies for ever, and enjoy eternal happiness. When he takes away what he once lent us, his purpose is to store our treasure elsewhere more safely and bestow on us those very blessings that we ourselves would most choose to have.

Father of love, 
giver of all good things,
in Saint Aloysius you combined remarkable innocence 
with the spirit of penance.
By the help of his prayers
may we who have not followed his innocence
follow his example of penance.


Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

*Ahem*

I just realized that some of my posts right now, and in the coming week, may seem to be speaking about Fr. Corapi. That is not intentional. These posts have been 'on the docket' for awhile, and many of them have been scheduled ahead of what's going on with Fr. Corapi. As of yet, I do not have plans for a post about that situation, as I am currently under pressure to clean the house, the laundry, and the car (oh, and myself and the children) in preparation for the trip later this week. I have been praying for Fr. Corapi, and I encourage you to do the same. Perhaps check out my novena for priests.

From One Ass to Another

Awhile back, I had written in my journal:

The ass of Christ - to carry Christ forth as the donkey carried Christ forth into Jerusalem before His Passion. To bear Him so that He may be known in the world.

I don't know where this thought came from, and it's been sitting, lonely, in my journal for months because I'm still puzzling out what it means. After a little bit of poking around the internet:

Here's what the wikipedia entry on religious significance of donkeys says, giving a little of the Jewish background on donkeys. 

Another Bible site talks about the significance of the donkey in the Triumphal Entry. 

Canterbury Tales tackles the question of why Christ rode an ass into Jerusalem.

 So, I guess the days where I feel like an ass, I might just be doing my own little part in carrying Christ.

Not for vengeance

We should be grateful to the Lord our God, for putting us to the test, as he did our forefathers. Recall how he dealt with Abraham, and how he tried Isaac, and all that happened to Jacob in Syrian Mesopotamia while he was tending the flocks of Laban, his mother's brother. Not for vengeance did the Lord put them in the crucible to try their hearts, nor has he done so with us. It is by way of admonition that he chastises those who are close to him.

Judith 8:25-27

Reflecting the Light of Christ

We think we're so much smarter than people in the Bible. You know, the first reading from Mass this morning takes place after the people make a golden calf and worship it.

Aaron replied, "Have your wives and sons and daughters take off the golden earrings they are wearing, and bring them to me."

So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron,

who accepted their offering, and fashioning this gold with a graving tool, made a molten calf. Then they cried out, "This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt."

¹ On seeing this, Aaron built an altar before the calf and proclaimed, "Tomorrow is a feast of the LORD."

Early the next day the people offered holocausts and brought peace offerings. Then they sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.

With that, the LORD said to Moses, "Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved.

They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, 'This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!'

I see how stiff-necked this people is," continued the LORD to Moses.

...

But Moses answered, "It does not sound like cries of victory, nor does it sound like cries of defeat; the sounds that I hear are cries of revelry."

As he drew near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. With that, Moses' wrath flared up, so that he threw the tablets down and broke them on the base of the mountain.

² Taking the calf they had made, he fused it in the fire and then ground it down to powder, which he scattered on the water and made the Israelites drink.

Moses asked Aaron, "What did this people ever do to you that you should lead them into so grave a sin?" Aaron replied, "Let not my lord be angry.

You know well enough how prone the people are to evil.

They said to me, 'Make us a god to be our leader; as for the man Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.'

So I told them, 'Let anyone who has gold jewelry take it off.' They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out."

When Moses realized that, to the scornful joy of their foes, Aaron had let the people run wild,

he stood at the gate of the camp and cried, "Whoever is for the LORD, let him come to me!" All the Levites then rallied to him,

³ and he told them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Put your sword on your hip, every one of you! Now go up and down the camp, from gate to gate, and slay your own kinsmen, your friends and neighbors!"

The Levites carried out the command of Moses, and that day there fell about three thousand of the people.

Sunday Feast

The focus every Sunday is to feast with my family, to truly make Sundays a day of rest; which means to refrain from the internet and other technology as much as I can. I'm going to be putting up the previous Wednesday's general audience with Pope Benedict XVI, and I encourage you to read and to study. What are you reading today? What are you talking about this morning?

General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI on his Apostolic Visit to Croatia:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I would like to speak to you about my Pastoral Visit to Croatia, which I made last Saturday and Sunday. It was a short Apostolic Journey that took place entirely in the capital, Zagreb, yet it was full of meetings and especially of an intense spirit of faith, since the Croats are a deeply Catholic people.

I renew my most heartfelt thanks to Cardinal Bozanić, Archbishop of Zagreb, to Archbishop Srakić, President of the Bishops’ Conference and to the other Bishops of Croatia, as well as to the President of the Republic, for the warm welcome they offered me. I extend my gratitude to all the civil authorities and to all who collaborated in various ways in this event, especially to people who offered prayers and sacrifices for this intention.

“Together in Christ”: this was the motto of my visit. It expresses first of all the experience of everyone meeting in the name of Christ, the experience of being Church, demonstrated by the People of God gathering round the Successor of Peter. However, “Together in Christ” in this case had a special reference to the family: indeed, the main purpose of my visit was the First National Day of Croatian Catholic Families, which culminated in the Eucharistic concelebration on Sunday morning, which saw the participation, in the Hippodrome of Zagreb, at which a great multitude of the faithful participated. It was very important to me to strengthen in the faith especially families, which the Second Vatican Council called “of the domestic Church” (cf. Lumen Gentium, n. 11). Bl. John Paul II, who visited Croatia three times gave great prominence to the role of the family in the Church; so, with this journey, I wanted to give continuity to this aspect of his Magisterium. In Europe today, the nations with a solid Christian tradition have a special responsibility in defending and promoting the value of the family founded on marriage, which in any case remains crucial in both the educational and social spheres. This message therefore had special importance for Croatia which, with its rich spiritual, ethical and cultural patrimony, is preparing to enter the European Union.

The Holy Mass was celebrated in the spiritual atmosphere peculiar to the Novena of Pentecost. As in a great “Upper Room”, open to the sky, the Croatian families gathered in prayer, invoking together the gift of the Holy Spirit. This enabled me to underline the gift of, and commitment to, communion in the Church, as well as to encourage married couples in their mission. In our day, while unfortunately the increase in separation and divorce can be seen, the fidelity of spouses has become in itself an important witness to Christ’s love that makes it possible to experience Marriage for what it is, namely, the union of a man and a woman who, with Christ’s grace, love each other and help each other throughout their lives, in joy and in suffering, in health and in sickness. The first education in faith consists precisely in witnessing this fidelity to the conjugal pact; from it, children learn without words that God is faithful, patient, respectful and generous love.

Joyful Images

This was at the playground today. We went as a family and everyone was giggling and having so much fun! Until, of course, it started raining and we had to leave. I love this picture because there's a tunnel connecting one part of the playground equipment to another part, and as you can see, there are slits in the side of it. DM (Drunk Monkey, for the newbies) and my hubby were having fun in the 'tickle tunnel' as we were calling it. A fun and joyful day. 

Mary our mother

From the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

But then we were born, far better than through Eve, through Mary the blessed, because Christ was born of her. We have recovered new life in place of sin, immortality instead of mortality, light in place of darkness.
     She is our mother - the mother of our life, the mother of our incarnation, the mother of our light. As the Apostle says of our Lord, he became for us by God's power our wisdom and justice, and holiness and redemption.
     She then, as mother of Christ, is the mother of our wisdom and justice, of our holiness and redemption. She is more our mother than the mother of our flesh. Our birth from her is better, for from her is born our holiness, our wisdom, our justice, our sanctification, our redemption. (From a sermon by Saint Aelred, abbot)

Preserve the Unity

I implore you to lead a life worthy of the vocation to which you have been called.
Be careful to preserve the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
-----There is but one hope given to you by your calling.

May God grant you to live in harmony with one another,
so that together you may glorify God with one voice.
-----There is but one hope given to you by your calling.

(Ephesians 4:1, 3, 4; Romans 15:5, 6)

Spit and Vinegar

Note: This post has strong language. You've been warned.

I need to gear up my snark for our trip next week. I'm just itchin' to have one of my husband's relatives ask me if I'm pregnant.

"No, I'm just fat."

"No, are you?"

"Sorry, when did it become appropriate to comment on someone's appearance unless it's a compliment?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry, I've been hard-pressed to make it to the gym, what with miscarrying last summer, quitting my job, and having my mom die, and taking care of my dad."

"How did you get your foot in your mouth like that?"

"What a personal question to ask someone."

"Not that I know of, but I know not to wear this shirt again."

"No, why do you ask?"

I told hubby today that if anyone, anyone, asks me that question, I'm going to be punching them in the face. Even if it is his 90-year-old gramma.

No joke, at an event two weeks ago, I had the mother of a dear friend (and priest) come up to me, touched my belly (let me tell you how just gosh-darn good *that* felt), and said, "Do you have news to share?" Because I was disconcerted, I said, "No, but when we are, we'll let you know." Seriously, the woman asks me every single fucking time I see her. I love her, she's a sweet lady, but damn it if doesn't drive me batty.

Drink Thursdays

Today, I'd like to introduce someone to you. Someone with whom I have frequently had drinks with (usually wine). Someone who I admire, love and respect.

That man is my father. (I don't have a picture of him to share with you, I'm sorry.)

My dad and I haven't always gotten along...to put it mildly. You see, our temperaments are cut from the same cloth (me, with a little dash of my mom's temper thrown in for good measure). In my teenage years, I could out-stubborn and out-mule my dad, and that's saying something. I refused, for many years, to receive his hugs or kisses (to my shame).

I used to love being my daddy's girl...I remember loving the adventures we had, going to the bank, or to the mechanic's, or to the auto parts store. I'd hold on to just his pinky finger, for some reason. It was 'our thing.'  I didn't get to see him much because he worked a lot, and when I was 9 (10?), he received his bachelor's degree.

Then, something happened....the teenage years. I was awful, but to be honest, when you're a teenager, it feels like everyone is against you - especially your parents. Especially when your parents are as old-fashioned and hard-working as my parents are. Rules? I didn't need rules. I didn't need curfews. I didn't need to bring my friends in to meet my parents, or boyfriends to meet my dad. I am sure my mom sent up many prayers for me (which, I think I'm getting paid back in spades with my little girl). I rebelled - but not too much. My dad told me that if I was ever caught doing something I shouldn't, and taken to jail, that they wouldn't be bailing me out. 

Return a Blessing

All of you should be like-minded, sympathetic, loving toward one another, kindly disposed, and humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult. Return a blessing instead. This you have been called to do, that you may receive a blessing as your inheritance.

(1 Peter 3:8-9)

Drowning in Christ ("Water from the Side of Christ")

Guest post by Micah Murphy of Fiat Men

...Aqua Lateris Christi, lava me...

Water from the Side of Christ, wash me. From Christ's side is born the Church, by the blood which flows from Christ's heart into her veins, and by the water which washes her members, the members of Christ's body, with the Baptism of regeneration. If, as Christians, the Blood of Christ must saturate us, as Christians this water from Christ's side must wash us thoroughly, to our very core.

Medical experts tell us that water would have collected in Christ's lungs during his asphyxiation upon the Cross. It was likely this water that was poured forth as the Church was born. This water was a part of the cause of His death.

Water is an amazing substance. It gives us life, it saves us from thirst, it washes us of filth, and if it were not the strangely polar chemical it is, life on this planet could not even be possible. Yet it was water, the most life-giving substance in the world, that killed Our Lord. How can you and I, who are so often far from life-giving, who kill with our words and actions every day, not do even more to harm Christ? Yet, he turns the curse of our sins into a blessing.

Clicking Through

I was clicking through links last night, something I do fairly frequently, when I came across this article entitled: "Mark Ballas down for same-sex couples on 'Dancing with the Stars' but ABC is not." What struck me was part of what he said:

“There are other competitions where they have same sex couples. I’d support it. There is a slight inherent disadvantage. Two girls and two men just can’t move like a man and a woman. But you can try.”

Really? You don't say?

Reading the News

Reading the news lately makes me kind of depressed, so I thought I'd make you all join in my misery too:

They Don't Teach Economics at Harvard

Unemployment isn’t at 9% because of out-of-work bank clerks and airline ticket agents. Unemployment is most severe in construction trades and other housing-related sectors. Whatever else Obama’s policies have done, they have not led to a meaningful recovery of the housing market and, one might easily argue, have made things much worse. Why? Because for two years, the administration and Democrats in Congress did everything possible to impede the foreclosure process, to keep deadbeats in homes they can’t afford. This has slowed re-sales, prevented mortgage lenders from cutting their losses on bad loans and, in general, hindered the kind of price “re-set” necessary to making the housing market efficient again.

Something else: The recession is not equally bad everywhere. Why is unemployment nearly 12% in California but less than 6% in Oklahoma? Don’t people in Oklahoma use ATMs and automated airline ticket kiosks?

Yukkin' It Up 
Is Barack Obama out of touch with the suffering of the unemployed? Well, maybe just a smidgen. But at least he's having a good time.


You're Welcome, America?
And he’s done his part to get us there: so far we’ve managed to squash the oil and gas producing industry, we’re well on our way to kiboshing the coal industry, we’ve managed to double gas prices, electricity prices are posed to “sky rocket,” we’ve saved the auto industry – or at least the important part of it, the UAW, and it’s only a matter of time before we finish destroying the world’s best health care system make health care affordable and available.


Losing His Touch?

Sigh....

And I remember in the shower this morning (of all places) that I forgot "Toothy Tuesdays" yesterday. Well, we'll get back on track tomorrow.

Update: Nunly nails it on the head how I'm feeling.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Naked I came forth from my mother's womb,
     and naked I shall go back again.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
     blessed be the name of the Lord!
We accept good things from God;
     and should we not accept evil?

(Job 1:21, 2:10b)

Exult and Dance for Joy

Psalm 68

The Lord's triumphant entrance into his sanctuary

Let God arise, let his foes be scattered. 

Let those who hate him flee before him.

As smoke is blown away so will they be blown away;

like wax that melts before the fire,

so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God.

But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God,

they shall exult and dance for joy. 

O sing to the Lord, make music to his name;

make a highway for him who rides on the clouds.

Rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow, 

such is God in his holy place.

God gives the lonely a home to live in;

he leads the prisoners forth into freedom:

but rebels must dwell in a parched land.

When you went forth, O God, at the head of your people,

when you marched across the desert, the earth trembled:

the heavens melted at the presence of God,

at the presence of God, Israel's God.

You poured down, O God, a generous rain:

when your people were starved you gave them new life.

It was there that your people found a home,

prepared in your goodness, O God, for the poor.

About Covering

After reading this blogpost over at Little Piece of Heaven, I wanted to share my experiences with not wearing, wearing, and not wearing the chapel veil.

(Btw, if you'd like more information on women covering their head at Mass, I recommend heading over to Nicholas Hardesty's blog: phatcatholic apologetics.)

When I first heard about a woman veiling her head at Mass, it was through phatmass.com (which I've mentioned before). My initial reaction was like, "Dude, it's not the Latin Mass anymore!" (Yes.... I know.) Then, as I read more about a woman covering her head, the history and the practice of it, and I was....intrigued. I really kept praying about it, and thinking about doing it.

I went to a Steubenville youth conference that summer, where I saw a young lady (younger than me, I'm sure) covering her head with the most beautiful scarf, and I thought, "I need to do this." It was like a bolt of lightening out of the sky straight to my heart. I bought a similar scarf at the conference and wore it the very next day to Mass. Yes, I felt like everyone was zeroed in on me. Yes, I was a little embarrassed. But I also felt, I don't know, otherworldly? in my actions.

Then came time to go home, where I wasn't surrounded by on-fire, faithful, young Catholics. Then I got scared. I was working for a parish at the time - a parish that is even more liberal now than it was then. The first Sunday came to go to Mass, and I debated at home - do I wear it? Do I forgo? I wore it, and I still remember the ripples that went through people as I sat down (remember, I worked for the parish). I felt so self-conscious. Nobody said a word to my face, other than my mom as I recall saying, "That's lovely."

After a few weeks (a month?) of wearing it at Mass (and also my personal prayer time in my office and at home), I was approached by the ex-nun who had been hired to run the RCIA program (insert your own joke here). I wasn't sure about her yet, but she seemed friendly enough. She got straight to the point, saying, "Why are you wearing that thing to Mass?" I explained that I felt called to cover my head at Mass. I was then told: "You shouldn't veil because it is an outward sign of piety and Jesus is very clear about being against that in the Bible. It is appropriate to veil in private prayer [I shared that I veiled in private prayer] but not in public prayer, which is Mass. In a position of leadership within the parish, you have a lot of influence that doesn't jive with being modest if your dress doesn't reflect that, but that if you're going to do it maybe you should wear long skirts. If you're trying to go for a pre-Vatican II feeling, you wouldn't have your job, you would be a second-class citizen (as a woman), and that you wouldn't be married to your husband [my husband isn't Catholic]." Oh, and she told me that people are saying all this stuff about me, anyway.

Umm, yeah.

St. Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor

Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal near the end of the twelfth century. He joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, but, shortly after ordination to the priesthood, transferred to the Friars Minor to devote himself to spreading the Faith among African peoples. He had his greatest success, however, preaching in France and Italy and converting heretics. He was the first member of this Order to teach theology to his brethren. His sermons are notable for their learning and gentleness. Saint Anthony died at Padua in 1231.

Almighty God, 
you have given Saint Anthony to your people 
as an outstanding preacher
and a ready helper in time of need.
With his assistance may we follow the gospel of Christ
and know the help of your grace in every difficulty. 
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. 
Amen.

P.S. Go over to Dirt and Diapers for a neat story about St. Anthony.

All Time is God's Time ("Day")

"Day" ("Our Father" series)

The end of the day is the only time we ever really hit the “reset” button in life. There are other, artificial milestones like the end of a month or the beginning of a new year, but that important sense of one block of time ending and another beginning is never more powerful than when we wake from unconsciousness and begin a new day. We open our eyes to a resurrection, a new chance, a fresh start. What better way to set the stage for us to understand the work that God’s Son came here to do?

Did you know that this phrase: "give us this day our daily bread" is one of seven petitions that the Catechism of the Catholic Church identifies within the Our Father? They are:

-Hallowed be thy Name
-Thy Kingdom Come
-Thy Will Be Done on earth as it is in heaven
-Give us this day our daily bread
-And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us
-And lead us not into temptation
-But deliver us from evil.

In introducing this section, the Catechism says:

2803 After we have placed ourselves in the presence of God our Father to adore and to love and to bless him, the Spirit of adoption stirs up in our hearts seven petitions, seven blessings. The first three, more theologal, draw us toward the glory of the Father; the last four, as ways toward him, commend our wretchedness to his grace. "Deep calls to deep." (Psalm 42:7) 

2804 The first series of petitions carries us toward him, for his own sake: thy name, thy kingdom, thy will! It is characteristic of love to think first of the one whom we love. In none of the three petitions do we mention ourselves; the burning desire, even anguish of the beloved Son for his Father's glory seizes us: "hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done..." These three supplications were already answered in the saving sacrifice of Christ, but they are henceforth directed in hope toward their final fulfillment, for God is not yet all in all. 

2805 The second series of petitions unfolds with the same movement as certain Eucharistic epicleses: as an offering up of our expectations, that draws down upon itself the eyes of the Father of mercies. They go up from us and concern us from this very moment, in our present world: "give us...forgive us...lead us not...deliver us..." The fourth and fifth petitions concern our life as such - to be fed and to be healed of sin; the last two concern our battle for the victory of life - that battle of prayer. 

2806 By the three first petitions, we are strengthened in faith, filled with hope, and set aflame by charity. Being creatures and still sinners, we have to petitions for us, for that "us" bound by the world and history, which we offer to the boundless love of God. For through the name of his Christ and the reign of his Holy Spirit, our Father accomplishes his plan of salvation, for us and for the whole world.

Rehab=Hiding Out

Well, that's my theory for celebrities or politicians, anyway. It's just a way to get away from the press and paparazzi for awhile.

Besides, what do you do for sex rehab? I would think that immersion therapy is out; what about cold turkey? Or what about aversion therapy? Every time you look at a picture of an underage girl, or think about tweeting that naked picture of yourself, you get shocked in the *ahem* privates?

Just being flippant to go with people's flippant attitudes about disgusting behavior.

Prayer For Vocations, Day Seven

I'm designating this week to pray for vocations. In part, I'm doing this to fulfill a penance from Confession; but also I'm doing this because our diocese needs vocations to the priesthood badly. Won't you join me in prayer?

From the USCCB:


Jesus, high priest and Redeemer
forever, we beg you to call young
men and women to your service,
as priests and religious. May they
be inspired by the lives of dedicated
priests, brothers and sisters.
Give to parents the grace
of generosity and trust toward you
and their child so that their sons
and daughters may be helped to
choose their vocation in life with
wisdom and freedom.

O God, you have called us to salvation and have sent your Son to establish the Church for this purpose, and you have provided the sacred ministers. The harvest is ever ready but the laborers are scarce. Inspire our youth to follow Jesus by serving Your People. Amen

Pentecost

When the Lord told his disciples to go and teach all nations and to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he conferred on them the power of giving men new life in God.
     He had promised through the prophets that in these last days he would pour out his Spirit on his servants and handmaids, and that they would prophesy. So when the Son of God became the Son of Man, the Spirit also descended upon him, becoming accustomed in this way to dwelling with the human race, to living in men and to inhabiting God's creation. The Spirit accomplished the Father's will in men who had grown old in sin, and gave them new life in Christ.
     Luke says that the Spirit came down on the disciples at Pentecost, after the Lord's ascension, with power to open the gates of life to all nations and to make known to them the new covenant. So it was that men of every language joined in singing one song of praise to God, and scattered tribes, restored to unity by the Spirit, were offered to the Father as the firstfruits of all the nations.
     This was why the Lord had promised to send the Advocate: he was to prepare us as an offering to God. Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of bread, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven. And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above. Through the baptism that liberates us from change and decay we have become one in body; through the Spirit we have become one in soul.
     The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending the Advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to his own words, the devil too had been cast down like lightning.
     If we are not to be scorched and made unfruitful, we need the dew of God. Since we have our accuser, we need an Advocate as well. And so the Lord in his pity for man, who had fallen into the hands of brigands, having himself bound up his wounds and left for his care two coins bearing the royal image, entrusted him to the Holy Spirit. Now, through the Spirit, the image and inscription of the Father and the Son have been given to us, and it is our duty to use the coin committed to our charge and make it yield a rich profit for the Lord.

Prayer For Vocations, Day Six

I'm designating this week to pray for vocations. In part, I'm doing this to fulfill a penance from Confession; but also I'm doing this because our diocese needs vocations to the priesthood badly. Won't you join me in prayer?

From catholicyouth.freeservers.com

Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood

Most merciful Jesus, who didst bid us pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest, on bended knees, we beseech Thee to send down the Holy Spirit on the Christian youth of our land to inspire them with the spirit of sacrifice, to give them courage to leave all to follow Thee. 

Spirit of piety, arouse in them zeal for souls; O Spirit of fortitude, give them strength to break all earthly bonds; O Spirit of counsel, guide them into the priesthood; O Spirit of knowledge, make them realize the truth of the words of the Holy Scripture: “He who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins”; O Spirit of wisdom, point out to them the vanity of the world and the nobility of Thy service. 
Amen. 

St. Barnabas, Apostle

Today is the memorial of St. Barnabas, apostle. From the Liturgy of the Hours:

Born in Cyprus, Barnabas is numbered among the first of the faithful at Jerusalem. He preached the Gospel at Antioch and, as a companion of Saint Paul, accompanied him on his first journey. He was also present at the Council of Jerusalem. Upon returning to his own country, he continued to spread the Gospel and eventually died there.

God our Father,
you filled Saint Barnabas with faith and the Holy Spirit
and sent him to convert the nations.
Help us to proclaim the gospel by word and deed.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer for Vocations, Day Five

I'm designating this week to pray for vocations. In part, I'm doing this to fulfill a penance from Confession; but also I'm doing this because our diocese needs vocations to the priesthood badly. Won't you join me in prayer?

From mpdinc.org:

Heavenly Father, You have created each of us to love You and your people.

You have chosen some to serve by responding to the particular call to the priesthood and religious life.

Send your Holy Spirit to stir the hearts of those You have designed to follow this path of spiritual leadership.

We pray this petition, faithful and most gracious God, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

Joyful Images

I am starting something new here on '...the hell with it.' After yesterday, being so apathetic, I was reflecting on how I could be more joyful. What came to mind was to post a picture, not every day but regularly, of something that makes me smile. These will be pictures I take myself, not ones found on the internet.

The first picture shows two things I start my morning with: my coffee and my breviary. I can't even open my eyes without having a cup of coffee in my hand. I love my phatmass mug, too, it holds plenty of coffee and is a thicker mug. My breviary (4 volume thank you very much) was a present from a priest friend and the cover is something a seminarian friend picked up for me in Rome. The cover is so useful because it keeps all my loose prayer cards. Plus it fits the biggest book easily - the Lent/Easter volume.

That's what makes me smile this morning. 

Get rid of the old yeast

From the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (chapter 5, verses 7 & 8):


Get rid of the old yeast to make of yourselves fresh dough, unleavened loaves, as it were; Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Let us celebrate the feast not with the old yeast, that of corruption and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

Prayer for Vocations, Day Four

I'm designating this week to pray for vocations. In part, I'm doing this to fulfill a penance from Confession; but also I'm doing this because our diocese needs vocations to the priesthood badly. Won't you join me in prayer?

From Catholic Culture:

Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world! We humbly beg of Thee to manifest in Thy Church the Spirit Whom Thou didst so abundantly bestow upon Thy Apostles. Call, we pray Thee, very many to Thy priesthood and to the religious life. And may zeal for Thy glory and the salvation of souls inflame those whom Thou hast chosen; may they be saints in Thy likeness, and may Thy Spirit strengthen them. O Jesus, give us priests and religious according to Thine own Heart!

O Mary, Mother of Jesus! Obtain for fervent souls the grace to hear and the courage to follow Thy divine Son in the path of religious perfection.

Queen of Apostles, pray for us. Queen of Virgins, pray for us. — CARDINAL SPELLMAN'S PRAYER BOOK

No Drink Thursday Today - Open Post

Ugh - it must be the weather. I'm tired, down in the dumps and irritable. I've been trying to say at least part of the Hours each day to get back on track with my prayer life. I don't 'feel' anything when I pray - no revelations, no stunning moments during prayer - not that I need a 'feeling' to keep me going. Maybe it's a good test of my stamina with prayer. Usually I start praying and I have all these good thoughts about the Office of Readings, or a Bible passage; then that goes away and I don't particularly feel like praying anymore. So maybe starting off with no attachments to feelings will help me keep going with the Hours.

Plus, I keep 'running' into women who are pregnant - in real life and online. I'm irritated with that. My husband and I would like to have more kids, but right now, God is saying "no." I know it's not fair to be irritable with pregnant women who for some reason seem to come out of the woodwork whenever I'm depressed about never having another child (possibly), but it's one of those things. I remember after my first miscarriage (2005), literally, the next two months were nothing but a steady stream of women telling me they were pregnant. I am happy for them, don't get me wrong. But especially after a miscarriage, you don't particularly want to have a pregnant women - with all her joy and happiness and glowiness (yes, I invented that word) - around you.

Then, I'm also getting tired of arguments online about religion/Catholicism, and politics too. Yes, I know that's part of what I do here, ranting and raving about that stuff. Lately, though, I've lost my taste for it. Especially politics. I feel like our country is going down the shitter and after being outraged about the way things are going, for so long, I'm a little tapped out.

Sigh. Where was I? Oh right, Drink Thursdays.

Anyway, I need a week off - I'm not feeling particularly inspired about the series right now and I need to really get excited about someone to drink with. I don't know if I'll just take this week off, or a couple of weeks.

Anything inspiring you lately? What's something good happening in your life, to cheer me up? (LOL) Please share.

Saint Ephrem, deacon and doctor

Today's memorial is St. Ephrem, deacon and doctor. Come to think of it, I have a Miraculous Medal (given to me by a friend) that was purchased at Ephrem and blessed.

Saint Ephrem was born of a Christian family at Nisibis around the year 306. Ordained deacon, he exercised this office throughout the country and in Edessa, where he founded a theological school. Despite his ascetic  life he did not relax his ministries of preaching and writing books to confute the errors of the time. He died in 373.

Lord, 
in your love fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit,
who inspired the deacon Ephrem to sing the praise of your mysteries
and gave him strength to serve you alone.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Tired

I think I'm just overly tired right now. I have a lot on my mind, with upcoming vacations and trying to plan; trying to get reviews done for Amazon Vine Program; trying to pay bills; trying to keep a website (not this one, LOL, the one I'm supposed to do but don't get paid for yet though); and trying to keep a house together. Yikes. 

Anyway, I'm looking for good catholic movies for kids to take on our trip - any suggestions? We have the two "Holy Baby" DVDs (and to be honest, they're not my favs but the kiddos like them), but I'd like to branch out and hopefully get some DVDs that they'll like that teach the Faith (that I won't mind watching). Let me know what you think, if you have any experience - good or bad - with Catholic DVDs. 

Prayer for Vocations, Day Three

I'm designating this week to pray for vocations. In part, I'm doing this to fulfill a penance from Confession; but also I'm doing this because our diocese needs vocations to the priesthood badly. Won't you join me in prayer?

From EWTN:

O Holy Spirit, Spirit of wisdom and divine love, impart Your knowledge, understanding, and counsel to youth that they may know the vocation wherein they can best serve God. Give them courage and strength to follow God's holy will. Guide their uncertain steps, strengthen their resolutions, shield their chastity, fashion their minds, conquer their hearts, and lead them to the vineyards where they will labor in God's holy service.
Amen

Toothy Tuesdays Answer

The word was munificent (adjective).

The guesses:
Micah said: I guessed it correctly, but went to double-check (and therefore cheated) because the Latin root has multiple meanings. The Latin root, by the way, is very important in the Church's theology.


Mary Ellen said: That's easy...

muni-ficent is Muni Weisenfreund's agent. Or not. ;-) 

Am I going to have to come here and actually think and stuff because really...my brain is kinda fried from old age. :-)

sparrow said: Generous?


The definition: very liberal in giving or bestowing; lavish; characterized by great liberality or generosity.


Many people come to New York because they are deluded, at least momentarily, into believing the myth of New York's munificent opportunities. (Courtesy of The Lexicon by William F. Buckley Jr.)


Perhaps if he feels like it, Micah could let us know about the Latin root of this word. :-)

The prayer of the poor man in distress

Psalm 86

Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer

for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am faithful:

save the servant who trusts in you.

You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,

for I cry to you all the day long.

Give joy to your servant, O Lord,

for to you I lift up my soul.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,

full of love to all who call.

Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer 

and attend to the sound of my voice.

In the day of distress I will call

and surely you will reply.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;

nor work to compare with yours.

All the nations shall come to adore you

and glorify your name, O Lord: 

for you are great and do marvellous deeds,

you who alone are God.

Show me, Lord, your way

so that I may walk in your truth.

Guide my heart to fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart

and glorify your name for ever;

for your love to me has been great:

you have saved me from the depths of the grave.

The proud have risen against me;

ruthless men seek my life:

to you they pay no heed.

But you, God of mercy and compassion,

slow to anger, O Lord,

abounding in love and truth,

turn and take pity on me.

O give your strength to your servant

and save your handmaid's son.

Show me a sign of your favor

that my foes my see to their shame

that you console me and give me your help.

Prayer for Vocations, Day Two

I'm designating this week to pray for vocations. In part, I'm doing this to fulfill a penance from Confession; but also I'm doing this because our diocese needs vocations to the priesthood badly. Won't you join me in prayer?

From the USCCB:

Loving and Generous God,
it is You who call us by name
and ask us to follow You.Help us to grow in the Love
and Service of our Church
as we experience it today.
Give us the energy and courage
of Your Spirit
to shape its future
Grant us faith-filled leaders
who will embrace Christ's Mission
of love and justice.
Bless the Church of ______________
by raising up dedicated and generous leaders
from our families and friends
who will serve Your people as Sisters,
Priests, Brothers, Deacons and Lay Ministers.
Inspire us to know You better
and open our hearts
to hear Your call.
We ask this through our Lord.

Loving God, you call all who believe in you to grow perfect in love by following in the footsteps of Christ your Son. Call from among us more men and women who will serve you as religious. By their way of life, may they provide a convincing sign of your Kingdom for the Church and the whole world. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Toothy Tuesdays

Toothy Tuesdays: It's kind of like Balderdash.

The twenty-first word is munificent (adjective). Happy guessing!

On the Holy Spirit

From today's Office of Readings:

From the Spirit comes foreknowledge of the future, understanding of the mysteries of faith, insight into the hidden meaning of Scripture, and other special gifts. Through the Spirit we become citizens of heaven, we are admitted to the company of the angels, we enter into eternal happiness, and abide in God. Through the Spirit we acquire a likeness to God; indeed, we attain what is beyond our most sublime aspirations - we become God.  (From the treatise On the Holy Spirit by Saint Basil the Great, bishop)

Another New Favorite

A Catholic UNapologist by Patrick Vandapool, via BadCatholic. Go, enjoy, laugh.

Prayer for Vocations

I'm designating this week to pray for vocations. In part, I'm doing this to fulfill a penance from Confession; but also I'm doing this because our diocese needs vocations to the priesthood badly. Won't you join me in prayer?

Lord Jesus, as You once called the first disciples to make them fishers of men, let Your sweet invitation continue to resound: Come, follow Me! Give young men and women the grace of responding quickly to Your voice. Support our bishops, priests, and consecrated people in their apostolic labor. Grant perseverance to our seminarians and to all those who are carrying out the ideal of a life totally consecrated to Your service. Mary, Mother of the Church, the model of every vocation, help us to say "Yes" to the Lord Who calls us to cooperate in the divine plan of salvation. Amen. (Pope John Paul II)

In General ("This")

"This" ("Our Father" series)

First, it makes it immediate, present. It is not “give us on Sunday”, or “give us later” or “give us soon” our daily bread, it is give us this day our daily bread, and hurry please. Because God cannot not meet us soon, or later, or on Sunday, only when it is. “This” makes C.S Lewis’ statement, that “the Present is the point at which time touches eternity”, something we make sense of every day. Our prayer confesses that God loves us immediately, in the present moment and as our prayer goes, our lives must follow.

"This." It's pretty specific. The "Our Father" doesn't talk about an ethereal idea, a vague supposition. It's "this" day, it's now and immediate. "This", according to google, is a determiner and 'used with periods of time relating to the present.' Again - not an ethereal date, somewhere in the future, but now, and be quick about it.

I was researching more about the usage of 'this' in the Bible, and right before Jesus gives us the "Our Father," he says: "Pray then like this." He gives us a specific way of praying, not a general idea, but a specific action to perform. Then, within the prayer, he gives us more specifics: give, this day, bread, forgive, lead, deliver. It is a very specific prayer.

So, how do you think we are to pray? In generalities? In loose ideas? No! We should pray, with concrete prayers, with specific prayers. You know the expression, be careful what you wish for? What about being careful for what you pray for? Do we really understand the power that we have when it comes to praying? I don't. I usually pray in generalities - not often do I 'name it and claim it' (so to speak) when it comes to asking God for what I need. It reminds me of a priest friend who thanked God for every little thing: "Thanks God for getting me through that light;" Thanks God for the person who fixed my food;" etc. What is thanking God, but a prayer? He was specific in his prayers.

I should be praying always, right? So why don't I, and why aren't my prayers more specific?

St. Norbert, bishop

Today's Memorial is St. Norbert, bishop. From the Liturgy of the Hours:

Saint Norbert was born in the duchy of Cleves around the year 1080. A canon of the church of Xanten, he was converted from a worldly life and, embracing the religious state, was ordained to the priesthood in 1115. Undertaking the apostolic life, he accepted the duty of preaching, particularly throughout France and Germany. Gathering together some companions, he laid the foundations of the Premonstratensian Order, for which he also founded monasteries. Elected Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1126, he reformed the Christian life and spread the faith to nearby pagan nations. Saint Norbert died in 1134.

Father, 
you made the bishop Norbert
an outstanding minister of your Church,
renowned for his preaching and pastoral zeal.
Always grant to your Church faithful shepherds
to lead your people to eternal salvation.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Sunday Feast

The focus every Sunday is to feast with my family, to truly make Sundays a day of rest; which means to refrain from the internet and other technology as much as I can. I'm going to be putting up the previous Wednesday's general audience with Pope Benedict XVI, and I encourage you to read and to study. What are you reading today? What are you talking about this morning?

General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI on Moses and prayer:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,


Continuing our catechesis on Christian prayer, we now turn to the great prophetic figure of Moses. As the mediator between God and Israel, Moses is a model of intercessory prayer. We see this clearly in the episode of the golden calf (Ex 32). As Moses descends from Mount Sinai where he has spoken to God and received the gift of the Law, he confronts both the infidelity of the people, who now worship an idol of gold, and the God’s wrath. Moses intercedes for his people, fully acknowledging the gravity of their sin. He also pleads with God to remember his mercy, to forgive their sin and thus to reveal his saving power. Moses’ prayer of petition is an expression of God’s own desire for the salvation of his people and his fidelity to the covenant. Through his intercessory prayer Moses grows in deeper knowledge of the Lord and his mercy, and becomes capable of a love which extends to the total gift of self. In this prayer Moses points beyond himself to that perfect intercessor who is Jesus, the Son of God, who brings about the new and eternal covenant in his blood, shed for the forgiveness of sin and the reconciliation of all God’s children.

Sickening, and Heartbreaking

How is it that the Catholic Church is vilified for being backwards and hostile to the rights of women when in reality, it is the sex-crazed culture that's doing that? I'm reading an article from Vanity Fair entitled "Sex Trafficking of Americans: The Girls Next Door," and this thought just keeps coming to my mind that feminists, instead of fighting a real enemy and being an advocate for young girls, they fight a 'supposed' enemy in the Catholic Church. For examples of how the Church views women, sexuality, and family, please view: On the Regulation of Birth; On Christian Marriage; On the Dignity and Vocation of Women; The Great Sacrament of Matrimony; On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World;  Theology of the Body; just to name a few and not to mention various writings from local bishops and cardinals around the world.

Fair warning, the article is not for the faint of heart to read, it is graphic and horrific and heartbreaking. My comments will be in [bolded brackets]. Here are some choice quotes:

There are more young American girls entering the commercial sex industry—an estimated 300,000 at this moment—and their ages have been dropping drastically. “The average starting age for prostitution is now 13,” says Rachel Lloyd, executive director of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (gems), a Harlem-based organization that rescues young women from “the life.” [I believe part of the lowering of ages of prostitutes is the unhealthy obsession that our society has with youth and their absolute abhorrence of anything to do with getting older/dying.]
....
The explanations offered for these downwardly expanding demographics are various, and not at all mutually exclusive. Dr. Sharon Cooper believes that the anti-intellectual, consumerist, hyper-violent, and super-eroticized content of movies (Hustle & Flow), reality TV (Cathouse), video games (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City), gangsta rap (Nelly’s “Tip Drill”), and cyber sites (Second Life: Jail Bait) has normalized sexual harm. [Gee, there's a surprise! We were sold a lie when it came to the sexual revolution - "Be free to explore your sexuality" has become a free-for-all descent into madness and licentiousness.] “History is repeating itself, and we’re back to treating women and children as chattel,” she says. “It’s a sexually toxic era of ‘pimpfantwear’ for your newborn son and thongs for your five-year-old daughter.” [So we see the effects of marketing.] Additionally, Cooper cites the breakdown of the family unit (statistically, absent or abusive parents compounds risk) ["As goes the family, so goes the world."] and the emergence of vast cyber-communities of like-minded deviant individuals, who no longer have disincentives to act on their most destructive predatory fantasies. [I don't argue necessarily for a regulation of teh interwebz, again, we go back to a mindset of 'anonymity'. I can be as crude, rude, and lewd as I want because I'm 'anonymous'.] Krishna Patel, assistant U.S. attorney in Bridgeport, Connecticut, invokes the easy money. Criminals have learned, often in prison—where “macking” memoirs such as Iceberg Slim’s Pimp are best-sellers—that it’s become more lucrative and much safer to sell malleable teens than drugs or guns. A pound of heroin or an AK-47 can be retailed once, but a young girl can be sold 10 to 15 times a day—and a “righteous” pimp confiscates 100 percent of her earnings. [How sad is it that we have stricter laws for dealing dope than we do in dealing girls. And look how the 'war on drugs' has been turning out.]
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Says Krishna Patel, “I’d always dismissed the idea of human trafficking in the United States. I’m Indian, and when I went to Mumbai and saw children sold openly, I wondered, Why isn’t anything being done about it? But now I know—it’s no different here. I never would have believed it, but I’ve seen it. Human trafficking—the commercial sexual exploitation of American children and women, via the Internet, strip clubs, escort services, or street prostitution—is on its way to becoming one of the worst crimes in the U.S.” [I think part of the reason why is simply because so many refuse to see prostitution and human trafficking as a serious problem. Most people believe - or want to believe - that girls who are prostitutes are doing it of their own free will.]