tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71504472360249313262024-02-18T18:10:49.744-08:00St. Joseph's WorkshopJust another Catholic husband, dad and retired working stiff fooling around with a blog of his own.Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-78943631456355986702012-09-14T08:26:00.001-07:002012-09-14T08:40:41.060-07:00The Triumph of the Cross in our Lives<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAxRStQR-5CD3EIZNidrgUYVfZR9IgPILsq7uuAwwLe-Y4PAkWeVOOJ6eIWJaFl4NbS7ySZp1D-H-TR5qgCZTwNE7gkamwDTugPQ_BNVB_qBO2rVW2pMDHCHYvDnFQJOXlRPcUhVsR7A/s1600/exaltation_holy_cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAxRStQR-5CD3EIZNidrgUYVfZR9IgPILsq7uuAwwLe-Y4PAkWeVOOJ6eIWJaFl4NbS7ySZp1D-H-TR5qgCZTwNE7gkamwDTugPQ_BNVB_qBO2rVW2pMDHCHYvDnFQJOXlRPcUhVsR7A/s200/exaltation_holy_cross.jpg" width="160" /></a>Today the Church celebrates The Exaltation of the Cross. This feast was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century.
It commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on
Mt. Calvary by <a href="http://www.catholictradition.org/Passion/helena.htm">St. Helena</a> and preserved in Jerusalem, but then had
fallen into the hands of Chosroas, King of the Persians. The precious
relic was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heralius in
629.<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://new.usccb.org/bible/readings/091412.cfm">the Scripture readings for today's Mass</a>, we hear about about how the people were healed when they looked upon the brass serpent lifted up on a pole by Moses. In the same way (as we hear in the Gospel Reading) we should look the Christ's sacrifice on the Cross to heal of our sins, to place our trust in him, and imitate him in all things. Our Lord said elsewhere "Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38)<br />
<br />
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who was recently declared Venerable, used to say that any doctrine that rejected suffering and the Cross was of the Devil and should be rejected. He also remarked that without the Cross in our life, there would be no empty tomb. St. John of the Cross wrote "A person makes progress only by imitating Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. I would not consider any spirituality worthwhile that wants talk of sweetness and ease and that that runs from the imitation of Christ."<br />
<br />
The Cross is all around us. Yes, it tops our church steeples; we might wear one around our necks or hang one on our wall; we bless ourselves with the sign of it before and after prayer. The Cross is an ever-present reminder to us that while God's grace is free, it is never cheap. The modern gospels of "health and wealth, "name it and claim it" or "blab it and grab it" fall short. Our modern hedonistic and self-absorbed culture that allows one to follow a non-challenging religion of our own making is a trap and a lie.<br />
<br />
Thomas a Kempis, in Chapter 36 of Book 2 of the classic devotional work <a href="http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/akempis/imitation/chapter%2036.htm"><i>Imitation of Christ</i></a> "On the Few Lovers of the Cross of Christ" says this.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Jesus has many who love His Kingdom in Heaven, but few who bear His
Cross (Luke 14:27). He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire
suffering. He finds many to share His feast, but few His fasting. All
desire to rejoice with Him, but few are willing to suffer for His sake.
Many follow Jesus to the Breaking of Bread, but few to the drinking of
the Cup of His Passion. Many admire His miracles, but few follow Him in
the humiliation of His Cross. Many love Jesus as long as no hardship
touches them. Many praise and bless Him, as long as they are receiving
any comfort from Him. But if Jesus withdraw Himself, they fall to
complaining and utter dejection.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">They who love Jesus for His own sake, and not for the sake of comfort
for themselves, bless Him in every trial and anguish of heart, no less
than in the greatest joy. And were He never willing to bestow comfort on
them, they would still always praise Him and give Him thanks.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Oh, how powerful is the pure love of Jesus, free from all
self-interest and self-love! Are they not all mercenaries, who are
always seeking comfort? Do they not betray themselves as lovers of self
rather than of Christ, when they are always thinking of their own
advantage and gain? Where will you find one who is willing to serve God
without reward?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Seldom is anyone so spiritual as to strip himself entirely of
self-love. Who can point out anyone who is truly poor in spirit and
entirely detached from creatures? His rare worth exceeds all on earth.
If a man gave away all that he possessed, yet it is nothing. And if he
did hard penance, still it is little. And if he attained all knowledge,
he is still far from his goal. And if he had great virtue and most
ardent devotion, he still lacks much, and especially the `one thing
needful to him' (Luke 10:42). And what is this? That he forsakes himself
and all else, and completely denies himself, retaining no trace of
self-love. And when he has done all that he ought to do, let him feel
that he has done nothing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Let him not regard as great what others might esteem great, but let
him truthfully confess himself an unprofitable servant. For these are
the words of the Truth Himself: `When you shall have done all those
things that are commanded you, say, "We are unprofitable servants" (Luke
17:10). Then he may indeed be called poor and naked in spirit, and say
with the Prophet, `I am alone and poor' (Ps. 25:16). Yet there is no man
richer, more powerful or freer than he who can forsake himself and all
else, and set himself in the lowest place.</span>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-1917605287163560082012-06-10T13:11:00.000-07:002012-06-10T13:30:39.598-07:00What Is "Truth"? My Reply to a Seeker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7nqOMVVS2I7eQCAEEePE_4S9lumY8OiMpQeeREMuDtV9fS5WWZU04xbvGYe448KJ7FKcu-zzYCdIn00g1oFWRxPKotz0EJw3jDWJ7WbvTEBwLbsatlxFDTC09fmfebi3pIizx_mrHwQ/s1600/ge-truth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7nqOMVVS2I7eQCAEEePE_4S9lumY8OiMpQeeREMuDtV9fS5WWZU04xbvGYe448KJ7FKcu-zzYCdIn00g1oFWRxPKotz0EJw3jDWJ7WbvTEBwLbsatlxFDTC09fmfebi3pIizx_mrHwQ/s200/ge-truth.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
Last year, my little netbook (which was my primary computer at the time) suffered a catastrophic melt-down of the type that for a time basically left me without my own personal computer. All my files and projects became inaccessible and were, for the most part, gone for good (Wah!). I have since then learned the error of my ways and am backing up all my important data.<br />
<br />
Recently, I ran across a draft of a blog entry that I was composing at the time my netbook crashed and that I had presumed was gone forever. It was a reworking of an e-mail that I sent in response to a dear relative several years ago who was considering foregoing the Catholic Church for the religion of a friend (ironically, the relative was also experiencing computer problems at that time). We exchanged a few e-mails on the subject, and the question came up, "How can I know the truth?" Below is my answer (slightly edited) which I thought I'd share here:<br />
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Well, I'm afraid I cant help you with your Windows Explorer-- I'll defer to others on that. But you also asked the question: <i>how can a person
know the truth?</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Well, I hope you really want to know, because one of the
reasons it took me so long to answer is that I wanted to think it over and
give you MY best answer and not just send you another article. So here goes: </div>
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<br /></div>
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How do you know the truth? Thats a good question and one that almost everyone asks themselves
sooner or later. Socrates said that the
unexamined life is not worth living.
Confucius tells us that the
aim of the superior man is truth.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In the Bible, Jesus tells us if we listen to him "we are truly [his] disciples, and
you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John
8:31-32), and that "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father, but by me.
(John 14:6). The <a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm">Catechism of the Catholic Church</a> (which I <span style="font-family: inherit;">very highly recommend you have a copy of) says: <i>Man </i>[and of course this includes women]<i> tends by nature toward the truth. He
is obliged to honor and bear witness to it: "It is in accordance with their
dignity that all men, because they are persons . . . are both impelled by their
nature and bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious
truth. They are also bound to adhere to the truth once they come to know it and
direct their whole lives in accordance with the demands of truth."</i> (CCC 2467). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many of the really important things we come to know or to believe are usually a
result of a serious search, examination and reflection. A lot of intangibles like love and
acceptance, responsibility and commitment, we learn by experience. These things
are real, but are personal and hard to really explain. Truth, on the other hand
is actually more tangible; it is something that can be identified and recognized when seen, and
can be explained and shared with someone else. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first thing to do is to pray. This is also the last thing, but a lot of people tend to look on prayer as only a tactic of last resort, when in fact what makes more sense is that you want to invoke God's assistance and guidance before (and during) your search for Truth as well. Even if you aren't at the place yet where you even believe there's a God who hears and answers prayer, a simple prayer such as "God, I don't know if you are even real, but if you are please guide me to you and to the Truth" is a perfectly good one.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At this point you can start
asking questions-- serious questions with the intent of <i>really</i> wanting to know the answer.
We could start with a dictionary definition of truth: <i>Conformity to fact or
actuality; fidelity to an original or standard; reality, actuality; a statement
proven to be or accepted as true; sincerity, integrity.</i> By this it follows
that, whatever the opposite of truth is, is not the truth. Based on this, we can
further say what the truth is not. Truth is <u>not</u>: </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">· Our feelings or emotions or personal preference </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">· Whatever seems true for one situation and not another </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">· Whatever seems true for one person (culture, group, etc.) and not another </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">· Whatever seems true for another time and place, but not another </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In other words, Truth is not subjective, nor is it relative. Authentic Truth cannot be one thing for me and another for you. Either something is true, or it is not.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is what someone is telling you the Truth-- <i>really</i> the Truth? Maybe, maybe not.
What is important is to hold what you hear to an objective (true) standard to
which it can be measured. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For example, lets now briefly take up the issue you had before you
recently: is someone telling you their church believes one thing, but you are
told by someone else that is not the case? Both statements cannot be true, so in
that case you must do one of two things: believe the person or source that you
trust the most, or research the issue yourself. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you decide to research the issue, you also must weigh the reliability of the
materials you use to find your answers. If you take the word of a trusted (not
merely likable) person or source over another, you must decide which source or
person is more reliable. In this case we are discussing, the question would be: is what the
Mormons say is true or is what the Catholic Church says true? Who is more
reliable and more likely to possess the Truth? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is how I see it, and you can take it for what its worth. It is a fact of history that the Catholic Church was founded by Christ himself and that the Scriptures clearly teach that he gave his own
authority and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to this same Church to teach in his name until he comes again (I think I
have good historical, logical, biblical and experiential reasons for believing this and if you are interested I can send you or direct you towards
some further information). As a result, I believe the Church is an entirely reliable source
and guide for Truth and has been such for almost 2000 years. On the other hand,
it is a fact of history that the Mormon religion was founded less that 200 years
ago by a man with a questionable background and motives who introduced teachings
that NO Christian has ever believed in the 2000 years of Christian history
(again, I have material on this if you are interested). As you can see, this
approach is based on reality and reliability.
As applied to the overall subject of Truth, this is just one issue, but you get
the idea. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth", he didn't really want to know, but was simply going through the motions of being a sophisticated seeker of Truth. If you really want to know what the Truth is, you have to not just
ask, but sincerely search for that Truth using your head as well as your heart. And its worth the hard
work you put into it because it is always better to be in the Truth than not. The Truth makes a
person more confident and less anxious and, no matter what their condition in
life is, it fills their life with freedom and real joy. This is what I have found in my own life, and it is what I hope for you and everyone else. </span></div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-12052636935651224252012-06-08T10:48:00.001-07:002012-06-08T13:34:33.496-07:00What is Sacrifice, Why is it Necessary, and Why Did Jesus Have to Die for Our Sins?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ560pLeZmwj7-DQNp3ioe6nIeZQpVVNoA_7ZT7EGD4WfbMH5-3vcNKvEdicUD8LgZadE3V67scnt_66JmJsnevsqDtMsEZoIOY-LzNQDUKcP0XSO7mxiIi0_dvccTRjYsIrmoLGtTfM/s1600/Agnus_Dei_with_Vexillum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ560pLeZmwj7-DQNp3ioe6nIeZQpVVNoA_7ZT7EGD4WfbMH5-3vcNKvEdicUD8LgZadE3V67scnt_66JmJsnevsqDtMsEZoIOY-LzNQDUKcP0XSO7mxiIi0_dvccTRjYsIrmoLGtTfM/s200/Agnus_Dei_with_Vexillum.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
Hey, remember me? I can't believe it's been something like two years since I last posted something on this blog, but here I am. Other than having too many other irons in the fire and being overly tired by the time I have free time, I have no excuses. It's not for lack of ideas or desire, that's for sure. <br />
<br />
What prompted my return to this particular corner of my blogosphere (I have another blog which you might know about, <a href="http://sundayscripturestudy.blogspot.com/">Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics</a>), is the upcoming <a href="http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/pea/cchristi.htm">Solemnity of Corpus Christi</a> (the Body and Blood of Christ) which celebrates the truth that Jesus Christ is truly present upon the Catholic (and Orthodox) altars of the world under the appearance of ordinary bread and wine. I was looking for a blog entry I thought I had done a few years ago in response to young niece of mine who had a question about sacrifice in general and the necessity of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross in particular. I didn't find it in my blog, so I decided to post it now.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Uncle Vince here!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">[Your aunt] forwarded me some questions you had about some things that occurred to
you at a recent retreat. These are really good questions, because (a) it shows
you are thinking about important things and (b) because the particular questions
you asked are important for understanding religion in general and our Catholic
Faith in particular. I think I have some answers for you. You’ll need your or
your Mom’s Bible for this so I’ll wait here while you run and get it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hmm
hmm hmmm hmm…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Are
you back? Good!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Let’s
take the question about sacrifice first: why sacrifice? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
basic definition of a sacrifice is something you give up out of love. People
give up many things for the benefit of those they love: parents sacrifice their
time and money for their children, soldiers and firefighters may sacrifice
their lives for others. This kind of sacrifice is an act of love.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sometimes
a sacrifice is made to make up for something wrong that they have done. Suppose
a girl breaks a window with a baseball. The girl is caught and confesses, but
the person whose window it is forgives her. However, it is only fair (or just)
that the girl work (time) or find some way to help pay (with money) for the
window. This kind of sacrifice is known as reparation, or paying what is owed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">But
what does that have to do with sacrificing and God?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">People
seem to have an inborn sense that they should worship and sacrifice to God. If
you look in the beginning of your Bible in Genesis chapter 4, verses 1 through
7, you will see the story of Cain and Abel. These were the very first people
after Adam and Eve and they are already making sacrifices to God. In ancient
times, people usually sacrificed animals because, since they didn’t use money
yet, animals like cows and sheep represented wealth, plus the shedding of blood
represented life and death.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Also,
if you look toward the end of your Bible in Saint Paul’s letter to the <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/romans/1">Romans in Chapter 1 verses 18 to 23</a> (also see <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/13">Wisdom 13:1-9 </a>in the middle of the Old
Testament), Saint Paul tells us that all people everywhere are searching for
God, but since many of them did not know the God of the Bible, they began to
try to worship God the best they could. However, this led to a lot of false
religions in the world that, even though they may have had some good about
them, led them into wrong ideas about God. Some of these false religions went
horribly wrong like the parts of Aztec and other civilizations that had human
sacrifice and other terrible practices. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Christian idea about sacrifice came out of sacrifices of the Old Testament
which was the beginning of God’s revealing himself to his people. The Catholic
Church teaches us that Jesus Christ came to end all these sacrifices which were
only kind of image or preparation for his one, true sacrifice. But</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">why</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">did God choose to sacrifice
His only son if He loved Him so much?</span> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">This is the most important question of all.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ever since the time of Adam and Eve (the parents and
representatives of mankind) and the Original Sin (see <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3">Genesis, chapter 3</a>)
mankind has been separated from God, not only because of our first parent’s sin
but because of all the sins committed by every person who ever lived on the
earth. God created us to live with him in heaven forever but since none of us
ourselves could possibly make reparation for all this sin that separates us
from God (since God is infinitely Holy), God in his great mercy and love found
a way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">God loved us so much that that is precisely why He chose his own
Son to sacrifice himself on our behalf. Since Jesus was fully man (so he could
represent us) and fully God (so that he offer such an infinite sacrifice) he
was the only one who could do it. That is why we call him our Savior. All that
is left for us to do is to place our faith in him and his sacrifice, be
baptized, and follow his teachings everyday. That is why we call him Lord. “</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not
perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When we go to Mass every Sunday, it is this very same sacrifice of
Jesus (not a new one, but the same one) that is being re-presented on the altar
under the appearance of bread and wine and which we have the privilege of
participating in offering our worship and our daily lives. Just think: we are
participating in the greatest sacrifice there ever was!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sorry this answer is so long, but it is a good and important
question and I wanted to give you the best answer I could. Please keep asking
those good questions—and I will try to be less long winded!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Uncle Vince</span></div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-50752348380363597782010-09-02T22:10:00.000-07:002012-06-08T23:33:37.309-07:00Fr. Paul Scalia On "The Seven Deadly Sins"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzRmQhXwV2MN6SRv9hAkfEgdmmv_xTaJO_sh1pVDpAqM6xmRChOJWx_KzP43tJHZ39aTTsqWlX07722rk0OGliFgTfc0hublFwURGn9hdi1o8keuH_OI3SZHztKBPs6EcmxcGebjposo/s1600/7-deadly-sins.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512554043949855874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzRmQhXwV2MN6SRv9hAkfEgdmmv_xTaJO_sh1pVDpAqM6xmRChOJWx_KzP43tJHZ39aTTsqWlX07722rk0OGliFgTfc0hublFwURGn9hdi1o8keuH_OI3SZHztKBPs6EcmxcGebjposo/s200/7-deadly-sins.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 146px;" /></a>Here is an audio series that every Catholic simply MUST listen to. This is doubly true if your Catholic education in the vices and the virtues stopped after CCD or Catholic school. The speaker is Fr. Paul Scalia (son of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia). In this series (starting with a session on the Natural Law), Fr. Scalia-- using Sacred Scripture, the writings of the Saints (especially St. Thomas Aquinas), Dante's <i>Divine Comedy</i>, and a good measure of laugh-out-loud humor--explains the Deadly Sins, their origin and cause, and how to combat them. Download and listen to these exceptional talks for yourselves and pass them on to your teen and adult children, other loved ones and friends, and basically all those who need a clear refresher of these important truths of the Faith:<br />
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<a href="http://www.instituteofcatholicculture.org/natural-law-the-image-of-god-in-the-heart-of-man/">The Natural Law</a><br />
<a href="http://www.instituteofcatholicculture.org/seven-deadly-sins/">The Seven Deadly Sins</a><br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.instituteofcatholicculture.org/media.htm">Institute of Catholic Culture </a></div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-40229017711812920162010-05-29T08:40:00.000-07:002010-05-29T09:05:05.321-07:00Quick Question About "The Da Vinci Code"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxjfTHHzQi6PQauHbxfIHNLS0x0-VwczzQPHqTBKZEBsruTrdvpqHrQZDoAtySQdvNCxkn2WD72GVpyj9oU4eZb103VvQRnc7E5RFebJ_HSj8koYrX-jdJtyOxdFfqPIaJ3xOYaQB-pc/s1600/the_da_vinci_code.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476720911690085074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxjfTHHzQi6PQauHbxfIHNLS0x0-VwczzQPHqTBKZEBsruTrdvpqHrQZDoAtySQdvNCxkn2WD72GVpyj9oU4eZb103VvQRnc7E5RFebJ_HSj8koYrX-jdJtyOxdFfqPIaJ3xOYaQB-pc/s200/the_da_vinci_code.jpg" border="0" /></a>I suscribe to a service called "Quick Questions" that sends out a daily e-mail answering questions about the Catholic Faith. Todays question addresses the topic of <em>The Da Vinci Code</em>, the highly controversial-- and still, widely read-- novel by Dan Brown. I thought the staff apologist that answered this question did a good job in addressing the main issues of why Catholics (and anyone interested in truth) have problems with Browns book-- and, by extension, any work or literary or cinematic fiction that distort or play loose with serious historical facts and religious truths:<br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Q: “I have just read <a href="http://www.catholic.com/library/cracking_da_vinci_code.asp">Catholic Answers' report</a> on the novel <em>The Da Vinci Code</em> by Dan Brown. I have to say that the Church seems very flustered about the book. Surely the Church has nothing to fear from a work of fiction, no matter what the view of the author.”</strong></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>A: Actually, the Church as an institution has had no comment, one way or the other, on <em>The Da Vinci Code</em>. The book has not been placed by the Vatican on any "forbidden books" list nor have any "official" sanctions been placed on it. Those who are concerned are faithful Catholics, clerical and lay, who have seen the book confuse Catholics and other Christians about the character of people in the early Church, the relationship of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene, and orthodox Christian doctrine.</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Although many have claimed that Christians shouldn’t be concerned about the novel because it is fiction, Brown himself has touted the book as the fruit of factual research. He opens the novel with a "Fact Page" that purports to be unvarnished truth. In other words, he wants people to believe that his conclusions in the novel are true.</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Even had Brown not advertised his book to reveal hidden "truths" about Christianity, the device of fiction does not grant authors the right to disseminate historical untruths. Analogously, a novel that purported to reveal that the Holocaust never happened and that Adolf Hitler was really a great guy would be (quite properly) discounted by people of good will everywhere as anti-Semitic agitprop. Indeed, in this day and age, such a book would likely never see publication, at least by mainstream publishers. If such a book as that could not be defended with the disclaimer "It’s only a novel!" then other books that spread historical untruths also cannot be defended as "only fiction."</strong></span></div><br /><div></div><div>You can subscribe the "Quick Questions" by going to the <a href="http://www.catholic.com/"><em>Catholic Answers</em> </a>website and clicking on the banner that says "Quick Questions E-Letter FREE."</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-70680424651720640162010-05-16T09:40:00.000-07:002010-05-16T15:07:03.097-07:00SB 1070: What Do I Think About It?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QamttWok1tgwQy2zIf1bTuJSQVObJXhaWK2tlyH0ZUKAjfEP7pAREUT-yzHrAaCp9Miwj3hMVrvtDJ-rw_iF-RxUAolftCxZUZdSSWgHCKUQA9GWn5TAGYAbPNpbYmImM2pKVTVvbng/s1600/illegal-immigrant-sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471918552308537442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 189px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QamttWok1tgwQy2zIf1bTuJSQVObJXhaWK2tlyH0ZUKAjfEP7pAREUT-yzHrAaCp9Miwj3hMVrvtDJ-rw_iF-RxUAolftCxZUZdSSWgHCKUQA9GWn5TAGYAbPNpbYmImM2pKVTVvbng/s200/illegal-immigrant-sign.jpg" border="0" /></a>This has got to be the hot button topic of the day. Virtually everybody has an opinion on it, some informed and some not so informed. And there are some who are completely misinformed and are running on pure emotion or political posturing. I'm asked about this law a lot, so I am going to try and explain my views here.<br /><div></div><br /><div>As you may or may not know, I am a "third generation" American of Mexican extraction. I put that in quotes because my family was settled in California before it was the United States. I love my heritage and am proud to be what I am. My wife is Filipino and, like most of those who come here from foreign shores, her family worked hard and sacrificed to play by all the rules to come to this country. I was born and raised in California, but have lived happily in Arizona for the last fifteen years. I was in the military, so I've seen some of the world, and I'm now a fire code enforcement official, so I see a fairly wide spectrum of the community--the good, bad and the ugly.</div><br /><div></div><div>Having said that, let me say this: Those who are against this law and do not live in Arizona need to step back and look at reality.</div><br /><div></div><div>First of all, this law is NOT about racial profiling-- in fact, language within the law prohibits it. It simply is an enforcement of existing law. If I thought it was going to profile people with brown skin (including me) I would be against it. </div><br /><div></div><div>Secondly, this law does not-- repeat does NOT-- give police the legal right to stop people whenever they feel like it just to ask their legal status. It does give them the right to ask about their legal status if the person is being lawfully detained for the commission of a crime AND does not possess common ID, like a drivers license. So if you don't commit crimes or get arrested and you have ID, no problem.</div><br /><div></div><div>So let's stop with the mischaracterizing the law. Instead, lets look at some facts.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Fact:</strong> Illegal immigration (note the word 'illegal') is draining Arizona. The emergency room system here is collapsing, the state social welfare system that are meant for American citizens in need are over-burdened and are on the verge of being cut. The public school system is hemorrhaging red ink. Cops and regular citizens along the border are being threatened and killed by violent gangs. The law enforcement system is going broke because of both non-violent and violent crime committed by non-citizens. </div><br /><div></div><div>Answer me this: Who's going to deal with this and pay for all this? People on the liberal coasts? Who is now paying the price in treasure and blood while the rest of the country wrings their hands and the POTUS makes jokes? What would you have Arizona do--allow itself to be drained of resources? Other than open the borders or grant blanket amnesty, what would you do? I have asked this question many times in many venues and have never received an answer-- only silence.</div><br /><div></div><div>What about all the American kids in Arizona who can't get jobs because the entry-level jobs that traditionally go to young folks are going to cheap illegal immigrants? Who is dealing with this? Arizona and Arizonans, that's who! We are the Gondor of the US taking the brunt while everyone else sits safely in their ivory towers. If the Feds or no one else will help us, we will do it ourselves. If you have a better plan that you're willing to help pay for, let's hear it.</div><br /><div></div><div>Finally, let's be clear on this: those self-anointed Latino 'leaders,' activists and celebrities that are now screaming "<strong><em>RACISM</em></strong>" over this law do NOT speak for me. They only speak for themselves and for those who are similarly misinformed, paranoid and politically motivated. I can speak for myself.</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-78831391079249521482010-04-01T12:15:00.000-07:002010-04-01T12:28:13.780-07:00The Ant and The Grasshopper: An Aesop's Fable Retold for Modern America<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueUWdlKTnf6eGL4oAAV3Ngsos-3yphL7zz9fZncaoEw5waue1zpuHRykWY16X2gRgqYgzGZEUFo8ikhU_uawutKKjHrzlH4xuBdB5F8MeCTzHfNHCavPl7YZ-erx3kefD_nUso2Q7jSc/s1600/antgrasshopper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455251373949014434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 168px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueUWdlKTnf6eGL4oAAV3Ngsos-3yphL7zz9fZncaoEw5waue1zpuHRykWY16X2gRgqYgzGZEUFo8ikhU_uawutKKjHrzlH4xuBdB5F8MeCTzHfNHCavPl7YZ-erx3kefD_nUso2Q7jSc/s200/antgrasshopper.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>THE ANT & THE GRASSHOPPER (TRADITIONAL VERSION) </strong><br /><div><strong><br /></strong>The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.</div><br /><div>Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.</div><br /><div>The End.</div><br /><div>[<strong>MORAL OF THE STORY:</strong> <em>Be responsible for yourself.]</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><strong>* * * * *</strong></div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>THE ANT & THE GRASSHOPPER (MODERN VERSION)</strong></div><br /><div>The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.</div><br /><div>When winter comes, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.</div><br /><div></div><div>CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. </div><br /><div>America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, “It's Not Easy Being Green . . .”</div><br /><div></div><div>ACORN stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, “We shall overcome.” Then the Rev. Al Sharpton has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.</div><br /><div></div><div>Dear Leader condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.</div><br /><div></div><div>Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.</div><br /><div>Finally, the EEOC drafts the <em>Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act</em> retroactive to the beginning of the summer.</div><br /><div></div><div>The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper. The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it.</div><br /><div>The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.</div><br /><div>The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood.</div><br /><div>As this scenario is repeated over and over in community after community, he entire Nation collapses, dragging the rest of the free world with it.</div><br /><div>The End.</div><br /><div>[<strong>MORAL OF THE STORY:</strong> <em>Be careful how you vote in 2010 and 2012</em>.] </div><div><br />Author unknown.</div><br /><div></div><div>(HT to <a href="http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com/2010/04/updated-version-of-aesops-ant-and.html">Patrick Madrid</a>)</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-70405323635799657302010-03-17T15:25:00.000-07:002010-03-17T15:54:53.825-07:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnFvSIW6maXb2vJTbVWHHmebAGU9ukR8dll-VfADQ-Zr9zu40WiWLRpclbl_Uk3JqewjAOcpteAfDQTO0ckHxBzLOJH8zkJ_3hBZC8nrRyMPjSlEuw9xjaZhSU_1dxFrn7vEBF1LKwvI/s1600-h/st.+patrick.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449739192972558866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnFvSIW6maXb2vJTbVWHHmebAGU9ukR8dll-VfADQ-Zr9zu40WiWLRpclbl_Uk3JqewjAOcpteAfDQTO0ckHxBzLOJH8zkJ_3hBZC8nrRyMPjSlEuw9xjaZhSU_1dxFrn7vEBF1LKwvI/s200/st.+patrick.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#009900;">In addition to being the birthday of my sweet, smart, beautiful wife Carol, today is the Feastday of St. Patrick. Most people aren't caught by surprise by this fact, since it's impossible to be unaware of the increased number of green retail decorations and Guiness advertisements this time of year, and many, many people are happy to call themselves Irish for a day, if for nothing else, as an excuse to eat corned beef and cabbage and slightly more beer than usual.</span><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">Many lose sight of the fact (if they ever knew in the first place) that St. Patrick was a real saint, and quite a famous and colorful one at that.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies. As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him. During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote </span></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred and in the night, nearly the same." </span></strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from </span><a href="http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5217"><span style="color:#009900;">God</span></a><span style="color:#009900;"> in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family. He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message.<br />Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well). </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">One of the most famous and beloved prayers in the world is called <em>The Breastplate of St. Patrick</em>. Here it is in it's entirety:<br /><br /><strong>I bind unto myself today</strong></span></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the strong name of the Trinity,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">by invocation of the same,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the Three in One and One in Three.</span></strong></div><div> </div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">I bind this day to me for ever,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">by power of faith, Christ's Incarnation; </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">His baptism in the Jordan River;</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">his death on cross for my salvation;</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">his bursting from the spiced tomb;</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">his riding up the heavenly way;</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">his coming at the day of doom;</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">I bind unto myself today.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">I bind unto myself the power</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">of the great love of the Cherubim;</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the sweet 'Well done' in judgment hour;</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the service of the Seraphim,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">confessors' faith, Apostles' word,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">all good deeds done unto the Lord,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">and purity of virgin souls.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">I bind unto myself today</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the virtues of the starlit heaven,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the glorious sun's life-giving ray,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the whiteness of the moon at even,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the flashing of the lightning free,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the stable earth, the deep salt sea,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">around the old eternal rocks.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">I bind unto myself today</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the power of God to hold and lead,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">his eye to watch, his might to stay,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">his ear to hearken to my need.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">The wisdom of my God to teach,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">his hand to guide, his shield to ward,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the word of God to give me speech,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">his heavenly host to be my guard.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Against the demon snares of sin,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the vice that gives temptation force,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the natural lusts that war within,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the hostile men that mar my course;</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">or few or many, far or nigh,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">in every place and in all hours</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">against their fierce hostility,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">I bind to me these holy powers.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Against all Satan's spells and wiles,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">against false words of heresy,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">against the knowledge that defiles,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">against the heart's idolatry,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">against the wizard's evil craft,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">against the death-wound and the burning</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the choking wave and the poisoned shaft,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">protect me, Christ, till thy returning.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Christ be with me, Christ within me,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Christ behind me, Christ before me,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Christ beside me, Christ to win me,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Christ to comfort and restore me,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Christ beneath me, Christ above me,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Christ in hearts of all that love me,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">I bind unto myself the name,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">the strong name of the Trinity;</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">by invocation of the same.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">The Three in One, and One in Three,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">of whom all nature hath creation,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Praise to the Lord of my salvation,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">salvation is of Christ the Lord.<br />Amen.</span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">Have a blessed St. Paddy's Day. As the Irish say, God love you.</span></div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-83027789135189581042010-03-05T14:56:00.000-08:002010-03-05T16:25:17.636-08:00Anti-Catholic Tract Stirs Controversy<a href="http://www.catholic.com/images/Image8.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 141px" alt="" src="http://www.catholic.com/images/Image8.gif" border="0" /></a>Think rank anti-Catholicism has gone the way of the 19th century <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Nothing">Know-Nothings</a>? Think again, as a Baptist minister in Tennesee has gotten himself in hot water for distributing the infamously anti-Catholic tract, "The Death Cookie," penned and distributed by the notoriously anti-Catholic (and anti-A Lot of Other Things), Jack Chick. From the report by <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,588172,00.html">Fox News</a>:<br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">A Baptist pastor in Tennessee says he now regrets that his church distributed an anti-Catholic leaflet that a local Catholic priest decried as “hate material."</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Pastor Jonathan Hatcher, who leads Conner Heights Baptist Church in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., has removed the inflammatory leaflet, “The Death Cookie,” from his congregation. He says he will no longer distribute it.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">“Looking back, I don’t think it was the right tract to give out,” Hatcher told FoxNews.com. “I have some others that wouldn’t have been as offensive. But I will continue to spread the gospel — that’s what I’m called by Christ to do. I’m still going to hand out tracts, but not ‘The Death Cookie.’”</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">The illustrated leaflet, distributed since 1988 by California-based Chick Publications, features an ominous character with a snake around his neck who advises a man that he can control the world by establishing a false religion based upon worshipping a cookie. Upon taking the control of the cookie, the man becomes the "papa" — a reference to the pope.</span></div><br /><div></div><div>Jack Chick had a huge presence in California when I was growing up there, and after my adult conversion to the Faith, I ran into his little booklets (including this particular one) in just about every Protestant book store I went into. I wrote one shop to request they stop carrying them, but they never answered back. I complained to another large store, which featured an entire aisle dedicated to the tracts, and they replied "Many of our customers find the tracts helpful so we feel obliged to carry them." I visited the store a few years ago and noted (to my satisfaction) that they no longer seemed to carry them. (On the other hand, I was chatting with a young Baptist minister in his office last month, and when he opened his desk drawer to get something, I saw a neat little stack of Chick tracts in the corner. Sigh.)</div><br /><div></div><div>These days you normally find them strategically placed (just like Jehovah's Witness materials) in locations --- campus, bar room and truck stop bathrooms; public laundry facilities; telephone booths, etc. --- where they can be picked up by the most vunerable audience, i.e. bored folks looking for something to read, and those largely uneducated in religion and most likely to be swayed by simplistic and emotional arguments. </div><br /><div></div><div>As noted in the news report, Jack Chick has a long and colorful career as an anti-Catholic. The apologetics organization, <em>Catholic Answers</em> has done a comprehensive special report on this gentleman's "ministry" called "The Nightmare World of Jack T. Chick." You can find it <a href="http://www.catholic.com/library/sr_chick_tracts_p1.asp">here</a>.</div><br /><div></div><div>Finally, I would like to give kudos to the priest, Father Jay Flaherty, for opposing this bigotry and well-worn hate literature and for standing up for truth and for the members of his flock. This is just what a good shepherd is supposed to do.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-39839148483894056322010-01-30T09:17:00.000-08:002010-01-30T16:18:07.697-08:00A Church's Parting Thought "Judas Left Early Too."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQUym4zqhOuulDyEclhhLvvGo_yPrJy0kIELoI9QFhHD8U0okWT2HdKqiMAG-RpIR3G4mrC-JwFu29DHrR-KNjP9Xd6ZWKtRqnrrK9zvs-GpMBtST3roacb03vKslg5YhMquicdzR7-k/s1600-h/judas+shuffle.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432585247189726706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQUym4zqhOuulDyEclhhLvvGo_yPrJy0kIELoI9QFhHD8U0okWT2HdKqiMAG-RpIR3G4mrC-JwFu29DHrR-KNjP9Xd6ZWKtRqnrrK9zvs-GpMBtST3roacb03vKslg5YhMquicdzR7-k/s200/judas+shuffle.bmp" border="0" /></a>Parting thought--or parting shot?<br /><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>A church's parting thought:<br />Pastor's sign is for those who leave Mass early</strong> </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">MOUNT CLEMENS [MI] – Some people still take off right after Communion at St. Peter Church, but not as many now that they have to walk under signs that read "Judas left early too."<br />Fr. Cooney says putting the signs up at each of the three exits was "a bit of Irish diplomacy" aimed at addressing a long-standing source of frustration for many Catholic priests: people who leave Mass early, rather than staying for the dismissal.</span> </div><br /><div>(Read entire story <a href="http://www.aodonline.org/AODOnline/News+++Publications+2203/Michigan+Catholic+News+12203/2010+17545/100115_Leaving_Early.htm">here</a>.)</div><div> </div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-58944931148263347502010-01-18T15:57:00.000-08:002010-01-21T18:38:04.408-08:00Dr. M.L. King’s neice: “The Dream Includes Us All, Born and Unborn”<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosok0bz5FN_VQWffcX_jy-btNN6hQyLPRz7eKAh_UbTIdivyRm6gKODUNBKfhVQuNdWCondu44IhBm8dOGlv1C_Raa6iBD1uhAiuAaBbLp1bzoXcuFPRe__HrJqWC-rWaq9w5je7A-IY/s1600-h/dr-alveda-king.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428234388739944418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosok0bz5FN_VQWffcX_jy-btNN6hQyLPRz7eKAh_UbTIdivyRm6gKODUNBKfhVQuNdWCondu44IhBm8dOGlv1C_Raa6iBD1uhAiuAaBbLp1bzoXcuFPRe__HrJqWC-rWaq9w5je7A-IY/s200/dr-alveda-king.jpg" border="0" /></a> The <a href="http://www.facebook.com//photo.php?pid=983596&id=1311344402#/notes/americanpapist/dr-kings-neice-the-dream-includes-us-all-born-and-unborn/262289407020">AmericanPapist</a> notes:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Despite the attempts of abortion advocates like </span><a title="http://twitter.com/cecilerichards/status/7906501192" href="http://www.facebook.com/note_redirect.php?note_id=262289407020&h=793102f8f4938ef000dd3c2a035417af&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fcecilerichards%2Fstatus%2F7906501192" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000099;">Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> to claim that Dr. King was an abortion activist, those who bear his name and continue his cause have something very different to say:<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;"></span><span style="color:#000099;">Dr. Alveda King, Pastoral Associate of Priests for Life and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., released the following comments today on the celebration of her Uncle’s life.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">“Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of a Beloved Community where all are treated with respect and dignity,” said Dr. King. ”He fought against society’s exclusion of people who were treated as less than human because of their appearance. Today, we are compelled to continue Uncle Martin’s fight by standing up for those who are treated as less than human because of their helplessness and inconvenience.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">“The unborn are as much a part of the Beloved Community as are newborns, infants, teenagers, adults, and the elderly. Too many of us speak of tolerance and inclusion, yet refuse to tolerate or include the weakest and most innocent among us in the human family. As we celebrate the life of Uncle Martin, let us renew our hearts and commit our lives to treating each other, whatever our race, status, or stage of life, as we would want to be treated. Let us let each other live.”</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Abortion remains a scourge of African Americans, who suffer a far-higher abortion rate. Planned Parenthood should strive to promote a culture where all human beings have an equal chance to live. That’s my dream, and Dr. King’s.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">I wrote previously about this last point in my blog <a href="http://stjoesworkshop.blogspot.com/2009/10/abortion-kills-more-black-americans.html">here</a>. To me, it is THE Great Civil Rights Issue of our time, comparable to the abolition of slavery about 150 years ago. Arizona Congressman Trent Franks also has something to say about this, as well as some proposed legislation. See the story <a href="http://lifenews.com/nat5889.html">here</a>.</span><br /><br />I like to remind people that it was one of my heroes, President Ronald Reagan, who signed into law the holiday honoring Dr. King. Here are his concluding words on that day:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Now our nation has decided to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by setting aside a day each year to remember him and the just cause he stood for. We've made historic strides since Rosa Parks refused to go to the back of the bus. As a democratic people, we can take pride in the knowledge that we Americans recognized a grave injustice and took action to correct it. And we should remember that in far too many countries, people like Dr. King never have the opportunity to speak out at all. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">But traces of bigotry still mar America. So, each year on Martin Luther King Day, let us not only recall Dr. King, but rededicate ourselves to the Commandments he believed in and sought to live every day: Thou shall love thy God with all thy heart, and thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. And I just have to believe that all of us—if all of us, young and old, Republicans and Democrats, do all we can to live up to those Commandments, then we will see the day when Dr. King's dream comes true, and in his words, “All of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning, ‘... land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.’”</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Thank you, God bless you, and I will sign it.</span>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-40917645375695009252009-12-24T09:07:00.000-08:002009-12-24T13:29:22.590-08:00St. Augustine on the Meaning of Christmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkvQaWwrTUf2DSI2O0iAGpPmCXXSW9vtWCRb3ZYamWWQ_DuDnT2i2ehUhhrJU9EwUCQjCBKeWGLyiPyy64sb1YRVWIKI16N3-gQhJR_U6vtNaoeoPwKtuMG7lDZsh8OtyF14i4FgkKTw/s1600-h/Nativity.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418853606868255490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkvQaWwrTUf2DSI2O0iAGpPmCXXSW9vtWCRb3ZYamWWQ_DuDnT2i2ehUhhrJU9EwUCQjCBKeWGLyiPyy64sb1YRVWIKI16N3-gQhJR_U6vtNaoeoPwKtuMG7lDZsh8OtyF14i4FgkKTw/s200/Nativity.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000000;">On this Christmas Eve, I just wanted to share these thoughts, from a sermon by </span><a href="http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-augustine-of-hippo/"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#000099;">Saint Augustine</span> </span></a><span style="color:#000000;">found in the Office of Readings for today's </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy_of_the_Hours"><span style="color:#000099;">Divine Office.</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;"> It concerns the taking on of human flesh by Jesus, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity---which, of course is the <em>REAL</em> point of this whole Christmas thing anyway.</span><br /></span><div><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Truth has arisen from the earth and justice has looked down from heaven</span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Awake, mankind! For your sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep, rise up from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. I tell you again: for your sake, God became man. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">You would have suffered eternal death, had he not been born in time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had he not taken on himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had he not shared your death. You would have been lost if he had not hastened ‘to your aid. You would have perished, had he not come. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Let us then joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate the festive day on which he who is the great and eternal day came from the great and endless day of eternity into our own short day of time. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">He has become our justice, our sanctification, our redemption, so that, as it is written: Let him who glories glory in the Lord. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Truth, then, has arisen from the earth: Christ who said, I am the Truth, was born of the Virgin. And justice looked down from heaven: because believing in this new-born child, man is justified not by himself but by God. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Truth has arisen from the earth: because the Word was made flesh. And justice looked down from heaven: because every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Truth has arisen from the earth: flesh from Mary. And justice looked down from heaven: for man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Justified by faith, let us be at peace with God: for justice and peace have embraced one another. Through our Lord Jesus Christ: for Truth has arisen from the earth. Through whom we have access to that grace in which we stand, and our boast is in our hope of God’s glory. He does not say: “of our glory,” but of God’s glory: for justice has not come out of us but has looked down from heaven. Therefore he who glories, let him glory, not in himself, but in the Lord.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">For this reason, when our Lord was born of the Virgin, the message of the angelic voices was: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to men of good will. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">For how could there be peace on earth unless Truth has arisen from the earth, that is, unless Christ were born of our flesh? And he is our peace who made the two into one: that we might be men of good will, sweetly linked by the bond of unity. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Let us then rejoice in this grace, so that our glorying may bear witness to our good conscience by which we glory, not in ourselves, but in the Lord. That is why Scripture says: He is my glory, the one who lifts up my head. For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make his only Son become the son of man, so that a son of man might in his turn become son of God? </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and see whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Concluding Prayer</strong><br />Hurry, Lord Jesus, do not delay.<br />We put our trust in your loving kindness:<br />may your coming bring us consolation and support.<br />You live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit,<br />God for ever and ever.<br /><strong>Amen.</strong></span></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#000099;"></span></strong></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;">Find more reflections</span><a href="http://www.rc.net/wcc/incarnat.htm"><strong> here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></span></div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-10397361604321264782009-12-21T11:21:00.000-08:002009-12-23T11:37:57.245-08:00How Can I bring My Fallen Away Catholic Family and Friends Back to the Church?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8UDtBXpe2QL4e2FvwRoWoTJ5KNdrD_B7srNuLwk8nhFr8PfMEeUpWOfcTnznxQ32qMV1vfmo1_pcRqBscJgfNO2h1uVKXfjSDp86gRpCIPesrXQB1Jyjgd2iyRfV4QTUKi_H5ozbWIk/s1600-h/welcome-home-sign1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417773125579227650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8UDtBXpe2QL4e2FvwRoWoTJ5KNdrD_B7srNuLwk8nhFr8PfMEeUpWOfcTnznxQ32qMV1vfmo1_pcRqBscJgfNO2h1uVKXfjSDp86gRpCIPesrXQB1Jyjgd2iyRfV4QTUKi_H5ozbWIk/s200/welcome-home-sign1.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>I have some friends who were born Catholic but who have left for evangelical churches. What are some ways I can nudge these friends to research Catholicism again? They seem to be happy where they are.</strong><br /><div><br />While it's primarily the work of the Holy Spirit and God's grace acting with a person's free will that ultimately brings them to conversion, there are still a lot of things you can do to be God's instrument in this.</div><div><span style="color:#ffffcc;">.</span></div><div></div><div>If they belong to evangelical churches, they may or they may not be happy where they are. In order to make them take fresh look at the Church from an objective standpoint, you have to clearly show them two things:</div><br /><div><strong>[1]</strong> That there is something that the Catholic Church posseses that they can't get anywhere else, even in a local church community to which they may have some emotional attachment. There are a number of things that fall under this category: The Eucharist and the other Sacraments as means of grace; the Church's historical origin in Christ as well as her historical continuity; an authoritative, Christ given authority to interpret the Scriptures in contrast to the multitude of personal, often conflicting biblical interpretations; the profundity of the liturgy; a unified and clear teaching voice on moral issues; and so on. </div><br /><div>To this end, you should be ready to answer any questions they might have about the Catholic Faith (just because they were raised Catholic, you should not assume they know the rudiments of the Faith--in fact, the <em>opposite</em> is probably true since many Catholics drift away precisely because they do <em>not</em> know the Faith, or possess a very young child's understanding of it.). This doesn't mean you need to be an expert in theology, Scripture, Church law and apologetics, but you should at least be able to answer their basic questions. If you don't know something they ask about, don't be afraid to say "I don't know, but I'll look it up and get back with you," then do it.</div><br /><div><strong>[2]</strong> That they would gain all the things they have at their non-Catholic church but at the same time they would not be losing anything <em>essential </em>if they left there and returned to the Catholic Church. This might be a little tricky if they consider some <em>un-essentials</em> to Christianity itself --such as warm fellowship, good musicians, childcare during services, easy availability of Bible studies, dynamic preaching, etc -- to be absolutely essential. In that case, you'd have to show them how -- nice and helpful as these things are -- they do not comprise the <em>essence</em> of being a Christian -- that is, the grace found in the Sacraments, being in full communion with the Church body established by Christ, the holy example and solicitude of the Saints, and the <em>fullness</em> of truth found in Sacred Scripture <em>and </em>Sacred Tradition-- which can only be found in the Catholic Church. Having said that, it's also true that you often can find many of those nice non-essentials in many (though, admittedly, not all) Catholic parishes.</div><br /><div>The above, and your own example of a holy, Christian life (with lots of prayer, their own honesty and openess to the truth, and God's grace) will bring them home. Hope that helps. :)</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-81070902015633580142009-12-18T17:28:00.000-08:002009-12-19T09:30:08.374-08:00Pope Benedict on "Faith in Progress"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Sntnp4u43ITqQhsePFORHMxFS2toDINLVDBVZVq365kbCNvh_E5YJHOvwn0cSD3RqemsnIUgzi4XALpwKhJx6-69RyC5uYC_PKHnp7Yyb4bfVOC_O5haiSsFBZdp5J9n4AqfIxKLdWI/s1600-h/Saved+in+Hope.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416760984705492866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Sntnp4u43ITqQhsePFORHMxFS2toDINLVDBVZVq365kbCNvh_E5YJHOvwn0cSD3RqemsnIUgzi4XALpwKhJx6-69RyC5uYC_PKHnp7Yyb4bfVOC_O5haiSsFBZdp5J9n4AqfIxKLdWI/s200/Saved+in+Hope.jpg" border="0" /></a>First, a confession: I've had a copy of Pope Benedict's second <a href="http://www.papalencyclicals.net/encyclical.htm">encyclical,</a> <em><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html">Spe Salvi </a></em>(Latin for "Saved In Hope"), on my nightstand largely unread since I bought it shortly after it's release in November of 2007. It wasn't due to lack of interest, of course. My nightstand, at any given time, is normally groaning under the weight of several stacks of new books, books I want to reread, magazines and printouts of articles I've downloaded and printed out from the Internet. It's only since I've self-imposed a moratorium on buying myself new books that the top of the nightstand has <em>begun</em> the see the light of day.<br /><br />Anyway, I've finally been able to begin seriously reading this (when I first got it I did do a perfunctionary scan). It's not an especially arduous or voluminous work (my copy is 105 pages), but like most worthwhile reads, it is one that takes a while to read if you want to do it justice by pondering and praying over it, and mining the text for nuggets of insight. As one might surmise from the title, the topic is about the Christian <a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a7.htm#1813">virtue </a>of Hope (which is distinct from our common use of the word hope, as in "I hope my team wins the game"). The Pope's first encyclical, <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html"><em>Caritas in Veritate</em>,</a> you may recall, was about the Christian virtue of love (or, "charity").<br /><br />I'm around page 51 of <em>Spes Salvi</em> now, and Pope Benedict is in the midst of a discussion about the virtue of Hope, and it's relation to the virtue of Faith ("Transformation of Christian Faith-Hope"). This discussion revolves around the contemporary meaning of the word "progress" and how it relates to authentic Christian Hope. Here is a passage, from section 22 of the encyclical, which I found striking:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">First we must ask ourselves: what does “progress” really mean; what does it promise and what does it not promise? In the nineteenth century, faith in progress was already subject to critique. In the twentieth century, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_W._Adorno"><span style="color:#000099;">Theodor W. Adorno</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> formulated the problem of faith in progress quite drastically: he said that progress, seen accurately, is progress from the sling to the atom bomb. Now this is certainly an aspect of progress that must not be concealed. To put it another way: the ambiguity of progress becomes evident. Without doubt, it offers new possibilities for good, but it also opens up appalling possibilities for evil—possibilities that formerly did not exist. We have all witnessed the way in which progress, in the wrong hands, can become and has indeed become a terrifying progress in evil. <em>If technical progress is not matched by corresponding progress in man's ethical formation, in man's inner growth</em> (cf. </span><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/bible/search_bible.asp"><span style="color:#000099;">Eph 3:16</span></a><span style="color:#000099;">; </span><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/bible/search_bible.asp"><span style="color:#000099;">2 Cor 4:16</span></a><span style="color:#000099;">), <em>then it is not progress at all, but a threat for man and for the world.</em> (Emphasis added</span><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html"><span style="color:#000099;">)</span></a><br /><br />The idea of the incompatibility of man's technical progress with his ethical progress is not original to the Holy Father, of course. Many people in the last century (including, most famously perhaps, Albert Einstien speaking specifically about atomic weapons) have lamented that we have have put the tools of mental giants in the hands of moral midgets. What struck me (albeit not for the first time) was the characterization of "progress" as something a person might tend to put their <em>faith</em> in, i.e. as a type of religion.<br /><br />On his final studio album, <em>Double Fantasy</em>, the late John Lennon had a very nice song about his young son Shaun called <em>Beautiful Boy</em>. One of the lines in the song goes something like this:<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">Before you go to sleep, say a little prayer:</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#000099;">"Every day, in every way, it's getting better and better."</span></em><br /><br />This lyric is not merely a reflection of hopeful sentiment; it reflects a worldview popular in the 1970's that you can <em>will</em> positive thoughts into a situation and it will actually make those positive things happen (this is also a premise of the recent New Age book, <em><a href="http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=23402">The Secret</a></em>, promoted by Oprah Winfrey). In the 19th century among some Christian groups there was a popular doctrine called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmillennialism">post-millenialism</a>. Very simply put: looking around at a relatively peaceful time with a great flowering of literary and technological marvels (this was the so called "Gilded Age" of the Industrial Revolution) Christian post-millenialists believed that man would progress and society would improve in a fairly linear manner eventually reaching the point that mankind would reach such a perfected level, it would precipitate (and presumably flow into) the Second Coming of Jesus. After the horrors of two World Wars, the sheen on this particular view dulled quickly, and hardly any mainstream Christians believe it today.<br /><br />While today you won't find many post-millenialists around, and pop-spiritual fads like <em>The Secret</em> are only taken seriously by the spiritually immature and the flakey, there is an underlying (and I believe pervasive) belief in our culture in the "spirituality of progress." How I would describe it would be as <em>the assumption that most people seem to hold that, since man has progressed in his technological achievements (and they seem to us to be most impressive), the fact that he has devised these things by rational means is de facto license to apply them at will without adherance to objective moral norms.</em><br /><br />There are a number of examples I could mention but let me give just one: stem cell research. There is no denying that the technology behind this procedure is truly amazing and that the potential benefits for saving and improving lives is probably immeasurable at this point. However there are numerous ethical problems when the issue of <a href="http://www.cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=156"><em>embryonic</em> stem cells </a>is thrown into the mix. These cells, as you may know, are created by fertilizing an egg in a laboratory so that a human embryo is created. The stem cells are then extracted and the embryo is discarded---a clinical euphemism for: a human baby is created, it's useful parts harvested, and then he or she is killed and thrown away.<br /><br />Apart from the fact that embryonic stem cells are as yet unproven in curing or treating anything (in contrast to <em>adult</em> stem cell and even placental cells which have displayed remarkable promise), what is the moral dilemna here? Is this the killing of an innocent human life, or is it not? If it is, can it be justified in appealing to a "higher good"? And more to the point of the present argument: <em>Just because we are able to do something, does that make it moral to do so?</em><br /><br />I would say, generally speaking and apart from any one issue, that every situation having arguable moral implications is worthy serious examination in the light of objective moral norms (what constitutes "objective moral norms" is concurrently under attack in our culture and itself may have to be clarified before one makes a decision. Unbelievably, many people if pressed, cannot articulate a defined set of objective norms). The most basic norm, of course, is the protection of human life -- especially innocent human life. When man arrives at an acheivement that touches upon this most basic of human rights, the default position should always be to do what is objectively moral; to not do evil in the name of good, and at all times to choose life. Then, perhaps we can reach the point that "everyday, in every way, things are getting better and better..."Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-19699157320658015072009-12-12T07:27:00.000-08:002009-12-12T16:58:47.549-08:00December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFSXuuCtsllshX-_F7u9e_Rq5v94mtJTxzy0OPikPfzEnhWqBIVpnRHdo_W4iWcpmtoTgkiXcXqjloxYLtRy0Bac7WIbzdLgz37SI_tXjvG8drHW5DKzqPgyeizf0OYjI9WfO_N9B22Y/s1600-h/our_lady_guadalupe2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414388753037867170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFSXuuCtsllshX-_F7u9e_Rq5v94mtJTxzy0OPikPfzEnhWqBIVpnRHdo_W4iWcpmtoTgkiXcXqjloxYLtRy0Bac7WIbzdLgz37SI_tXjvG8drHW5DKzqPgyeizf0OYjI9WfO_N9B22Y/s200/our_lady_guadalupe2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Today is the feastday of Our Lady of Guadalupe which celebrates the occurence of a series of apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the poor Indian peasant, Juan Diego, in the year 1531 just outside Mexico City. On the last visit, she left a miraculous image of herself on the humble cloak--or <em>tilma</em>--of Juan Diego, an image that is still visible today. <a href="http://www.sancta.org/">Here</a> is a link to a website that tells the whole story, as well as amazing scientific facts about the image on the <em>tilma</em> of Juan Diego.<br /><div></div><br /><div>This Feastday is extremely important to Catholics of Latin American heritage. Devotion to OLG is also strong in other places such the Philippines. Just this morning, I arrived at our local parish for my usual Saturday morning men's group meeting, and the parking lot was packed with cars at 6:30 A.M.--it was a Mass for the Spanish speaking community for today's feastday. We had our meeting in a small side chapel, but we could hear the celebration going on next door in the main church--joyful singing, clapping and lots of cool mariachi music.</div><br /><div></div><div>Many years ago, I was extremely blessed to be able to visit the basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City and see the image close up, although I didn't appreciate it at the time. This was before my religious conversion and I was visiting the city as a tourist solely to have a good time and to see the many sights, the visit to the basilica (at the time) being just a side trip. I distinctly remember, however, reprobate heathen though I was at the time, being deeply impressed and affected. I can't help thinking now that God used this visit to eventually bring me close to him. There are other episodes in my earlier life that, in retrospect, also seem to have blessed me and prepared me (such when I first saw Pope John Paul II on Guam--but that's another story).</div><br /><div></div><div>One thing that often <em>annoys</em> me is to see Our Lady's beautiful image in places that don't seem to give her honor. If you see it on a gang-banger's car or t-shirt or tatooed on his back or arm, you can't help but wonder how much of the religious significance of the image is impressed on the wearer. It's a fact that the image is in the minds of many of my fellow Mexican-Americans is as much (or more) a cultural icon as it it is religious.</div><br /><div></div><div>I say it <em>annoys </em>me rather than <em>angers</em> me because I also know that there is a lot religious ignorance and at the same time good intention involved here. If these particular folks (most of them young men and women) weren't brought up with a good religious education, whose fault is that? Shouldn't those of us who know and love the Faith be doing more to bring the fullness of the truths of that Faith to those who desperately need to hear it? </div><div></div><div><strong>******************************************************</strong></div><div><strong>UPTATE:</strong> The blog <em>Whispers in the Logia</em> has uploaded videos of several Guadalupe celebrations going on around the country. You can view the site <a href="http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2009/12/scenes-from-super-bowl.html">here.</a></div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-17947499508626478742009-12-09T11:07:00.000-08:002009-12-09T11:36:40.087-08:00America's Royal Family Continues It's Downward Slide<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6Jdt0-t9E4wpvl1S_Zvow6gQMvU_nSEa54sBw_NDHGSokUj-TplMw5mlg_AGeCK7mRMA9r8oqUs6j35A4e33GBF-7Dg0nQlfFMpOErlY6taSrFKgBfKkiAO2PSoMil0XaUe_t6_bddU/s1600-h/life.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413322165600706898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6Jdt0-t9E4wpvl1S_Zvow6gQMvU_nSEa54sBw_NDHGSokUj-TplMw5mlg_AGeCK7mRMA9r8oqUs6j35A4e33GBF-7Dg0nQlfFMpOErlY6taSrFKgBfKkiAO2PSoMil0XaUe_t6_bddU/s200/life.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=99305"><span style="color:#000099;">Another Kennedy Blasts Bishops over Abortion</span></a></strong><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the eldest child of Robert F. Kennedy, has blasted the nation’s bishops for opposing the use of federal funds to pay for abortions. Mrs. Townsend is the first cousin of <a href="http://stjoesworkshop.blogspot.com/2009/11/kennedy-finally-gets-put-in-his-place.html">Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), </a>whom Bishop Thomas Tobin has publicly called to repentance and conversion for supporting abortion. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">“There are millions of pro-abortion rights Catholics who understand that women faced with unintended pregnancies or complications in wanted pregnancies have to make difficult, complex decisions for themselves and their families,” Mrs. Townsend writes. “They do not make the decision to have an abortion lightly and without weighing all of their options. They must retain the ability to make this decision and the ability to access the care they need, whatever their choice may be. That means they must have access to health insurance that covers abortion care-- just as millions of Americans must have access to affordable health insurance and health care.” </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Straining credulity, Mrs. Townsend’s concluding paragraph leads readers to believe that the Vatican would support health care legislation that would fund abortions. “I want Catholic bishops to heed the Vatican’s call for charity and justice for all, not just for the wealthy and well connected,” she writes.</span> </div><br /><div></div><div>Straining credulity, indeed. Does Mrs. Townsend honestly believe that when the Vatican talks about "truth and justice" they are using secret code for "we support governments paying for poor womens (or anyone elses) abortions"? This in spite of the fact of crystal clear, unambiguous Vatican teaching that abortion is an intrinsically evil in any and all circumstances?</div><br /><div></div><div>From the <a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a5.htm#2271">Catechism of the Catholic Church</a> (to quote only one source):</div><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>2271</strong> Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:<br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><em>You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.</em> ( Didache 2,2:SCh 248,148; cf. Ep. Barnabae 19,5:PG 2 777; Ad Diognetum 5,6:PG 2,1173; Tertullian, Apol. 9:PL 1,319-320.)<br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><em>God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.</em> ( GS 51 § 3.)</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>2272</strong> Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication <em>latae sententiae</em>," by the very commission of the offense," and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.</span> </div><br /><div></div><div>Maybe -- just maybe -- Mrs. Townsend is broadly interpreting the very general term "truth and justice" as what she wants it to mean, i.e., in a manner that is politically expedient to her wrapped in the mantle of compassion. I mean, who could argue with anything in the name of these two great virtues? If Mrs. Townsend were a properly catechicized Catholic with a well formed conscience (i.e., a conscience that is fully formed and guided by the teachings of the Church), she would argue against herself. In that case, it is hoped the better formed and better <em>in</em>formed version of her would prevail. A lot of innocent lives could potentially be saved in the process.</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-79750447795683106452009-12-07T20:04:00.000-08:002009-12-08T05:06:44.881-08:00Celebrating, Understanding and Defending the Immaculate Conception<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvp922ZH0PN2nztPO1UYo4fjGE3XzLrXG03wuYrBCegJ-FA2olwU7f3D0II5Mb159AiDWSf6UAjMrf_Q4n5qCeyE0vvcnNa6ExPkksmc6PvblrxThVm7F5jflil-Lq5GI_8Jiy81S0iQ/s1600-h/immaculate_conception.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412716050775576226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 157px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvp922ZH0PN2nztPO1UYo4fjGE3XzLrXG03wuYrBCegJ-FA2olwU7f3D0II5Mb159AiDWSf6UAjMrf_Q4n5qCeyE0vvcnNa6ExPkksmc6PvblrxThVm7F5jflil-Lq5GI_8Jiy81S0iQ/s200/immaculate_conception.jpg" border="0" /></a>Tuesday, December 8th, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of obligation for Catholics (so if you're Catholic, get thee to your local parish), but at the same time one of the most misunderstood beliefs that are held by Catholics.<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://catholicexchange.com/2009/12/08/124435/">This</a> article and t<a href="http://www.rosary-center.org/ll50n6.htm">his </a>article will help you appreciate and understand the background of this singular privilige granted to Mary, the mother of Jesus (and, since Jesus is God, the Mother of God) --a privilige granted to her not because of Mary's own merits or glory, but because if it's <em>fittingness</em> in relation to her role as Mother of Our Redeemer (like all of the teachings of the Church about Mary, the doctrine says more about the uniqueness and holiness of Jesus than it does about Mary).</div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div></div><div></div><div>If, however, you find yourself in the position of having to explain this wonderful Christian truth, <a href="http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2001/0102sbs.asp">here </a>is a helpful article from <em>Catholic Answers</em>. It answers the questions:</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>1. Why does the Church teach that Mary was immaculately conceived? Her conception is never even mentioned in Scripture. </strong></div><br /><div><strong>2. If Mary is sinless, doesn’t that make her equal to God? </strong></div><br /><div><strong>3. How could Mary be sinless if in the words of the Magnificat she said that her soul rejoices in God her savior? </strong></div><br /><div><strong>4. How can you reconcile Mary’s sinlessness with Paul’s statement that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God? </strong></div><br /><div><strong>5. Didn’t the Church just invent the doctrine 150 years ago?</strong> </div><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0128.html">This </a>article may also be helpful.</div><div></div><div>To misunderstand a concept is to fear and hate it, but to know the truth often leads one to love it. Be ready when your questioning friends and families are looking for answers and help lead them from fear and hate, to truth and love. </div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-60964961413871440982009-12-05T17:41:00.000-08:002009-12-05T18:03:01.440-08:00"Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence": What Does It Mean?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08jAiQM1wKITGcd_yt5a1oBdD_8pUacgGgpU-z9ZQ_AkI1vFpYH8L23QzFRPJ7kq9WFqKfPFQvP0SO8-dMaLUISaD2C7sYaidVlzsoBaowK9lkcqbuFr8XBsI6Lx5X2ZVpXZ-GXkt6Nc/s1600-h/incarnation-of-the-word.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411936528625343986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 146px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08jAiQM1wKITGcd_yt5a1oBdD_8pUacgGgpU-z9ZQ_AkI1vFpYH8L23QzFRPJ7kq9WFqKfPFQvP0SO8-dMaLUISaD2C7sYaidVlzsoBaowK9lkcqbuFr8XBsI6Lx5X2ZVpXZ-GXkt6Nc/s200/incarnation-of-the-word.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of the favorite hymns we like to sing in our parish men’s group is "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence," taken from the 5th century <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy_of_St_James">Liturgy of St. James</a>. It is set to the harmony of the French carol, “Picardy” and is a universal favorite during Advent and Christmas. More than once, primarily because of the obscurity of some of the words in the song, the question has been asked “What is the song about and what does it mean?” This is my attempt to explain some of the more arcane features of the song:<br /><br /><strong>In main, the song is primarily a song about the Incarnation (coming in human flesh) of Jesus Christ. From all eternity he was the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the pre-existent Logos (Word of God) as it speaks about in John 1:1-14. Jesus steps out of eternity to become a human being while remaining fully God.</strong><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>Let all mortal flesh keep silence,</em></div><div><em>And with fear and trembling stand;</em></div><div><em>Ponder nothing earthly minded,</em></div><div><em>For with blessing in His hand,</em></div><div><em>Christ our God to earth descendeth,</em></div><div><em>Our full homage to demand.</em><br /><br /><strong>All mortal flesh (we humans) should stand in awe of the fact that God has come to earth to become man. While thinking and meditating about this, all other (by comparison) unimportant matters should be pushed aside. Our God descended to earth to become one of us, while remaining God, to whom we owe worship!</strong></div><br /><div></div><div><em>King of kings, yet born of Mary,</em></div><div><em>As of old on earth He stood.</em></div><div><em>Lord of lords in human vesture,</em></div><div><em>In the body and the blood,</em></div><div><em>He will give to all the faithful</em></div><div><em>His own self for heavenly food.</em><br /><br /><strong>Even though Christ is King of kings, Lord of lords and Creator of the universe, he came in human flesh as a baby, born to Mary. It is this same human flesh, now glorified, that he now gives us to consume in the Eucharist—The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.</strong></div><br /><div></div><div><em>Rank on rank the host of heaven</em></div><div><em>Spreads its vanguard on the way,</em></div><div><em>As the Light of light descendeth</em></div><div><em>From the realms of endless day,</em></div><div><em>That the pow'rs of hell may vanish</em></div><div><em>As the darkness clears away.</em><br /><br /><strong><em>Rank on rank…hosts of heaven</em>—the angels (the host of heaven) are pictured as forming a <em>vanguard</em> (a double line of soldiers lining the path of a person of high rank, like a king or a great conqueror) for Jesus as he descends to earth.<br /><em>Light of light</em>—Jesus is, as we say in the Creed ‘light from light’; that is, of the same substance of God.<br /><em>Descendeth…from the realms of endless day</em>—Jesus came down from heaven, where there is no night or no day (Revelation 21:22-25).<br />The reason Jesus came was to defeat the power of hell (of death) over us, so that we will not have to live in the darkness of sin any more.</strong></div><br /><div></div><div><em>At His feet the six-winged seraph,</em></div><div><em>Cherubim, with sleepless eye,</em></div><div><em>Veil their faces to the Presence,</em></div><div><em>As with ceaseless voice they cry,</em></div><div><em>Alleluia! Alleluia!Alleluia! Lord Most High.<br /></em><br /><strong>The <em>seraphim </em>are a rank of angel. The name means ‘burning ones’ as they are thought to be the angels that stand closest to God in heaven, and so are burning with the intensity of God’s love and holiness. They are mentioned in the Bible, most notably in Isaiah, chapter 6. They are pictured there as having six wings—two of which are used to cover their eyes in the presence of God, who is too holy for even them to gaze fully upon.<br />The <em>cherubim</em> are another rank of angel. It was a cherubim that guarded the entrance to Paradise after Adam and Eve were cast out (Genesis 3:24). As a sentries, they never slept.<br /><em>Alleluia</em> is a combination of two Hebrew words, <em>hallel</em>, which means ‘praise,’ and a contracted form of the divine name <em>Yah-weh</em>, which the Jews avoided pronouncing. Together, it means ‘praise God.”</strong><br /><br />You can hear a midi version of this song <a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/e/letallmf.htm">here:</a></div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-30964671097975614052009-12-05T08:24:00.000-08:002009-12-05T08:32:23.400-08:00Encouragement For Christians During Tough Times<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJrtKPcteJgYSI5Ad5HiQYzAmmpTgVd6tn5zRV8juuqGkhVncGxv908IoJmhFSwAbscHCSu3yn-2iXgBGPZ6kMCzQsKwPRxGaVFV4mXuGP4lBkWL2qGDSS3JMuEfdPOTRBUxxaIKDJow/s1600-h/St_Paul_of_the_Cross_Icon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411790477974218802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 102px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 142px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJrtKPcteJgYSI5Ad5HiQYzAmmpTgVd6tn5zRV8juuqGkhVncGxv908IoJmhFSwAbscHCSu3yn-2iXgBGPZ6kMCzQsKwPRxGaVFV4mXuGP4lBkWL2qGDSS3JMuEfdPOTRBUxxaIKDJow/s200/St_Paul_of_the_Cross_Icon.jpg" border="0" /></a>From <a href="http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-paul-of-the-cross/">St. Paul of the Cross</a>:<br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">"Now that the enemies of your soul have gathered about you, the time has come when God wants you to fight, trusting not in yourself but entrusting everything to him. Observe the spirits of the world, the flesh and the devil but never lose heart. Have courage and be of stout heart knowing that with Jesus Christ you shall have no need to fear. You have no need to tremble before anybody. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;">The cross is the way to paradise, but only when it is borne willingly. For now, rest sweetly in the company of your beloved spouse, Jesus. Never worry about hell. Never worry about anything in this world. Never worry about your own flesh but have no doubt that the Lord will allow you to be tempted. He will never abandon you , even though interiorly, in the inferior part of your soul, it may seem you are abandoned . . . "</span></div><br /><div></div><div>(HT to <a href="http://www.patrickmadrid.com/">Patrick Madrid</a>)</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-37656887738649542122009-11-30T11:36:00.000-08:002013-12-01T10:24:22.255-08:00Christmas is Coming: But Don't Neglect The Advent Season!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLjqESuHq3aEeaV6UaZ60URQZcNa9RLpBUhRXU3HiCQvMxe-bBDWGccNDRPyHrBQ_ek8Ng47cecrB8ZjXAmZ1yL7hFBQ8EMPcPPxOEChbtzpp9j0xlObtdxxJ9AzAhTg65PAJRuHjV7s/s1600/advent1a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410005058400526498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLjqESuHq3aEeaV6UaZ60URQZcNa9RLpBUhRXU3HiCQvMxe-bBDWGccNDRPyHrBQ_ek8Ng47cecrB8ZjXAmZ1yL7hFBQ8EMPcPPxOEChbtzpp9j0xlObtdxxJ9AzAhTg65PAJRuHjV7s/s200/advent1a.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 150px;" /></a>In case you missed it, yesterday (Sunday) was the First Sunday of Advent. I kind of had these grandiose ideas of putting up a profound and inspiring post for the beginning of the liturgical season of Advent but, what with the Thanksgiving traveling and all, I'm reduced to giving kind of a reminder/slash/roundup of all the resources that are available for the spiritually conscientious Christian to fruitfully prepare for the pinnacle of this season of preparation, Christmas Day (Advent isn't only a Catholic practice, by the way. Lutherans, Anglicans and many other Christians also observe some form of it).<br />
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I suspect that most of us aren't really clear on the significance of this special time in the Church's worship calender. Most of us are already stressing out about a single day at the end of December, the day of Christmas (now less than a month away). Oh sure, those of us who are regular or semi-regular communicants or church-goers are <i>aware</i> of something called Advent -- we see the purple and rose vestments and candles, the change in the emphasis of the prayers, readings and hymns -- but most of us might see it as just so much background clutter to distract us from the real work of preparing ourselves and our families for Christmas -- i.e., the shopping, cooking, eating, socializing and traveling business that leaves us worn out and broke (and, all to often, spiritually empty).</div>
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But, in fact, the Advent season is a time of (potentially) great spiritual growth and graces. It is something akin to the liturgical season of Lent (though not as penitential in tone) with it's Great Theme being the work of preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. This is done on three levels: (1) Where we look with God's chosen people in the Old Testament toward the first coming of the Messiah, a coming that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ; (2) As we look forward to Christ's continuous coming into our lives every day as Lord and Savior; and (3) As we look forward in joyful hope to Jesus' Second Coming either at the end of time, or at the end of each of our earthly lives (whichever comes first). Advent is all about being a season of anticipation and fulfilment. Religiously speaking, in a very real sense, Christmas has very little meaning without Advent, any more than a trip to Disneyland is arguably less meaningful without the giddy air of expectation leading up to it. </div>
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Over at the blog of First Things, Joseph Bottum writes the essay that I would have liked to have written, <a href="http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2009/11/the-end-of-advent">The End of Advent.</a> It is absolutely worth the read.</div>
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Having said all that, it's not to late to get into the spirit of things and start celebrating Advent now. As in <i>today</i>.</div>
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For more information about the origins of Advent, I'd recommend viewing this very informative post over at the <i>Canterbury Tales</i> blog, <a href="http://cantuar.blogspot.com/2009/11/top-ten-things-to-know-about-advent.html">Top 10 Things to Know About Advent</a>.</div>
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For information about Advent traditions you can celebrate with your family to make the season more spiritually fruitful (and fun), please see the article <a href="http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0372.html">Catholic Traditions for Advent and Christmas</a>. </div>
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A number of excellent resources for Advent can be found at <a href="http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/">Don Schwager's </a>web page, <a href="http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/advent.htm">Readings and Prayers for Advent</a>. </div>
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A good way to prepare during Advent is to meditate on the daily Scripture readings from the Mass. You can find those at the website of the <a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/">U.S. bishops</a>. If you want to listen to some wonderful daily reflections on these readings, they can also be found at the <a href="http://www.usccb.org/video/reflections.shtml">bishop's site</a>, or by downloading or subscribing to the daily <i>Food For the Journey</i> podcast by Sr. Ann Shields at <a href="http://www.renewalministries.net/?module=Events&class=Media&event=Show&mediaID=4">Renewal Ministries</a>.</div>
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I'll be posting more resources (and perhaps reflections) all through Advent. In the meantime, find a way to make this the most blessed, peaceful and spiritually fruitful Advent ever for you and yours, and be prepared to meet Our Lord with authentic joy on Christmas Day.</div>
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Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-8416208162377673072009-11-22T20:48:00.000-08:002009-11-23T05:13:40.108-08:00"Viva Cristo Rey!" -- The Martyrdom of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY5hNhe6PZzjE6aFBYE2r1TD6JjWi47QAJEPao3EDbm3eH9YWeQRewlX1va28z7qFKcv7EPxWH35y4yNNbnwUCyrNz5wErf9FMSPX2kWkh8BmdnrjNrPL7_wo2lMKzweo-5i8CmxEBAE/s1600/Fr.+Pro.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407160813145546738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY5hNhe6PZzjE6aFBYE2r1TD6JjWi47QAJEPao3EDbm3eH9YWeQRewlX1va28z7qFKcv7EPxWH35y4yNNbnwUCyrNz5wErf9FMSPX2kWkh8BmdnrjNrPL7_wo2lMKzweo-5i8CmxEBAE/s200/Fr.+Pro.jpg" border="0" /></a>Today, November 23, is the Feast Day (on the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church) of Blessed Miguel Pro.<br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">The life of Father Miguel Agustin Pro, a Catholic priest, had been as heroic as would be his martyrdom because of his love and faith in Jesus Christ. In losing his life for the sake of Christ, he exchanged his earthly life in hopes of attaining eternal life with God. </span></div><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#000099;">I. Blessed Miguel Pro's Life And Work</span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Born in Mexico, January 13, 1891, Miguel Pro grew up in a large family with six brothers and sisters. Inspired by two of his sisters who entered the religious life, Miguel at the age of twenty, prayed to God in order to learn what God's will was for his own life. Because of his great love for God, and his desire to follow His will, Miguel entered the Jesuit order at the Hacienda El Llano so that he might devote his life to the service of God. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Under the terror of the Mexican regime of the time of Calles' and Obergon's rule, came years of political and religious persecution. During this period, the Pro family suffered great great financial and personal hardship. Meanwhile, Miguel and the other novices of the Jesuit order were also under severe threat of persecution, as Catholic priests and religious were among the targets of the Mexican government reign of terror. After a raid of the religious' house, their superiors ordered Miguel and the other novices to escape from Mexico. Miguel's travels took him to diverse countries such as the U.S., Grenada, and eventually Belgium where he was ordained a priest on August 21, 1925. Even though his family could not be physically present at his ordination ceremony, Father Pro was spiritually present with them; blessing their individual photographs one by one. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Even though he sought to make his internal and physical turmoil hidden from those around him, Father Pro suffered great emotional pain over the constant worry he felt over his family and the physical pain which was caused by stomach troubles. Those around him even noted that at the times he felt the most pain; physical or emotional, that he would seem the most cheerful. Father Pro's physical health weakened despite several operations. In hopes of helping Father Pro to regain his health, his superiors granted his wish to return home to Mexico to be nearer to his family. Little did his superiors realise the extent of the trouble that the Church in Mexico faced. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />In 1926, Father Pro returned to Mexico during the height of political terror; at a time in which the Catholic Church faced great opposition as a result of constitutional amendments and legislation which severely restricted public worship. Any Catholic priest who would dare to continue to serve the sacraments such as communion, baptism, confession, confirmation and marriage risked persecution, torture, arrest and even execution! </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">And so began Father Pro's adventure for God, evading police in any way possible in order that he might minister to the physical and spiritual needs of all people which included the poor, the rich, workers, laborers, business and even Socialists and Communists (who were often openly hostile to Catholic priests and the Church).Traveling via bicycle, and donning disguises such as that of a mechanic, a servant and even that of a cultured man of the world, he was able to carry out his duties for his people such as administering the sacraments and attending to the needs of people. In the spirit of Paul, the apostle, he literally became all things to all people for the sake of Christ. He won souls for Christ through prayer, humor and also through physical and spiritual aid. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">While the solders and the police had their guns and rifles, Father Pro had the greatest of all weapons as he had once stated in reference to the crucifix: "Here is my weapon. With it along, I have no fear of anyone." </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>II. Father Pro's Martyrdom</strong><br /><br />"I am ready to give my life for souls, but I want nothing for myself. All that I want is to lead them to God. If I kept anything for myself, I should be a thief, infamous; I should no longer be a priest."</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">In November 1927, Father Pro, along with his brother Humberto, became the scapegoat for an assassination attempt on the corrupt future president. The government authorities linked the Pro brothers to the crime through an old used car that had belonged to one of the brothers. Even though the authorities were well aware of the fact that the brothers were innocent, they were both guilty for being Catholic priests. Because priests were considered to be enemies of the regime, the government had an ulterior motive for convicting Miguel and his brother. Without due process or trial, the brothers were condemned to die. Innocent of any crime, they were only guilty of being Catholic priests. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">On the morning of November 23, 1927, Father Pro was led from his cell to the location of his execution. It did not matter to the police and soldiers that beyond the wall, within earshot, a man was shouting that he had in his hands a stay of execution that would free the brothers. The shouts were ignored and Father Pro was lead to his death. As they did so, one of the policemen responsible for his capture asked for his forgiveness which Father Pro freely gave. Just minutes before he was to be executed, Father Pro <a href="http://www.renpilgrim.com/common/images/sites/FrMiguelProExecution.jpg">asked to be able to pray</a> as a last request. During this short amount of time, he kneeled upon the hard, uncomfortable ground, near the bullet riddled wall where he would soon be executed. In submission to God's will, he accepted his fate, stood up, <a href="http://www.ratzingerfanclub.com/images/miguel_pro_execution.jpg">stretched his arms out wide</a> in the shape of the cross in preparation for his death. After forgiving his executors, and as the squad raised its weapons, Father Pro shouted in a clear and loud voice : <strong>"Viva Cristo Rey!"</strong> (Which means <strong>"Long live Christ the King"</strong> in Spanish.) With humility and bravery, Father Pro met his martyrdom. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">On September 25, 1988, Father Pro was beatified by Pope John Paul II. His feastday is November 23.</span></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/723475/posts">Source</a>.</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-41610848877351711322009-11-22T12:07:00.000-08:002009-11-22T14:05:20.227-08:00A Kennedy [Finally] Gets Put In His Place<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HdRCNe5yVXBsDuxikxPDqzHC558t0a-2kSpxNcf6ZgPjv-QzS-7xxmS0WpQ7hbmyfuOeux4IPNhsmXTq6ghJpA00dKZiyXPKtHFjoZYzJnmvVmvGcFqvTyXviwSTxCj3CBMM4u9Hh-w/s1600/bishop-spine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407025964023535410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 36px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HdRCNe5yVXBsDuxikxPDqzHC558t0a-2kSpxNcf6ZgPjv-QzS-7xxmS0WpQ7hbmyfuOeux4IPNhsmXTq6ghJpA00dKZiyXPKtHFjoZYzJnmvVmvGcFqvTyXviwSTxCj3CBMM4u9Hh-w/s200/bishop-spine.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#3333ff;">EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Roman Catholic bishop of Rhode Island said Sunday that he asked Rep. Patrick Kennedy in a 2007 letter to stop receiving Communion, the central sacrament of the church, because of the congressman's public stance on moral issues.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#3333ff;">Bishop Thomas Tobin divulged details of his confidential exchange with Kennedy after the Democratic lawmaker told The Providence Journal in a story published Sunday that Tobin had instructed him not to receive Communion. The two men have clashed repeatedly in the past few weeks over abortion.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">See article </span><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091122/ap_on_re_us/us_ri_bishop_kennedy;_ylt=Av1XumfF3Xhb9DlF8HvZyUGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTMyNHRscnN0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMTIyL3VzX3JpX2Jpc2hvcF9rZW5uZWR5BGNwb3MDMgRwb3MDNwRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDcmVwb3J0a2VubmV"><span style="color:#000000;">here</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">.</span></div><br /><div></div><div>Hooray for Bishop Tobin! Rich, powerful fat-cats like the Kennedys have for too long relied on their demigod status among the liberal and the mis-informed to collectively and individually (excepting, perhaps, the late Eunice, may she rest in peace) thumb their noses at the teaching of the Church they profess to follow. Their behavior has been the source of scandal for ordinary Catholics and a scoundrels refuge for other Catholic politicians since Teddy (may he rest in peace) turned pro-abortion at the birth of Roe v. Wade. You may remember a similar post of mine on this topic, found <a href="http://stjoesworkshop.blogspot.com/2009/04/wonder-in-what-level-of-hell-dante.html">here</a>.</div><br /><div></div><div>Now if only the bishops of Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Kathleen Sibelius, etc, etc, would quickly follow suit, what a wonderful world this would be.</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-2469046713075301942009-11-20T07:50:00.000-08:002009-11-20T09:02:22.683-08:00American Thinker Blog: San Francisco booksellers would rather lose money than go 'Rogue'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2i88OrXDnPUIiyGEt0v7QDy1lXbQu551-hl0nU5mwn8NqIrrOyOe_o-WH0WZQDw2H_9KYrGvZwfAKf3SBTC5tMsk55R0vooWBZAsoe1jWFJ3kgxENunXbI9ZYPaVKFNc3upbCkd_VRD0/s1600/hypocrite.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406218009479715010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2i88OrXDnPUIiyGEt0v7QDy1lXbQu551-hl0nU5mwn8NqIrrOyOe_o-WH0WZQDw2H_9KYrGvZwfAKf3SBTC5tMsk55R0vooWBZAsoe1jWFJ3kgxENunXbI9ZYPaVKFNc3upbCkd_VRD0/s200/hypocrite.jpg" border="0" /></a>LOL. What hypocrites. Add Sarah Palin's book to the list of "Banned Books." Might be too late, however, as it sold out of its first printing and had sales of 300,000 its first day.<br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Despite San Francisco Bay Area bookseller claims that Sarah Palin's new book "Going Rogue" is "not for thinking people", the Amazon numbers say otherwise. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">On a mission to show that Palin's book is </span><span style="color:#000099;">selling</span><span style="color:#000099;"> much worse than, say, the idea of reading Osama Bin Laden his Miranda rights, the </span><span style="color:#000099;">San Francisco Chronicle </span><span style="color:#000099;">interviewed several local booksellers to find out how well sales of "Going Rogue" were not going: </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">"Our customers are thinking people," said Nathan Embretson, a bookseller at Pendragon Books in Oakland. "They're not into reading drivel."</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">"Anything like that we wouldn't carry," said clerk Emily Stackhouse at Cover to Cover Books in San Francisco. "We're a small store and it would probably gross us all out. Some things you carry because of freedom of speech, but a book like that is just gross."</span></div><br /><div></div><div>Just gross? Have you ever seen some of the inane, hateful and downright disgusting titles they typically carry at independent bookstores? I always feel I need to take a shower after I wander into one of those places. It is also highly ironic that the website of the bookstore where Ms. Stackhouse works, <span style="color:#ff6600;"><a href="http://covertocover.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp">Cover To Cover</a></span> <span style="color:#ff6600;">Booksellers</span>, is currently highlighting this quote by writer Max Lerner <em>"The crime of book purging is that it involves a rejection of the word. For the word is never absolute truth, but only man's frail and human effort to approach the truth. To reject the word is to reject the human search."</em></div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div></div><div>Besides, “thinking people” prefer making their own decision to read, or not read, the book. <em>Real </em>“thinking people” would be perfectly capable of reading the book for themselves and forming an opinion of it, not having it decided for them by wanna-be cultural elites.</div><br /><div></div><div>I'm confident these highly knowledgable and open-minded booksellers read Palin's book before making such an impartial decision to not carry such an obviously popular and arguably politically relevant book. </div><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#000099;">"Apparently the job of a "bookseller" in and around San Francisco is not so much to sell product, but rather to give comfort to like-minded ...individuals and convert the remaining unwashed masses to lockstep ideology." </span></div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;">The entire blog can be viewed</span> </span><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/11/san_francisco_booksellers_woul.html"><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">here</span>.</span></a></div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-38464758094709473422009-11-16T11:49:00.000-08:002009-11-16T15:54:07.346-08:00Modesty: Leave Something to the Imagination, Girls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOlRSUaYLhgkPa2F7cwqUU9_Q5YItML3T4qPQhfmTa0-cQSV7RNHSo8Q9wvleQfWefkKbZmbErC1RK7HkZSEaQZzKJcD2bLneG0zp2xnRmPkWDVcXfUgZ7tlgq9-WSMf4VLG2E4cGolo/s1600/modesty.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404812834205998978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOlRSUaYLhgkPa2F7cwqUU9_Q5YItML3T4qPQhfmTa0-cQSV7RNHSo8Q9wvleQfWefkKbZmbErC1RK7HkZSEaQZzKJcD2bLneG0zp2xnRmPkWDVcXfUgZ7tlgq9-WSMf4VLG2E4cGolo/s200/modesty.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Doris Roberts to Young Women: Provocative Dressing Leads to Trouble, Invites Violence Against Women</span></strong><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><em>The </em></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everybody_Loves_Raymond"><span style="color:#000099;"><em>"Everybody Loves Raymond"</em></span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><em> star has a message she wants to give to young women</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><div><a href="http://www.news8.net/news/stories/1009/670721.html"><span style="color:#000099;">Nicole Kidman</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> recently hit headlines when she came out with her opinion that Hollywood probably contributes to violence by portraying women as sex objects, and “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Doris Roberts couldn't agree more. According to Doris, ladies need to leave a little more to the imagination.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">“You've got to start with </span><a href="http://www.fashiondollagency.com/img/content/agence_groupe.png"><span style="color:#000099;">the dolls</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> that are out. We are more than breasts and rear ends, and if you're a child and that's what we're trying to emanate you think that's all we are,” Roberts told Tarts at the recent </span><a href="http://peaceoverviolence.org/"><span style="color:#000099;">“Peace Over Violence” </span></a><span style="color:#000099;">event in Los Angeles which was aimed at building support for female victims of domestic and sexual abuse.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Roberts even went on to say that young girls who flash a little too much flesh are perhaps sending an open invitation to danger.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;">“I'm not a prude. I really am not. But if you're going to dress provocatively, you're going to get into trouble,” she added. “Kids, right now, 12 year olds, 11 year olds, they're dressing and trying to emanate what they see on television or in movies. When you do that, you're judged, and even if you're not selling that, it appears like you are. That is not very good.”</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Meanwhile fellow film starlet Rene Russo believes there are many more outlets to blame asides from Tinseltown for the abuse so many women suffer.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">“I don't know if I would go as far to say that it's just Hollywood, it's advertising, it's everywhere, it's everything. It's sort of in the fabric, unfortunately, of our society,” Russo said. “I think about it a lot and I'm not really sure what the answers are. Little by little we all need to try to make a difference and get out and support organizations like this because it is a problem. I don't think it's just Hollywood.” </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/11/16/doris-roberts-young-women-provocative-dressing-leads-trouble/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+foxnews%252Fentertainment+%2528FOXNews.com+-+Entertainment%2529"><span style="color:#000099;">(Source)</span></a></div><br /><div></div><div>Surprising talk, especially coming out of Hollywood. Ms. Russo is right on: the influences and forces converging on the innocence of girls in our day are simply oppressive: everything from advertisements, movies, television, pop novels and manga, music -- even the schools and the ever-present peer pressure. Now you have everything from toddler glamour shows to little girls with "Pink" flashed across their rears. Which of course means parents are complicit in this over-sexualization of their little girls, when they should instead be perserving their innocence as long as possible. Are we talking about going Amish or wearing burkas? Of course not, and that quick and cheap comment that always comes up in discussions of this sort is the knee-jerk refuge of the unthinking and those with a guilty conscience.</div><br /><div></div><div>Let's raise our girls to be wise and to make good choices, certainly, but what's the hurry to expose them to the coarseness of our fallen culture?</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150447236024931326.post-70436424997449985142009-11-15T11:16:00.000-08:002009-11-15T11:58:09.350-08:00Mayhem spreads throughout Chicago overnight after meetings to end violence<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrX11Q1PoEHezB0fx_If-LgvNL2wMBM4Hl2OgsO0g_wIyYYATC3bTzVvB3z5Sh2oU4bxUveiJAbvuhyWug4ub-YqDoMnU9PRuL3kqYOWs6kS6usN5_jOGqku-gKtCZJwaNN4xSHaQfhEo/s1600-h/2009-04-09-obama-Nope.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404414850843644994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrX11Q1PoEHezB0fx_If-LgvNL2wMBM4Hl2OgsO0g_wIyYYATC3bTzVvB3z5Sh2oU4bxUveiJAbvuhyWug4ub-YqDoMnU9PRuL3kqYOWs6kS6usN5_jOGqku-gKtCZJwaNN4xSHaQfhEo/s200/2009-04-09-obama-Nope.jpg" border="0" /></a>You can't make this stuff up, folks:<br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">After community activists pleaded Saturday for a day without killing, <strong>violence erupted throughout the city after the stroke of midnight</strong> on Sunday, leaving at least two people dead and several injured. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>At about 12:06 a.m.,</strong> Frederick Evans, 20, of the 6800 block of South Ada Street was found shot to death in an alley in the 500 block of West 58th Street. He was shot in his back and chest. </span></div><span style="color:#000099;"><br />Witnesses told police Evans was involved in a dice game shortly before midnight, according to Chicago Police News Affairs Officer JoAnn Taylor. Evans was seen being chased by a unknown person who opened fire, Taylor said. He ran to an alley to take cover before collapsing. </span><div><span style="color:#000099;"><br />A handgun was recovered from the scene, Taylor said. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Minutes later,</strong> a 32-year-old man was shot at about 12:13 a.m. on </span><a class="autolink" href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/neighborhoods.html?region=3275031"></a><span style="color:#000099;">Chicago's West Side in the Lawndale neighborhood. Police said he was shot after he watched a fight in the 3900 block of West Ogden Avenue. He suffered wounds to his leg and thigh, police said. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>At about 2 a.m</strong>., Howard Hodges, of Park Forest, was shot and struck by a car near a lounge in the Chatham neighborhood. Hodges, 34, was pronounced dead on the scene.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Another man also was shot in front of the lounge located in the 8300 block of South Vincennes Avenue, but he was taken to St. Bernard Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said he suffered a wound to his shoulder. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Later</strong>, two other people were stabbed in the Englewood neighborhood <strong>at about 3:15 a.m.</strong> in the 6600 block of South Carpenter Street, and three people were shot in the Brighton Park neighborhood at about 5 a.m. near 47th Street and Homan Avenue, police said.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Several community activists and teens met throughout the city Saturday to discuss ways to end the violence in </span><a class="autolink" href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/neighborhoods.html?region=3275031"></a><span style="color:#000099;">Chicago neighborhoods.</span></div><div><a href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/rash-of-violence-spreads-throughout-city-overnight-after-stop-the-violence-day.html">Source</a></div><br /><div></div><div>Wait a minute--I thought President Obama community activist-ed the heck out of this place before he moved into the White House? And isn't this the place where an honor student was recently beaten to death with railroad ties by a gang of young thugs while others cheered them on? Oh yeah, here's the story right <a href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/weis-decries-code-of-silence-in-murder-of-fenger-student.html">here</a>. Maybe it's the 11% unemployment in Chicago (compared to 6.9% last year). Maybe it's the city ban on handguns. How's that <strong>Change </strong>workin' for ya?</div><br /><div></div><div>No slam on the doubtless many decent and law-abiding people who live there, but I can't imagine why, despite Mr. Obama's best efforts, this town FAIL!ed to get the bid for the Olympics. </div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div></div><div></div><div>hmmm...Somehow, some way, this <em>must </em>be George Bush's fault.</div>Vince Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270502568532697343noreply@blogger.com0