Just some thoughts about that.

I spend too much time online.

Now that family follows me on FB, along with others who actually know me, I can no longer be quite as candid as I used to be - which was always too much.

If I say something about what I'm feeling, reflecting upon what that means to me - I get reactions I was never expecting nor looking for.  If I mention heath concerns I get offers to help - which again, wasn't what I was looking for.  Then I get post links - whatever you call being flagged in a post and I don't know how to respond, but if I don't, I'm afraid the other person will be offended.  (This is not a complaint - I'm simply reflecting on how my experience online has changed.)

I scroll looking for something funny or distracting to post as a diversion, only to run out of stuff that interests me or even make me laugh.  In the meantime I keep scrolling by people I follow or link to and sooner or later I see how mundane everything is - and sometimes downright insane.  The crazy things people post - it dawned on me, that is how I must look to others online.

The negativity and cynicism - not to mention the gossip and disparagement of others, be it political or ecclesial really is toxic.  It's contagious.  I never understood that more clearly than when I engaged in discussions - commenting with personal anecdotes regarding a couple of contemplative religious foundations.  In part I believed I was contributing positively as well a supporting some directives from the Vatican.  Long story short, I saw my good intentions were no better than a former religious' intention in exposing the problems associated with the founder and foundation of a Carmelite group out west.  I was so taken aback by the accuser's inclusion of anecdotes, videos and photos, from her former community, apparently using them to establish her credibility and provide evidence to support her report. I had to examine my own part in the brew and realized it was not good.  

I went through my archives as well as posts on Church Militant and removed all my commentary - quite ashamed I had engaged myself so imprudently and without being asked to do so.  I very much doubt my commentary made any difference and was simply anecdotal and personal opinion - yet my involvement amounted to gossip and meddling - something I've censured others for - especially in the case of the former nun in the interview.  I so want to avoid doing things like that, from now on.  

The past couple of days, others I follow online, whom conservatives call 'leftist-Catholics' have taken issue with the elections of a new President and Chairmen of the USCCB.  I looked up some of the concerns they expressed, one or two statements made by the Bishop-elect seemed just fine to me.  Yet other points the critics made - that the election was a clear message of rejection to Pope Francis, if true, is simply very discouraging.  

I don't usually follow the 'politics' of the USCCB and I'm not a bishop-watcher.  From the early days of my conversion until now, the bishops have always simply been on the periphery of my spiritual life.  I've know a couple personally, did some painting for one or two, but that's about it.  I've lived through Bernadine, Roach and others - and none of that threatened my faith or devotion.  If the pendulum has swung the other way, I'll live through this as well.  It's just sad that Catholics are so divided and that so many appear to reject the Holy Father - of course others before them have as well.  So many lay-Catholics regard the Church as a political entity and seem to take sides in the same way they do in American politics.  Taking sides and fighting and defending ones' cause to the point of detraction and calumny is a great evil.  That certainly comes out in com-boxes across social media platforms.

I hope I can learn from my mistakes and the mistakes I discover in others - which only mirror my own - especially if I want to correct or report on them.  Discretion and discernment must be my companion and teacher.

  

Catholic Identity: Identifying Catholics by what they did, do, don't do, or are inclined to do.

Fat Catholic.

Drunk Catholic.

Recovering Alcoholic Catholic.

SSA Catholic.

Insane Catholic.

Gay Catholic.

Autistic Catholic.

Post-abortive Catholic.

Straight Catholic.

Obese Catholic.

Sinner Catholic.

Bad Catholic.

Married Catholic.

Single Catholic.

CINO Catholic.

Androgynous Catholic.

Widowed Catholic.

Anorexic Catholic.

Catholic Blogger.

Bi-polar Catholic.

Over-eater Catholic.

Ugly Catholic.

Evangelical Catholic.

Pretty Catholic.

Former prostitute Catholic.

Stoner Catholic.

Prostitute Catholic.

Bi-Catholic.

Pregnant Catholic.

Contracepting Catholic.

Queer Catholic.

Heterosexual Catholic.

Cool Catholic.

Foul-mouthed Catholic.

High-talker Catholic.

Black Catholic.

Devout Catholic.

White Catholic.

Poodle Catholic.



What are you?




 

It's better to be unknown.

A reader sent me an email warning me about a few 'wack jobs' online.  I said even crazy people can speak the truth sometimes.  Think of Simei whose cursing and raving called out King David.  The lives of the 'fools' for Christ demonstrate that we shouldn't so easily dismiss our critics.  We always want to find fault with those who contend with us, we need to put them in their place, to find something wrong with them, to assure ourselves that we are in the right, that we are above contempt.

We aren't at all poor in spirit, nor humble when we do that - when we look down on others. 

It's better to be unknown.

What does it profit you to enter into deep discussion
concerning theological matters, if you lack humility, and thereby be displeasing to God?  For truly it is not deep words that
make a man holy and upright; it is a good life which makes a man
dear to God.  I had rather feel contrition than be eloquent in the
definition thereof.   

It is vanity, too, to covet honours, and to
lift up ourselves on high. 

There is naturally in every man a desire to know, but what profit is knowledge without the fear of God?  Better of a surety is a lowly peasant who serves God, than a proud philosopher who watches the stars and neglects the knowledge of himself.  He who knows himself well is vile in his own sight; neither does he care about the praises of men.  If I knew all the things that are in the world, and were not in charity, what should it help me before God, who is to judge me according to my deeds? - Saying from the Imitation of Christ

It's better to be unknown.

Art: Miguel Conde
 

Advent and the End Times and...

Holy Belt

- Source

Random reflections.

This will seem pretty random, but I was reading some things about the prophecies of Greek Orthodox Elders on the times we are living in.  Like Medjugorje and the sayings of mystics in the Latin Church, it is hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, or rather, fact from fiction. 

Speaking of Medjugorje - which obviously interests me since I write about it from time to time - reports are that the findings of the Vatican Committee studying the apparition will be released by year's end.  Keep in mind that even at Fatima and Lourdes dubious messages were invented alongside the real messages - especially as it concerned the Third Secret - speculation which persist to this day - even after the Secret has been revealed, as well as explained.  Therefore don't be surprised by what happens after the Medjugorje Commission releases its more than likely inconclusive results.  (The Pope will be the one to sign off on the findings, and it is up to him if they are even made public, BTW.)

Patient endurance.

That said, I'm posting about the Holy Elders and what they had to say - not specifically their prophecies - rather, commentary from those who know them, on how to receive such things.  I love the sobriety of Orthodox mysticism.  (Like I said, this is random.)

"A spirit of watchfulness, vigilance and patient endurance. But in order to have this patient endurance regarding end-time events, whether social or political or personal, the exercise of patience is extremely necessary....

The work of the Church is to liberate people, to redeem people. When people lean towards interpreting the signs of the times and the future, this mania about the things to come is often alienating people from the essence of spirituality - from their personal struggle, the purification of the heart, our personal trauma, and our need to become well, to cure our passions. This is the heart of the problem." - Metropolitan Neophytos on prophecies.
 

"Behold! You have heard all of my foolishness. Quiet down then and be occupied with God; and, ceasing from vain talk, pay attention to your passions, concerning which passions you will be required to give an account in the Day of Judgement. For concerning these things you will not be required: ‘Why did you not know these things or learn these others?'" - St. Barsanuphios

 [Elder Porphyrios] did not like for us to occupy ourselves with dates and eschatology. He said that the best way to prepare ourselves for the hour of Christ is to remove the Antichrist from within ourselves and to occupy ourselves with Christ. Then, even if we are called to martyrdom, we will go.

If Constantinople will be freed or not, this is the concern of the politicians and of the military rulers, and not of the monks nor even the archpriests. If the Antichrist will come, this must be the concern of the archpriests and it is their duty to inform the people. And when that time comes, God will provide us with illumined archpriests who will in turn illumine the people. We the monks, if we are members of the priesthood, we need to liturgize for the salvation of the entire universe. And if we happen to be simple monks, we need to weep over our sins. - Elder Porphyrios

- Sections reprinted from Mystagogy Blog.

 

From this I think we Roman Catholics must learn that when the Church speaks, be it on Medjugorje or the Secret of Fatima, we ought to humbly submit and accept what the Church teaches, repenting of our self-opinion and pride.  We can never be holier than the Church, nor disregard the authority of the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him.
 

Appeal and Repeal... Remember Anita Bryant?

She was only following her conscience.

Anita Bryant was the outspoken pop-singer, spokes model for the Florida Orange Juice industry, former 2nd runner-up Miss America, Christian fundamentalist wife and mom from Florida who began a campaign to repeal a Dade County ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.  She won the campaign and the ordinance was repealed, but she lost everything in the process, and together with Jerry Falwell and the Silent Majority, inadvertently did more for gay rights and same-sex marriage than anyone could have imagined. 

Anita Bryant's career and private life was essentially destroyed because she opposed 'gay power'.  She became the butt of jokes and derogatory sit-com dialog, and after divorcing her first husband, she found herself rejected by her church.  If you look at what she said however, it isn't all that different from what we who oppose gay marriage say today:

"What these people really want, hidden behind obscure legal phrases, is the legal right to propose to our children that theirs is an acceptable alternate way of life. [...] I will lead such a crusade to stop it as this country has not seen before." - Source

Bryant's campaign brought the libs out in droves in support of gay rights and equality; pop stars, movie stars, politicians, business, academia, liberals of all stripes.  Anita Bryant represented the repressive Bible-banger religious right, Good Christian Bitches  (that show was just cancelled BTW) pop-culture loves to hate.  It is simply ingrained in us to reject their 'hypocrisy' in favor of the down-trodden and oppressed who simply want a place at the table with the Harper Valley PTA.

Repeals happen.  Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed.  Rumour has it Obama is discussing the possibility of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, not that it is up to him to do.  Of course he used to be for it, just like he was against same-sex marriage at one time.  But politicians only go where the wind blows:

Supporters of the Democratic Party will credit Obama as a fighter for LGBT equality, but the real credit belongs to the tireless efforts of advocates and activists for LGBT rights over the years, as well as the bravery of millions of LGBT people who have come out to family, friends and coworkers, and who have spoken up against discrimination. - Source

Media and lefty-celebrities and pop-culture run the show.  I think Obama was on The View this week.  Maybe Glee will be his next stop.

BTW:  Anita Bryant deserves an apology.

A post about nothing.

The Good Thief.

I really like this icon.

...

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.