Gifts and avarice...

'They all love gifts and allow themselves to be carried away by retributions...'

I searched for a story I read last week about a Cardinal, or a Bishop refusing a gift, or an honor from a gay group or charity.  I can't recall the details - my apologies to those who want proof, links, and scholarship with everything I post or write.  (Found a link to the story - it was Cardinal Woelki )

The story doesn't make much difference - to me at least, nor does the source of the gift or honor matter as far as I'm concerned.  I'm only mentioning the incident to say that it seems to me, it would be better for all Cardinals and Bishops to refuse gifts and honors from any group or institution, be it Catholic or non-Catholic, gay, straight, political, whatever.

I'm currently re-reading Archbishop Weakland's memoirs, and he writes about honors and awards and bishoprics and such things as rewards or even punishments.  This may help explain why I think it is better to refuse, or at least be vigilant about such potentially corrupting influences and favors from outside sources and special interest groups. 

Yet here's another thought, albeit off topic:  What if Weakland had the humility to have refused the position of Archbishop of Milwaukee?

Anyway, once again I'll refer you to what John of the Cross had to say about such things:

"If a man gives way to concupiscence or joy about temporal goods, his sanctity and keen interest will be insufficient to prevent this injury. (Blunting of the mind in relation to God, darkening of God's goods, etc.) God therefore warned us through Moses: 'Do not receive gifts that blind even the prudent.' [Ex. 23:8] This admonition was directed toward those who were to be judges, since their judgement must be clear and alert, which would not be the case if they were to covet and rejoice in gifts.
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Similarly God commanded Moses to appoint as judges those who abhorred avarice, that their judgement would not be blunted by gratification of the passions. He speaks not merely of a lack of desire but of the abhorrence of avarice. (...)
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'They all love gifts and allow themselves to be carried away by retributions, and they do not judge the orphan, and the widow's cause does not come to them and their attention.' [Is. 1:23]" - Ascent Bk III, Ch. 19: 4,6
 

Even bloggers can be bought. 

Words from the cross...*

"We are under the same sentence, we are suffering what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong." - Luke 23

Sometimes we can hear the words of the Gospel over and over, prayerfully ruminate them in our hearts, know them by heart, understand them intellectually, even theologically, perhaps be convinced of them spiritually.  Then, in an instant, "He opens our minds to understand the scriptures"

"In aridity and emptiness the soul becomes humble. Former pride disappears when a man no longer finds in himself anything that might cause him to look down on others." - St. Edith Stein

Former friends and acquaintances read my blog from time to time.  They must, because I find comments which say things like, "Wow!  You have a lot of people fooled."  Or, "Why don't you tell them this or that."  Or, more accurately, "What a hypocrite." They are right of course.

Yesterday I pondered these things at adoration, recalling the Gospel of the rich young man from just a few days ago.  I cringed thinking how I so often imagined myself to have given up money and honors, good jobs, good friends, even family.... as well as having kept all the commandment since my youth - when in actual fact, I've only been able to keep the commandments since my last confession and the point to where I needed to go again.  As far as giving stuff up and trampling the world underfoot - what a delusion - I've either taken things back or found ways to fill the void.

Former acquaintances know these things about me.

"He who praises you deceives you." -John of the Cross quoting Isaiah.

"For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent." - Roman 16:18  (Talking about me here.)


*The Good Thief rebukes me.

The Al Smith Dinner

I hope they laughed so hard they peed all over themselves.

Who cares?

Crescat is back...

But I think she is highly medicated.  Kat's posts are all warm and fuzzy now.  OMG!  Labotomy!

Ms. Scalia has her ways, you know...

Oh - and curiouser and curiouser, I can't comment any more.  Just like at Adrienne's. 

I've been banned from better places, BTW!

What?

The 'Feeder Feed'

Has anyone else missed it?

I have.  Fr. Z hasn't been posting his feeder feed series lately.  I miss the bird's eye view of Fr.'s wild-life.  What?

I thought about it last Sunday and today as I have noticed hundreds of robins around the neighborhood.  I did not take any photos, but they are here.  They are either on their way south or Minneapolis has become the new wintering habitat for robins.  Global warming would explain it.

Garden experts say global warming is responsible for changing plant hardiness zones, so I'm sure the robins have adjusted their migratory habits accordingly.
 

The often ignored: S. Peter of Alcantara

Today was once the memorial of St. Peter, now supplanted by the feast of St. Luke, I think the memorial is currently observed on October 20 or 22.  However, I want to think of him today...

On October 18, 1562, he died peacefully in the Lord. St. Theresa saw his soul take its flight to heaven. Later he appeared to her and said: O happy penance that has merited for me such wondrous glory!"

St. Peter was instrumental in the origin of one of the largest reforms of the OFM. Known for his extraordinary penance and poverty, his spiritual guidance was sought out by such lights of 16th Spain, as St. Teresa of Jesus. His treatise on Mental Prayer is his most famous writing. The Alcantarines*, which implemented his teachings in a reform of the OFM, had a great impact on the evangelization of the New World. And thus through them, this work came to have great influence in Catholic spirituality throughout the Americas.

It is a well known fact that one of the greatest hindrances we have to attaining our final happiness and blessedness, is the evil inclination of our hearts, the difficulty and dullness of spirit we have in respect to good rules; for, if this was not in the way, it would be the easiest thing possible to run in the path of virtues, and attain to the end for which we were created. Concerning which the Apostle says, "I delight in the Law of God, according to the inward man; but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin." (Rom. 7:22-23) This, then, is the universal cause of all our evil. One of the most efficacious means for overcoming this dullness and difficulty, and for facilitating this matter, is devotion; for as St. Thomas says, "Devotion is nothing else than a certain readiness and aptitude for doing good." For this takes away from our mind all that difficulty and dullness, and makes us quick and ready for all good. It is a spiritual refection, a refreshment, like the dew of Heaven, a breath and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, a supernatural affection. It so orders, strengthens, and transforms a man's heart, that it imparts a new taste and inspiration for spiritual things, a new distaste and abhorrence for sensible things. The experience of every day shows us this. For when a spiritually minded person rises from deep devout prayer, then straight away all his good resolutions are renewed, together with fervor and determination to do good; the desire then to please, and to love, a Lord so good and kind as He has then shown Himself to be, a willingness to endure fresh troubles, and chastenings, even to shedding blood for His sake, then, finally, all the freshness of soul is renewed and blooms again.

If you ask me, by what means so powerful and noble an affection of devotion is attained, the same holy teacher answers that it is by meditation and contemplation of diving things; for from deeply meditating and pondering over these things there springs up this disposition, and affection in the will, which is called devotion; and this stirs and moves us to all good. It is on this account that this holy and religious exercise is so extolled and commended by all the Saints, as being The Means of acquiring devotion, which, though it is but one virtue only, yet it disposes and moves one to all the other virtues, and exists as a general stimulus to them all. - Treatise on Meditation, S. Peter of Alcantara
 

Blessed Junipero Serra was an Alcantarine Franciscan. 

Don't sell your birthright for a meal...

“See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as ye would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. […] Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. […] Whatsoever [the bishop] shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid.” (St. Ignatius: Letter to the Smyrnaeans; Ch 8)

Don't sell your birthright for stats, ratings, donations, popularity, acceptance, approval, praise, any gain whatsoever.

Seriously. 

What good is it if a man gains the whole world, but loses his immortal soul?

What good is it if you have 4 million hits, a zillion friend/followers, or ten thousand readers a day?

What can we give in exchange for our soul?

Take no man for your example.

Priest, prophet, forage in a land they know not.

All have gone astray...

There is not a good man left.

"Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another." - Galatians 5:26

Obama and Romney: I don't think they like each other.

Yes I watched the debate.

I imagined that Obama was viewing Romney as a phony conservative Brooks Brothers suit, CEO manipulating numbers for the share holders, Book of Mormon door-to-door snake oil salesman whose right-wing values need to be suppressed.

On the other hand, I imagined Romney viewing Obama as a Socialist Black Panther elite,  Affirmative Action Harvard scholar-upstart, who isn't going to dictate to him or his constituents.

That's just my imagination as regards what these guys maybe were thinking of each other during their down-time. 

I really got the feeling they don't like each other.

When you come to serve the Lord...

Prepare yourself for trials.

"How narrow is the gate and straight the way that leads to life.  And few there are who find it." - Mt. 7:14

I know a guy who has changed religions as often as most people change long distance plans - I took the long distance bit from a 2008 article on how often Americans change their religious affiliations.  Sadly, the problem with the guy I'm thinking of is that he has issues with being gay.  Who doesn't?  Everyone has issues with gay people.  At one time the poor guy was happy with being LGBT and Catholic, then he became SSA and Catholic, then none of the above, only to become 'why I'm not gay and Catholic' -  although at some point before all of that, Protestant and married, and then gay, and then Catholic.  Now he's Anglican.  Fitting in, finding acceptance, accepting Catholic teaching - all very challenging for... gosh...  I don't even know what to call it anymore - many people.  Anyway, he used to be a minister at one time as well.  That can be a huge difficulty for former ministers - they no longer have that sense of 'authority' or position of autonomy to boost their sense of self-worth.

We need to remember the Church isn't a country club, it isn't a cozy blognic.  People aren't always nice, or welcoming, much less accepting or supportive.  This person is another casualty in the Catholic blogosphere; once praised as heroic, proud of his stats, and a staunch defender of Catholic teaching - he left. 

We must guard our faith.  We must be faith-full.  The real body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ is really, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist.  No other sect can claim that. Keep the faith - give up everything else, but not the Holy Faith.  Martyrs shed their blood just for being faithful to the Pope.
 

The Infant Jesus

Today begins the monthly novena in honor of the Infant Jesus.

Devotion to the Infant Jesus is not limited to devotion to the miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague - although the miracles attributed to the Infant of Prague have helped increase devotion to the Sacred Child.  There are other miraculous images of the Infant Jesus throughout the world, many resembling the Infant of Prague, while others may depict the Child Jesus in other guises.  The variety of devotions are solidly based upon devotion to the Sacred Humanity of Christ.

Some people find the clothing of statues, especially that of the Infant Jesus difficult to understand.  For instance the Infant of Prague is dressed as a priest and as a king, in the fashion of the period wherein the statue was made, and the devotion began.  The Child wears an alb - no more considered a dress than that which a priest wears, although the cape, or cope the Child wears is the same as that of a king, as well as a bishop.  The Divine Child wears liturgical vestments, which change with the liturgical seasons, signifying the devotion is anchored and sustained in the liturgy.  It is a liturgical, Eucharistic devotion.  It is also Marian, since the Divine Infant is most often found in the arms of His Mother - and yes, dressed in a robe or tunic, as little boys were often dressed in their infancy.

The monthly novena reminds us of the mysteries of the holy childhood and hidden life of Jesus.  The promises attached to the devotion echo the promises of Christ in the Gospel.  "No one who comes to me will I ever reject."  "Ask and it will be given to you.  Seek and you shall find.  Knock and it shall be opened to you."  "He who honors me honors the Father who sent me."  "Whatever you ask in my name will be granted to you."   And so on.

The monthly novena.  Something I wrote earlier:

The monthly novena is an efficacious spiritual practice. It focuses the soul upon the mystery of the Incarnation, the Nativity, and the early years of Our Lord's life. Some recommend that one not limit the Divine Child by asking for particular favors, since He already knows our needs. I pray the novena to draw close to the Divine Child with the confidence that I shall want for nothing. However, He is a little Child and He knows how little children are, hence he is never put off by our particular requests, indeed, He enjoys listening to them.
 

The chief effect of devotion to the Infant Jesus is He becomes our constant companion, and increases our capacity to love. In some cases He heals the wounds inflicted upon us in our childhood, tracing our sins to these roots, helping us to overcome them, or at least humbly repent, with greater self knowledge each time we fall. The Infant Jesus instills humility, confidence and love, as He traces out the way of Spiritual Childhood for us.
 

The Divine Child is vulnerable and open to all, especially sinners. He teaches us to refrain from judging another, or condemning another, and if we do, He quickly reminds us of our own sins to gently reprimand us. With him the soul is able to see the Divine spark within even the most hardened and offensive person, often indicating to us that person's particular suffering, pain, loneliness, and isolation. The Divine Child teaches us to love and have compassion, even upon ourselves - He rejects no one who comes to him. He elicits such a love from our hearts that we quickly find ourselves loving without desire for sensual gratification or self-seeking, rather loving for Love's sake alone.

Prayerof the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the Infant Jesus of Prague

O my Lord Jesus,
we gaze on you as a baby
and believe that you are the Son of God,
who became man
in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Just as at Bethlehem,
we too, with Mary, Joseph,
the angels and the shepherds,
adore you and acknowledge you
as our only Savior.
You became poor
to enrich us with your poverty.
Grant that we may never forget the poor
and all those who suffer.
Protect our families,
bless all the children of the world,
and grant that the love you brought us
may always reign amongst us
and lead us to a happier life.
Grant, O Jesus, that all
may recognize the truth of your birth,
so that they may know
that you came to bring
to the whole human family
light, joy and peace.
You who live and reign
with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Few people realize this...

Ce Ce Peniston was singing about the Rosary in this song.


(At least that was my impression as we danced.  What?)

What?

So anyway, I'm searching Google images for "Bishop Cordileone Pontifical Mass" and this screwball comes up.

Teresa de Jesus

Teresa the Great.

"Prayer is the trapdoor out of sin." - St. Teresa of Avila

But some people already knew that.  Go here.

Happy feast day to all my sinner friends - and especially those who pray!

Andy Warhol... Catholic studies.

Marc Barnes posts on Andy Warhol.

Nice to know.

Andy wasn't a model Catholic, but he was a faithful Catholic - in a way.  A new book discusses how that can be.

Fact is, he was gay and Catholic, before the hairsplitting on what all of that means began to be taken seriously, and subsequently sanitized and legitimized and normalized.  Pier Vittorio Tondelli was a gay Catholic too - faithful by the time he died - before, not so much.  People, gay people who are Catholic, are still Catholic - those whose conscience has been formed correctly do not try to say a sin is not a sin.  Homosexual orientation is not a sin of course - but the behavior is.  Some people who are active homosexuals are like that - hence they stay away from the sacraments.  In doing so they do not say the behavior is not sinful - they know it is - and they know that they cannot act out and be a faithful Catholic.  And in a very strange way - they are faithful in that.  Tondelli was like that, and so was Warhol.  For all of the issues within the manufactured reality and public persona of Warhol, he remained Catholic - and celibate.  Chaste?  That's what he said.

How some gay Catholics manage to live, how some gay Catholics find reconciliation, and what lifestyle they are accused of promoting by their mere existence, may not make them models of virtue, or good examples, or saints even - but one has to acknowledge their fidelity. 

Remember Mark Shea's friend?  Perry Lorenzo?  Now Mr. Lorenzo definitely lived as a very faithful Catholic, yet most would reject the notion that he was a model to be imitated - pretty much based solely on how he identified himself.  Yet SSA people who may struggle to live chaste lives in fidelity to Catholic teaching, can be helped and encouraged by such examples - simply by knowing there have been men, not unlike themselves, who have struggled and found salvation in the Church - even when church-people did not want them there.

Everyone works out his salvation as best he can - which is why the Church provides the sacraments, especially that of penance and Eucharist, and at the end, the sacrament of anointing, once referred to as Last Rites. 

Can a Catholic privately consider the virtue of another person to be heroic?  Yes indeed.  Does the Church always recognize such heroic virtue for public cult.  No.

Photo from an old post I did on The Factory and Warhol.

UPDATE:  I go online too late in the morning I guess - better late than never however.  I discovered  Dawn Eden has a great post up in response to Marc's post on Warhol.  I wish I was as articulate as Dawn, and I wish I had said what she said in her post.  Read it:  Defining deviancy down - Andy Warhol refashioned...


NB: What is notable about Warhol is that he did not try to promote homosexuality as something good or equal to heterosexual love and marriage.  He did not try to promote sinful behavior as virtuous.  In that respect he can be called a 'proud sinner' - although sitting at the back of the church during Mass pretty much cancels out the pride aspect.

 

memento mori... on the anniversary of your death.

It was 1966.

This song was popular, but not for you.

It was mine.

You never knew

I was being stalked by two men at the time. 

Somehow you missed that.

A year later I left. 

I left after living alone, for so many years.

I never came back until you were dying.

Sometimes,

I'm afraid if I go to heaven,

   I might run into you there.

RIP

 

Interlude

Mass Chat: The rich he has sent away empty....

St. Benedict Joseph Labre

 

Today's Gospel is about the rich young man who kept all the commandments from his youth, but went away sad when Jesus asked that he give up his own will, perhaps even his own ideas on what Christ really was teaching, and give it to the poor, and come follow him in meekness and humility. 

The man went away sad, bereft. 

But Jesus didn't, couldn't follow him.

The rich man went away empty.

It's kind of scary to be so cocksure. 

     What?  That's a word.

"Who can be saved then?"  They asked him.

"What is impossible for man, is possible for God."  He answered.

"How might one recover what was lost?"  I ask.

Speaking about something similar, St. Bruno wrote:

Therefore, my brothers, you should consider it certain that whoever in any way loses such a good, will grieve to his death, if he has any regard or concern for the salvation of his soul...
 

Perhaps that is how we might find the rich young man if we located him later in life, spiritually bereft and humbled, weeping and mourning.

In his riches, self-opinion and pride, man lacks wisdom...

 

Interlude

 

Holy Father: "In the net of Peter there are bad fish."

"Pope Benedict urged lapsed and lukewarm Roman Catholics on Thursday to rediscover their faith but acknowledged there are "bad fish" in the Church itself." - Source

I know!

The Holy Father repeatedly uses the traditional metaphor of the Church as a ship, aka the barque of Peter.  Naturally, I am once again reminded of the dream of St. John Bosco, which seems to be playing out these days, though skeptics of private revelations would dispute that.

I love how the Holy Father acknowledges the 'filth' in the Church once again, this time speaking more directly and acknowledging there are individuals or 'bad fish' amongst us... "that human fragility exists even in the Church." he said.

"The ship of the Church is navigating in strong headwinds, in storms that threaten the ship and sometimes we have gone as far as thinking that God is sleeping and he has forgotten us," he said.

I have a feeling the pope is very much aware of the Bosco prophecy.

Perhaps we ought to think of the rosary as our lifeline.  Pray the rosary every day for the conversion of sinners - the lost sheep.  Throw out your lifeline to help people return to the Church and the sacraments.  Don't throw them overboard and tell them to go to another church.  In Don Bosco's dream, the other churches - ships, were coming back to the barque of Peter.  We must do what we can to attract souls, not repel them.

How difficult it is for secular minds to accept Church teaching as grace and mercy, as light and love, when otherwise faithful Catholics demean and insult them.  Treating our so-called enemies with contempt, calling them names, telling them to get out of the Church and go to another sect.   How is that even Christian?

The fire of the Holy Spirit, the fire of Christ is never one that devours nor a destructive one. It's a quiet fire, a small flame of goodness, of goodness and truth, that transforms with its light and warmth. We have seen that the Lord doesn't forget us – even today, his way is humble. The Lord is present, he gives warmth to our hearts, shows us life, creates charisms of goodness and charity that shine in our world, which are for us a guarantee of the goodness of God. - Benedict XVI, 'Moonlight Encore'
 

Pray the Rosary every day.

Memento

"The documents of Vatican Council II are, even in our own time, a compass guiding the ship of the Church as she sails on the open seas, amidst tempests or peaceful waves, to reach her destination". - Benedict XVI

"The salient point of this Council is not, therefore, a discussion of one article or another of the fundamental doctrine of the Church which has repeatedly been taught by the Fathers and by ancient and modern theologians, and which is presumed to be well known and familiar to all. For this a Council was not necessary. But from the renewed, serene, and tranquil adherence to all the teaching of the Church in its entirety and preciseness, as it still shines forth in the Acts of the Council of Trent and First Vatican Council, the Christian, Catholic, and apostolic spirit of the whole world expects a step forward toward a doctrinal penetration and a formation of consciousness in faithful and perfect conformity to the authentic doctrine, which, however, should be studied and expounded through the methods of research and through the literary forms of modern thought." Bl. John XXIII: Opening Speech of Second Vatican Council

Ninety Five Years Ago: The Great Miracle of Fatima

Newspaper photo of pilgrims experiencing

 the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima in 1917.

The Miracle of the Sun:

"The proclamation of a public miracle caused the most intense speculation throughout Portugal. People from all parts of the country descended, in their tens of thousands, on the Cova, despite the terrible storm that lashed the mountain country around Fatima, on the eve of October 13.

A page from Ilustracao Portugueza, October 29, 1917, showing the crowd.

The children reached the place around noon, and then saw the flash of light as Mary appeared before them. For the last time, Lucia asked what she wanted: "I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honour. I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day. The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes.

"Then rising into the air and opening her hands towards the sun, growing more brilliant as she did, she disappeared, being replaced by various visions seen only by the children.At the same time the vast crowd of approximately 70.000 people experienced a visible miracle.

The black clouds parted, and the sun became visible, looking like a dull grey disc that could be looked at directly quite easily.

A journalist, Avelino de Almeida, described the event as follows: "...one could see the immense multitude turn towards the sun, which appeared free from clouds and at its zenith. It looked like a plaque of dull silver and it was possible to look at it without the least discomfort. It might have been an eclipse which was taking place. But at that moment a great shout went up and one could hear the spectators nearest at hand shouting: "A miracle! A miracle!" Before the astonished eyes of the crowd, whose aspect was Biblical as they stood bareheaded, eagerly searching the sky, the sun trembled, made sudden incredible movements outside all cosmic laws - the sun "danced" according to the typical expression of the people..."

"People then began to ask each other what they had seen. The great majority admitted to having seen the trembling and dancing of the sun; others affirmed that they saw the face of the Blessed Virgin; others, again, swore that the sun whirled on itself like a giant Catherine wheel and that it lowered itself to the earth as if to burn it with its rays. Some said they saw it change colors successively..."

The crowd experiencing the Miracle of the Sun.

Many other witnesses testified to the terrifying nature of the solar miracle: "It turned everything different colours, yellow, blue, white, and it shook and trembled; it seemed like a wheel of fire which was going to fall on the people. They cried out: 'We shall all be killed, we shall all be killed!' ... At last the sun stopped moving and we all breathed a sigh of relief. We were still alive and the miracle which the children had foretold had taken place.

"Other people witnessed the solar miracle from a distance thus ruling out the possibility of any type of collective hallucination. A final intriguing, and important, point was that the heat of the sun, as it descended on the people, also had the effect of drying their clothes and the ground, so that they went from being completely soaked to being dry in about ten minutes." - Courtesy, "Living Miracles" website.

At the time, the New York Times also reported upon the event.

Apostasy, the loss of the faith, is spreading throughout the world and into the highest levels within the Church. —POPE PAUL VI, Address on the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Fatima Apparitions, October 13, 1977

 

World Numb-Nutz Daily: Obama's Wedding Ring Debunked.

Attention WND Followers:

The story about Obama's wedding ring is not true.

Something very interesting from WND:

NEW YORK – As a student at Harvard Law School, then-bachelor Barack Obama’s practice of wearing a gold band on his wedding-ring finger puzzled his colleagues.

Now, newly published photographs of Obama from the 1980s show that the ring Obama wore on his wedding-ring finger as an unmarried student is the same ring Michelle Robinson put on his finger at the couple’s wedding ceremony in 1992.

Moreover, according to Arabic-language and Islamic experts, the ring Obama has been wearing for more than 30 years is adorned with the first part of the Islamic declaration of faith, the Shahada: “There is no God except Allah.”
 

So anyway.

Contrary to what has been claimed in various online sources, President Obama's gold wedding ring does not feature the Muslim saying "No God but Allah" in Arabic script. It bears no visible inscription at all, only an abstract design.

So, the allegation is that Barack Obama's wedding ring, made in Indonesia, bears an inscription of the Shahada (Islamic declaration of faith) in Arabic (never mind that practically everyone in Indonesia, including Muslims, speaks Indonesian). The Shahada is typically rendered in English as follows: "There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is the messenger of Allah." The idea, of course, is that this proves Obama is a Muslim, not the Christian he claims to be. - Urban Legends.
 

Listen up:  If you want people to believe you when you say things like "Same sex marriage will cause the collapse of civilization."  Or, "The Liturgy will save the world."  Or as you make your living blogging with the desire to be taken seriously, don't go posting that kind of crap - especially if you are a priest.

H/T Thom

Something to keep in mind:  Obama is NOT a religious man.

I am so sorry...

Heartbreaking news.

A 10-year-old Colorado girl reported missing one week ago is dead, police said Friday, spurring a manhunt for the person who killed her.

Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk told reporters that a body found earlier this week "has been positively identified" as that of Jessica Ridgeway.

"Our focus has changed from a search for Jessica to a mission of justice for Jessica," Birk said.

Jessica was last seen by her mother as she left for school October 5. Authorities then issued a statewide Amber Alert for the girl.

On Sunday, a man in a subdivision in Superior discovered Jessica's backpack outside his house about 7 miles from the girl's hometown of Westminster, said Westminster Police Investigator Trevor Materasso. Both towns are along the Denver-Boulder Turnpike.

A body -- which was "not intact," according to police -- was found Wednesday at a park in Arvada, a Denver suburb just five miles from Westminster. The body was identified Friday as that of Jessica. - CNN

 

O my God, why?   Why?

May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.  Amen

Driving out demons in the blogosphere.

Or discernment of spirits.

Today's Magnificat offers a good reading from Fr. Jordan Aumann, O.P. on the various signs of the diabolical spirit.  He's not discussing possession, but the signs of a bad spirit at work - more about discernment of spirits as related to mystical phenomena.  Although, some of the symptoms remind me of symptoms for bipolar disorder, as well as examples of typical behavior traits in a lot of people I have known - lived with, worked with, played with, encountered online and in the bathroom - you name it.

Here is a list with the symptoms, accompanied by my editorial comments and possible examples:

Spirit of falsity... The devil is the father of lies... he cleverly conceals his deceit by half-truths...

This strikes me as being the reality of every day life - pretty much the news of the day, as well as anything written by Anne Rice.

Morbid curiosity... the characteristic of those who seek out esoteric aspects of mystical phenomena or have a fascination for the occult of preternatural.

Spirit Daily.  Anyone who reads Abbey Roads. 

Confusion, anxiety, and deep depression.

I just read a statistic on how many people in the world are depressed - it was huge - and obviously most of us are confused and anxious.  Baby-Boomers.  Joe Biden. 

Obstinacy.  One of the surest signs of the diabolical spirit.

The Obama administration.  Islam.  Planned Parenthood. Gay Pride. Novus Ordo Watch. Nan.

Constant indiscretion and restless spirit.

Most bloggers, but Acts of the Apostasy really stands out.

Spirit of pride and vanity.  Very anxious to publicize their gifts of grace and mystical experiences.

Catholic conversion blogs.  Mommie dearest blogs. Catholic Vote blog.  Me. 

False humility - the disguise for their pride and self love.

Me. 

Despair, lack of confidence and discouragement.  A chronic characteristic that alternates with presumption.

All bipolar readers.

Disobedience and hardness of heart.

Gay blogs, LCWR, Priest for SS Marriage, Women Priest Movement, Catholics for Choice.  Disgruntled poodles.  Jesuits.

Impatience in suffering and stubborn resentment.

Traditionalist Catholics and bloggers with very low stats - and traditionalist Catholics.  The unemployed.

Uncontrolled passions, and strong inclination to sensuality...

Gay blogs, Theology of the Body think tanks, art blogs, recovering alcoholic blogs, Patheos.

Hypocrisy, simulation, and duplicity.

Me.

Excessive attachment to sensible consolations...

Pious blogs, contemplative-eremetical bloggers, Recovering Dissident blog.

Lack of deep devotion to Jesus and Mary.

Spiritual but not religious blogs.

Scrupulous adherence to the letter of the law and fanatical zeal in promoting a cause.  This characteristic readily opens the door to diabolical influence in reformers and demagogues...

WDTPRS. Michael Voris. National Catholic Reporter.
 

And this explains why every Catholic blog should post the prayer of St. Michael on their site.

Disclaimer:  Dear friends, I apologize that I did not have the time to link to all of your wonderful blogs and websites.  We love you family!

Bob and Penny Lord.

 

Were there nuns and abbesses in attendance at Vatican II?

Nuns at Vatican II.

What was the role of women religious at the Council?

I don't know.  Were they there as observers?  Were they seated? 

I know when I was in school, the sisters had us pray for the success of the Council - but I don't know if women were represented by women in any way.  Abbots were in attendance, but I don't know if abbesses or religious superiors were.  Anyone?

Just curious.

Biden vs Ryan

What I got from the debate ...

The Baby-boomer hold is over...  Biden is condescending and old.

Ryan is one smart guy.   

Pope Benedict XVI, the Council and the Year of Faith and... and...

 

"This is how we can picture the Year of Faith: a pilgrimage in the deserts of today’s world, taking with us only what is necessary: ... the Gospel and the faith of the Church, of which the Council documents are a luminous expression, as is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published twenty years ago." - Benedict XVI

At the onset of the Year of Faith, the Holy Father is praising the Council, the Conciliar Popes, the Documents.

How will the critics of the Council wiggle out of this?  How many times I have heard extremely disparaging remarks from the pillars of orthodoxy of the Blogisterium regarding the Council?  "It wasn't the most important council!"  "It wasn't a doctrinal council!"  "The council was a rupture!"  "The council was infiltrated by Masons and protestants."  "The council was protestant."  "It was simply a pastoral counsel!"  "Pope Paul VI was a bad pope."  "John XXIII didn't intend this or that" - or worse.  In the past 6 years of blogging I have heard these things and so many more condemnations and name-calling - yes - even from blogging priests, Walmart stock boys with distance-theological degrees, and unfortunately, I too came under their influence at times.

Thank God for Pope Benedict XVI who strengthens the faith of the brethren, and confirms the faith of those who have accepted Church teaching and remained faithful throughout the liturgical wars and doctrinal chaos. 

Habemas Papam... listen to him.

Extracts from Benedict XVI's homily are given below.

"The Year of Faith which we launch today is linked harmoniously with the Church’s whole path over the last fifty years: from the Council, through the Magisterium of the Servant of God Paul VI, who proclaimed a Year of Faith in 1967, up to the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, with which Blessed John Paul II re-proposed to all humanity Jesus Christ as the one Saviour, yesterday, today and forever. Between these two Popes, Paul VI and John Paul II, there was a deep and profound convergence, precisely upon Christ as the centre of the cosmos and of history, and upon the apostolic eagerness to announce Him to the world. Jesus is the centre of the Christian faith. The Christian believes in God Whose face was revealed by Jesus Christ. He is the fulfilment of the Scriptures and their definitive interpreter".

"Vatican Council II did not wish to deal with the theme of faith in one specific document. It was, however, animated by a desire, as it were, to immerse itself anew in the Christian mystery so as to re-propose it fruitfully to contemporary man. ... In his opening speech Blessed John XXIII presented the principal purpose of the Council in this way: “What above all concerns the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine be safeguarded and taught more effectively. … Therefore, the principal purpose of this Council is not the discussion of this or that doctrinal theme, a Council is not required for that, ... [but] this certain and immutable doctrine, which is to be faithfully respected, needs to be explored and presented in a way which responds to the needs of our time”.

"I have often insisted on the need to return, as it were, to the “letter” of the Council - that is to its texts - also to draw from them its authentic spirit, and why I have repeated that the true legacy of Vatican II is to be found in them". 

"The Council did not formulate anything new in matters of faith, nor did it wish to replace what was ancient. Rather, it concerned itself with seeing that the same faith might continue to be lived in the present day, that it might remain a living faith in a world of change. ... The Council Fathers wished to present the faith in a meaningful way; and if they opened themselves trustingly to dialogue with the modern world it is because they were certain of their faith, of the solid rock on which they stood. In the years following, however, many embraced uncritically the dominant mentality, placing in doubt the very foundations of the deposit of faith, which they sadly no longer felt able to accept as truths.

"If today the Church proposes a new Year of Faith and a new evangelisation, it is not to honour an anniversary, but because there is more need of it, even more than there was fifty years ago! ... Even the initiative to create a pontifical council for the promotion of the new evangelisation ... is to be understood in this context. Recent decades have seen the advance of a spiritual “desertification”. In the Council’s time it was already possible from a few tragic pages of history to know what a life or a world without God looked like, but now we see it every day around us. ... But it is in starting from the experience of this desert ... that we can again discover the joy of believing, its vital importance for us". - Vatican Information Service

One cannot help but be impressed and deeply moved when one considers that this Pope was not only around, but already an esteemed theologian at the time of the Council, he was made a Cardinal in 1977, and since 1981 he was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, until becoming Pope in 2005.  He has been at the center of the Church since 1981, indeed, defending the Faith ever since.

Listen to him. 

Allow yourself to be taught.
 

Traditional Liturgical Dance

What?

There is an awful lot of bowing and bobbing around while assisting the Bishop as he vests.  It made me think of liturgical dance.  It just seems like a lot to have to go through - or get used to - and a lot to wear.

H/T Rorate

Sorry.

The Year of Faith

From my friend Angelo.

Blogs and Same Sex marriage

Not a lot to say I guess.

I read somewhere a complaint that gay people are not depicted in the pro-same sex marriage ads currently airing in some states around the country where the issue is on the ballot for November.  In fact, both sides of the issue pretty much feature traditional family types speaking their pro and cons on the issue.  Likewise, I find very few Catholic blogs spending much time on the issue, yet more notably, fewer Catholic blogs from SSA persons covering same sex marriage issues.  (My neighbor, Michael Bayly is the exception in this area - opposing views of course.)  Maybe I don't get out enough, or rather, step out of my little circle, but I really don't see much activity online about the issue.  Granted, I don't always check the group blogs to know if anything is being said, yet rarely do I see the popular Catholic news portals linking to sites which discuss the issue beyond reporting what the bishops have to say.

That said, it seems to me most self-identified "gay" Catholic blogs avoid the discussion all together since it is deemed too political and is considered a turn off for most SSA persons to be constantly  challenged by 'homophobic' legislation and attitudes.  However, I do not see it as homophobic to be speaking in defense of traditional marriage, and I agree with the bishops who believe it is a serious issue which ought to concern Catholics. 

I know of some blogs written by ssa/gay/queer people who are in heterosexual marriages.  I would think these people might have something to add to the conversation, but I haven't come across much.  I know Spiritual Friendship blog deals with issues related to faithful gay Catholics, but the contributors seem to avoid getting caught up in the 'politics' of the marriage debate.  I searched for a reason and found this from one of the contributors:

Politics: At the present time, Christian attention on homosexuality is overwhelmingly political. Donations to groups opposing same-sex marriage are orders of magnitude larger than donations to ministries offering support and counselling to Christians trying to integrate their faith and sexuality. This is obviously wrong: Christ consistently refused the role of political Messiah, even though his followers repeatedly tried to push Him into that role. He also consistently took time to seek out those who were marginalized, including those involved in sexual sin, even though the religious leaders of His day sharply criticized Him for doing so. It is important to call the Church away from its misguided investment in politics, and remind it of Christ’s love for the prodigal, for the outcast, for the lost sheep. This also means asking more broadly what role the Gospel has in the public sphere. I do not think we should legislate our faith; but I also do not believe that our faith is something purely private, with no public implications. These are deep questions, but I think that part of our current quagmire results from a lack of adequate answers to these deep questions. Because faith is universal, not private, many Christians believe that its teachings must be written into public law (although this rhetoric gets rather inconsistently applied in practice). Because Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, other Christians confine their faith to the private sphere. Because each of these premises has some truth to it, we fight interminably over who is right. And issues that primarily affect gays and lesbians are a convenient battleground for this fight, because keeping gay marriage illegal is a lot less painful to most participants than, say, eliminating no-fault divorce. And punishing sodomy is a lot easier for the majority than, for example, punishing fornication. The present focus on politics is far removed from Christ’s approach; but if we want to change the Church’s approach, we will have to be prepared to answer the questions our fellow-Christians will raise, and offer them a new way of thinking that is neither the militancy of the Christian Right, nor a surrender to the Secular Left that privatizes faith and seeks to live our public life as if it did not matter whether God exists or not. - Ron Belgau
 

The About page from Spiritual Friendship pretty much sums up what I think is a general attitude amongst most gay-Christian writers:

We embrace the traditional understanding that God created us male and female, and that His plan for sexual intimacy is only properly fulfilled in the union of husband and wife in marriage. However, this blog was born out of frustration with the prevailing narratives about homosexuality from those who embrace this traditionally Christian sexual ethic: an excessive focus on political issues, and the ubiquity of reparative therapy in one form or another.

We want to see more discussion of celibacy, friendship, the value of the single life, and similar topics. - Spiritual Friendship
 

That's cool, and it seems to answer my question.


It also explains why not a few ssa Catholics dislike Abbey Roads.


Photo credit.

Catholics love to drink: Nun shoplifting beer.

I'm not sure this is part of that vow of poverty thing.

I think I should start drinking again for Octoberfest....

A few of my favs:  LaTrappe Quadruple for winter

is the best!

 

Wehmeyer and porn.

Fr. Wehmeyer now faces child porn charges.

A priest who had been charged with criminal sexual misconduct now faces 17 counts of possessing child pornography, Ramsey County authorities said Tuesday.

The complaint filed Monday details pornographic images showing nude prepubscent boys alone and engaged in sexual acts with each other.

Investigators allegedly found the videos and photos on the priest's laptop computer, in a closet in the rectory, while executing a search warrant last July. - StarTribune
 

I may be wrong, but I think there may have been some people who would not have recommended that Wehmeyer be ordained.

I think men who have sexual impediments, sexual disorders, or sexual disabilities - call it what you will - should have the honesty, integrity and generosity of spirit not to pursue priesthood.  I think vocation directors and seminary rectors and spiritual directors need to be much more vigilant about ordaining men with homosexual tendencies.  Few young people today even realize that at one time a man who had the habit of masturbation would not even be considered for seminary, much less ordination.  That was way before the days of Internet porn, or any thought of acceptance of ssa candidates. 

Real quick like: Celebrity perverts in the news.

Blaming the victims.

Sandusky gets 30 to 60 years - proclaiming his innocence, and pretty much blaming the victims:

In a recorded statement posted on the Penn State ComRadio News website yesterday, Sandusky blamed his conviction on a“well-orchestrated effort” by the media, investigators, “the system,” Penn State, his accusers, civil attorneys and psychologists. The “attention, financial gain and prestige”they won will “all be temporary,” Sandusky said. He said his lawyers didn’t have time to prepare for a trial. - Bloomberg

Archbishop Weakland suggested the victims were at times seducers as well.

Sounds like Fr. Groeschel, huh?  Fr. Benedict really did not mis-speak - like I've said before - that is how these things were handled - or swept under the rug.  There was always sympathy and protection for homosexual religious and priests, but not for kids.

"In the early years of the sex abuse scandal in Milwaukee, retired Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland says in his soon-to-be released memoir, he did not comprehend the potential harm to victims or understand that what the priests had done constituted a crime.

.

"We all considered sexual abuse of minors as a moral evil, but had no understanding of its criminal nature," Weakland says in the book, "A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church," due out in June.

.

Weakland said he initially "accepted naively the common view that it was not necessary to worry about the effects on the youngsters: either they would not remember or they would 'grow out of it.'" - Source
 

Lynn Seibel as naked professor

on "Big Bang Theory"

- talk about type-casting.

Locally a new case has emerged involving a celebrity-teacher whose school did little to nothing about the complaints and warning signs which emerged.

A former drama teacher at Shattuck-St. Mary's School is accused of sexually assaulting at least six former students during his decade-long tenure at the prestigious private college preparatory school in Faribault, Minn. 

On Monday, Oct. 8, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension outlined 17 counts of criminal sexual conduct against Lynn Seibel, 70, involving six former male students, who are now 28 to 30 years old.

The allegations, which came to light in June when a former student disclosed them to authorities, detail incidents taking place from 1999 to 2003, when most of the students were ages 16 to 18.  - Pioneer Press

Prosperity and celebrity... motives for protecting reputations of institutions and perpetrators instead of protecting young people and children.

Today's prayer for the feast of St. Denis ought to be prayed with the greatest fervor:

Grant, we pray, that we may imitate St. Denis and his companions in disdaining prosperity in this world and in being undaunted by any trial...
 

 Art: Evasion, Jared French

God loves you as you are...

St. John of Avila, Doctor of the Church

God Loves You Because He Is Good, Not Because You Are.

As I have often repeated, God loves you as you are. Be content that His love should come from His goodness, and not from your merits. What does it matter to a bride if she is not beautiful, if the bridegroom's affection for her makes her seem so in his eyes? If you look only on yourself, you will loathe yourself and your many defects will take away all your courage. - Letters of Saint John of Avila



H/T Dom Mark Kirby

Remembering a friend.

We knew one another since I was about nineteen or twenty.

He was part of my circle of friends and acquaintances.

At one time

      we worked for the same company.

Attended the same parties,

    dinner guests at one another's home.

We're from the same place...

But...

Something about him always reminded me of Gig Young.

Everyone thought he was an heir to a great fortune...
     independently wealthy.

Very Brooks Brothers,
     very much a gentleman,
             refined and well spoken.

Always a gentleman who made everyone feel comfortable and accepted.

A friend, Ralph Dostal died a week ago... he was older than me,
     older than I thought.

I had no idea.

Everyone thought he was much younger.

Just like they thought he was aristocracy...


               He was.

 

The other Terry...

Archbishop Terrence Pendergast speaks out in defense of marriage.

The Archbishop is here in the Twin Cities as a guest of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.  The Archbishop knows  first hand the consequences and limitations to religious freedom State-imposed same-sex marriage laws will effect.

MINNEAPOLIS — A religious leader from Canada visited the Twin Cities Monday to speak out in defense of marriage and families.

The Archbishop of Ottawa spoke at the University of St. Thomas, where the Minnesota Catholic Conference is underway.

Archbishop Terrance Prendergast says he’s here because of Minnesota’s upcoming vote on a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage, and he’s encouraging citizens to vote yes in November.

Canada’s parliament legalized same sex marriage several years ago. Prendergast says since then, the people of Canada’s religious freedoms have been under attack.

Prendergast was among several guests from Canada who talked about what they say are consequences of legalizing gay marriage.

The archbishop says businesses have been fined for turning away same sex couples. He claims Catholic schools that are publicly funded have no choice but to allow students to be a part of gay and lesbian clubs, even though it’s something they don’t believe in.
He points out voters in Canada didn’t get a choice, but voters in Minnesota do.

“They have the chance to say that in my conscience that I really believe the best thing for society or the better thing for society is to continue with the traditional meaning of marriage between a man and a woman,” said Prendergast. “For the good of society, for the good of children, for the good of everyone.” - Source

 

Here's a thought...

Maybe several thoughts....

I'm getting ready to paint and do fall yard work, so my posts may be short and quick, or long and unedited.  Kind of like how I used to post.  I left a comment on a young bloggers site urging him to stay pure - meaning to keep his writing as clean as it is now - sort of like saying - don't get too polished or audience driven in your writing.  Which reminds me of today's first reading wherein Paul points out that he is not trying to please people, but God.  Ah!  If we all could be so pure.

So anyway.  I don't believe in addictions.  That was how this post was supposed to start - because I told someone I wish I wasn't addicted to blogging.  But I don't believe in addictions per se.  I think we get ourselves habituated to behaviors and substances, and then become a slave to it, and if it is a chemical dependency, it becomes addictive - but other behaviors identified as addictions, not so much.  Habitual sinner works for me.  One can be a slave to sin, shackled to the point it seems freewill is gone, but Christ can free us - if we want him to.  Sometimes he lets us struggle for a really long time though. 

Thus I must want to blog and do not want to give it up.  Therefore I may simply need to mortify the vain joy I derive from it... or something like that.

Blogger editor is not cooperating today so I can't waste anymore time on this.  FYI: It now takes twice as long to compose a post on new Blogger.

Art:  Minnesota artist, Luke Hillestad.  Hillestad studied with Odd Nerdrum.  Hillestad is now one of my favorite artists.

Are Raccoons Gay?

Story here:  Raccoons slowly taking over New York and hissing at people.

50th Anniversary of Vatican II

Believe it or not, I'm re-reading sections of Archbishop Weakland's memoirs concerning the events which took place and/or resulted because of Vatican II.  I'm reading Weakland's memoirs as the synod in Rome convenes and bishops wonder how it all went so wrong. Smile. Like they don't know

While Cardinal Wuerl puzzles:

"Somehow we were to be catechizing without content," the cardinal said, describing what he called a widespread attitude at the time. "Somehow there was supposed to be communicated some experience, some idea that God loves us, we love God, but it wasn't rooted in the creed..." - CNS

 

You don't say.

Editor's note: I apologize if I sound negative, but someone just sent me a link to a defamatory article about a retired Cardinal.

Mass Chat: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

"Those who openly wear the Holy Rosary out of devotion, and to set a good example, may gain one hundred days' indulgence." (The Secret of The Rosary, De Montfort, 72).


"Through the prayers of the Rosary:

1. Sinners are forgiven;
2. Souls that thirst are refreshed;
3. Those who are fettered have their bonds broken;
4. Those who weep find happiness;
5. Those who are tempted find peace;
6. The poor find help;
7. Religious are reformed;
8. Those who are ignorant are instructed;
9. The living learn to overcome pride;
10. The dead (the Holy Souls) have their pains eased by suffrages." - (The Secret of The Rosary, De Montfort, 86).

"To encourage you still more in this devotion practiced by so many holy people, I should like to add that the Rosary recited with the meditation of the mysteries brings about the following marvelous results:

1. It gradually brings us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ;
2. It purifies our souls from sin;
3. It gives us victory over all our enemies;
4. It makes the practice of virtue easy'
5. It sets us on fire with the love of our Lord;
6. It enriches us with graces and merits;
7. It supplies us with what is needed to pay all our debts to God and to our fellowmen, and finally, it obtains all kinds of graces from God." (The Secret of the Rosary, De Montfort, 27 Rose)

Believe it - or not.  Just pray the rosary every day - and you will see.


[The 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time takes precedence over the feast day.]