Even though comments have been closed indefinitely...

I'll continue blogging my wonderful feel-good posts for your amusement.

Update:  I've opened comments but with 'comment moderation' activated.

Time's up!

Comments are now closed until further notice.

That's it folks - the freak show is over here.

What?

Overreacting online...

The backhander approach...



What?

Rash Judgment and imprudence.

Diane at Te deum Blog has a timely post discussing the issue of rash judgement in Catholic new media, as well as social media, explaining,

 "I have often wondered whether we have engaged in rash judgment online without realizing it because we do not understand it and have not contemplated the matter. Typically, when the 8th Commandment is taught to young people, the focus is on telling the truth and not to tell lies. However, few sources really discuss rash judgment.
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A simple rule to follow is that we cannot judge someone else's motive, or the state of their soul. We are sometimes incapable of discerning our own motives, especially when we fail to spend time in silence and prayer. How much more incapable when it involves motives behind other people's words and actions. We cannot claim that someone in a position of authority is a coward because he did not do this or that. We may make the observation that something was not done, but we get into trouble when we continue with the thought, "because...." The moment we convince ourselves that the "why" behind the inaction is some kind of bad conduct, in the absence of reasonable, manifest proof, we have likely crossed the line into rash judgment because only God can know motive. " - Te Deum

I know I have forgotten what it means to judge rashly at times, often because I tend to be imprudent.  I did it just the other day in fact. 
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I find Diane's post to be a catechesis in the best sense, she relies upon Scripture, the Catechism, Thomas Aquinas, John Hardon and others to help us understand how serious the issue can be.  For instance, these definitions from Fr. Hardon are most helpful:

RASH JUDGMENT
Unquestioning conviction about another person's bad conduct without adequate grounds for the judgment. The sinfulness of rash judgment lies in the hasty imprudence with which the critical appraisal is made and in the loss of reputation that a peson suffers in the eyes of the one who judges adversely.

Going back to what I said earlier about wisdom being the engine behind prudence, I found Fr. Hardon's explanation of imprudence very fitting to pull out, in part.

IMPRUDENCE
Sins against prudence that are either by defect or by excess. Sins by defect against prudence are: rashness, which acts before due consideration has been given; thoughtlessness, which neglects to take the necessary circumstances into account; and negligence, which does not give the mind sufficient time for mature deliberation.

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Check out Diane's post here:  Catholics in the Combox.  I know I will be using it for my examination of conscience.

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Art:  Illustration for Canterbury Tales

Holy Communion in the hand...

[Editor's note:  Since there was some discussion about this topic, I decided it would be best to post something official from the Holy See that addresses the issue of Communion in the hand.]
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WDTCDWS?
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What does the Congregation for Divine Worship say?
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[90.] “The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined”, with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. “However, if they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that they give due reverence before the reception of the Sacrament, as set forth in the same norms”.[176]
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[92.] Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice,[178] if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.[179]
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[14.] “The regulation of the Sacred Liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, which rests specifically with the Apostolic See and, according to the norms of law, with the Bishop.[34] - Redemptionis Sacramentum

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Communion-in-the-hand is approved by the Holy See as an option for the United States, and for many other countries, including Italy.
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And don't forget...
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[19.] The diocesan Bishop, the first steward of the mysteries of God in the particular Church entrusted to him, is the moderator, promoter and guardian of her whole liturgical life.[39] For “the Bishop, endowed with the fullness of the Sacrament of Order, is ‘the steward of the grace of the high Priesthood’,[40] especially in the Eucharist which he either himself offers or causes to be offered,[41] by which the Church continually lives and grows”.[42] - Redemptionis Sacramentum
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That's all.

The Feast of Blessed Mother Teresa

Why I was off-line today.
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I was fortunate to get up very early today to attend Mass latter in the morning at the Cathedral of St. Paul for the feast day of Blessed Mother Teresa.  It was so awesome and beautiful, reverent and holy.  It seemed to me that I heard very deeply in my heart that we must love one another and forgive one another.  That the truth is all about love and being loved - that we are first loved by God - and that is how we are able to love.  We must love one another.  We must see Christ in one another.  We need to forgive one another.  If we have not love, we have nothing, we are the poorest of the poor... which in itself makes us lovable.  I understood how far adrift I've gone from that one thing necessary, how I've lost sight of the immensity of the love of God, wasting my time on trifles and shadows.  The joy of Mother Teresa seemed to fill the Cathedral, dispersing the darkest, gloomiest thoughts clouding my heart and once again it seemed I recognized how simple and pure the love of God is and how critical it is for us to love one another.

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I'm convinced that Blessed Mother Teresa is very much the greatest saint of these modern times.
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Pray for us Blessed Mother Teresa, obtain for us a great increase in love of God and our neighbor.  Amen.

Fraternal correction...

And yet the Bishop went to a 'bad' Mass and said nothing to the priest...  (Editor:  Correction - it appears he probably did say something.)

So once upon a time a bishop went on vacation and attended a Mass with lots of liturgical abuses.  It wasn't before long that the bishop came to the conclusion, "if things are this bad at Mass, I will not go to confession to this priest."  .
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As soon as Mass was over, the bishop departed in silence.  (Editor:  That appears to be untrue.)
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When the bishop returned home, he blogged about the sorry state of affairs at that parish.  Evidently the naughty priest was never granted the grace of fraternal correction.  And yet the bishop received kudos for recognizing what many of us have had to put up with for years.  (Editor:  I was later informed that it is more likely that the good bishop did speak to the priest privately - which is how good fraternal correction works best.)

No wonder the Holy Father is recommending fraternal correction.  One might hope that his exhortation would apply especially to those in authority...
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The text of the Gospel “tells us that brotherly love also involves a sense of mutual responsibility,” said the Pope, “so if my brother sins against me, I must use love towards him and, first of all, speak to him personally, pointing out that what he has said or done is not good.” - CNA
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Of course, it could be that the bishops actually prefer Michael Voris to do it instead? 
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What?
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(Editor: My apologies for such a snarky post in the first place.)
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Art:  Dada's Magic Bishop, Hugo Ball
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UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE:

Larry of Acts of the Apostacy was so kind as to offer a correction to my post, he wrote:

"Terry - in the spirit of gentle fraternal correction - I think you might have skimmed past this line in the Bishop's post:

"I was also on vacation so ... Nevertheless, I didn't let it go. What I did or did not do, I will leave between me and the priest. I hope it was helpful."

Sounds as if he did speak to the priest, but refrained to discuss it publicly."

Now if only I had refrained from posting this.  Thank you Larry. My apologies to the bishop and everyone concerned. The bishop is indeed deserving of 'kudos' .  One less thing for Mike to take care of too.  What?  (Added @ 3:17 PM.  I have been offline since last evening.)

Mass chat: Introduction to the new translation.

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Romans 13

Before Mass began the music director offered a short video presentation on the new Missal and some of the changes.  Quick and informative.  I have no idea what other people thought, but I can't understand why anyone would object to a more faithful translation.
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Coming back from Communion two different old people grabbed my hand and said hello.  Isn't that nice?  Awkward, but very touching.  It was totally spontaneous.  God bless them.
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"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." - Today's Gospel.

Drinking with rabbits.

Priests with real jobs...

The parish priest.
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A couple of weeks ago I found myself complaining about anonymous commenters to my 'can't we all just get along - I'm just trying to bring people together' posts, and developed an entire conspiracy theory all by myself of how people are out to get me.  Elsewhere in the blogosphere other bloggers have complained of Internet stalkers going around harassing 'faithful' online Catholics with their nasty, provocative commentary and insults.   I've since settled down and put things into perspective:  No one is persecuting me.  I need to get a real job.
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Which brings me to the point of this post:  Priests with real jobs... The parish priest.
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The regular guy, the normal priest.  The priest who is shepherd to a thousand families or more.  The priest who ministers day in and day out and oversees a whole variety of programs, a school, all sorts of activities, as well as the nuts and bolts operations of running a 'plant' and balancing the books.  Maybe he doesn't do all of that alone - but he's the one in charge - albeit more or less subject to a board.  But you get the picture.
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The good pastor.
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Most importantly, the parish priest is the one who instructs and guides the faithful of his parish - he administers the sacraments and cares for his flock.  And frequently, he gets a lot of flak for how he does it - and if he is a 'faithful' Catholic priest, he may well find himself opposed, harassed, insulted, and even persecuted - not to the point of shedding blood however.
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Parish surveys and letters from pew-sitters.
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Last weekend my pastor printed the results of a recent parish survey.  I suspect such surveys are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fielding negative complaints from anonymous parishioners.  Oddly enough, my parish is, how do I say it?  Moderately liberal?  Although it was quite a bit more liberal a decade or so ago.  Yet the current pastor gradually restored such venerable Catholic practices like kneeling for the consecration and the use of altar servers, among many little disciplines that had gone into disuse over the years.  His homilies are always doctrinally sound, and his celebration of Mass and the sacraments is according to the rubrics.  He gets complaints about that being way too conservative and pre-Vatican II.
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Without going into all the details of the parish survey, I just want to say that if these folks complain about these relatively minor 'issues', what will they do in the next couple of months?  This month Father will be talking about Church teaching regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage.  After that, he will be talking about implementing the new missal.  If some of the people in the parish criticized and complained before, what will they do then?
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Parish priests - real men with real jobs.
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And yet I complain when someone disagrees with a post I wrote or calls me out for one of my many faults and indiscretions.    

Hey - what about this for a political ad?

Me thinks the lady protestant too much.

Fashion notes: Menswear...

Rick Owens at Bergdorf's.
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Many years ago there lived an Emperor who was so exceedingly fond of fine new clothes that he spent vast sums of money on dress. To him clothes meant more than anything else in the world. He took no interest in his army, nor did he care to go to the theatre, or to drive about in his state coach, unless it was to display his new clothes. He had different robes for every single hour of the day.

In the great city where he lived life was gay and strangers were always coming and going. Everyone knew about the Emperor's passion for clothes.

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Details: Rick Owens Lightweight Cashmere Cardigan

Price: $1,277.00

BGF12_N18WU . Rick Owens Asymmetric Silk Cargo Shorts Price: $1,075.00 BGF12_N18WT . <><> ck Owens Ribbed Tank Price: $247.00 BGF12_N18WP

Mass chat: New wine - old wine.

Today's Gospel is about how you can't put new wine into old wine skins, all the traditional interpretations of this passage aside, I was struck by the last line:  "And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'" - Luke 5:39
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I wonder if this isn't what those who desire the Traditional Latin Mass - the Extraordinary Form - are trying to say? 

"Cruise director' for a day.

"Prayer is the trap door out of sin." - Teresa of Avila
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Yesterday an anonymous commenter asked, "Any special prayers for a man addicted to cruising?"
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I answered, "Anonymous - pray for them - pray for the virtue of chastity for the person's you cruise."
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I suppose I should have asked what he meant by cruising?  The drive-by, walk-by kind?  Sexually open-ended double-takes at attractive people jogging, laying in the sun?  Going into 'cruising areas' where 'stuff' can happen?  Catching the eye of someone - and holding it?  There are different ways to cruise - but I think I understood the general term. 
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My answer may have seemed unhelpful.  Another commenter, Clark, provided the basic direction and safeguards helpful for persons striving to live a chaste life.  Nevertheless, even the most disciplined, generous soul can sometimes relapse into old habits: souls who do all the right stuff, frequent the sacraments, even dedicate their lives to the poor or some charitable work - perhaps caring for elderly parents in addition to one's career.  Even priests can fall into such sins - one poor fellow was arrested earlier this year in a cruising area.  So how does a young man remain sinless?
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Charity.
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In addition to practicing all the right disciplines, there may be one thing lacking - charity.  Authentic love of God and neighbor as oneself.  Therefore, if one prays, especially for those we feel most attracted to, or who strike us as someone easily seduced - whatever the notion - when we pray for them rather than exploiting them as an opportunity for personal pleasure, selfish affirmation, what have you - we are in effect exercising ourselves in charity.  I know it sounds odd and somewhat like 'liberal theology of the body' advice, such as saying, "Look at them in all their beauty, and appreciate it by offering it back to God and thanking him for the beauty of his creation."  Truth be told - that isn't such bad advice - provided one doesn't dwell on the object - the key is to redirect one's attention - keeping custody of the eyes.  Prayer brings us back to a more interior recollection, it returns us to the awareness of God's presence.
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Custody of the heart.
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Maintaining custody of the heart is also key - it's what is involved in all the preparatory work Clark mentions.  It is also part of what I meant by praying for the person who may have tripped your trigger.  We usually fall so easily because we had once become habituated to it, or we can find ourselves in what I call a sort of sexually open-ended frame of mind; although sometimes we can simply be overcome by sudden, violent temptation.  Nevertheless, praying for the object of our lust, and/or affection can become the way to recover our peace and put matters back in perspective.  After all, how can you go ahead and morally harm someone and cause them to sin while you are praying for their good?  How can you use a person for sex and yet pray for their salvation?
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"Where there is no love, put love -- and you will find love." - John of the Cross
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Another grave temptation one encounters in the spiritual combat with the flesh is the idea that one has already committed a mortal sin by placing oneself in the occasion of sin,  "So I may as well go all the way."  That's a trap.  Our Lord says that the man who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed sin in his heart. Impure thoughts deliberately entertained are sinful of course and may dispose one to go out looking - cruising - for an opportunity to engage in sex with another or by one's self.  But don't be tricked into forging a longer chain of sin by saying to yourself - "I already did this so I may as well go ahead and do that."  Pray instead and don't give in to such temptations - sort out the gravity of a particular sin in your examination of conscience - not in the heat of battle.  But if you do fall, get up.  Keep trying - no matter how often you fall.  Go to confession twice a day if need be - just keep trying. "Prayer is the trap door out of sin." - St. Teresa of Avila.
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 I don't know if this is helpful - I'm sorry it has become such a long explanation for what I meant by the 'pray for those you are cruising' statement.  It is important to remember that prayer is in itself an exercise in charity - so as St. John of the Cross advises, "where there is no love - put love."  I think it works.
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How can a young man remain sinless? - Ps. 119:9
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A few years ago I did another post on 'how a young man can remain sinless', that some newer readers might find helpful.  I'll reprint a couple paragraphs from that post here:

As for other types of acting out sexually, these may have a compulsive dimension as well. One has to work at it. But never focus or dwell on the temptation or the act - it takes hold that way. Let impure thoughts go in one ear and out the other, don't focus. Sometimes they stick in the mind - don't focus on them, go on as if they are not there. (Don't get all uptight and try to repress them however, it makes them worse, be calm and let them blow away like "leaves on a windy day".) And if you feel like you've sinned by entertaining the thoughts - don't let your body or the devil convince you that you have already sinned gravely so you may as well go all the way. That is so much his best trick. The other really bad trick of his is, if you do fall, he suggests doing it again, since you've already sinned anyway. Every consent to his wicked suggestions forges another link in his chain - break it immediately through an act of contrition and go to confession as soon as you can. These acts of humility and repentance are your arms in battle, with trust in the Divine Mercy of course. That reminds me, pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy, even if you are steeped in sin, Jesus promised He would not fail to grant His grace and mercy to "even the most hardened sinner, even if he were to recite the chaplet only once." It is a very powerful prayer.
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Maybe you've never heard of it, but there is a mortification referred to as custody of the eyes. It's when you keep from indulging your curiosity about things, the practice trains you to control your "wandering eyes". It can be exercized by not watching TV, or not listening to certain music at times, or not checking some one out on the street or at the beach. As you drive, ride or walk, or are just sitting there, you're going to see someone with a great body and perhaps little on it. You saw it, maybe you looked twice, it's not a sin - even though your body may have reacted. Take that reaction as a warning, divert your attention, move on, jump in the pool - do something. But do it without anxiety and without over reaction. Gradually one learns to not objectify and sexualize everybody and everything, especially if you do not make your body and other peoples body "an idol". There is a certain amount of idolotry in our culture that is directed toward the body. We live in a time wherein the most obvious sign of outward devotion may be properly called, "the cult of the body". We've got to stop our "sacrificing to idols" - a pagan custom revived in our day not unlike that which prospered in ancient Rome and Greece. - The low spark of low rise pants.

Art:  Night in Bologna, Paul Cadmus 

September 1, 2011

This post was cancelled due to lack of interest - by the author.

I know!