Adoration

For those of who are wondering how Adoration went, it was interesting. I was a little late (I went with a friend who has an hour on Thursdays and said I could join her). On the advice of my other friend (who gave me the homework to go), I tried to mentally 'spill my guts' - since I couldn't say anything aloud (there being two other people in the room). While I was doing that, and 'talking' to Jesus about my vocation as a wife and a mother, this thought came to my mind:

"You are a Christian - this has been imprinted upon your soul."

Well, okay, thanks Jesus. I already knew that and was asking about my vocation as a wife and mother, but thanks. This was my first thought in response. But thinking about it further, I realized that to be a baptized Christian fundamentally changes me, as a person, and I need to live that fundamental change every day - through my vocation as a wife and a mother.

After that (however long), I was just trying to be open and to listen - and believe me, my mind was out of control and it was pretty hard to concentrate. At one point, I stopped and said 3 successive "St. Michael" prayers because of unbidden images. I would pray, "Lord, I am a little child, teach me" and my thoughts would just start to spin out of control. But after awhile, I was just thinking how nice it was to be there with Jesus, and this thought came to me:

Drink Thursdays

It's called "Drink Thursdays", in which I talk about a person that I'd like to sit down and have a drink with, and why. And because I'm Catholic, damnit, and we're not Puritans. Here's the introductory post.

Today's guest is a musician whom I admire, not only for his talent, but also for the stable home life (read: not craziness) with his wife and now two sons. He's a freemason, but I won't hold that against him.

The Nitty Gritty ("Forgive")

"Forgive" ("Our Father" series)

In the Pater Noster* (Our Father) there are two instances of the use of the word forgive. The first instance which I am dealing with is our supplication to God for forgiveness. While the Pater Noster is theologically loaded with meaning, forgiveness really gets down to the nitty gritty of salvation. To answer the question of why he converted to Catholicism, G.K. Chesterton wrote simply:

“To get rid of my sins.”...

I left behind my atheism and became Catholic “to get rid of my sins” as G.K. Chesterton said, and to in fact continue “to get rid of my sins” since this is not a one time action but a continuous response in the life of grace on the path to growing in holiness. I watered the floor of the confessional with my tears as I recounted my many sins in my first confession and walked out for the first time really knowing what God’s forgiveness meant.

 Forgiveness from God is something I, and I think everyone (:-P) struggles with. I walk a fine line, sometimes, of scrupulosity in sin - I will go weeks (if I can't get to confession) of not receiving the Eucharist because I feel so guilty over an imagined sin - or I will blow it so out of proportion in my head and it's only when I go to confession do I realize how small a sin it is. I work hard to make sure I'm not stepping a toe out of line.
     But then I will swing wildly to the other end and commit, you know, ACTUAL sins. I will be blase about them. In these times, I also despair of God's mercy that I will ever be able to measure up.
     In both these times, I act like forgiveness of my sins, and obtaining forgiveness is entirely up to me - when, in fact, they are not. Yes, I do have a part, but it is a small part. I must be open to the grace of God to move my heart to repentance. That's it. (Besides the technical details.) My heart must be soft enough to receive the Holy Spirit's workings in me.

The rest is up to Him - the mercy, the justice, the forgiveness, the conversion. I just have to be open, to receive. A couple of weeks ago, the priest said in his homily - "When we blow it, we feel humiliated, but that humiliation is a form of grace to repent." I hope that I always will feel that shame when I actually do sin, to continually turn back to Him.

By the rivers of Babylon

Psalm 137:1-6

By the rivers of Babylon

By the rivers of Babylon

there we sat and wept,

remembering Zion;

on the poplars that grew there

we hung up our harps.

For it was there that they asked us,

our captors, for songs,

our oppressors, for joy.

"Sing to us," they said,

"one of Zion's songs."

O how could we sing 

the song of the Lord

on alien soil?

If I forget you, Jerusalem,

let my right hand wither!

O let my tongue

cleave to my mouth

if I remember you not,

if I prize not Jerusalem

above all my joys!

Last Words - Cries for Mercy

This is my new series, Last Words, quotes from the book Last Words: Final Thoughts of Catholic Saints & Sinners, by Paul Thigpen.

The second quote comes from chapter seven, "Why Have You Forsaken Me? Cries for Mercy."

In their own ways Catholics throughout the centuries have echoed that cry for mercy at the hour of death. As death humbles them, they see themselves more clearly; they come to recognize more than ever that they are lost without divine clemency. So they pray for grace for themselves and, often, for their enemies and for the whole world.

Some of the people quoted here need little explanation of why they would beg for mercy on their deathbeds. Their evil deeds obviously left a great burden of guilt on their souls. Even so, their prayers give us hope that no sin is too great for our Father to forgive if our repentance is sincere. 

Others cited here we know to be saints, holy men and women who spent their lives serving God and others. In their cries for pardon, we're reminded that none of us are faultless, that all of us depend utterly on divine grace. They teach us that we shouldn't wait until the last moment to examine our consciences and seek reconciliation with God.

Day Eight: California Continued

Day One

Day Two

Day Four: St. Mary's Church

Day Four: Heceta Beach

Day Four: the End

Day Five: A Short Pictoral

Day Six: Oregon to California

Day Seven: California

This handsome fella is my husband's grandfather

Flowers in the garden

The cat

An Offensive Faith

I'm finally picking Remember Jesus Christ by Fr. Cantalamessa again (for previous posts on this book, click here). I've finished chapter 2 (finally!), this reflection is on chapter 2, section 3.

In this section, Fr. Cantalamessa speaks of the 'offense' of Christ. 'The offense is due to the fact that the one who proclaims himself God is a man whose life people already know.' As he says, 'It is much harder than simply believing in God.'

In my own life, with my family, I have seen those who take offense at the reality of Christ. Members of my family want a 'free-form' god that they can mold and suit to their needs. But a free-form god such as this is a small god indeed. I do not want a god who can be packaged and prettied up so easily.
     I struggle with my faith - as I think most honest & serious Christians do. Why did God do certain things in the Bible? Why does He allow certain things to happen and others to not happen? I struggle with many things. But I do not want a god that is 'less offensive' so as to serve my needs. I want to be challenged in my life, for my whole life. Easy answers are boring.

In my opinion, there is no higher challenge than to believe that 'one event in particular which is limited in time and space as the personal history of Christ is,' can 'exhaust the infinite potentiality of the salvation of God and of His word.' If I didn't believe it, I would call such an idea ridiculous, preposterous. If I were something other than Catholic, I would be scandalized, offended. But I do believe it - though I wonder if many Christians nowadays have thought about their faith through this lens.

Though reason 'can help us with an initial response to this objection,' ultimately 'the offense is overcome only through faith.'

St. Paul says that 'man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved' (Romans 10:10). The second stage, the profession of faith, is important, but if it is not accompanied by the first stage that occurs in the depths of the heart, it is vain and empty. 'That confession springs from the root of the heart,' exclaims St. Augustine, paraphrasing the Pauline corde creditur, 'man believes with his heart.'

The social and communitarian dimension is certainly essential to Christian faith, but it should be the result of many personal acts of faith to avoid being a purely conventional and external faith, an appearance of faith.

Day Seven: California (A Pictorial)

Day One

Day Two

Day Four: St. Mary's Church

Day Four: Heceta Beach

Day Four: the End

Day Five: A Short Pictoral

Day Six: Oregon to California

These are the first set of pictures around my husband's maternal gramma's town in California.

Peek-a-boo

Grampa's Cane

Something WEMM found to play with

Saint Bridget, religious

Saint Bridget was born in Sweden in 1303. She married and gave birth to eight children for whom she was a devoted mother. After her husband's death she continued to live in the world but devoted herself to the ascetic life as a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. She then founded a religious order and, journeying to Rome for the sake of penance, became a model of great virtue to all. She also wrote many works in which she related her mystical experiences. Saint Bridget died at Rome in 1373.

From the prayers attributed to Saint Bridget:
     Eternal blessing be yours, my Lord Jesus Christ, because in your last agony you held out to all sinners the hope of pardon, when in your mercy you promised the glory of paradise to the penitent thief.
     Eternal praise be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for the time you endured on the cross the greatest torments and sufferings for us sinners. The sharp pain of your wounds fiercely penetrated even to your blessed soul and cruelly pierced your most sacred heart till finally you sent forth your spirit in peace, bowed your head, and humbly commended yourself into the hands of God your Father, and your whole body remained cold in death.

Lord our God, 
you revealed the secrets of heaven to Saint Bridget
as she meditated on the suffering and death of your Son.
May your people rejoice in the revelation of your glory.
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.

Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene was one of Christ's disciples and was present when he died. Early on the morning of the resurrection, she was, according to Saint Mark's account (16:9), the first to see the risen Lord. By the twelfth century particularly, devotion to Saint Mary Magdalene was widespread in the western Church.

From a homily on the Gospels by Gregory the Great, pope
When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and did not find the Lord's body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. The text then says: The disciples went back home, and it adds: but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb.
     We should reflect on Mary's attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tells us: Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.
     At first she sought but did not find, but when she persevered it happened that she found what she was looking for. When our desires are not satisfied, they grow stronger, and becoming stronger they take hold of their object. Holy desires likewise grow with anticipation, and if they do not grow they are not really desires. Anyone who succeeds in attaining the truth has burned with such a love. As David says: My soul has thirsted for the living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? And so also in the Song of Songs the Church says: I was wounded by love; and again: My soul is melted with love.
     Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek? She is asked why she is sorrowing so that her desire might be strengthened; for when she mentions whom she is seeking, her love is kindled all the more ardently.
     Jesus says to her: Mary. Jesus is not recognized when he calls her 'woman'; so he calls her by name, as though he were saying: Recognize me as I recognize you; for I do not know you as I know others; I know you as yourself. And so Mary, once addressed by name, recognizes who is speaking. She immediately calls him rabboni, that is to say, teacher, because the one whom she sought outwardly was the one who inwardly taught her to keep on searching.

Father,
your Son first entrusted to Mary Magdalene
the joyful news of his resurrection.
By her prayers and example
may we proclaim Christ as our living Lord
and one day see him in glory,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor

Saint Lawrence was born in 1559. He entered the Capuchin Friars, taught theology to his fellow religious, and was chosen to fill positions of leadership in his order. He became famous throughout Europe as an effective and forceful preacher. He wrote many works explaining the faith and died at Lisbon in 1619.

From a sermon by Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, priest:

Preaching, therefore, is a duty that is apostolic, angelic, Christian, divine. The word of God is replete with manifold blessings, since it is, so to speak, a treasure of all goods. It is the source of faith, hope, charity, all virtues, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, all the beatitudes of the Gospel, all good works, all the rewards of life, all the glory of paradise: Welcome the word that has taken root in you, with its power to save you.
     For the word of God is a light to the mind and a fire to the will. It enables man to know God and to love him. And for the interior man who lives by the Spirit of God through grace, it is bread and water, but a bread sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, a water better than wine and milk. For the soul it is a spiritual treasure of merits yielding an abundance of gold and precious stones. Against the hardness of a heart that persists in wrongdoing, it acts as a hammer. Against the world, the flesh and the devil it serves as a sword that destroys all sin.

Lord,
for the glory of your name and the salvation of souls
you gave Lawrence of Brindisi
courage and right judgment.
By his prayers,
help us to know what we should do
and give us the courage to do it.
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.

Day Six: Oregon to California

Day One

Day Two

Day Four: St. Mary's Church

Day Four: Heceta Beach

Day Four: the End

Day Five: A Short Pictoral

On this day, we packed up, and started our journey towards California to see my husband's other gramma. Lots of scenery pictures, here. Enjoy. 

Leaving his gramma's city

The fog was so beautiful

We were going to stop at this place because of a waterfall,
but literally got attacked with eagle-size mosquitos the moment
we got out of the vehicle.

Diamond Peak (behind the clouds, lol)

Another 'view'

The most important things are the hardest to say

(forgive this post if the sentence structure isn't right, my shift key keeps sticking.)

I'm behind on my writing. I was trying to think of why I felt such a block lately with my writing, when I remembered a quote from a Stephen King book I had read in high school.

The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them - words shrink the things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they're brought out. But it's more than that, isn't it? The most important thing lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you've said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That's the worst, I think. When the secret stay locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear. (Stephen King, The Body)

To be made perfect in Him

The way we can be sure of our knowledge of Christ
is to keep his commandments.
The man who claims, "I have known him,"
without keeping his commandments,
is a liar; in such a one there is no truth.
But whoever keeps his word,
truly has the love of God been made perfect in him.
The way we can be sure we are in union with him
is for the man who claims to abide in him
to conduct himself just as he did.
(1 John 2:3-6)

Morning Prayer, Office for the Dead

God, come to my assistance.
-----Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Amen.

Hymn
O radiant Light, O sun divine
Of God the Father's deathless face,
O image of the light sublime
That fills the heav'nly dwelling place.

Lord Jesus Christ, as daylight fades,
As shine the lights of eventide,
We praise the Father with the Son,
The Spirit blest and with them one.

O Son of God, the source of life,
Praise is your due by night and day;
Unsullied lips must raise the strain
Of your proclaimed and splendid name.

Invitatory/Office of Readings

Today is a special day. Today is my mom's birthday. All the readings come today from the Office of the Dead, Volume III of the Liturgy of the Hours. Join me in prayer, won't you?

Invitatory
Lord, open my lips.
-----And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, all things live for him.

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing to the Lord

and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.

Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving

and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Come, let us worship the Lord, all things live for him.

The Lord is God, the mighty God,

the great king over all the gods. 

He holds in his hands the depths of the earth

and the highest mountains as well. 

He made the sea; it belongs to him,

the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Come, let us worship the Lord, all things live for him.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship,

bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.

For he is our God and we are his people,

the flock he shepherds.

Come, let us worship the Lord, all things live for him.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:

Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did

in the wilderness,

when at Meribah and Massah

they challenged me and provoked me,

Although they had seen all of my works.

Come, let us worship the Lord, all things live for him.

Forty years I endured that generation.

I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray 

and they do not know my ways."

So I swore in my anger,

"They shall not enter into my rest."

Come, let us worship the Lord, all things live for him.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.

Amen.

Come, let us worship the Lord, all things live for him.

Day Five: A Short Pictorial

Day One

Day Two

Day Four: St. Mary's Church

Day Four: Heceta Beach

Day Four: the End

We didn't do much on this day. We traveled back in time (for my husband) to see his old house, old haunts, etc. We also took his gramma out for lunch, then came home for a nice, relaxing evening before hitting the road in the morning.

Hubby's home growing up

Playing at the park

Having fun at the park

Rest for the Weary ("Within Thy Wounds")

Guest post by Micah Murphy of Fiat Men

...Intra tua vulnera, absconde me...

Within your wounds, hide me.

The word "abscond" means hide, but more than that. In Latin, it has a degree of secrecy attached, but it is the kind of secrecy you give someone for whose care you are responsible. So, having united ourselves to His entire nature and His Passion, and having acknowledged Him as our good Lord who provides for our every need, we call upon Him to shelter us within His own wounds.

In the private shelter of His wounds, His vulnera, we have every bit of refuge. There, we may rest our weary souls. In the wounds of Christ, Thomas found faith, the cure for his own spiritual wound of doubt. In the wounds of Christ, we also adore Him who died for us, and meditating upon those wounds, those vulnera of God who became a vulnerable man, we grow to trust the Doctor of the Soul, and we expose our own wounds and vulnerability to Christ, who heals us. May Christ give us rest in the private shelter, the refuge of His wounds.

To the Magnesians

From a letter to the Magnesians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr:

In the persons I mentioned, I saw and love in faith your whole community; and so I urge you to strive to do all things in the harmony of God. The bishop is to preside as God's representative, the presbyters are to perform the rule of the apostolic council, and the deacons, who are so dear to me, are to be entrusted with the service of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before time began and has now at last manifested himself to us. Follow the ways of God, and have respect for one another; let no one judge his neighbor as the world does, but love one another always in Jesus Christ. Let there be nothing among you that could divide you, but live in accord with the bishop and those who are over you as a sign and a pattern of eternal life.

Day Four: The End (A Pictorial)

Day One
Day Two
Day Four: St. Mary's Church
Day Four: Heceta Beach

Not too many pictures today, just finishing up Day Four. After the beach, we traveled up a bit to Newport Beach and went to the aquarium there, got ice cream, looked at seals and then traveled back to our temporary home. Enjoy.

Hubby liked the 'framing' right here

Newport Beach seals

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?

     (Note: since Pope Benedict XVI is at Castel Gandalfo, there's not a Wednesday audience from this past week. This week's audience is from July 5, 2006.)

General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI on John, son of Zebedee

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Let us dedicate our meeting today to remembering another very important member of the Apostolic College: John, son of Zebedee and brother of James. His typically Jewish name means: "the Lord has worked grace". He was mending his nets on the shore of Lake Tiberias when Jesus called him and his brother (cf. Mt 4: 21; Mk 1: 19).

John was always among the small group that Jesus took with him on specific occasions. He was with Peter and James when Jesus entered Peter's house in Capernaum to cure his mother-in-law (cf. Mk 1: 29); with the other two, he followed the Teacher into the house of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue whose daughter he was to bring back to life (cf. Mk 5: 37); he followed him when he climbed the mountain for his Transfiguration (cf. Mk 9: 2).

He was beside the Lord on the Mount of Olives when, before the impressive sight of the Temple of Jerusalem, he spoke of the end of the city and of the world (cf. Mk 13: 3); and, lastly, he was close to him in the Garden of Gethsemane when he withdrew to pray to the Father before the Passion (cf. Mk 14: 33).

Shortly before the Passover, when Jesus chose two disciples to send them to prepare the room for the Supper, it was to him and to Peter that he entrusted this task (cf. Lk 22: 8).

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Sacred Scripture celebrated the beauty of Carmel where the prophet Elijah defended the purity of Israel's faith in the living God. In the twelfth century, hermits withdrew to that mountain and later founded the Order devoted to the contemplative life under the patronage of Mary, the holy Mother of God.

I rejoice heartily in the Lord,
     in my God is the joy of my soul;
For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation,
     and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
     like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
(See Isaiah 61:10)

Father,
may the prayers of the Virgin Mary protect us
and help us to reach Christ her Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, for ever and ever.

Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor

Saint Bonaventure was born about the year 1218 at Bagnorea in Tuscany. He studied philosophy and theology at Paris and, having earned the title Master, he taught his fellow members of the Order of Friars Minor with great success. He was elected Minister General of the Order, a position he filled with prudence and wisdom. After being made Cardinal-Bishop of Albano, he died at the Council of Lyons in 1274. His writings did much to illuminate the study of both theology and philosophy.

From the Journey of the Mind to God by Saint Bonaventure
     Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the vehicle, like the throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant, and the mystery hidden from the ages. A man should turn his full attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope and charity, devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by gratitude, and open to praise and jubilation. Then such a man will make with Christ a pasch, that is, a passing-over. Through the branches of the cross he will pass over the Red Sea, leaving Egypt and entering the desert. There he will taste the hidden manna, and rest with Christ in the sepulcher, as if he were dead to things outside. He will experience, as much as is possible for one who is still living, what was promised to the thief who hung beside Christ: Today you will be with me in paradise.

All-powerful Father,
may we who celebrate the feast of Saint Bonaventure
always benefit from his wisdom
and follow the example of his love.
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.

Drink Thursdays

It's called "Drink Thursdays", in which I talk about a person that I'd like to sit down and have a drink with, and why. And because I'm Catholic, damnit, and we're not Puritans. Here's the introductory post.

Today's guest is someone that I have loved for a long time. I'm not sure what movie or show I first saw him in that I totally and completely thought, this guy is insane and funny. I know I was small and perhaps it was because his voice just cracked me up. (It might have been Police Academy 2.) For me, he was one of the highlights of the animated movie "Hercules" besides the songs.

Last night

Last night I started a post like this:

Everything right now just irritates the shit out of me.

Grrr... I know why, actually I just realized it as I opened this post up...

Because I haven't prayed in 3 (4?) days.

And then I left it, because it was one of those d'oh moments. Every once in awhile, God just says, "Hey - you listening?" and then whacks you in the head with a 2x4.

Then, my husband and I had a long 'discussion' (in other parts of the world it might be called an argument).  Just married life stuff. I have been feeling like we don't spend enough time together, as a couple or as a family. We hashed it out, but before then, I was upset so I started cleaning. That's what I do when I'm upset or mad or need to clear my head. Hey, some people exercise; some people take a walk; I clean. It's what I do.

Anyway, right now, I'm stuck in a rut with writing anything, hopefully soon I can break through. What's going on with you lately?

St. Camillus de Lellis, priest

Saint Camillus was born at Chieti in the Abruzzi in 1550. He first entered the military profession, but upon his conversion he devoted himself to the care of the sick. His studies completed, he was ordained to the priesthood and founded a society which established hospitals and cared for the sick. He died in Rome in 1614.

Excerpt from A Soldier Surrenders: The Conversion of St. Camillus de Lellis:

In his lifetime, Father Camillus de Lellis established fifteen houses and eight hospitals throughout Italy and other parts of Europe. His "vast army of black-robed soldiers" consisted of more than three hundred spiritual sons, who, in addition to the usual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, bound themselves to a fourth: to seek out and nurse the sick, even the victims of the plague. As a result, many of them died in their heroic work of mercy.
     The followers of Camillus were the first ever to wear the famous Red Cross on their clothing, and, under the protection of such a badge, they ventured into the very battlefields to assist the wounded and the dying.
     Camillus de Lellis passed to his heavenly reward in 1614, after attaining great sanctity and working many miracles. His body remained incorrupt for eighty years, until the flooding of the Tiber River caused its decomposition.
     In 1746, Pope Benedict XIV raised the penitent ex-soldier to the honor of the altar, declaring him a "saint of the Holy Roman Catholic Church" and establishing his universal feast on July 18 [old calendar].
     He was later declared patron of the sick, of hospitals, and of nurses.

Father,
you gave Saint Camillus a special love for the sick.
Through his prayers inspire us with your grace,
so that by serving you in our brothers and sisters
we may come safely to you at the end of our lives.
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. 


[Ranter's note: This was my mom's patron saint of the year, last year. I pray in a special way for St. Camillus to intercede for my mother.]

Calling Out ("O Good Jesus")

Guest post by Micah Murphy of Fiat Men

...O bone Jesu, exaudi me...

O good Jesus, hear me.

We have called upon His soul and body, the Blood and water that flowed from His side, and the height of the holy love He showed us with His Most Sacred Heart, His Holy Passion. How can we, having prayed the Anima Christi thus far, not acknowledge our God as a good and gracious Lord, always ready to heed out requests?

If we have united ourselves to His Passion, then we are all His spiritual Bride and living members of His Body. How will He neglect to care for us? Let us live out the Anima Christi by conforming our lives to Christ and never being afraid to ask for everything we need.

St. Henry

Saint Henry was born in Bavaria in 973. He succeeded his father in ruling over a duchy and was later elected Emperor. He was most remarkable for his work in Church reform and for fostering missionary activity. He died in 1024 and was enrolled among the saints by Pope Eugene III in 1146.

Lord, 
you filled Saint Henry with your love
and raised him from the cares of an earthly kingdom
to eternal happiness in heaven.
In the midst of the changes of this world,
may his prayers keep us free from sin
and help us on our way toward you.
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. 

Our Wobbly World

Mark Shea picks up on what I've been saying for awhile, that Cracked Magazine has some great insights (and zingers) into our wacky culture. Go read at: Our Wobbly World.

If interested, here are previous posts linking to Cracked's wisdom.
A Perfect Example
Laws of the Future
Coolness
The Future

(Fixed the spelling error, thanks Puff!)

Last Words - Your Joy

So, the poll was definitely in favor of shelving "Toothy Tuesdays" and moving onto Last Words: Final Thoughts of Catholic Saints & Sinners by Paul Thigpen.

From the note at the beginning:
     "I should also note that the notion of 'last words' is broadly understood here so as to secure the greatest opportunity for including quotations of interest. As in most such collections, I may present not only the very last sentence or two uttered by the dying but also significant remarks made in the final hours or even days before death, as well as an occasional excerpt from a last will or tombstone inscription. ...
     "One last remark: Why are only Catholics included here? One obvious reason is that a general collection of last words would only duplicate the work of several other volumes already available. A more specific reason is that the intent of this book is spiritual. Rather than simply reciting last words, we seek - through categorization and commentary - to uncover particular theological and moral truths reflected in the statements. Especially with regard to subjects such as the last rites, the Eucharist, the communion of saints and apparitions, narrowing the book's scope to make it explicitly Catholic has allowed for a sharper focus."

I will hear the Lord

Psalm 85

Our salvation is near

O Lord, you once favored your land 

and revived the fortunes of Jacob, 

you forgave the guilt of your people

and covered all their sins.

You averted all your rage,

you calmed the heat of your anger.

Revive us now, God, our helper!

Put an end to your grievance against us.

Will you be angry with us for ever,

will your anger never cease?

Will you not restore again our life

that your people may rejoice in you?

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

a voice that speaks of peace,

peace for his people and his friends

and those who turn to him in their hearts.

His help is near for those who fear him

and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper 

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps.

New Poll on Sidebar

I'm not really sure if I'm going to continue the "Toothy Tuesdays" posts. I'm thinking about posting a weekly series on another book, Last Words: Final Thoughts of Catholic Saints & Sinners (by Paul Thigpen), instead. So, vote to save The Lexicon by William F. Buckley, Jr. or vote to tank it and start Final Thoughts.

Day Four: A Pictorial of Heceta Beach

Day One

Day Two

Day Four - St. Mary's

After I got back to where we were staying, we loaded up the car and went to the beach. We stopped shortly after we got started because WEMM (Wide-Eyed Mischief Maker) threw up, so we had to stop, clean her off, give her a pill, wait to take effect, then stop at a Fred Meyer to buy her a new set of clothes (because, of course, we hadn't packed extra clothes since it was just a day trip), then we went to the beach. Sigh. We ended up at Heceta Beach, Oregon and it was truly lovely. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Entrance to Heceta Beach

Close-up view

That would be hubby and WEMM running for the water

Need a Pill

It's just one of those days.

The Connector ("And")

"And" ("Our Father" series)

So Jen at Conversion Diary (where this series originated) didn't do a post on "and" - but I'm going to. Why? Because I don't believe that wording in the Bible - especially in a prayer that Christ gave us - is accidental. (I'm not trying to knock Jen, here, just giving my own perspective.)

Sometimes we forget this little connector word, it becomes a throw-away, something to skip over and not really be bothered by. The definition (thanks, Google!) that I found is: "Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences that are to be taken jointly."

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. 

We aren't given an either/or situation here. It's a both/and - like so many situations within the Catholic Faith. We are also not given an 'out' here - there's no checking the box of 'opting out' of forgiveness of our own sins or forgiving others' sins - because let's be honest, we want our daily bread and we want to be delivered from evil. We're just not sure about that whole 'forgiving' part (we'll delve deeper into that when that time comes). There's no skipping over it, though. Needing to be fed, asking to be forgiven, forgiving others, asking to be delivered from evil and temptation, are conditions to be taken jointly together and not separated; if we want to be in communion with Our Father in heaven.

Google+

I don't get it.

I mean, I'm on it, but I don't get it.

St. Benedict, Abbot

Saint Benedict was born at Nursia in Umbria about the year 480. Educated at Rome, he began the eremitic life at Subiaco where he gathered disciples, and then departed for Monte Casino. There he established the famous monastery and composed the Benedictine Rule. Because this rule was subsequently adopted throughout Europe, he received the title of patriarch of Western monasticism. He died on March 21, 547, but since the end of the eighth century, his memory has been observed on this day. 

From the Rule of Benedict, abbot

Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection; that he, who has honored us by counting us among his children, may never be grieved by our evil deeds. For we must always serve him with the good things he has given us in such a way that he may never - as an angry father disinherits his sons or even like a master who inspires fear - grow impatient with our sins and consign us to everlasting punishment, like wicked servants who would not follow him to glory. ...
     Just as there exists an evil fervor, a bitter spirit, which divides us from God and leads us to hell, so there is good fervor which sets us apart from evil inclinations and leads us toward God and eternal life. Monks should put this fervor into practice with an overflowing love: that is, they should surpass each other in mutual esteem, accept their weaknesses, either of body or of behavior, with the utmost patience; and vie with each other in acceding to requests. No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but rather, what seems good for another. They should display brotherly love in a chaste manner; fear God in a spirit of love; revere their abbot with a genuine and submissive affection. Let them put Christ before all else; and may he lead us all to everlasting life. 

God our Father,
you made Saint Benedict an outstanding guide
to teach men how to live in your service.
Grant that by preferring your love to everything else,
we may walk in the way of your commandments.
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.

Day Four: A Pictorial of St. Mary's

If you're looking for Day Three, it doesn't exist. Camera broke at the end of Day Two, and we borrowed a camera for the remainder of the trip. See my two previous posts of St. Mary's, here and here.

Day One
Day Two

St. Mary's in Eugene, Oregon really was lovely as I said. There were a few quirks to Mass - the homily was given by a priest who was leaving to go to another assignment, so the homily was mainly about how he felt connected to the Body of Christ (remember, this was the feast of Corpus Christi) at St. Mary's and how well he had been received in his time there. He had a few things to say about Corpus Christi, but not much. But he was not the main celebrant, another priest was. There were a few other minor quirks, but nothing that I really remember now. What struck me though, was at the name of "Jesus Christ" at any part of the liturgy - every head bowed down. Wow! That was pretty great. Anyway, here are my pictures of St. Mary's in Eugene, Oregon. I know they aren't great, but I went to 7:30 a.m. Mass, and there was another Mass at 9 a.m., so as our Mass was getting over, people were coming in for the 9, and I didn't want to obstruct anyone's way that was trying to pray.

Tabernacle on right side of altar

Another view of the tabernacle

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?

(Note: since Pope Benedict XVI is at Castel Gandalfo, there's not a Wednesday audience from this past week. Not sure if that will continue or not. This week's audience is from July 6, 2005.)


General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI on Letter to the Ephesians 1:3-14:

Canticle in Ephesians (1: 3-14)
"He chose us'
Evening Prayer - Monday of Week Three

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. Today we have heard not a Psalm but a Hymn from the Letter to the Ephesians (cf. Eph 1: 3-14), a hymn that recurs in the Liturgy of Vespers in each one of the four weeks. This hymn is a prayer of blessing addressed to God the Father. It develops and describes the various stages of the plan of salvation, fulfilled through the work of Christ.

At the centre of the blessing the Greek word mysterion rings out, a term usually associated with verbs of revelation ("to reveal", "to know", "to manifest"). In fact, this is the great and secret project which the Father had kept to himself since time immemorial (cf. v. 9) and which he decided to bring about and reveal in "the fullness of time" (cf. v. 10) through Jesus Christ, his Son.

The stages of this plan correspond in the hymn with the saving actions of God through Christ in the Spirit. The Father, first of all - this is his first act - chooses us from eternity so that we may be holy and blameless in love (cf. v. 4), then he predestines us to be his sons (cf. vv. 5-6), and in addition, he redeems us and forgives our sins (cf. vv. 7-8), fully reveals to us the mystery of salvation in Christ (cf. vv. 9-10) and finally, he offers the eternal inheritance to us (cf. vv. 11-12), already giving us a pledge of it now in the gift of the Holy Spirit, with a view to the final resurrection (cf. vv. 13-14).

Bless your persecutors

Bless your persecutors; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same attitude toward all. Put away ambitious thoughts and associate with those who are lowly.
Romans 12:14-16a

If you are easily offended,

Don't watch this. I laughed my ass off:

Made-Up Words

Okay, Pat over at A Catholic UNapologist (why aren't you reading him, yet?!) as already sent me a couple pieces for Funny S#!t Protestants Say.

Here's a question:

The biggest problem I see with the Catholic church (I guess I mean Catholics) is the disconnect between what they purport to believe but that it doesn't make much difference in how they live out their lives. I know this sounds harsh, but I think to myself, what a waste....if they seemed to live out their faith and seemed to have God living in them, what a force they would be! It really saddens me. Why does this seem so common among Catholics?

My second question is, why do Catholics not study the Bible very much? I understand that they have Church traditions and Papist teachings they follow, but why the Biblical illiteralism? This, too, seems to be such a sad waste.

Well, either this person meant to say "illiteracy" (definition: inability to read or write; a mistake or crudity [as in speaking] typical of one who is illiterate); or "literalism" (definition: adherence to the explicit sense of a given text or doctrine; literal portrayal; realism; fundamentalism; Scripturalism). I'm pretty sure they meant Biblical illiteracy - a common myth that Catholics don't read/study the Bible - and not an accusation that Catholics don't follow the Bible explicitly/literally (I guess it depends on the passage because we're pretty fundie about John 6). Pretty sure, though, there's a joke in there somewhere about accusing Catholics of not knowing the Bible, but using words that aren't even in the English language - a form of illiteracy, itself? The spelling/grammar teacher inside of me is dying, just a bit.

Remember, send your submissions to oxyparadoxy@gmail.com, subject line "Funny S#!t Protestants Say" or just "FSPS." It could be something silly a family member has said, or an email you received, or just a random comment on a blog, or a picture. I will never publish names on submissions (if you sent me a screenshot or such).

I think I'm in love

With this website

Guardian of his people

Psalm 121

Guardian of his people

I lift up my eyes to the mountains;

from where shall come my help?

My help shall come from teh Lord

who made heaven and earth.

May he never allow you to stumble!

Let him sleep not, your guard.

No, he sleeps not nor slumbers,

Israel's guard.

The Lord is your guard and your shade;

at your right side he stands.

By day the sun shall not smite you

nor the moon in the night.

The Lord will guard you from evil,

he will guard your soul.

The Lord will guard your going and coming 

both now and for ever.

New Feature...

...Funny S#!t Protestants Say. (Hey, it's a Catholic blog.)

Our first post is something I came across while reading comments about Fr. Corapi:

People act like this is new, The Catholic Church has been doing things like this for centuries…and guess what these same men shaped the very belief system all you devout people follow today!!! Some facts about the Papacy:

1.Britain is owned by the Vatican.

(Treaty of 1213)

2.The Pope can abolish any law in the United States

(Elements of Ecclesiastical Law Vol. 1, 53-54)

3.The Pope claims to own the entire planet through the laws of conquest and discovery.

(Papal Bulls of 1495 & 1493)

4.The Pope has ordered the genocide and enslavement of Millions of people.

(Papal Bulls of 1455 & 1493)

5.The Pope’s laws are obligatory on everyone.

(Bened. XIV., De Syn. Dioec, lib, ix, c. vii, n. 4. Prati, 1844 Syllabus Prop 28, 29, 44)

Dont be fooled by spooky language, and clean decorated linen…ever wonder why the Pope wears Red…Power Color! If it were influence they were searching for, he would be in light blue, But nope Red is used, cause its a colored symbol of Power and Control, plus it stimulates appetite…ever wonder why most restaurants have red in their scheme! Tons going on before your eyes, but people stay asleep! Men of Power get away with it, cause most people depend on evidence to sway there belief…so if this is the case, then Casey Anthony IS Not Guilty…funny people gotta have evidence for a murder trial, but they dont have to have evidence for a ghostly divine entity to be true! Wow!!!

 Sigh. I hate copy & paste jobs. At least the paragraph is original content.

Have a submission for FSPS? Send it to oxyparadoxy@gmail.com.

Drink Thursdays

It's called "Drink Thursdays", in which I talk about a person that I'd like to sit down and have a drink with, and why. And because I'm Catholic, damnit, and we're not Puritans. Here's the introductory post.

Today's guest is actually a group of people - the ladies' Bible study group that I'm a part of.

These ladies are fantastic, and amazing Catholics. I am humbled to be a part of the group, because frankly, they are lightyears ahead of me (I think) in terms of living the faith. Thursdays is actually the night we usually meet. The summer is great because we meet once a month for pizza and beer - how fun and Catholic is that!

Acclaim his name

I give you thanks, O Lord;

though you have been angry with me,

your anger has abated, and you have consoled me.

God indeed is my savior;

I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the Lord,

and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water

at the fountain of salvation, and say on that day:

Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name;

among the nations make known his deeds,

proclaim how exalted is his name.

Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement;

let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,

for great in your midst

is the Holy One of Israel!

Isaiah 12:1-6

Day Two (A Pictorial)

Day One here.

Columbia River

American flag over something?

One of the dams on the Columbia

Mt. Hood

Another dam, with cool painting on it

Multnomah Falls

We'll see how long this lasts

I joined twitter. I beg of you, if you know how to use this technology, give me some tips. If you're on, let me know in the combox and I'll follow you.

Names

What is it with people naming their kids strange names? Now, I don't necessarily object to naming your kid  after what amounts to "Ayyy" in a different language. No, I don't understand giving your kid a strange first name, then tacking on a hyphenated last name (one of which isn't really one of the parent's last names). Sigh.

FYI (Updated)

I hate spelling mistakes. So if you see something I've posted that has a word misspelled, tell me. Like 'pictoral'. Gah, I'm actually embarrassed. I fixed it already, no worries there. I'm not offended by people pointing out my mistakes (spelling, grammar, spiritual or otherwise) so critique away.

Update: I had a typo in a post about typos. Thanks Jackie!

Do not be anxious ("Bread")

"Bread" ("Our Father" series)

Something commonly missed in this reference to bread is the context of this Chapter in Ezekiel. A siege is underway and the people are entering a time of famine. This recipe for bread is hardly a prescription for health, but rather a means of survival under dire conditions.

God’s people had to consume unleavened bread during the haste to leave Egypt and were given manna to eat during their time of exile, though they eventually cried out for meat and God gave them quail. During the seven years of famine in Egypt, the people had to eat grain because it was all they had.

So this petition is really about being fed - and not only in the spiritual sense, but in the very real physical sense. It's such a necessity, really, that could be easily overlooked - and often is when you try to bypass the fact that Jesus was man as well as God. But why would God be concerned about my hunger? Because, as I've said before, our God is an intimate God, delving deep into the intricacies of our lives. Yes, the universe is vast - beyond our imaginings really. (I stumbled upon this and was blown away.) Yet I dare say that I, as an individual, have infinite value because I have been redeemed by Our Savior.

St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Trial, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of him who has loved us.
Romans 8:35, 37

Saint Maria was born of a poor family at Corinaldi, Italy in 1890. Near Nettuno she spent a difficult childhood assisting her mother in domestic duties. She was of a pious nature and often at prayer. In 1902 she was stabbed to death, preferring to die rather than be raped.

From Maria's story carefree children and young people with their zest for life can learn not to be led astray by attractive pleasures which are not only ephemeral and empty but also sinful. Instead they can fix their sights on achieving Christian moral perfection, however difficult and hazardous that course may prove. With determination and God's help all of us can attain that goal by persistent effort and prayer.
(From a homily at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti by Pope Pius XII)

Day One of Trip (A Pictorial)

I apologize, but I don't have all the pictures from Day One. Silly camera. Or, I guess, operator error.

Crazy Mountains, Montana

Another view of the Crazies

High water in Montana somewhere

Storm rolling in near Bozeman, Montana

Our Lady of the Rockies, near Butte, Montana