The Good Thief.
I really like this icon.
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Today I saw an orphan kid on the news. I think he was about 8 or 9 years old. Interestingly enough, he was at an animal shelter for the story, the reporter doing the spot asked him, "Who would you like to adopt you?"
The kid answered, "Someone who cares about me and won't want to get rid of me."
...
Yesterday I was talking to an older guy who does lawn work to supplement his retirement, and as we were speaking, a woman down the block walked by. She's the mother of 4 kids, she told me once she is epileptic, but I also think she has mental illness. Her kids stay with a single man who lives across the street. She stopped to talk without looking at us. She spoke like Bernadette Peters in "The Jerk". She was acting rather grandiose, waving her hands, discussing the cost of lawn care - then she turned abruptly and walked away. I got the sense that she may live in a half-way house right now, and was just visiting her kids. I forgot to mention that her husband has a live in nanny.
I just mention this stuff because it affects kids.
I always feel bad for kids and animals.
I just read a blog post by a theologian who said, "we all know - or should know - that animals don't go to heaven." I'll bet some people worry more about that than they do about kids.
I always pray for little children - and animals.
The other day there was another news story about a black lab keeping vigil next to his white lab friend. The white lab had been struck and killed by a passing car. He just laid there, next to his friend.
I wonder how many theologians make it to heaven?
No, I don't really.
"Love is a teacher, but we must know how to acquire it, for it is hard to acquire... it is dearly bought... it is won slowly by long labor. For we must love, not occasionally, or for a moment, but forever. " - Dostoevsky: Fr. Zosima
That's all.
The funeral for Piermario Morosini was today, you posted about him over the weekend. He had been orphaned in his teens.
ReplyDeleteHere's the story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2132038/Piermario-Morosini-Funeral-takes-place-tragic-Livorno-star.html
SF
I always feel bad for kids and animals.
ReplyDeleteI always pray for little children - and animals.
I do the same Terry. I have three urchins (dogs) that no one wanted. All three of them are over 11 years old. They are all getting arthritic. I pray for them and all the suffering urchins out there. I pray for little children who are neglected and abused.
Are there animals in heaven? I've never heard the Church say one way or the other. On a personal note I find it difficult to believe that a GOD who would give them to us here below to love and care for would forfeit that in the beyond in some way or other but I digress....
I thank GOD for giving me my many animal friends over the years who have brought me great comfort and consolation and all of which I have loved dearly.
That's a sad story about your neighbor lady and her children. She sounds like a lost soul.
http://www.amazon.com/Will-See-My-Dog-Heaven/dp/1557255687
ReplyDeleteDid you paint this icon, Terry? it's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBtw, it is getting more and more difficult to sign in to leave comments--I refuse to give gmail my cell phone number, so i am forced to use other older email accounts. grrrr
~Gette
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ReplyDeleteUntil Our Lord tells me so Himself, I refuse to believe that there are no animals in heaven.
ReplyDeleteGette - you flatter me. The icon is a masterpiece from Moscow. I wish I had painted it.
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ReplyDeleteI don't know why people are so damn set on saying that there aren't animals in heaven. God was good enough to give us our wonderful animal companions here in our fallen world, but he would withhold them from us in heaven?
ReplyDeleteTerry, I refused to watch that clip of the two dogs you mentioned above because for whatever reason I cannot handle seeing animals suffer or die. The person in the car in front of me hit a squirrel yesterday - it made me cry. I've always thought that humans (including children) have the ability to understand suffering to a degree. But the fact that animals don't is what bothers me so much. If I weren't a conservative Catholic gal, I assure you I'd probably be a member of PETA. And I'm not real proud of that.
Paul,
ReplyDeleteI understand your argument and it is a shameful thing that many people today are more compassionate toward animals and take no thought about millions of unborn children slaughtered. I find this a shameful thing. It's something that I work to change. However, that doesn't take away from caring for and being compassionate toward the "lower members" of creation. I don't think it's an either/or situation. Yes, people come first and we should work to educate the minds/hearts of the public about the slaughter of innocents in the womb but this shouldn't stop us also from watching out for helpless creatures who need our help. Our Holy Father Benedict XVI has said about animals that 'they are given into our care, that we cannot just do whatever we want with them. Animals, too, are God's creatures . ' we are called to be stewards of God's creation. We don't shoot animals just to shoot them. They are killed for food.
Prayer for Human Responsibility:
Dom Ambose Agius OSB, MA
O Lord God, our heavenly Father, Who hast bidden us be merciful, as Thou art merciful, and without Whom not a sparrow falls to the ground; continue, we pray Thee, to lead by Thy Spirit, Thy Church into all the Truth as to Thy will for our fellow creatures, the animals, and teach us more and more to deal with them in all ways as Thou wouldst have us do. If in anything we are offending against them, and so against Thee, through the hardening force of custom, or through want of thought and of diligent study of Thy Word, make this, too, clear to us, and for our souls’ health, convict us of these our sins of ignorance. Purge the life of society of all cruelty that may lurk in the quest of our food, in the pride of dress, in the excitement of sport, and in the pursuit of lknoweldge and in circuses and menageries, and that resulting from our own selfishness or neglect, since animals are often more loyal to us than we to them.
And particularly we pray Thee for those engaged in the blessed work of healing, that they may not stain the Christ-likeness of their devotion by callousness towards any of Thy creatures, but may be led by Thy Holy Spirit into all knowledge needful for their art by ways that shall not add to the groaning and travailing of Thy creation, or grieve Thy fatherly heart; through Him Who is Light from Light, and Love from Love, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
"Love all God’s creation, the whole and every grain of sand in it. Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light. Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it,you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all embracing love. Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble it, don’t harass them, don’t deprive them of their happiness, don’t work against God’s intent. Man, do not pride yourself on superiority to the animals; they are without sin, and you, with your greatness, defile the earth by your appearance on it, and leave traces of your foulness after you."
ReplyDelete--- dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
T - thanks so very much for reprinting that quote - I didn't have time to pull it and print it for this. Isn't that a wonderful statement?
ReplyDeleteKim - I agree with you - I couldn't watch the full news story!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quote! I'd never read that before. It's filled with so much truth. I remember having a "little Golden Book" when I was little about the ten commandments. I vividly remember the illustration dealing with "Thou shalt not kill".....there were two children a boy and a girl and a bird's nest with little ones in it within reach of both of the children. That image has always stuck in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI can appreciate the news story about the labs. This link will show you why!
ReplyDeletehttp://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr167/phillycaster/Blog/photo-3-1.jpg
Would love to know your thoughts on the 9-part series unfolding at the "Permission to Live" blog. What a doozie!
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ReplyDeleteChar - I took a quick look just now...
ReplyDeleteMan - everyone has their issues, huh?
"Hey, don't they eat dogs in China?"
ReplyDeleteThey skin them alive too.
Sorry for offending you Terry.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't implying you valued animal life over human.
Cool Blog Paul. I've never seen it before.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul - I'm not offended.
ReplyDelete