tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39050994287846287282024-02-02T03:20:01.708-06:00Lay MystagoguesJackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-72068417466657095312012-01-22T01:28:00.005-06:002012-01-22T02:10:16.799-06:00All Too Soon, The Clock Will Strike Midnight<a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lijao35DYU1qgser9.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 490px; height: 620px;" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lijao35DYU1qgser9.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:donotshowinsertionsanddeletions/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> 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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">A little over two years ago, my wife and I thought it would be good if each of us made moments of one-on-one time with each of our kids.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not just chance moments, but actual dates away from the home, doing something that would entertain that child and give him or her the chance to talk about whatever they want.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The kids weren’t short on time with the parents – my wife homeschools and I was in between jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But there’s always competition for that solo attention, and that was a need that we weren’t fulfilling to our satisfaction.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I liked the idea so much that a made a date with my eldest child and only daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She was six at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We went to a donut shop first, and then a nearby neighborhood park.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t remember much about the date.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t think I even brought the camera.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She liked the donuts (six-year-olds aren’t that picky) and enjoyed climbing on the slide/swing/fortress structure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She had a good time, we did talk, and that was about it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That was the last date I had with her or any of the kids until last night.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Two years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So much for great ideas and good intentions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Much has happened since then.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have a job that requires weekend work quite often.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many 12 and sometimes 16 hour days.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>On top of all the hours, there has been tedious projects on the home front.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I, of course, have left the blog fallow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No time to blog to oblivion when I don’t have time for much else.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m just not the best manager of time here at home.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s a deadly trait – expecting time to stand still.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">She is eight now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She’s not a “swings and slides” kind of girl anymore, though she still likes donuts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We go to confession together, we go to the communion rail together, and she has no trouble making conversation these days.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In two years she’s changed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’d like to take credit for re-initiating last night’s one-on-one time, but I can’t.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was thrust upon me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There was a Daddy-Daughter dance on the calendar, and there wasn’t any question about going.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She had this event set in her heart months before the big day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And I made it as special as I could.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I put on my best suit and she put on her new Christmas dress.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I gave her a locket.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We had dinner for two at Pizza Hut – her choice.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And we also hit Dairy Queen after the dance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We had a blast.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Neither of us can dance, but after that experience I’m resolved to change that.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m not quite sure how, but dancing is something that should be passed down through the family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It wasn’t in mine, and my wife had scant more exposure in her family.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But really, that didn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She would stumble along as best she could, then light up like a Christmas tree every time I gave her a twirl.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was concerned that the music would be in poor taste, but that fear was unfounded.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was mostly popular/dancy kind of stuff with some throwback tunes, and much of it I had a vague sense of familiarity (“two steps to the left <bam, bam=""> now bring it on down, yo!”).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Nothing lyrically inappropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Looking around the room, I think I had the inside track for the squarest father title.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She didn’t mind at all.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My daughter, she’s pretty square, too.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(I hope there’s no video of us doing the bunny hop or the chicken dance – that would haunt us the rest of our lives, I’m sure)</bam,></p> <p class="MsoNormal">She stayed close to me the entire time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No chance to have those small-talk conversations with other square dads.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And she was not at all interested in socializing with her peers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She was locked to my side the entire night, save one trip to the bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She gloried in being with me and trying to do this dancing stuff.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Why did I wait two years for this?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I remember three dances most from last night.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The last dance was to <span style="font-style: italic;">The Load Down</span> – not exactly what you’d expect at a dance like this, but it shines, as it always did for Jackson Browne, when it’s the last song of the night.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s a piece that belongs with that handful of songs which always makes you stop scanning the radio dial.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As it started with just Browne and his keyboard, I leisurely got her coat on and we gathered our stuff to leave, but then took her back out to the floor just in time for the percussion to begin, and we finished dancing out the door as the song faded.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We danced to one of my mom’s all-time favorites, <span style="font-style: italic;">Sweet Caroline</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The DJ encouraged us to sing out our daughter’s name in place of “Caroline”, which delighted Sweet Kathleen to no end.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And then there was <span style="font-style: italic;">Cinderella</span> by Steven Curtis Champman. This one falls into the “vaguely familiar” category.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’d heard it before, but never listened to it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But when you’re dancing with your daughter to that song, it’s impossible to miss what it’s about.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I doubt she realized what the song was about – she just enjoyed the dance and liked hearing “Cinderella” in the song.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Me – I was welling-up, and convicted in my heart.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I can’t go back to that jungle-gym and start again, bring a camera this time, and making two years of dates in my planner for my daughter and sons.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That window has passed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What I can do, and what I’m resolved to do, is face time head-on, embracing it, and doing what is right for my state in life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Today, Lord, please!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Today and not two years from now.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My Lord – thank you for the gift of time, and thank you for the broken heart to remind me of how to best use the gift.<span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MLYxtuC0oRk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MLYxtuC0oRk?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="360"></embed></object><br /></span></p>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-35920959904680846282010-04-03T09:20:00.004-05:002010-04-03T09:35:19.955-05:00O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow<a href="http://www.fodc.net/images/tomb.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 323px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.fodc.net/images/tomb.jpg" /></a> <div><div>So, you ask, what happened to the mid-Lent seminar?<br /><br />Well, I’ll explain that later. For now, it’s Holy Saturday, and Eman the Ezrahite will guest blog. Happy Easter, all!<br /><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee. Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my petition. For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to hell.I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help, </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cast off from thy hand. They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death. Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me. Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth: My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee? Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee. Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me? </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled. Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me. They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compassed me about together. Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery. (<em>Psalm 88[87]</em>)</span></p></blockquote></div></div>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-73131632268250251222010-03-09T16:12:00.002-06:002010-03-09T16:43:48.839-06:00The First Precept<a href="http://escproductions.bizland.com/hpics/eucharisticon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 421px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 640px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://escproductions.bizland.com/hpics/eucharisticon.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11507b.htm">Parochial Mass</a><br />“The <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11499b.htm">parish</a> is established to provide the parishioners with the helps of religion, especially with Mass. The <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11499b.htm">parochial</a> Mass is celebrated for their welfare on all <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14335a.htm">Sundays</a> and holidays of <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11189a.htm">obligation</a>, even when suppressed. The <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11499b.htm">parish</a> <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12406a.htm">priest</a> is not <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11189a.htm">obliged</a> to say it personally; but if he does not, he must offer his own Mass for that intention. Parishioners now fulfil their <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05215a.htm">duty</a> by assisting at Mass in any church; but formerly they had at least to hear a Mass in the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11499b.htm">parish</a> church (ch. "Vices", 2, "De treuga et pace" in "Extrav. Comm." of <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14032b.htm">Sixtus IV</a>, n 1478)”. [New Advent, my emphasis]</div><div> </div><div>One of the things that motivates me to blog is that our God has offered us INFINITE grace, yet we can only catch so much. And despite our finite capacity to receive grace, it is still amazing to me that the laity, and even some religious, will not place it as a priority to capture more of the grace that is offered. Often we do so little, usually out of ignorance, but sometimes out of a lack of motivation.</div><div><br />As astonished as I am, at the same time, I understand this problem personally. As I blog about this, I am in no position to demonstrate an example of someone capturing this grace. I’m only sounding the alarm. I’m not in fact realizing this in my own life.</div><div><br /><a href="http://armpewcritics.blogspot.com/2009/08/liturgical-prefigurement-of-cross.html">I blogged earlier</a> on Father Schnipple’s excellent article, Jesus the New Passover. I quoted this line before, but my focus was on the prefigurement of the cross. I want to now point to this final two lines of the quote, which say so much.</div><div><blockquote>“Each of these lambs, by the thousands, would be carried out of the Temple<br />and to the homes of the people in and around Jerusalem. ‘Crucified lambs’ were<br />being offered for the people.”<br /></blockquote><br />The sacrifice was, in a sense, completed at the temple, when the High Priest partook, or consumed, the sacrifice that was, “offered for the people.” But in another sense, participation in the sacrifice was extended to the people, as the lambs were delivered to them by acolytes of the temple, from the temple altar to their home liturgical celebrations. Thanks to this insight, we can see with clarity the prefigurement of our Parochial Mass, offered, “for [the parishoners’] welfare on all Sundays…” </div><div><br />Mother Church, in Her wisdom, requires us to “hear” or “assist” at this mass if we are reasonably able to do so. I think the “pain of mortal sin” component is to negatively motivate us to do what we might decline to do in the positive sense, which is to participate in the perfect sacrifice that offers us a flood sanctifying grace, the <a href="http://www.tanbooks.com/doct/divine_grace.htm">Life</a> and <a href="http://armpewcritics.blogspot.com/2009/04/catholic-church-love-of-jesus-for-you.html">Love</a> of the Trinity, and makes reconciliation with God the Father possible, for ourselves and for the whole world. Who in their right mind would fail to take part in that? No names now, that was rhetorical.</div><div><br />Those of us not called as priests have to realize that though our participation may not be essential for the sacrifice, it is essential for us and for those whom, for any reason, are not there. Not just to be in good standing, but to be true disciples. Do we realize this?</div><div><br />The human soul has a great capacity to compartmentalize our knowledge, and thus deprive our will from the realization of this great gift. Without that motivation, all too often take the Woody Allen approach of just showing up. We can also alter what the motivation should be, and as a result, we end up at mass to see our friends, sing familiar, catchy tunes, and leave with the warm and fuzzy that we’ve done our duty. This mass, if it’s all it’s cracked-up to be, should be something more than this. Shouldn’t it be?</div><div><br />Well, it’s your lucky day. I’ve spent countless minutes researching the best methods to improved participation at the mass, and I’m going to deliver to you that results of that thorough investigation. Let’s play Twenty Questions. Just take the following survey, and take note of any questions you answer in the negative:</div><div><br />· Do we often study ahead of time, even during the week before, the readings, Introit, Collect, Preface, Communion Antiphon, and Closing so as to more perfectly join in the prayers and mysteries during mass? </div><div><br />· Are we striving for proper etiquette and decorum while present in the nave? </div><div><br />· Do we bring our mass intentions with us, confident of Divine Assistance? </div><div><br />· Are we spending time in meditation, realizing His Real Presence in the tabernacle? </div><div><br />· Do we watch Father’s approach to the altar, aware that it is only he who can “dwell in thy tabernacle” or “rest on thy holy hill” with the rod of God in his hand? </div><div><br />· Are we praying or singing the Ordinaries and responses with conviction? </div><div><br />· Do we often listen carefully to God’s Word and the Homily, open to His voice? </div><div><br />· Do we recall our Mass intention during the Collect and the Offertory, so as to place them properly in the context of the Mass? </div><div><br />· Are we offering ourselves along with the gifts at the Offertory, not allowing the envelopes and sing-a-longs to become a distraction? </div><div><br />· Do we joyfully await His appearance on the altar? </div><div><br />· Are we following the spirit of the Eucharistic prayer, from the Sursum Corda through the Final Doxology? Not hanging on every word, but offering prayers for the Church, for the living, for communion with the saints, for the acceptance and blessing of the offering, for the etc., at the appropriate time?</div><div><br />· Is He adored by us when He arrives on the altar? <br /></div><div>· How often do we humble ourselves, convicted in our sinfulness and in awe of His majesty and mercy, as we await communion? </div><div><br />· Is there fervor in our approach to receive? </div><div><br />· If we receive, do we praise Him and express our thanks? </div><div><br />· If we don’t receive, do we make a spiritual communion? </div><div><br />· As we kneel after communion, do we ask Him for a virtue to combat our sinfulness? </div><div><br />· Do we receive, with joyful gratitude, the final blessing? </div><div><br />· Are we taking our time leaving, making sure our Lord is consoled by our appreciation for His presence and sacrifice? </div><div><br />· Do we reflect on the mass in the hours and days afterward to better embody the gift we’ve been given.<br /><br />So, how’d you do? Give yourself a point for each positive answer and see how you rate:</div><div><br />0 – Menace to Society – Please read Rev 13:5-8 and see if you qualify.<br />1-2 – Poser – But a strong candidate for a diocesan or parish staff position.<br />3-4 – CafeCat – I’m surprised you took the test. The picture of Jesus didn’t scare you away?<br />5-6 – Progressive – “We have been sung throughout all of hist'ry…”<br />7-9 - Fair Weather – I’d recommend starting a blog and pretending to know something about your faith.<br />10-11 – Average – Good job! This still would have been an F back in school.<br />12-13 - RadTrad – Please stop scowling every time we sing that fun, Gnostic hymn. <br />14-16 – Showoff – Your piety annoys us. Thanks for making the rest of us look bad!<br />17-19 – Cheater – You are going to Hell.<br />20 – Our Lady! – Or you can’t follow directions. Start over and read more carefully.</div><div><br />I wrote of our compartmentalized knowledge. We can’t repeatedly recite the Creed without knowing a great deal of our faith. Yet it is so easy and tempting to avoid any deep realization of what we know. So tempting and common is this compartmentalization that many of us forget what we know, and we can be easily led astray by subtle heresies about the nature of God, the Immaculate Conception, the Catholic Church as the only means of salvation, etc. </div><div><br />As hard as it is to believe, if we come away from mass linked more closely to Our Blessed Lord, we too can become, “A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” At the risk of sounding too modernistic, they do have a point when they stress that we are His body. Saint Paul used to stress that too. Thus, no matter what our priorities actually are (and hopefully our priorities align nicely with God’s), we could hardly do better for the greater glory of God, for ourselves, for our family, for our friends, for our Church, for our parish, for our superiors, for our cohorts, for our subordinates, for our enemies, for complete strangers, and for all of creation, than to DO MASS BETTER!</div><div><br />Maybe “doing Mass better” isn’t the absolute highest priority in life – I really don’t know. But I think it can be reasonably argued as such a priority. This can be pointed to in many ways, but for the sake of space, I will simply point to the short instruction contained in the <a href="http://www.marianland.com/baronius/daily_missal_1962.html">1962 Roman Missal</a>:</div><div><blockquote>Of all the practices recommended by our holy religion: Morning and Evening Prayers, Prayers before and after Meals, Visit to the Most Holy Sacrament, Rosary, Way of the Cross, etc.--the august Sacrifice of the Mass is infinitely greater. It is the most precious, the most holy of practices, as well as the most conducive to man's salvation.</blockquote></div><div>As we stand now in the heart of Lent, the time of conversion, we should look once again at our priorities. Doing Mass well, better than we have, should be high on our list. One will find no other thing that supports greater spiritual benefit. Shouldn’t we all desire that?</div><div><br />I don’t think I heard any objections, so I’ll continue. Practically speaking, how can we pray the Mass well? I’m here to help. Here's four things you can do:</div><div><br />1. First, make sure to follow the advice of <a href="http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/PartEssayContents/Index/100/SubIndex/103/EssayIndex/1">Pope Saint Pius X</a> [my emphasis]:</div><div><br /><blockquote>The Holy Mass is a prayer itself, even the highest prayer that exists. It is the Sacrifice, dedicated by our Redeemer at the Cross, and repeated every day on the Altar. If you wish to hear Mass as it should be heard, you must follow with eye, heart, and mouth all that happens at the Altar. Further, you must pray with the Priest the holy words said by him, in the Name of Christ and which Christ says by him. <strong>You have to associate your heart with the holy feelings which are contained in these words and in this manner you ought to follow all that happens on the Altar</strong>. When acting in this way you have prayed Holy Mass.</blockquote></div><div>For us in today’s Church, were very little is whispered at the altar, one would think this would be easily accomplished. But because we hear the same words echoed week after week, we rarely “associate [our] heart[s] with the holy feelings” at each point in the Mass, most notably from the Offertory onward. Typically, we let the predictable words flow empty through our ears. This requires true “active” participation. This require the study of the Mass and attempting to find out where our hearts should be at any time. Thus, during Mass, we can “active”-ly put our hearts where they need to be.</div><div><br />2. Read Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict XVI. <br /></div><div>Books like <a href="http://www.ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=773&SKU=SPIL-H&ReturnURL=search.aspx%3f%3fSID%3d1%26SearchCriteria%3dspirit+of+the+liturgy">Spirit of the Liturgy</a>, <a href="http://www.ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=721&SKU=FF-P&ReturnURL=search.aspx%3f%3fSID%3d1%26SearchCriteria%3dFeast+of+Faith">Feast of Faith</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Song-Lord-Christ-Liturgy/dp/0824515366">A New Song for the Lord</a>, <a href="http://www.ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=2005&SKU=GIN-P&ReturnURL=search.aspx%3f%3fSID%3d1%26SearchCriteria%3dgod+is+near+us">God Is Near Us</a>, and his series on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Nazareth-Pope-Benedict-XVI/dp/1586171984/ref=pd_cp_b_1">Jesus of Nazareth</a>. Take my word for it. HE KNOWS THIS STUFF! Why go to The Shack to unlock the mysteries of faith when you can learn from a man who knows it, and communicates it better than anyone. An easy read? By no means do I mean that. But with time, patience, and prayerful reading, he can shed considerable brightness on your blind spots. This Pope is grace for our times. Take advantage of his wisdom.</div><div><br />3. Go back through the test taken above. Correct shortcomings.</div><div><br />4. Go to my Mid-Lent Virtual Seminar</div><div><br />Yes, I’m going to offer a Mid-Lent Virtual Seminar. I hope you will attend. It will most certainly help with your Mass.</div><div> </div><div>Please read the sidebar to reckognize my numerous creditials and expertice for this. Expect the Seminar to begin in the next few days, give or take a week, and run for 14 or so posts. Consider it like the Way of the Cross, without the indugences or any devotional grace.</div><div> </div><div>But whether you attend the Seminar or not, please take away one thing - pray the Mass. Every Mass offers the opportunity to participate in something beyond anything we could imagine. Jesus Christ is there, through the liturgy, offering our petty gifts to the Father, transformed in His holy hands. You're prayer for the conversion of your sister, or comfort for your dying mother, or for that job that you need to support your family, or for the victims of earthquakes - how are they best offered? Going straight to God yourself? That's good. Going through the Mother of God? That's better. But in the hands of Jesus, the High Priest, the Saving Victim, offered directly to the Father? If prayer is better heard from the righteous, you have no better hearing for your prayers than this.</div><div> </div><div>Don't waste the precious gift of the Mass. Pray it well.</div>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-80438381166574927182010-02-17T05:16:00.003-06:002010-02-17T05:34:22.406-06:00A Bad StartWake up. Get excited! Today is the start of a magnificent journey of prayer, penance, and renunciation, and I need to get worked up about it. Yawn.<br /><br />I stagger to the coffee maker. Can't find the normal water-fill cup used for coffee. Have to use a smaller one. This means two trips to the refrigerator.<br /><br />On the second trip, I spy a tasty morsel of chicken enchilada on the casserole pan from last night. Toss in mouth. Not much chewing needed. As I'm filling the cup at the fridge and the morsel is headed toward my throat for swallowing, it hits me.<br /><br />FASTING! ABSTINENCE! AHHHHHH!<br /><br />Ten seconds of intense spitting back into the casserole dish. Leave for wife to clean. Use water to wash-out mouth. Start coffee.<br /><br />Read morning prayers with wife. Almost say the A-word after the opening Glory Be. Finish prayers. Ask out loud, "Is coffee okay for fasting?" I'm the cradle Catholic, so a definitive answer wasn't expected. Fill coffee cups for both. Make a conscious decision not to google for an answer on the coffee.<br /><br />Prepare to open breviary. Look up at crucifix. AHHHHH! THE PALMS ARE STILL UP!<br /><br />This was the first hour of the first day. Only 959 hours to go.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ironiccatholic.com/2010/02/sure-beats-o-lord-throughout-these.html">Is your soul prepared?</a>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-88027172515857155452010-02-14T14:05:00.002-06:002010-02-14T14:31:03.213-06:00Happy Contraceptives Day!Ok, ok, maybe its not an official <del>holy day</del> holiday in our country just yet, but personal sexual <del>slavery to lust</del> "freedom" seems to have become the de facto religion of our country, if you consider how pervasive contraceptives have become.<br /><br />But what to do with all of those leftover birth control trays? Surely throwing them in the trash only adds to the amount of dangerous hormone that <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/124939_estrogen04.html">goes into the environment and creates genetically mutated fish and frogs</a>. We can't recycle those containers, and it is un-American to even consider <i>reducing</i> birth control pill use. The only thing left is to reuse. BUT HOW?<br /><br />Glad you asked! What better way to say "I love you" than to give your sweetheart chocolate? Of course it is to give them chocolate shaped like birth control pill containers!<br /><br /><center><img src="http://z.about.com/d/contraception/1/0/S/4/-/-/BirthControlPillCandy.JPG"></img></center><br /><br />Amazingly, someone actually came up with the idea of creating a baking mold out of those old containers. And, really, I can't think of a better icon to what American culture has reduced Valentine's Day. St. Valentine, pray for us. Pray for us all.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08592538623046593819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-16714581286814825372010-02-09T13:05:00.003-06:002010-02-09T14:23:18.172-06:00Masculine Discussion on Feminism<center><img src="http://www.wildabouttheworld.com/gallery/data/505/Gorilla.jpg" height="400" width="358"></img></center><br />Tonight, the Lay Mystagogues will be fitting on our boxing gloves and attending the <a href="http://www.aotmclub.com/">Argument of the Month Club</a>'s argument over "<a href="http://www.aotmclub.com/?p=420">Marian Femininity vs. Modern Feminism</a>." <br /><br />Now for those of you who don't know, the AOTM is a club for men alone. That is, real "manly" men, who like to eat "manly" meals, and who apparently like to emphasize that they are "manly" at every opportunity. Being secure in my own masculinity, even though I have never considered myself a "manly" man with all the fixin's that go along with that, like toting a power drill, or guzzling beer, or smashing empty beer cans on my forehead, this whole emphasis on "manliness" to me seems, well, pretty "unmanly". Here is a sampling from the dinner menu tonight (sic):<br /><blockquote>Apetizer: AOTM Louisiana Hot Wings for starters and yes celery for those girly men who are watching their girlish figure. But for the real man who want taste, we have Blue Cheese dressing to stick that celery in.</blockquote>Now I must admit that I have never attended the AOTM Club before, and although it is tempting to cover my entire body in blue paint with a giant letter "J" on my chest (for "Jesus" naturally) in order to fit in, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that all this "manliness" is just sort of a tongue-in-cheek celebration of being men.<br /><br />Aside from all this chest thumping, the question that comes to mind is this: Why are a bunch of <u>men</u> discussing the appropriate way for <u>women</u> to be feminists? As a man, I am must more interested in being a real man, like Jesus, than how a woman can be a real woman, like Mary. But no women will benefit from such a discussion because women are not allowed is this meeting to talk about how women should behave. Apparently I'm supposed to go home to lay down the law and, from my chair as high-manly-priest of my home, instruct my subordinates, including (apparently) Mrs. Andy, how to appropriately behave.<br /><br />It just seems wrong, yet somehow intriguing. I pray that this group's need to feel manly is simply a "tongue in cheek" attitude. If worse comes to worse, I will just get big and fat tonight on the all-you-can-eat buffet. You know, like a REAL man.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08592538623046593819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-4071211808334201492010-02-09T06:01:00.005-06:002010-02-09T13:38:22.624-06:00The Lion as Catholic<a href="http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~ichthus/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/screwtape1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 196px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~ichthus/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/screwtape1.jpg" /></a><br /><div><blockquote><span style="color:#006600;">Certainly we do not want men to allow their Christianity to flow over into their political life, for the establishment of anything like a really just society would be a major disaster. On the other hand we do want, and want very much, to make men treat Christianity as a means; preferably, of course, as a means to their own advancement, but, failing that, as a means to anything—even to social justice. The thing to do is to get a man at first to value social justice as a thing which the Enemy demands, and then work him on to the stage at which he values Christianity because it may produce social justice. For the Enemy will not be used as a convenience. Men or nations who think they can revive the Faith in order to make a good society might just as well think they can use the stairs of Heaven as a short cut to the nearest chemist's shop. Fortunately it is quite easy to coax humans round this little corner. Only today I have found a passage in a Christian writer where he recommends his own version of Christianity on the ground that "only such a faith can outlast the<br />death of old cultures and the birth of new civilisations". You see the little rift? "Believe this, not because it is true, but for some other reason." That's the game, (C.S. Lewis, <em>The Screwtape Letters</em>, Letter XXIII)</span></blockquote></div><div></div>Admittedly, I dive into to politics often. I'm sure this makes my apologetics partner grown. There is a very good reason, though. And <a href="http://spectator.org/archives/2010/02/08/the-lion-as-catholic/print">Phil Lawler's reveiw</a> of Ted Kennedy's posthumous autobiography, <em><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/True-Compass/Edward-M-Kennedy/e/9780446539258">True Compass, A Memoir</a></em>, puts that reason into perspective (my emphasis).<br /><blockquote><span style="color:#663366;">Because they concentrated so heavily on the misbehavior that he never denied, most of Kennedy’s conservative critics failed to realize the real political masterstroke that he never discussed. <strong>Over the course of his political career, Kennedy steered steadily leftward without endangering his popular support in Massachusetts; he brought his constituency along with him</strong>. Still more remarkably, he became more and more open in his conflicts with the Catholic Church—eventually becoming the most influential opponent of Catholicism on key public issues—while remaining the most visible Catholic legislator in Washington.<br /><br />Throughout his public life, and especially at his death, Ted Kennedy was identified as a devout Catholic. He was, after all, the standard-bearer for the most famous Catholic family in America. His brother had been the country’s first Catholic president; his father was so close to Boston’s Cardinal Cushing that he referred to him as “Richard” (which is curious, really, since everyone else in Boston called him “Dick”); he himself had received his First Communion from Pope Pius XII.<br /><br /><strong>How did Kennedy manage to maintain the public perception that he was a loyal Catholic, even while he worked to shatter the solidarity that once characterized the Catholic voting bloc</strong>? How did he keep alive the traditional presumption that ethnic Catholics belonged in the Democratic Party, even as the Democratic Party began to marginalize anyone who upheld Catholic moral teachings? That question is never addressed in <em>True Compass</em>. In his memoir, as in his public career, Ted Kennedy deflects attention from his most remarkable—albeit ultimately destructive—achievement. </span><br /></blockquote><br />Lawler, in his review, details the political shift that brought Catholic Democrats to the place of defending the culture of death. I'm not sure this was all Ted Kennedy's doing. It's hard to believe one man could scandalize an entire region and a good percentage of the nation. The evil "Spirit of Vatican II" was quite active in this political transition of American Catholics, and this transition obviously transcended politics. Nevertheless, I must concede to Lawler two points. One - <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/25/catholic-book-raises-furor/print/">He's clearly an expert on the matter</a>. Two - I was once one of Ted Kennedy's scandalized.<br /><br />But that is for another time. I've blogged about Kennedys before, and may soon after.<br /><blockquote><span style="color:#000099;">Kennedy mentions his Catholicism hundreds of times in this book, but almost invariably he is referring to the cultural heritage of Catholicism rather than to its doctrinal content or its spiritual exercises—the form rather than the substance of his faith. Still he insists that his faith shaped his political outlook. In one of the book’s most revealing passages, he relates how his thoughts matured as he entered adult life:<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;"><em>"My own center of belief, as I matured and grew curious about these things, moved toward the great Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25 especially, in which he calls us to care for the least of these among us, and feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, visit the imprisoned. It’s enormously significant to me that the only description in the Bible about salvation is tied to one’s willingness to act on behalf of one’s fellow human beings."<br /></em><br />It boggles the mind that an adult Catholic—who presumably heard the Scriptures read at every Sunday Mass, even if he never read the Bible himself—could claim that there is only one passage in the Bible addressing the question of salvation. But the above quotation contains another sign, less obvious but even more telling, of the author’s detached attitude toward his faith. When he says that “he calls us to care for the least of these among us,” Kennedy never identifies who “he” is. The name of Jesus does not appear anywhere in this memoir.<br /><br />“All of my life, the teachings of my faith have provided solace and hope,” Kennedy wrote as he faced the prospect of death. He surely did draw solace from his faith, but<br />not guidance. He knew that the Church offered words of comfort; he never recognized that the Church also spoke with authority. So in his final illness, while he felt the need to write to Pope Benedict XVI, asking for the pontiff’s blessing, he still saw no need to renounce his long history of public opposition to Church teaching on the dignity of life.<br /><br />A Christianity without Jesus, a Catholicism without sacraments, a doctrine without authority: this is the conception of the Church that emerges from <em>True Compass</em>. Ted Kennedy saw Catholicism as an important part of his identity, of his family history, of his cultural patrimony. But his life story provides very little evidence that his faith shaped his political ideals. On the contrary, it seems clear that his political ideals shaped the content of his faith. The story of Ted Kennedy’s public life is, to an alarming extent, the story of a generation of Catholics—in Boston in particular, in America in general. It is, regrettably, not a story of how these Catholics shaped the<br />popular culture, but of how that culture changed their faith.</span> </blockquote>This is the story of faith kept at arms' distance, used, as Lewis wrote, as a means, and not embraced to the fullest. Faith is turned upside down. God is made in our image instead of the reverse.<br /><br />Probably the saddest chapter of his tragic life was revealed at his funeral, something Lawler mentions above. <a href="http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/08/31/revealed-ted-kennedys-letter-to-pope-benedict-vaticans-response.html">This was his letter, delivered by President Obama, to our Holy Father</a>. Oddly, it was read by Theodore Cardinal McCarrick to offer the mourners comfort. Instead, for those of us who were searching for something hopeful in his words to indicate a conversion, what Cardinal McCarrick read was confirmation of his fantasy faith, a platform for his pride, and persistent obstinance. Kennedy's intention seemed to be to lay out for Pope Benedict his cause for salvation, nay, canonization.<br /><blockquote><span style="color:#660000;">I want you to know Your Holiness that in my nearly 50 years of elective office I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I have worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty and fought to end war.<br /><br />Those are the issues that have motivated me and have been the focus of my work as a United States senator. I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field and I will continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone. I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, our Holiness, and though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. I continue to pray for God's blessings on you and on our church and would be most thankful for your prayers for me.</span></blockquote><br />(I can't say he did much for those "conscience protections", as his colleagues in the Senate passed a bill without any, and his legacy candidate made it clear that she didn't believe in them.)<br /><br />With all due respect, why Cardinal McCarrick thought this would be a fitting tribute at his funeral is beyond me. The idea that we can trumpet our own case for salvation (fudging or straight-up lying about the facts) and use the faith for whatever we see fit is a terrible heresy. It's plagued Ted Kennedy's generation, and every one since.<br /><br />What would have brought me more comfort is to find out that he received his sacraments before passing. That's more important than any accomplishments or failings that seemed to follow him to his death. Luckily, like other high-profile obstinate cafeteria Catholics, he was at the receiving end of prayers and graces, and had priests available at his last hour. That is what gives us hope that Kennedy will see God - not his expansion of government to solve the problems of the poor.<br /><br />It is most unfortunate that members of the Church seemed to be agreeable to Kennedy's public version of faith, thus allowing his scandal wide influence for 40 years. I'm grateful that those days seem to be coming to an end. But I can't help but note how tragic it was that his scandal wasn't addressed early, publicly when warranted, and consistently. Many will say that I don't know that it wasn't addressed properly. But how can 40 years of public scandal from a man wearing the Catholic label and no public rebuke from his bishop be considered proper?<br /><br />The errors of Kennedy in matters of faith are widespread. In fact, most all of us suffer from this tendency to some extent. Always remember to check your own version of faith with the one that has God's promise of Truth. Submit early and often, and root out your tendency to run with your own will.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-8096307422846964282010-02-02T09:46:00.014-06:002010-02-03T09:13:50.772-06:00My Eyes Have Seen Thy Salvation<a href="http://fr-d-serfes.org/spiritual/images/presentation.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 194px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://fr-d-serfes.org/spiritual/images/presentation.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><blockquote><span style="color:#990000;">Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui, secundum nomen tuum, Deus. Ita et laus tua in fines terrae;<br />Justitia plena est dextera tua.<br />Magnus Dominus et laudabilis nimis in civitate Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus.<br />Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum, Amen.<br /><br />We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple; according to Thy Name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth;<br />Thy right hand is full of justice.<br />Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised, in the city of God, in His holy mountain.<br />Glory be... (Introit for the Presentation of the Lord)</span><br /></blockquote></div><div><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VeiM4UpxFZs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VeiM4UpxFZs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /></div><div>The Feast of the Presentation is a favorite of my family, for reasons I've hinted about over these first few months of blogging. Maybe next year I'll blog about that. As for right now, I'm going to take it easy on Andy's lack of interest in my lengthy posts, and rather send you to one of the best bloggers I've found at liturgical reflections, <a href="http://hisdaughter02.blogspot.com/2010/02/feast-of-presentation-of-lord.html">Karinanne</a>. And <a href="http://vultus.stblogs.org/2009/02/presentation-of-the-lord.html">here is another one </a>sure to please from Father Mark.<br /><br />Don't forget to have your candles blessed today.<br /><br />But rather, I'm ALWAYS asked what a serious lay mystagogue does for fun. That seems to be the burning question of our many fans out there. Well, lots of things. It's really hard to narrow it down. But recently, I took some video of a bike ride I was on with Andy. I apologise for the music; Andy fancies himself a producer and it couldn't be helped. I think this gives you a glimpse into the personal life of a mystagogue spending his free time in God's creation.<br /><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/bq-ZmKczAfc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/bq-ZmKczAfc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><s>Groundhogs Day </s>The Feast of the Presentation is always a good time to start thinking about Lent. I think I'll be giving up extreme sports. And you? </div>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-86811643412042008002010-01-26T08:39:00.004-06:002010-01-26T10:46:49.907-06:00Contact CBS Now!CBS, the television network that will broadcast this year's Superbowl, is being pressured by the peddlers of the Culture of Death <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl/super-bowl/01/25/cbs.superbowlad.ap/index.html?xid=si_nfl">to not broadcast a pro-life commercial during the game</a>.<br /><br /><blockquote><p><span style="color:#660000;">A coalition of women's groups called on the CBS network on Monday to scrap its plan to broadcast an ad during the Super Bowl featuring college football star Tim <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tebow</span> and his mother, which critics say is likely to convey an anti-abortion message.<br /><br />The ad -- paid for by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family -- is expected to recount the story of Pam <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tebow's</span> pregnancy in 1987 with a theme of "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." After getting sick during a mission trip to the Philippines, she ignored a recommendation by doctors to abort her fifth child and gave birth to Tim, who went on to win the 2007 Heisman Trophy while helping his Florida team to two college football championships.</span></p><p><span style="color:#660000;">The New York-based Women's Media Center was coordinating the protest with backing from the National Organization for Women, the Feminist Majority and other groups.<br /><br />"An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sports event of the year -- an event designed to bring Americans together," said <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jehmu</span> Greene, president of the Women's Media Center.</span><br /></p></blockquote><br />You know, I get the point that abortion may be more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">divisive</span> than Budweiser vs. Miller or Pepsi vs. Coke. But the feminist concern is not about dividing, but rather that life argument is raised at all. As my <a href="http://armpewcritics.blogspot.com/2010/01/change-yes-we-can-but.html">previous post points out</a>, the pro-abortion argument only survives when it remains unchallenged. That is their concern. To them, the pro-life cause has no place anywhere, let alone the most-watched commercial stage.<br /><br /><strong>My fellow pro-life <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">bloggers</span>, please spread the word</strong>. We need everyone who can to <a href="http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php">contact CBS now </a>and encourage them to stand up to the pressure.<br /><br />As for me, if they decide to cancel the commercial, I will not watch the Superbowl, nor anything else on CBS for 2010. If they cancel, it is a clear message to me as a pro-lifer, one who wants to spread that message, that my patronage of their network is unappreciated. <em>That, however, won't be in my message to them</em>. They are planning on running it as of right now, and they don't need threats. They just need some backbone reinforcement. Thanks and admiration will do just fine.<br /><br />Timeliness is important. I'm sure there is support within the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">notwork</span> for dropping the ad, and that contingent won't give up. Some support right now might help keep this ad in it's prime-time location.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-31666561186867846902010-01-23T05:58:00.003-06:002010-01-26T10:48:07.500-06:00Change - Yes We Can! But...<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C-CC4MOTDwg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C-CC4MOTDwg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>UPDATE at bottom of post.</strong></span></p><p>There has been considerable chest-pounding in the wake of the Massachusetts Senate race. The conservative pundits have been celebrating the dawning of a new era, a paradigm shift, for the American electorate. President Obama promised "change", and he most certainly delivered. Not all of the change, though, was the same change he promised. Some of it was (e.g. coddling our enemies, selling-out our friends, massive government solutions for all those who earn less than average) and some of it wasn't (e.g. bipartisanship, line-by-line budget cutting, tax breaks for the middle class), but it was most certainly a change. As his presidency passes the first anniversary, more Americans are realizing that misdirected change is actually worse than the status quo. On January 19th, that reality was manifested in the election of Scott Brown. But is this the first gust of the winds of change, or was this a tempest in a tea party pot.<br /><br />One thing that struck me was how amazingly brazen was his competition. Martha Coakley, among her many striking statements, declared that devote Catholics, you know, the ones who actually believe in the sanctity of human life, <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2010/jan/14/martha-coakley-devout-catholics-probably-shouldnt-/">"...probably shouldn’t work in the emergency room,"</a> on the chance that they might be in a position to treat a rape victim and refuse the abortifacient morning after pill. Killing the unborn is so important to Martha that she made this her most vocal issue. Keep in mind, Scott Brown is not pro-life. He only believes in the so-called "common sense" provisions, like parental notification, a ban on late-term abortions, and conscience rights for medical personnel.<br /><br />In Martha's world, a woman's right to an abortion supersedes all other rights. The reason she declared that devote Catholics need not apply for medical jobs was to make that distinction between her abortion absolutism and Brown's softer pro-abortion position. Her campaign used this distinction to paint Brown as a heartless extremist. This tactic resonated well with a good portion of the electorate.<br /></p><p>Massachusetts is 44% Catholic, more than all the other religious affiliations combined. Martha herself is Catholic. Yet she made it clear that belief in what the Catholic Church teaches is extreme and justifies nixxing their rights expressed in the 1st Amendment of the Constitution in favor of a right which is no where expressed in the same document.<br /><br />We have a strong Catholic voting population. And we should also be able to assume that, among the rest of the 56% of the population, there resides a substantial number of people of good conscience who would recognize this blatant disregard of fundamental human rights.<br /><br />Rather, what we find is that this woman, whose positions should make her disqualified for any office this side of the free world, garnered 47% of the vote. That tells me that her radical statement on the second-class status of faithful Catholics might have changed a few minds, but it did not move the voting numbers like such a revealing statement should.<br /><br />Phil Lawyer breaks down <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=600">the real reason for the Brown victory and the likely fallout</a>, and unfortunately, despite all the giddy pundits, there isn't much to celebrate. </p><blockquote><p>It was, I am convinced, a long-overdue manifestation of independence on the part of the state's voters, who have been held in thrall for years by liberal ideology and Kennedy mystique. That's progress. </p><p><br />It was also a reminder that American voters, even in true-blue Massachusetts, resent the idea that their representatives in Washington might ignore their wishes and enact a sweeping federal policy-- like health-care reform, in this case-- despite heavy public opposition. With the arrival of Senator Scott Brown on Capitol Hill, the<br />unpopular plan is apparently dead. That's progress, too. (As C.S. Lewis pointed out, when you realize that you're headed in the wrong direction, the best way to make progress is to turn back.)<br /><br />However, I hope no one who read my analysis concluded that political sanity has returned to Massachusetts. We have a long, long way to go before a healthy political climate is restored. Consider: <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?ID=596" target="_blank">Senator-elect Brown is not pro-life</a>. On the issue of health-care reform his vote may benefit the pro-life position; the state's largest pro-life group saw that as reason enough to endorse his candidacy. But Brown did not appeal for pro-life support, did not use pro-life arguments, did not mention pro-life issues. On the contrary, while his opponent Martha Coakley made her unswerving support for abortion the #1 issue in her campaign, Brown did his best to dodge the issue. He may now suspect that he won despite the support of pro-lifers, and liberal journalists will encourage him toward that conclusion. <strong>Republican consultants will tell their candidates to imitate Brown's campaign strategy, avoiding the abortion issue</strong>. Already the new Senator from Massachusetts is being touted as the ideal GOP candidate: populist in approach, patriotic, conservative on fiscal questions, <strong>and silent on social issues</strong>. In the long run, the upset in Massachusetts is more likely to benefit the "big tent" Republicans than the pro-life movement.<br />...<br /><br />The Church remains silent. The majority of voters in Massachusetts are not registered in any political party. These independent voters swung the election for Scott Brown, demonstrating that they have finally escaped the magnetic force of the Kennedy family. But what will replace that influence? There's an old common-sense principle in politics: You can't beat somebody with nobody; you can't beat something with nothing. For 45 years Ted Kennedy offered a vision of what the political system should accomplish, and Massachusetts voters embraced that vision. When Martha Coakley put forward a very similar vision, the voters rejected it. But Scott Brown had no compelling vision. The Republican Party-- in Massachusetts, at least-- has no vision at all. And politics, like nature, abhors a vacuum. Someone will provide a new vision: a new model for politics. Who will it be? <strong>As I explained in my book </strong><a href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=catholiccultu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1594032114&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" target="_blank"><strong>The Faithful Departed</strong></a><strong>, the Catholic Church was once, not too very long ago, the dominant force on the local scene, and set the agenda for discussion of public issues. But for more than a full generation now the Catholic influence has been waning, and Church institutions have been co-opted to serve the purposes of a secular liberal ideology</strong>. </p><p><br />If ever there was a time for a genuine Catholic revival in Massachusetts, now is that time. But it won't be easy; we have miles and miles to go.</p></blockquote><p></p><p>This vote, and the general current of the country, is a rejection of the policies and tactics of the Obama administration. But one should soberly recognize that despite all that's happened in the last year, this nation hasn't embraced everything that is anti-Obama. There very well could be big victories for the loyal opposition over the next few years. This represents the ebb and flow of the political landscape, with the recent spike only came about because we have an aggressive administration that played too strong of a hand in too short of a time span. We haven't fundamentally changed. The liberals and their media allies only have to keep tearing down American values until something sticks, and they'll be back on top again.<br /><br />As Catholics, we need to reclaim what has been lost. How can so many Catholics feel just fine in the pro-abortion camp? As Phil stated, we have such a long way to go. <em>So don't take the wrong message from this election.</em> If anything, this election shows what a terrible state we are in today. The victory for Scott Brown was a great thing, a very great thing indeed. However, it doesn't mean a collective light bulb went off in Massachusetts. Politicians on both sides of the aisle didn't stop being liars and cheats, for sale to the highest bidder. The only paradigm that shifted was that voters realized that Obama wasn't the transcendent leader that they believed he was only a year ago. And many of them will forget that lesson as soon as they learned it.<br /><br />What we need is to begin to reclaim the Cafeteria Catholic into the genuine fold of the Church. Our bishops and priests are incrementally moving in that direction as best as I can see. This is one long road, though. The ranks of our priests are poisoned with some bad apples. Our parish and diocesan staffs are infiltrated with Marxists, feminists, and pragmatists. Our schools seem more of a reflection of the modern culture than an escape from it.<br /><br />We will know we are there when we can have open and frank discussions on moral issues like abortion with our neighbors. Abortion's worst nightmare is an honest discussion. Abortion cannot stand up to any logical construction. It stands upon lies and convenient sound bytes. Yet a real discussion can't take place. Even conservative talk radio avoids the issue. In public, both sides throw long-standing phrases past each other, and the real questions are never addressed. Bringing up a topic like this could even get you fired at work.<br /><br />How can any one's mind change if we can't talk about it? A unified Catholic Church is the first step in that direction. We can't transform the culture if we can't get our own house in order. If we have the Church as a solid base, the citizenry will find the courage to put abortion, and all other "extreme" issues, back into the public square.<br /><br />The message of this post: Hurrah for Scott! Now the rest of you, don't get your hopes up or let your guard down. Nothing earth shattering happened or is likely to happen soon. Our best hope is to support the Church in her movement away from silence and more towards cultural confrontation. </p><p><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>UPDATE:</strong></span> So, you ask yourself, what did he mean when he said, "Yet a real discussion can't take place?" If I could write good, maybe I would have wrote <a href="http://ignatiusinsight.com/features2009/dennehy_abortion1_may09.asp">something like this</a> here:</p><blockquote>A survey of the justifications advanced by scientists, philosophers, and other members of the elite class, such as judges, to justify the legalization of induced abortion reveals that they have abandoned rational inquiry in favor of ideology. For although their arguments have the trappings of the objectivity of scientific method and other marks of rational inquiry, it is clear that they subvert reason and manipulate evidence to actualize an ideal that they perceive to be above all rational criticism. This enslavement to ideology is but a reenactment of what happened in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia to the detriment of science and philosophy, not to mention the degradation of human life. </blockquote><p>Inatius Insight has a detailed explanation as to why we can't argue the case for life. <a href="http://ignatiusinsight.com/features2009/dennehy_abortion2_may09.asp">Part II is here</a>. That ought to make Andy's eyes glaze over.</p>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-85765460269329931832010-01-22T14:33:00.006-06:002010-01-22T14:36:50.340-06:00Smile!I thought I'd take a break from our regularly scheduled <del>"ramble"</del> "deep and powerful insight" to bring you something that may make you smile. <br /><br /><A HREF="http://kids.yahoo.com/movies/videos/video/17726768">It's time for your celebrity lullaby!</A>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08592538623046593819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-10320915492501564072010-01-09T17:20:00.005-06:002010-01-26T10:49:22.468-06:00Bringing Christmas to a closeMost have gotten beyond Christmas already, but I always milk it to the last minute. After all, mystery of the Incarnation is beyond us, so taking a fair amount of time with it is appropriate.<br /><br />Here is a good image to close it out.<br /><br />I saw this scene today for the first time in the <em><a href="http://www.ignatius.com/clare-and-francis-movie/">Clare and Francis</a></em> DVD Mrs. Jack gave to the family for Christmas. The scene bounces from Saint Clare at San Domiano and Francis on his way home from his visit with the Sultan of Egypt. These events may or may not have happened the very same Christmas, but when your movie is over three hours, you've got the right to take a few shortcuts.<br /><br />The images are powerful and hopefully lasting. Enjoy!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ArW47o4x9cs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ArW47o4x9cs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-45383838555594967852009-12-30T05:07:00.003-06:002010-01-26T10:45:47.547-06:002009 In Review<a href="http://www.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/balloon-boy.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 600px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 462px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/balloon-boy.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.blogtoilet.com/wp-content/gallery/gallery1/balloon_boy_200.jpg"></a>This week between Christmas and New Years Day is always prime time for news organizations to show you what a good job they did throughout the year keeping you up on current events. They remind you of what happened, since any news observer cannot remember back to the last newscast. They will also do some considerable editing and commentary to show that Obama's first year was a major success, especially considering all the turmoil he inherited from the Bush administration, which aparently includes <a href="http://www.nowpublic.com/world/janet-napolitano-homeland-security-chief-system-worked">Nigerian panty-bombers</a>.<br /><br />Yawn.<br /><br />If you are going to subject yourself to this media self-praise, I recommend reading a year in review from someone who remembers the events of 2009 <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/dave-barry/v-fullstory/story/1397654.html">a little differently than anyone else</a>:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>On a more upbeat note, the nation finds a new hero in US Airways Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, who, in an astonishing feat of aviation, manages to land a US Airways flight safely in the Hudson River after it loses power shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia. Incredibly, all 155 people on board survive, although they are immediately taken hostage by Somali pirates.<br />...<br />. . . President Obama, speaking on health care before a joint session of Congress, is rudely interrupted by Kanye West, who grabs the microphone and declares that Beyoncé has a better health-care plan. No, wait, sorry: The president is rudely interrupted by Republican congressperson Joe Wilson, who shouts ``You lie!'' Wilson later apologizes for his breach of congressional etiquette, saying, ``I should have just mooned him.''<br /></blockquote><br />You'll have a much improved recollection of 2009 reading this alternative than with CNN. It has been one crazy, unforgetable year. The good news is, 2010 will have its work cut out for it if it wants to be crazier.<br /><br /><br />A continued Merry Christmas, and may 2010 be all you hope for.</div>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-54244269820068496312009-12-28T11:07:00.005-06:002010-01-26T10:51:22.124-06:00REJOICE!<div align="center"><a href="http://familiesagainstplannedparenthood.org/pix/2009/innocents1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://familiesagainstplannedparenthood.org/pix/2009/innocents1.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Thus saith the Lord: A voice was heard on high of lamentation, of mourning, and weeping, of Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted for them, because they are not. Thus saith the Lord: Let thy voice cease from weeping, and thy eyes from tears: for there is a reward for thy work, saith the Lord: and they shall return out of the land of the enemy. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#006600;">(<em>Jer 31:15-16</em>)</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.parentingbeyondbelief.com/blog/stoned.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 227px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.parentingbeyondbelief.com/blog/stoned.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#cc0000;">And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;">(<em>Acts 6:15</em>)<br /></span></div>Matthew points us to Jeremiah for a prophecy of the Holy Innocents. We needed the pointer, because most people would have thought that he was referring to the Assyrian slaughter of the Kingdom of Israel. That is where most of her children, and those of her maidservant, resided. Save the tiny tribe of Benjamin, the tribal family structure of all her children all but ceased. The surviving dominant tribe of Judah and the priestly tribe of Levi would better be described as the children of her older sister Leah.<br /><br />But Matthew reminds us that the Word of God is not limited in meaning. The children of Bethlehem are hers, as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel%27s_Tomb">this is the location of her tomb</a>. Thus we can proceed to the words of comfort that dilute the sorrow of story. "Let thy voice cease from weeping, and thy eyes from tears: for there is a reward for thy work, saith the Lord: and they shall return out of the land of the enemy."<br /><br />Two years ago today, my family was in our parish chapel for Mass. My son, Jack II, a joyful boy that would give Saint Stephen a run for his money in the most angelic face category, was just a tad over two years old. His language was at a stage where he knew very few words of his own, but could do a manageable job of parroting what he's heard. Even before his birth, we thought this boy would one day be a priest. This day of two years ago, he would provide yet another confirmation.<br /><br />After communion, as the celebrant was finishing with the purification of the sacred vessels, the chapel was silent as can be. My son took advantage of the silence. He had quietly observed Mass from start to finish. He was too young to be bored. His older sister, Jackie I, was at that stage, and she was working her way through that boredom. Jack III wasn't yet a year old.<br /><br />The priest made his way to the chair to be seated for a moment. At this particular parish chapel, the congregation universally remains kneeling until the closing prayer. As the priest sat down, Jack 2, for no reason we can figure out, shouted twice, "Re-joice!"<br /><br />This brings to mind the words of Saint Paul from a little over two short weeks previous, "Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again, rejoice." It's Christmas, of course. This day of Christmas, though, reminds us that the Lord is a sign of contradiction (Luke 2:34, Acts 28:22).<br /><span style="color:#cc9933;"><span style="color:#006600;"><blockquote><p align="center"><span style="color:#cc9933;"><span style="color:#006600;">I am come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled? And I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized: and how am I straitened until it be accomplished? Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation. For there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided: three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against his father, the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother, the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (<em>Luke 12:49-53</em>)</span></p></span></blockquote></span></span>Since our first miscarriage, we've had a special connection to this Feast of the Holy Innocents. It's a sad connection, still in the back of our mind wondering what person was lost. Was it a boy or girl? What would he or she have looked like or been like? And try as I do, it is hard to understand why some die before baptism. I certainly have no claim to any merit for my baptism.<br /><br />It's hard. Any family that's been through it knows that, though the grief is handled in different ways. Most friends of ours are certain that they have saints in Heaven interceding for them. We do pray to our departed children, now three in number. As far as their status, all I have to say is that I don't know and the Church doesn't know. The news is primarily good, though:<br /><blockquote><p align="center"><span style="color:#990000;">As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,"allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. (<em>CCC,</em> 1261)</span></p></blockquote><p>I guess Limbo could be looked at as their worst possible fate, and that should be enough for my peace. Still, there is a pain that we carry. There is a desire that can't be fulfilled. And that's the way it will remain until the day that He fixes the mess that we make.<br /><br />This day two years ago, we were just two to three weeks from laying to rest our second miscarriage. The death of innocents read in the liturgy was a reminder of the innocents that the Lord himself took, by his own accord, from our joy. Quite appropriately, we often are reminded on this day in the homily that abortion is our modern day equivalent of this biblical slaughter, only on a much higher scale.<br /><br />But at least the abortionists can't see the face of the children!<br /><br />How could Herod's thugs have slaughtered children in their mother's arms? This kind of depravity is unimaginable. Certainly not unprecedented - from Genghis Khan to Hitler to Saddam Hussein, we have plenty of examples to show that this kind of depravity is possible. But still beyond imagination.<br /><br />Similarly, we celebrated the martyrdom of Saint Stephen just two days ago. They stoned him, even though they knew he was innocent. The Sanhedrin saw that he had the face of an angel, the face of innocence, and they still had him stoned.<br /><br />How could they? How?<br /><br />Early in Christmas, we commemorate two great acts of murder. It seems so distant from the tranquil adoration of the shepherds just a few days ago. Yet my son had it right. Rejoice! As one man with the blood of Stephen on his hands said, "Rejoice in the Lord always!" These days of Christmas should shock us out of our sentimental picture of an idealistic Nativity scene. The contradiction should not be blurred. If it is blurred, then we'll always be at the whim of apparent fortune.<br /><br />We must trust in the Lord, as the man with Stephen's blood on his hands once said, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." That means abortion, miscarriage, terrorism, despotism, genocide, starvation, etc., etc. Our challenge is to stay in the fight for good, but not be scandalized by the bad. Never get discouraged.<br /><br />Sorrow is as certain as death and taxes. If rejoicing is a certain reaction for us as well, we'll be much further along. How many of us have looked into the face of Jesus and sinned? We have the blood of God on our hands, yet that same blood can cover our sins. How's that for a contradiction?<br /><br />As we commemorate the death of innocents this Christmas, let us rejoice. Because to us was born the most innocent of the innocents, who will turn his own murder into our redemption. If the urge hits you, remind the somber that today is a day of Christmas - God came down to us -us in our depravity. No matter what happens, no act of evil will overcome that. Rejoice!<br /></p><span style="color:#006600;"><blockquote><span style="color:#006600;">And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. (John 12:32)</span></blockquote><p></span></p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FrcETzalrLA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FrcETzalrLA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p align="center">Thou must leave thy lowly dwelling,<br />The humble crib, the stable bare.<br />Babe, all mortal babes excelling,<br />Content our earthly lot to share.<br />Loving father, Loving mother,<br />Shelter thee with tender care!<br />Loving father, Loving mother,<br />Shelter thee with tender care!<br />Shelter thee with tender care!</p><p align="center"><br />Blessed Jesus, we implore thee<br />With humble love and holy fear.<br />In the land that lies before thee,<br />Forget not us who linger here!<br />May the shepherd's lowly calling,<br />Ever to thy heart be dear!<br />May the shepherd's lowly calling,<br />Ever to thy heart be dear!<br />Ever to thy heart be dear!</p><p align="center"><br />Blest are ye beyond all measure,<br />Thou happy father, mother mild!<br />Guard ye well your heav'nly treasure,<br />The Prince of Peace, The Holy Child!<br />God go with you, God protect you,<br />Guide you safely through the wild!<br />God go with you, God protect you,<br />Guide you safely through the wild!<br />Guide you safely through the wild!</p><p align="center"><br /></p>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-24369499933419716182009-12-24T03:37:00.006-06:002010-01-26T10:52:58.005-06:00God Among Us<a href="http://picture-book.com/files/userimages/132u/noroom.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 600px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 342px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://picture-book.com/files/userimages/132u/noroom.jpg" /></a><br /><div><blockquote>Come Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to the joy of your kingdom, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.<br />(Collect for Dec. 24th, <em>Roman Missal</em>)</blockquote></div><div></div><div><strong>Lo, the hand of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear</strong>. Rather, it is your crimes that separate you from your God, It is your sins that make him hide his face so that he will not hear you. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt; Your lips speak falsehood, and your tongue utters deceit.</div><div><br /><strong>No one brings suit justly, no one pleads truthfully</strong>; They trust in emptiness and tell lies; they conceive mischief and bring forth malice. They hatch adders' eggs, and weave spiders' webs: Whoever eats their eggs will die, if one of them is pressed, it will hatch as a viper; Their webs cannot serve as clothing, nor can they cover themselves with their works. Their works are evil works, and deeds of violence come from their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they are quick to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are destructive thoughts, plunder and ruin are on their highways. The way of peace they know not, and there is nothing that is right in their paths; Their ways they have made crooked, whoever treads them knows no peace.</div><div><br /><strong>That is why right is far from us and justice does not reach us. We look for light, and lo, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom!</strong> Like blind men we grope along the wall, like people without eyes we feel our way. We stumble at midday as at dusk, in Stygian darkness, like the dead. We all growl like bears, like doves we moan without ceasing. We look for right, but it is not there; for salvation, and it is far from us. For our offenses before you are many, our sins bear witness against us. Yes, our offenses are present to us, and our crimes we know:</div><div><br />Transgressing, and denying the LORD, turning back from following our God, Threatening outrage, and apostasy, uttering words of falsehood the heart has conceived. Right is repelled, and justice stands far off; For truth stumbles in the public square, uprightness cannot enter. Honesty is lacking, and the man who turns from evil is despoiled. The LORD saw this, and was aggrieved that right did not exist.</div><div><br /><strong>He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was none to intervene; So his own arm brought about the victory, and his justice lent him its support</strong>. He put on justice as his breastplate, salvation, as the helmet on his head; He clothed himself with garments of vengeance, wrapped himself in a mantle of zeal. He repays his enemies their deserts, and requites his foes with wrath.</div><div><br />Those in the west shall fear the name of the LORD, and those in the east, his glory; For it shall come like a pent-up river which the breath of the LORD drives on. He shall come to Zion a redeemer to those of Jacob who turn from sin, says the LORD. This is the covenant with them which I myself have made, says the LORD: My spirit which is upon you and my words that I have put into your mouth Shall never leave your mouth, nor the mouths of your children Nor the mouths of your children's children from now on and forever, says the LORD.</div><div><br /><strong>Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.</strong> See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.</div><div><br />Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: Your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, For the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. No longer shall violence be heard of in your land, or plunder and ruin within your boundaries. You shall call your walls "Salvation" and your gates "Praise." No longer shall the sun be your light by day, Nor the brightness of the moon shine upon you at night; The LORD shall be your light forever, your God shall be your glory. <strong>No longer shall your sun go down, or your moon withdraw, For the LORD will be your light forever, and the days of your mourning shall be at an end</strong>.</div><div><br />Your people shall all be just, they shall always possess the land, They, the bud of my planting, my handiwork to show my glory. The smallest shall become a thousand, the youngest, a mighty nation; I, the LORD, will swiftly accomplish these things when their time comes.</div><div><br />The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.</div><div><br />(Abraham was) the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Ca-inan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalale-el, the son of Ca-inan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.</div><div><br />Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,</div><div><br />and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,</div><div><br />and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.</div><div><br />And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of She-alti-el, and She-alti-el the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.</div><div><br />So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. (<em>Isaiah 59:1-21, 60:1-5, 18-22; Matt 1:1; Luke 3:34b-38; Matt 1:2-17</em>)</div>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-25890051058210873782009-12-22T15:42:00.006-06:002010-06-30T13:41:07.817-05:00Tale of Two HymnsAs one who has no schooling in music, formal or informal, I’d like to take my hand at music critic and historian, setting my mystagogical gaze at two hymns of the season. The two hymns honored for this treatment: <em>Angelus ad Virginem</em> and <em>Adeste Fidelis</em>.<br /><br /><strong>Hymn:</strong> <em>Angelus ad Virginem<br /></em><br /><strong>Background:<br /></strong><br />The word that comes to my mystagogue mind is “sweet”. Most encounters with God’s angels are anything but sweet. When Abraham met some angles, they went on to raze Sodom. Jacob fought one all night long, and almost won, until the angel decided to up the ante and made him gimpy the rest of his life. Balaam would have been annihilated were it not for his talking ass. Zachariah was made dumb for nine months. And Peter was hardly treated as if he were the Vicar of Christ. Thus was the way man and angle would mingle.<br /><br />This meeting between Gabriel and Mary was different. The angel’s gentleness and deference to his queen stands in stark comparison to other angelic meetings, and the hymn poetically delivers this message: This is no ordinary request, and she is no ordinary woman.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/NonEnglish/angelus_ad_virginem.htm">origin of the hymn is not precisely known</a>, but it’s latest composition must have been the mid-14th century when it was published in Ireland. The melodic organ accompaniment featured in the video followed several centuries later, and the cheery notes reflect it’s proper place in the liturgy on Gaudete Sunday.<br /><br /><strong>Translation:<br /></strong><br />Gabriel, from heaven's king<br />Sent to the maiden sweet,<br />Brought to her blissful tiding<br />And fair 'gan her to greet.<br />'Hail be thou, full of grace aright!<br />For so God's Son, the heaven's light,<br />Loves man, that He a man will be and take<br />Flesh of thee, maiden bright,<br />Mankind free for to make<br />Of sin and devil's might.'<br /><br />Gently to him gave answer<br />The gentle maiden then:<br />'And in what wise should I bear<br />Child, that know not man?'<br />The angel said: 'O dread thee nought.<br />'Tis through the Holy Ghost that wrought<br />Shall be this thing whereof tidings I bring:<br />Lost mankind shall be bought<br />By thy sweet childbearing,<br />And back from sorrow brought.'<br /><br />When the maiden understood<br />And the angel's words had heard,<br />Mildly, of her own mild mood,<br />The angel she answered:<br />'Our Lord His handmaiden, I wis,<br />I am, that here above us is:<br />And touching me fulfilled be thy saw;<br />That I, since His will is,<br />Be, out of nature's law<br />A maid with mother's bliss.'<br /><br />The angel went away thereon<br />And parted from her sight<br />And straightway she conceived a Son<br />Through th' Holy Ghost His might.<br />In her was Christ contained anon,<br />True God, true man, in flesh and bone;<br />Born of her too When time was due; who then<br />Redeemed us for His own,<br />And bought us out of pain,<br />And died for us t'atone.<br /><br />Filled full of charity,<br />Thou matchless maiden-mother,<br />Pray for us to him that He<br />For thy love above other,<br />Away our sin and guilt should take,<br />And clean of every stain us make<br />And heaven's bliss, when our time is to die,<br />Would give us for thy sake;<br />With grace to serve him by<br />Till He us to him take. Amen.<br /><br /><strong>Video:</strong><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-ith5FF-P9U&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-ith5FF-P9U&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong>Hymn:</strong> <em>Adeste Fidelis<br /></em><br /><strong>Background:</strong><br /><br />This hymn was composed by <a href="http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/o_come_all_ye_faithful.htm">John Francis Wade</a>, and Catholic Englishman who spent much of his life in the 18th century in exile from his homeland. His place of exile was town of Douay in Brittany, which was a center of exile for English Catholics. The plight of English Catholics was foremost in his life, as he, in 1745, fought on the side of Prince Charles Edward Stuart in his failed attempt to claim his rightful thrown.<br /><br />Despite the Jacobean origin of this masterpiece, bygones are bygone in modern times, and Wade’s hymn is universally sung by Anglicans and Catholics alike as the most popular way to greet the Christmas celebration. The text praises the mystery of the Incarnation, and beckons all of mankind to adore the divine Christ Child. But it mixes very interestingly with a melody of defiance, influenced by nationalism and the counter-reformation. The video offered, a choice sure to please <a href="http://armpewcritics.blogspot.com/2009/05/things-could-be-worse.html">Andy’s personal taste</a>, highlights this defiant strain, welded perfectly to the news of glad tidings (see if you can spot Mr. and Mrs. Andy).<br /><br /><strong>Translation:<br /></strong><br />YOU’RE ALL WORTHLESS AND WEAK! THAT’S WHY YOU NEED A SAVIOR!<br />NOW DROP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND GET TO BETHLEHEM!<br />IS THAT AN AMULET ON YOUR ROBE?<br /><br /><strong>Video:<br /></strong><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/De47fjHRKY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/De47fjHRKY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-12434897975846183362009-12-21T21:15:00.003-06:002009-12-21T23:32:57.511-06:00Our Darkest Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoykUPRnAoIctqnipgeHUru-GmNQ6YpPWjauF1CiU7q796tkvECJMMRIxDBt-9j3r1ZZ1WaXHaxPhfUR4zn4Fi-skZ6PwTt6tMZ_ZRh-nWm1wuQbHeKUjM5bTuRBKt4VL9L41GW6VR8NpA/s1600-h/Radient+Dawn.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417924449562177586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoykUPRnAoIctqnipgeHUru-GmNQ6YpPWjauF1CiU7q796tkvECJMMRIxDBt-9j3r1ZZ1WaXHaxPhfUR4zn4Fi-skZ6PwTt6tMZ_ZRh-nWm1wuQbHeKUjM5bTuRBKt4VL9L41GW6VR8NpA/s400/Radient+Dawn.JPG" /></a><span style="color:#663366;"> <blockquote><span style="color:#663366;">And he hath broken my teeth one by one, he hath fed me with ashes. And my soul is removed far off from peace, I have forgotten good things. And I said: My end and my hope is perished from the Lord. Remember my poverty, and transgression, the wormwood, and the gall. I will be mindful and remember, and my soul shall languish within me.<br /><br />These things I shall think over in my heart, therefore will I hope. The mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed: because his commiserations have not failed. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, said my soul: therefore will I wait for him. (<em>Lam 3:16-24</em>)<br /></span></blockquote></span><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><blockquote><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia. (Charles Schultz)<br /></span></blockquote></span><br />This image of the Rising Dawn, Orient, Dayspring, or Sun of Justice (depending on the verse or translation), is one of the most used of the coming Christ. There seems to be something in our human programming that attracts us to this as it seems universal among various pagan religions. What images hope like the rising sun? It’s often used in analogies for certainty, as in, “As sure as the sun rises in the east…” And as this rising sun, an image of the our Lord’s Advent, Nativity, Resurrection, and Return, a hope we can believe in with certainty, comes up over the snow (the picture is the view from my doorstep), today in Vespers, we address our Savior as “Oriens”, the Rising Dawn.<br /><br />I’m sure the ancient mystagogues figured this out years ago, but the dawn of this day is special, since it's our shortest day, making “Oriens” a fitting placement on the calendar.<br /><br />This brings to mind an interesting documentary I saw last year, <a href="http://www.bethlehemstar.net/">The Star of Bethlehem</a>. It’s impressive. That’s assuming the self-produced film isn’t a hoax, and not being much of a star gazer myself I’m not in a place to pass judgment. The filmmaker and star, Frederick Larson, details his personal faith journey, his research and his amazing findings, showing what he believes is the real star. However, I was uncomfortable with part of what he stated.<br /><br />According to the film, as I can recollect, he found these amazing messages in the stars around the time of Jesus’ birth that seem to correlate with the biblical account. However, Christian Tradition was ignored, and without a good reason in my opinion.<br /><br />According to his figuring, the magi arrived somewhere around December 25th. I assume he’s using the Gregorian Calendar, but he didn’t specify. After showing these results, he goes on to say, “I’m not saying that Jesus was born on December 25th. I don’t think anyone believes that.” [My recollection of the quote]<br /><br />Well, I hate to break it to him, but I do. His findings actually might suggest it if he would take another look at them and the biblical Nativity. I’m a year removed from watching it, so I can’t document it completely, but I don’t think he took into account two facts:<br /><br />1. Zachariah was incensing the Holiest of Holies roughly six months before the annunciation. Such a ritual could only take place on one day in the year – Yom Kippur. This would have occurred between mid-September and mid-October, Gregorian (it would be interesting to see the actual dates of Yom Kippur from 2 and 3 BC). From a theological perspective, this makes perfect sense – to announce the forerunner, the one who will provide a baptism of repentance, on the Jewish Day of Atonement. This, quite conceivably, could have taken place on the Autumn Equinox. So, with some rough reckoning (Annunciation six months later, and our Lord’s Nativity nine months later) we can see, with the Bible as our guide, that Jesus must have been born sometime near December 25th.<br /><br />2. Under the Julian calendar, June 24th was the Summer Solstice, and December 25th was the Winter Solstice. Of course, June 24th is the Nativity of John the Baptist, the one who said, “He must increase, and I must decrease.” And, on the old calendar, the sun in fact did decrease daily, until the darkest day of the year, December 25th. God could pick no better day than this one to bring to us the Light of the World, when the world was most in need of light.<br /><br /><br />The date of December 25th fits biblically and uses the natural rhythms of nature to tell us something theologically. Frederick Larson, for all his interesting work on the biblical star, missed that. I still highly recommend this video – it is extremely impressive despite my quibbles. But it’s too bad, because even if he doesn’t give the date of Christmas credence, his research still points to it. His findings also gives the magi longer than twelve days to arrive at Bethlehem, something they would definitely need if they in fact launched from Susa, Babylon, Nineveh, or some other place of Zoroastrian-Persian origin. An arrival on January 6th (Julian) certainly wouldn’t seem out of the question with his findings.<br /><br />I guess the point is, Catholic Tradition is reliable, as sure as the sun rises in the east. In fact, more sure, because even the atheists know that the day will come when the day won’t come.<br /><br />And although I will keep in line with the Church and celebrate Christmas on December 25th, it is still not lost on me that Jesus was born on the old December 25th, the Winter Solstice, which is in fact today. Happy Birthday, my Lord!<br /><br />O Rising Sun, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. (Vespers Antiphon, <em>Divine Office</em> for Dec 21)<br /><div></div>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-18721668764410058352009-12-20T10:26:00.003-06:002010-01-26T10:54:21.540-06:00Light Number Four<a href="http://www.thewinedarksea.com/images/uploads/advent_wreath.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 480px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 640px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.thewinedarksea.com/images/uploads/advent_wreath.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><span style="color:#6600cc;">Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; But upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. (<em>Isaiah 60:1-2</em>)</span></div><br /><div></div><div>I was asked last year to write an article on the Advent Wreath for a parish newsletter. It was never published. But, here you go:</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;">The Spirit and the bride say, "Come.” Let the hearer say, "Come.” [<em>Rev 22:17a</em>]<br /></span><br />Please ask yourself, “Can I genuinely pray from the heart, ‘Amen! Come Lord Jesus!’ as John the Apostle did?” It can be difficult. For many of us, our lives are comfortable. We all have times of stress, anguish, and unhappiness, but most of us are not ready to trade the life we know for the tribulation of the Second Coming. Fear of this is understandable. But that fear can be replaced with “joyful hope” through the pious observance of Advent.<br /><br />What would Easter be to us were it not preceded by the journey of Lent, walking with our Lord to the Cross? So too, Advent is the key to the preparation for and appreciation of the Incarnation, manifested by a birth in the poverty of refugee lodging. God the Son condescended to become man. Imitate Him during this much-neglected penitential season.<br /><br />A simple, traditional devotion to aid your family’s liturgical focus is the Advent wreath. Place the blessed wreath at the center of your dinner table. After the family has gathered for the meal, turn off ALL the lights. Before the meal blessing, light the candles, one each for that particular week of Advent. The lighting should be accompanied by prayers, Advent hymns, or readings (made more challenging by the dark, of course), customized by your family’s preferences.<br /><br />From our faith, we know that we live in a world of darkness and Christ is our only light [Jn 1:3-5]. But our eyes adjust to the darkness, and we can fail to recognize our need for the Uncreated Light. This nightly devotion provides us a perspective on reality. The burning candles become for us, “…a symbol of the prophetic light gradually illuminating the long night prior to the rising of the Sun of justice.” [<em>Directory on Popular Piety, 98</em>]. The subdued light draws the family together and reminds them of Whom is at their center, and that they too are refugees until the day they behold the Eternal Light, gathered with their true family for a feast beyond imagination. After four weeks, even children will anticipate the Infant Jesus more than Santa Claus.<br /><br />Whether He’s descending the clouds, placed in a manger, or lifted by the hands of a priest, you and your family will welcome the Divine Guest in your heart, and pray with grateful longing, “Come, Lord Jesus!”<br /><br />For resources on this and other family Advent devotions, visit our Gift Center and view the Advent Workshop at www.catholicculture.org. </div></div></div>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-63564847400501620092009-12-19T19:41:00.001-06:002009-12-19T19:41:53.737-06:00"Mary, Did You Know?"Answer: YesJackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-31862103985091305832009-12-19T14:30:00.011-06:002009-12-19T19:54:22.383-06:00The Home Nativity Scene<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvdvIE5BXip_NAXpxIVI57jyesqBH6-Ch1DKncqJ807x46pm8zTVbTyc1vnk9SjKLY5K-5JbiTuYF9Jurqth3UUlWXQQ9aQ8TM3E8mhxYpq1Xn7o2oWgLR50fCTi9RQu355CK8Ucn-zAB/s1600-h/nativity.JPG"></a><div><a href="http://www.baptist-atlantic.ca/documents/nativity.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 350px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.baptist-atlantic.ca/documents/nativity.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#cc0000;">Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given to thee. (<em>Wis 6:37</em>)</span> </div><div><br />Ah, yes. Nothing marks the approach of Christmas like the home Nativity scene. This little addition to the home is the most popular and most explicit image of the event we celebrate. What is key, though, in this season of Advent, is not to write off the centuries-old tradition as a mere decoration to enhance the jolly tiding, but to spend time gazing on this scene. Use it for Advent meditation to invite the Baby Jesus into your home and heart. That's it's true purpose. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, not everyone gets this. As in years past, I took an interested role in the Nativity display this year. We have a little hearth grill in our dinette, a grill that's never been used for its intended purpose. This happens to be one of those vacuum spots in the home. I think all homes have these spots located in various places. Although we use the space to house fruit bowls and potato baskets, it inevitably vacuums in all those things that we don't want to put away. Junk mail, cell phones, bills to pay, tools from the garage, prayer cards, recipe books, various pieces from toy sets, refrigerator magnets, etc. </div><div><br /></div><div>Come Advent, we make it our Nativity location. It has a handy overhead light, and it really stands out as we eat our meals, particularly those meals lighted by the Advent candles. It also keeps the figurines out of reach of the really young ones. The only problem is, old habits die hard. </div><div><br /></div><div>This year, I took on the Nativity setting on my own. I carefully relocated the potatoes, onions, and the huge fruit platter. All those alien objects also were given a new home. Then the trusty Costco Nativity set was laid out on our added drop cloth and with a homemade backdrop. I resolved to make it a top priority to keep this scene clear in order to facilitate unobscured meditation. </div><div><br />Well, my resolve was not up to the task. And, hey, I have to admit, when we got into the major task of stocking our pantry with yummy homemade Christmas treats (some of which did get sampled early for quality control), even I, Mr. Resolve, resorted to using the hearth grill to gain the needed counter space, being too lazy to clean as we go. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's okay, I told myself. A momentary laps won't do too much damage. I re-resolved myself. I re-instructed the family. This was to be holy ground, and we shan't desecrate it with profane objects like grocery coupons! </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>After repeated requests and relocations, I came into the dinette to see tomatoes, fresh from, of all places, Costco, removed from their box and set neatly upon a platter, right there with our other Costco product. Well, no problem. Just pick up the platter, move it, and move on. Hours later, the tomatoes are back, this time without the platter.</div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417064671229539778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKjfjA8hx7b2kGDMLAeFQzyMV4TSIFNa7K3kUQRlIVCB8ywMMr8klPnjdU46DAuDBkQSgxA6MSJeUmCV7OxuhyTuwiTpW7PDGRKp8qInufi79KeoTv2CBnK0kVryih_zAUOZVUaPVU4TJ/s200/nativity.JPG" /><br />Resolve is officially spent. In fact, I think it is easier to change the story than it is to keep foreign objects out of the Nativity scene. So I've decided to just go with it.<br /><br />So with some slight editing, my favorite hymn, one of the first to rise out of the shadows of Cromwell's England (can you believe they banned Christmas Carols? Those Calvinists were serious killjoys) will need some slight editing.<br /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">While farmers watched </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">their crops by night<br />All seated on the ground</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">The angel of the Lord came down</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">And glory shone around</span><br /><br /></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">"Fear not," said he,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">For trembling</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">Had seized their tomato-stained hands</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">"Glad tidings of great joy I bring</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">To you and all of man,"</span></em><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">"To you in David's </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">Farm this day</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">Is born of David's line</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">The Savior who is Christ the Lord</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">And this shall be the sign."</span><br /><br /></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">"The heavenly Babe</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">You there shall find</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">Near ripe tomatoes displayed</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">And meanly wrapped in swathing bands</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">And in a havestbasket laid"</span><br /><br /></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">Thus spake the seraph,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">And forthwith</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">Appeared among the vines</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">Of angels praising God, who thus</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">On gaspacho they did dine</span><br /><br /></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">"All glory be to</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">God on high</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">And to the earth be peace;</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">Ketchup henceforth from heaven to men</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#009900;">Begin and never cease!"</span></em></div><br />I wonder what Cromwell would think of that one? Not that it matters. He never had to worry about keeping a manger scene pristine, that despot.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-90833032390291269122009-12-18T14:43:00.005-06:002009-12-18T15:20:03.058-06:00To Arms! To Arms!<a href="http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/graphics/paulrevereonhorse.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 228px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 350px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/graphics/paulrevereonhorse.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Okay, Armchair Activists. You are being called to call on some critical causes. Don't think about it. You are being implored by trusted sources, so just do it. Do it now, do it often.</div><div></div><div>Tom Peters is covering the healthcare sham, and he has some things you can do to help. He's asking you <a href="http://www.americanpapist.com/2009/12/action-thank-ben-nelson-for-his-pro.html#links">thank Senator Nelson</a> for standing up for the unborn, and to <a href="http://www.americanpapist.com/2009/12/video-catholic-votes-firm-reminder-to.html#links">remind Senator Casey</a> of his promise and obligation to stand up for the unborn.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br>And, hey, why you're at it, why not take some actions to kill this avenue for separating you from your money and freedom. <a href="http://www.hughhewitt.com/blog/">Hugh Hewett</a> is one of many sponsoring the <a href="http://www.capitolconnect.com/freeourhealthcarenow/">Free Our Healthcare</a> Now action.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br>And, while you're at it, please express your support for the implementation of the new English translation of the mass. <a href="http://adorotedevote.blogspot.com/2009/12/petition-supporting-new-translation.html#links">Adoro has the details</a>. We have a better chance of getting that done than we have avoiding the government takeover of healthcare (include abortions, contraceptives, and the firing of medical personnel for standing up their religious freedom), but don't let that keep you from supporting the bishops who want to do the right thing and are taking fire from the embedded liberals in every diocese.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br>Take 15 minutes, save the world, and get back to your day. </div>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-42889583962285107062009-12-18T05:35:00.004-06:002009-12-18T14:40:22.427-06:00A Good Lesson for Advent<a href="http://blog.acton.org/archives/13354-as-we-forgive-can-i-forgive.html">This post</a> from the Acton Institute, along with the documentary trailer, really struck me:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Just over a year ago, I traveled with the Acton Institute to Rwanda in preparation for a new project on poverty. Although we were there primarily talking to entrepreneurs about wealth and poverty, it was impossible not to have questions about the 1994 genocide. In less than 100 days, nearly one million people were murdered and tens of thousands were responsible for these deaths. Flying into the country with that knowledge, a mere 14 years later, I didn’t know what to expect. I was anxious and unsettled, the same sort of tension that I felt while visiting Tim’s body at the funeral home. The weight of death stood in stark contrast to such a vibrant culture.<br /><br />Genocide destroyed Rwanda — socially, economically, and politically. After some measure of stability was restored, the new leaders needed to find a way to further return order and rebuild the infrastructure that was lost. Punishing the murderers and enacting justice was immediately a problem. How do you uphold justice when the guilty are too many to count? The small, landlocked country didn’t have the prison space to lock up all of the killers. With an overwhelming backlog of court cases and little hope of full reparation, Rwanda’s leaders tried something revolutionary. Incarceration and execution were set aside in favor of reconciliation. Beginning in 2003, over 50,000 killers who acknowledged their part in the genocide were released and reintegrated back into society. The doors were opened for genocidaires to live side by side with the surviving members of families they had destroyed.<br /></blockquote><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dpcc79TykfQ&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dpcc79TykfQ&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Advent should help us to face the ugliest elements of our lives, reminded of the shortness of our time to fill the valleys and make low the hills. The Gospel of Gaudette Sunday contains a stark note of caution regarding the One, "...<em>Whose fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire</em>." Few things can focus the need for repentance like examining those in extreme situations:<br /><br /><blockquote>Filmmaker Laura Waters Hinson jumps headlong into the tension between the justified victim and the repentant killer. Her hour-long documentary, <a href="http://www.asweforgivemovie.com/" target="_blank" closure_hashcode_4pvpy1="7892">As We Forgive,</a> tells the personal stories of two women struggling to forgive the men who took their families from them. Hinson also shares the testimonies of the men, wracked with grief and remorse, as they do their best to find forgiveness and rebuild trust. With the help of Rwandan mediation groups, the victims and killers meet face to face in an<br />attempt to reconcile.<br /><br />There is nothing forced about the forgiveness process Hinson exposes in As We Forgive. She simply uses the camera as a window through which the audience watches it unfold. The story follows Rosaria, who has already forgiven the man who killed her family. Her journey in the film is one of re-building trust. I liked Rosaria immediately and was amazed by the peace and gentleness that flowed from her, despite the incredible hardships. But not so with another woman, Chantal, who has no desire to meet the man who wronged her. The pain she suffered is tangible and forgiveness is nothing compared to the justice she feels she deserves. Hers is a story of deep grief and a desire to withhold forgiveness.<br /><br />I will never forget the personal stories I heard from the survivors of the genocide during my visit. The stories of the killers, however, were not told nor did I ask to hear them. Hinson, on the other hand, has the insight to recognize the importance of the guilty men’s accounts. Both men describe the darkness that overcame them and how the weight of their actions has affected their lives. Their burden of guilt is heavy and, although terrified to meet and interact with Rosaria and Chantal, both men do whatever they can to redeem themselves.<br /></blockquote><br />Anyone else have trouble forgiving those in the family who squeeze the toothpaste from the top of the tube?<br /><br />Check out the whole post - I think it's a timely subject. While you're doing that, I'll head out to check Home Depot and see if they rent bulldozers. I've got to ramp-up my leveling project.<br /><br />Next mystagogue project - avoiding the "righteous anger" crutch. [Oh, how I love that one :( ]<br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">UPDATE - </span><span style="color:#000000;">I notice that the author of this post is a new contributor to the Acton Institute blog. She's got an interesting video of her own on Rwanda and poverty. Check this out:</span><br /><br /><br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6753577&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6753577&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6753577">Thoughts on Poverty.</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user687273">Tabitha Blanski</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-70870029012062501162009-11-29T07:01:00.001-06:002009-11-29T07:03:44.892-06:00See if you can Spot JackI saw this wonderful clip today. See if you can spot Jack!<br /><br /><object id="mediaplayer1615506744" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="384" height="318"><param name="movie" value="http://www.gloria.tv/?media=40096&embed" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://www.gloria.tv/?media=40096&embed" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="384" height="318" quality="high" scale="noborder" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" /></embed></object>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08592538623046593819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-30980472232629277432009-11-14T16:11:00.006-06:002009-11-18T08:48:21.695-06:00OSAS Defeated by a Single Two-letter Word<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW7qXFaLvx8rtt0KVg3nFQhIBFS7MSXZUz-TzsjKwG9Vcob4U5-9liVMOZh73Bytzc_zal_2HrIH7YdQDAiCv9BTO9s99tapbGQBF8Y2-VyH0E1YQfFF-bcZk4XyYBnXKu3GKnMqdFBs/s1600-h/IT.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW7qXFaLvx8rtt0KVg3nFQhIBFS7MSXZUz-TzsjKwG9Vcob4U5-9liVMOZh73Bytzc_zal_2HrIH7YdQDAiCv9BTO9s99tapbGQBF8Y2-VyH0E1YQfFF-bcZk4XyYBnXKu3GKnMqdFBs/s320/IT.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404099106840821810" /></a>As you probably don't know, I love apologetics, especially the arguments that I often see from our separated Bible-believing brethren, you know who. Sometimes I get in "study mode" and I turn on a Protestant radio station and listen to whatever is on.<br /><br />This morning, David Wheaton was on challenging people to call in and discuss OSAS, aka "Once Saved, Always Saved". He said that the most convincing argument in his mind for it comes in the tenth chapter of the gospel of John:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">John 10:27-29</span><br /><blockquote>My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. </blockquote><br />Aside from the knee-jerk apologetic reaction, the "Yeah, but we can take ourselves out of his hand", I decided to think a little deeper.<br /><br />The foundation of his argument hinged on the statement that he believes that "Those who have really been saved are saved", as in "those who have truly decided to follow Christ are saved". But that leaves the question, assuming his assertion is true - How do I know that I have truly decided to follow Christ?<br /><br />I think most people who follow OSAS assume that they have, but I have met a couple of people who have fallen away for a time and have come back. That leads them to believe that they weren't really saved in the first place, and then they realize that they can never really know if they are currently saved, or are they one of those who will fall away again?<br /><br />Let's look at the verse in John. The key to the argument is this: "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me." So if we are really his sheep, then we hear Jesus' voice. But how do we hear Jesus' voice?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Luke 10:1-3,16</span><br /><blockquote>After this the Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.</span>” </blockquote><br />In this verse, Jesus demonstrates the Church. This group of people he has called and sent forth to proclaim the good news. Those who listen to them, listen to Christ. How do the sheep hear his voice? Through the Church!<br /><br />But one may argue that the "Church" is nothing but the set of all believers in Christ, and in one sense it is, but that is not the Church that Christ established. He established a visible Church made up of true teachers, not an invisible Church made up of true believers (as many non-Catholics believe). How do we know this?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Matthew 16:18-19</span><br /><blockquote>And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against <span style="font-weight:bold;"><u>it</u></span>. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” </blockquote><br />Jesus said "IT". The gates of hell will not prevail against "<span style="font-style:italic;">it</span>". He didn't say "the gates of hell will not prevail against "<span style="font-style:italic;">them</span>".<br /><br />We sheep hear His voice, and the voice is His Church, the Catholic Church, founded upon Jesus and all of His teachings. And the teaching of the Catholic Church is that, unless we are predestined, that we are most certainly not "Once Saved, Always Saved."Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08592538623046593819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3905099428784628728.post-49530129060537366612009-11-12T05:37:00.006-06:002009-11-12T15:08:37.092-06:00Drive By PostA real quick post, and I need to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">yield</span> the computer to Mrs. Jack.<br /><br />Do you celebrate Veteran's Day or <a href="http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/11/customs-of-martinmas-feast-of-st-martin.html"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Martinmas</span></a>? I'd like to see us blend those traditions together. After all, St. Martin was a veteran, and a little more of a celebration is called for.<br /><br />Speaking of Veteran's Day, Amy Proctor reports that <a href="http://amyproctor.squarespace.com/blog/2009/11/12/obama-rejects-all-afghanistan-war-options-leaves-troops-hang.html">President Obama still can't make up his mind about what to do in Afghanistan</a>. His "thinking" this strategy over during the two bloodiest months of the war ought to remind voters that elections matter.<br /><br />On the abortion front, Jeff Miller calls for <a href="http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/archives/2009/11/tear-down-the-w.php">the wall to come down between social justice and the pro-life effort</a>. Amen. And Michelle <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Malkin</span> points out <a href="http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/11/the-14th-murder-victim-of-the-fort-hood-jihadi-massacre/">the 14<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> victim </a>of the Fort Hood shooting that the media will never count.<br /><br />So, you may ask, why is Obama dithering while our military personnel die? Why is there a wall between social justice and the right to life? Why can't the media note the 14<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> victim? All such questions are answered by that <a href="http://armpewcritics.blogspot.com/2009/11/berlin-and-fort-hood.html">very long post I wrote on the liberal dialectic</a>. Please read it and never question these absurdities again.<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">UPDATE: <a href="http://clevelandpriest.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-north-and-south.html">Father V.</a> does an excellent job of explaining the logic that favors abortion. Bravo! Along with finding the nearest common ground, true dialog on any important issue must start with defining the argument from the other side, with terms that both sides can agree on. Now, which pro-abortion blogger will step out an do the same from his side?</span> <blockquote><p><em><span style="color:#663366;">Can it be that </span></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsSbeuTjb0HC2YuIl8iHH7lebM4XLykoVgMRooVH6L3N6TxwCI86M7n1Rc9JBcwfE5nFa9G9qPSKsQ7Nb3vQTp3_9nrcFD4NJ5e4EPo-K0OSjBlPQJBZRfe3eEIOAj4mb7Kyh2rb4gdHD/s1600-h/ABORTION3.jpg" target="_blank" closure_hashcode_4f9m2b="1231"></a><em><span style="color:#663366;">we could exist as a country where one’s conscience can be the determining factor? The question becomes can a people live in unity where one sees a soul-less life to be treated as the “host” wills and the other who sees a person with legal and God given rights of peace, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?</span></em></p></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#663366;">I don't expect to see much of a reaction from the other side to an honest debate. That's something that historically hasn't played itself out. Those who subscribe to the liberal dialectic believe that all is fair to champion the oppressed, lies included. The truth is something to be feared. To date, no one has yet explained the pro-choice position on the beginning of life and stuck around to defend their logic. It won't hold up. Unless, of course, </span><a href="http://armpewcritics.blogspot.com/2009/06/im-speechless.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">someone is honest about it</span></a><span style="color:#663366;">. Then it holds up logically, but opens a new can of worms that would unify the nation against the practice. That's why a close, honest examination of the issue is avoided. In the liberal mind, the end is what matters, and it will be achieved by any means deemed necessary.</span>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04747757703724299047noreply@blogger.com0