Women in the Church

I'm going to touch on a topic that seems to elicit strong feels from both sides of the table, but the middle ground that allows for active involvement for all women faithful to the teachings of the Church is avoided. So far, it seems like woman are either delegated to the altar or women's clubs or viewed as want to be priests when they desire to use their full intellect, skills, and passions to help the Church. I do not want to be a priest and I submit to Church teachings that women cannot be priests. Having said this, you don't want me in the altar club ironing or hemming linens for the Church, trust me. There is a reason why my dry cleaner and seamstress love me. The current direction of the average women's club does not interest me as I am not a follower or share the interests of most of the women attending these meetings or book clubs. Not to even begin to insinuate other women are lacking intellectually, but I am highly intellectual something that very few fail to realize after even a brief meeting with me. I dig into topics and issues with passion and depth that the average person has no interest in doing. However, when I step forward to use my analytical skills, intelligence, or public speaking abilities by being a lay leader of a group, certain priests and lay people leave me with the taste in my mouth that I am trying to be "miss priest". How do we bridge the gap between these groups, and there is a real gap here, that will allow for active involvement in parish life by all men and women without suspicion or to unduly prove oneself (e.g., the attitude I'm not going to really get to know my parishioner, but this parishioner, especially since she is a woman, is already suspect due to x,y,z)?

Father Wilson's Homily: 2/27/2011

Sunday, Father Wilson's homily was especially fitting as we prepare for Lent this year, because we often forget, in the modern world, that we should be preparing for Lent. This forgetfulness is partly due to modern liturgical changes and partly due a significant lack of catechisis. So, here are a few brief bullet points from his homily:

Just as a large ship, such as an aircraft carrier, must slowly prepare to turn, so too must we turn slowly towards Lent.

Parachuting into Ash Wednesday leaves us trying to figure out what we're going to do for Lent at the very last minute instead of entering into Lent prepared for the challenges we face such as dinner parties and meal preparation due to the fasting and abstinence requirements. Fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and Abstinence every Friday in Lent. (By the way, don't expect a dispensation from Father for that steak dinner on Friday night that you scheduled, because you forgot you should be abstaining from meat on Lenten Fridays. Personal note: this is a good reason for abstaining from meat on Fridays year round.)

Prepare for Lent through reading and meditation on the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7)

Plan for your Lenten offering in advance. Choose one thing in each category: abstinence, prayer, and almsgiving.

Make reasonable expectations such as give up chocolate instead of all sweets or coffee instead of all caffeine products so that two weeks into Lent you are not confessing that you blew your Lenten resolution by over indulging. (Personal note: just as with dieting you have to make reasonable goals for yourself, do the same for Lent.)

Pick a book or material for meditation or a particular prayer habit you want to take on.

Pray for the one who "gets on your last good nerve," the one you find it hard to love, the one who hates you for no apparent reason, or all of the above.

Your almsgiving may be the widow's mite due to the economy, but the reason and disposition of your heart is what matters.

Oops - it has been awhile

It seems like I've been saying this a lot lately, the ups and downs of life have had me incredibly busy so posting has been unusually slow. Here's opening the first of the year will allow me to post more and reference mises.org.

PAX!

In the Mist of War

In Remembrance of the 11 September 2001 attack on the United States of America.

Walking around in a daze as smoke darkens the sky.
Feeling like a character from a novel as
day turns to night and time stands still.
We pray to God that we will awaken from this nightmare,
knowing we are awake and the horror is real,
yet we are unable to admit it.
This is what happens when war comes to America.
Thousands are dead or injured.
How does life continue?
Our nation has been attacked,
symbols of our country have been destroyed.
Indestructible buildings were demolished.
America prays to God for protection
and cries out for revenge while our enemies laugh for joy.
Will peace be restored or are we on the brink of war?

"I don't see the love in Libertarians."

(Written journal style so please forgive the frequent use of "I".)

A friend of mine has made this comment several times recently. Given her POV, as she a certain family member tends to be an angry person, and many of the "libertarians" she knows are angry people this makes sense. On the other hand, there is another side to this.

In the past, I've described myself as borderline anarchist and borderline libertarian. For me, I refuse to be identified with a particular political party for number of reasons. Each time I witness the liberties we turn over to the federal government, it worries me. I wonder if our society has forgotten the lessons history has for us. Today, there are very few differences between the GOP and the DNC especially when the progressives of each side become involved.

For me, the ideal of the libertarian thought process is the most compatible with our Christian duty, because it encourages us to work together as a society. We cooperate as a community to accomplish missions instead of expecting the federal government to do it for us. Often, my friend mentions a family member she views as angry and mean. Someone who would not give to those less fortunate than himself. Sadly, these people exist, but my mind, I wonder why we expect the government to accomplish our Christian duty and impose that duty on others. Yes, everyone has to answer that trite question, "What would Jesus do?" but at the same time, as individuals we are given the Christian mandate to help the less fortunate. Christ said, "When you fed the less fortunate, you fed me" (paraphrased) not "When the government feeds the less fortunate, you feed me." Those who refuse to feed the poor will then answer for that failure and this will happen when we allow the federal government to take over charitable giving and caring.

Often, I hear reference made to socialized medicine and that it needs to be done the right way. Sadly, there has yet to be a socialized medicine administered in the proper way. Each time a society gives more power to the government to control, administer, and own property instead of individuals, the disparity between the haves and the have nots increases. The middle class disappears while the poorest of the poor continue to grow.

All of this said, there is a lot of anger on all sides of the political field be it libertarians, republicans, democrats, or any other "party" that exists. Terms of racism, persecution due to religious beliefs or the insinuation that one is weak minded to believe in religion, and many other accusations run a muck. The party that claims to advocate for the less fortunate also views the murder of unborn children is a "choice" instead of protecting the unborn and will quickly remove our individual rights. The party that claims to protect the unborn, often fails to do just that and it will also remove our individual rights (think patriot act and the tarp act for starters).

Catholic philosophy indicates that decisions should be made at the lowest level possible instead of having a macro-government in control of our lives. This is where religious liberty begins along with true respect for others. It leaves protection of our nation to the federal government and from there allows decisions to be made on a state, local, and individual level instead of a dictator like federal government.

Political party affiliation...

What a loaded thought for me! I look at the two major political parties and I am turned off by both of them. In many ways, I am proud to say I am neither Republican or Democrat, but that makes it hard to become involved in local, state, and national politics as I have no desire to be affiliated with either party. For and foremost, I am Catholic and Benedictine so my political beliefs must remain in line with my faith. Given this, neither party meets the criteria.
One may ask how a person can be so turned off by these parties and my response would be that it is very easy. To understand this, one had to understand the principles of subsidiarity, the Benedictine spirituality which professes "ora et labora" and recognizes one's responsibilities to neighbor and the earth, and corporal and spiritual works of mercy. This is a complex argument that makes it impossible to pledge affiliation to either party and in many ways leads to an almost libertarian viewpoint.

What’s going on here…

As always, life is a series of ups and downs that causes us to rethink where we are and where we are going.  The past month has been full of these times for me and I am still processing through these questions with the hope that my faith will allow me to understand the path before me.

As someone living in a mixed faith family that includes cult-like behavior, at times it is difficult to “keep the peace” and honor my parents; however, as a Christian, my first and foremost duty is to honor them.  How does one do this when faced with challenges that seem insurmountable?  The easy and hard answer includes love, prayer, and acceptance.  Included in this is the need to forgive and move beyond the hurts of the past.

One may ask, how does forgiveness impact the future?  For me, this is self evident, but for others it may not be so evident.  Too often, hurt and anger leads us down a path that separates us from Christ and the love we need to show Christ, ourselves, our family, and others around us.  Are we aware of the times when our anger, often unknown to us, causes us to withdraw or impacts our ability to deal with difficult situations.  All too often, these situations are further influenced by those around telling us to leave those difficult situations alone.  How do we respond in these situations?  Do we realize that love must come first?  Do we embrace these challenges as times for our Christian faith to shine through or do we minimize the importance of our faith?

Life, death, illness, emotional and financial struggles, and just the day-to-day craziness of life should cause us to stop and consider which path we are taking as Christians.

Pax, Anastasia

The full extent of our pro-death culture…

Over the past couple of months, my assistant and I have been discussing the state of current affairs especially when it comes to life and the medical profession.  Most of these problems seem more related to insurance than doctor’s,  but the roots of these thoughts must be deeper than just deep pockets.

Not too long ago, new guidelines were announced for mammograms and pap smears that fly in the faces of years of practice and proven necessity.  Now, it has been decided that too few lives are saved due to these “costly” services so they are being postponed or delayed.

In addition to these issues, one should take a step back to look at their insurance coverage.  How many policies cover abortions, vasectomies, hysterectomies, and birth control pills while refusing to pay for such items as hormone treatments that enable a woman to treat her fertility cycle with the intention of naturally conceiving and the reversal of vasectomies?  Sadly, these numbers are growing and will continue to grow if the current “health care” reform takes places.

Are we truly speaking out against such policies and practices?  Do we speak in trust regarding Christ and the protection of life?  All too often, we probably don’t and are often unaware of this sad trend in our lives.

Pictures with Windows Live Writer

Here’s an attempt to post pictures with Windows Live Writer.  Wonder how this will work.

Gregory hiding at the veterinary office.

Windows Live Writer

Hi all!  Let’s see how using Window’s Live Writer. It would be nice to post without logging into blogspot every time I want to write something so we’ll see how this goes and I’ll look into other options available.  Hope everyone has a great day.

Consecration to Mary, December 8, 2009

Just around the corner, we have the wonderful feast day of the Immaculate Conception of our Lady. On this day, I plan to renew my consecration to Jesus through Mary using the method of Louis de Montford. Therefore, you are cordially invited to the renewal of my consecration following the 12:05 Mass, Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at the Cathedral of St. John Marian Chapel (upper church). Even if you are unable to attend, please keep me in your prayers this day.

Thanksgiving Dinner and What I'm Thankful for

I'm one of the lucky ones who gets to cook for Thanksgiving and enjoys it! This year, I decided to go with meats (ham and turkey) from the Honey Baked Ham Company, although this may be the last year I do this for family dinner, to allow for more time to cook sides from scratch.

Sides and dinner will consist of:

Homemade Fresh Green Bean Casserole to replace the well known classic from Campbell's Soup. The recipe seems to be very similar to this classic, but it made from scratch which will allow for less sodium, and hopefully calories, than usual.

Homemade baked Macaroni and Cheese - private four, sometimes five, cheese recipe. I'm not sharing the recipe at this point. ;) Maybe sometime in the future I'll share it.

New York style Cheesecake

This year, I am trying out a couple of new recipes, but if they work out I'll try to pre-make them instead of having to do everything on Thanksgiving day.

For me, as someone who grew up in a Jehovah's Witness household and without the holidays, this is one of my favorite treats! Cooking for my family and having special creamers and such for the holidays makes my week. No longer is this just another day, it is truly a day to be thankful for my family, having Christ in my life, my many friends, and the many blessings I have been blessed with.

This year, I am especially thankful for my dad. I know in my heart that I will not have him around too much longer -- a couple of years, at the best right now. He has been a blessing to me, not only from the viewpoint that I know I was planned and wanted without a doubt, but he taught me how to be independent and giving. For all of my father's faults, he is a giving and loving person even if he has not found Christ. I pray, this day and always, that he find Christ.

I am thankful for my Church family that I love without doubt.

I am thankful for my cats -- they have been a true blessing from Christ and example of unconditional love.

I am thankful for my assistant. Without her, my office would not run nearly as smoothly. Her and her family are in my prayers.

I am thankful for my job during a time when many people do not have jobs or are in danger of losing their jobs.

tangent time ~ pharmacy problems...

As many of you know, my dad has COPD and has been ill for a couple of years now. Well, part of this problem includes frequent trips to the doctor and pharmacy. His pharmacy of choice has been a growing problem with average wait times of an hour to have a prescription filled even when on the way home from the doctor's and drive through time of over 30 minutes. I cannot begin to explain the problems this caused for me and the MAJOR inconvenience it was.

Yesterday, I decided to lodge a complaint with the pharmacist and I was told the drive through was meant for "little old ladies" and that speed was not an essence at this particular pharmacy. He claimed it was "company policy" and implied that others were abusing or did not deserve the use of the drive through. At this time, I promised him this company will NEVER have my business as this behavior is uncalled for and that attitude is appalling. Frankly, I am pulling my hair out trying to handle dad's illness, my full-time job, and just having a life so a pharmacy that seems to think NOTHING of making my life more difficult really ticks me off.

Well, after deciding to move all of dad's prescriptions to another pharmacy, I decided to find out if this is really the company policy for this company. Thankfully, it isn't, but I will not be returning to this particular location at any point in the near future. Time to take a deep breathe...

Current Events...

Last week was a bit of wake-up call for the Anglican Church and many within the Catholic Church. The news began with the announcement that Pope Benedict will be offering a way for Anglican priests to come home to Rome and moved to the dramatic news that a Dominican Nun is acting as an escort at an abortion mill... finally, the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina voted on measures distancing the diocese from the national Episcopal Church. WOW! What a week. I hope I can find time to offer commentary on these events.

Take care all!

In the Mist of War: Remembering 9/11 through poetry

In the Mist of War
In Remembrance of the 11 September 2001 attack on the United States of America.

Walking around in a daze as smoke darkens the sky.
Feeling like a character from a novel as
day turns to night and time stands still.
We pray to God that we will awaken from this nightmare,
knowing we are awake and the horror is real,
yet we are unable to admit it.
This is what happens when war comes to America.
Thousands are dead or injured.
How does life continue?
Our nation has been attacked,
symbols of our country have been destroyed.
Indestructible buildings were demolished.
America prays to God for protection
and cries out for revenge while our enemies laugh for joy.
Will peace be restored or are we on the brink of war?

This poem is my personal composition and may only be reused with acknowledgment of the source.

9/11 Eight Years Later: Gone, but not Forgotten; we hope

The pictures come from a variety sources available to New York Mag and are being used under the provisions of the Fair Use Act. I am not making any profit from this blog or the use of the photos.

Health Care, Health Insurance, and Human Rights

This is a situation that is tearing our country and often our Churches apart, but I believe that this situation is more complex than just implementing a "public option" that fines people who do not have insurance. Health Care is a right, as Catholic Bishops have declared, but so is transportation, housing, and food. Does this mean we fine people who do not have cars or provide a car or pay for bus/taxi transportation for everyone? Do we truly ensure everyone has adequate housing? Obviously not, because every major city has an abundance of homeless people.

So, how do we respond to this situation? How about enabling cross state boundary insurance purchasing instead of limiting who we can purchase insurance from. In many ways, this would enable price competition for insurance. How about allowing people to pick and choose what they want covered? I don't need coverage for prostate cancer or pregnancy and definitely don't want abortions covered by my premiums. There are ways to make insurance more affordable without fining people for not having the coverage the Government demands - no copays for certain "well being" visits and an end to the original health insurance that most of us had that covered hospitalization and major health problems.

Personally, I believe the Government can play a role in enable affordable health care for all people by limiting malpractice lawsuits and in many ways getting out of the regulation business. Listening to Obama tonight, I eventually tuned him out figuring that I could read the "speech" without the interruption of constant clapping.

Sometime this week, I am going to read his speech and compare his words to the health care bills being argued before commenting any further, because, frankly, I've learned that what people say isn't always what it is.

Peace be with you always.

Until the next time,
Anastasia

Death: A time to bring families together or divide?

When a family member dies the true colors of a family begin to show and sometimes it isn't a pretty picture. Does the family come together to mourn and celebrate that person's life or do they fight and bicker? A strong family may question why God allows a young person to die and grieve over the death of their loved one, but they still reach out to each other with love and often realize they need to say, "I love you," to those they love more often. They question God and look for answers, but they do not allow anger or pettiness to rule their lives even when a young adult is taken from them in the prime of their life. Other families will fight and argue, spout off about how much they hated the person who died, or even refuse to grieve. Grief in this case is harmful instead of a time of strength to grow together.

How are you forming your family? Are you developing a family that sticks together even through the tough times or do you allow the hurts of life to divide you? As Christians, we should be focusing on love, charity, the heart of Christ's teachings. Otherwise, we risk our emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Even when we have been harmed in the past, we have to forgive so that the hurt and anger of past does not rule our life. This is often a hard part of Christianity and even of emotional wellbeing, but 1 Corinthians 13 reminds of what love is and that love has no room for anger. This does not mean we cannot feel anger, but it means we must move past it and allow love to be our fuel instead of anger. Is this a part of our faith that we practice or is it one of the inconvenient teachings that we dismiss in the heat of the moment.

May the peace and love of Christ be with you always!

Late, but not forgotten

Last Saturday, July 11, 2009, marked my one year anniversary as an Oblate of St. Benedict affiliated with St. Vincent Archabbey. Becoming an Oblate was a blessed event made even more special by the efforts of Fr. Wilson. I will never forget the solemnity of the day, the presence of my dear friends, and the efforts Father put into making this a special day for me.

Upcoming: Solemn High Latin Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Beloved

As per our parish bulletin and website:

On Friday, August 14th at 7:00pm, there will be a Solemn High Latin Mass here at the Cathedral [of St. John the Beloved, 120 Broad Street, Charleston, SC] as we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mark Thomas and our wonderful Cathedral choir will be providing the music to accompany the sacred liturgy. Visiting with us will be the rector of the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans in Shreveport, Louisiana, Fr. Peter Mangum, who will be serving in the role as deacon. Subdeacon will be Mr. Tyrone Thompson, a seminarian for the Diocese of Columbus. (Yours truly [Rev. Gregory B. Wilson] will be the celebrant of the Mass.) The usual 3rd Saturday Latin Mass will be offered as normal the next morning (Saturday) at 8:30am.

The Tale of Two Cats

Originally, there were two beautiful tabby cats - Thomas and Gregory. Each cat was named after a particular Catholic Saint – St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Gregory the Great respectively. They played together and basically drove their human mother up a wall until one day Gregory was all by himself, because Thomas was hit by a car and did not make it. Gregory remained with his human mother and became the most spoiled thing on earth after he told his mother exactly how mad he was at her and that he blamed her for Thomas going away. See, Gregory didn't realize or believe that his mother wasn't at fault for Thomas going away so he was going to teach his mother a lesson. Thankfully, mother was a patient soul, at least with her kitten, and loved him regardless of his occasional temper tantrum. Various other kitties were introduced to the family over the years and Gregory refused to accept them, because he was still mourning his brother, until one day this stray little black kitten waltzed in the door. The first week or so, Gregory hissed at the little one and occasionally at mother, but eventually Gregory came around to accepting this little one. Sadly, little one didn't have a name since he was just wandering the street near mother's work until she brought him in. So, the human adults began to discuss all sorts of names for him such as Benedict after St. Benedict and Pope Benedict XVI, Aquinas, smut face as suggested by the human grandmother, and zipper. Eventually, the human grandmother suggested the name Wilson and mother had to think about this as this would mean her two little ones would have the same name as a priest friend. Eventually, mother relented and allowed the little one to be called Wilson so now we have Gregory and Wilson. Shortly thereafter, this amusing story was shared with the appropriate priest friend and everyone shared a good laugh. Thankfully, it turns out there is another little black kitty named after him. Hereby, the Tale of Two Cats is closed and they lived together happily ever after.

Blogging... Time to return or shut down

The past couple of weeks, I have had an internal debate going on. Do I return to blogging or shut down this blog. When one blogs, they need to blog about what they are passionate about and for me that is politics, the Supreme Court of the United States, Catholic Theology, and human rights. I deeply believe in human dignity and the abuses I see in my country, the United States, and abroad concern me.

The hardest part for me, is the fact this past presidential election left me feeling burnt out. I tired of a particular Obama supporter who was ready to single handily shove the Obama agenda down my throat and the four year campaign cycle. We need a truly conservative, pro-life candidate to run for president who is sane and in touch with what the constitutients truly believe in. For me, I do not believe this will come from the GOP. In order for the candidate we need to come forward, we need to quit expecting our elected officials to be part god-like and part movie star. CHANGE is good, but it must be morally directed change that respects the dignity of all people from conception to natural death.

Well, I am going to continue to debate my return to blogging and consider what the future will hold for this small corner of the web that I call my own.

Prayers Needed

Today, my uncle Lee will be removed from the ventilator he has been on since late Friday afternoon. Please pray for his soul, his family (immediate and extended), and for family cohesiveness during this time of trial and testing. This is a time when our family will be tested deeply. The fractures that exist in a primarily Jehovah's Witness family where my uncle did not believe in God, one of my cousins and one aunt are non denominational Christians, and I am Catholic will be tested due to the religious differences and our sinful nature since the fall of Adam and Eve. Although I do not believe in the use of ventilators when a person cannot make it, I pray this time has given his soul a chance to find the peace he did not have on this earth. I cannot put into words the hurt that exists and simply pray, Kyrie Eleison Me, Lord have mercy on me. Most especially, Lord have mercy on my uncle and our family. May the hurt and division heal instead of dividing us.

Kevorkian -- Dr. Death -- and his thoughts

If what this man says doesn't turn your stomach and remind you of Hitler, I don't know what will. Thankfully, he isn't the leader of national!

In a 1986 edition of Medicine and Law, Kevorkian asserted:

The so-called Nuremberg Code and all its derivatives completely ignore the extraordinary opportunities for terminal experimentation on humans facing imminent and inevitable death...[including] the extraction of medical benefit from the process of judicial execution from those dying of irremediable illness or trauma and from suicide mandated by inflexible religious or philosophical principles or by irrevocable personal choice. Other potential subjects include comatose, brain dead, or totally incapacitated individuals as well as live fetuses in or out of the womb.

“Dr. Guillotine’s Example,” in which he asserted:

Of course, capital punishment has always been rationalized as being “retribution” — allowing the condemned to “pay” with their lives. What nonsense! Payment means transfer of value. With execution there is no such thing; there is only total loss — and, of course, vengeance.

That no longer need be true. The fortuitous convergence of lethal injection and of our incredible success with organ transplantation promises to validate at least the erstwhile repayment. Many of the more than 1,200 men and women now crowding our states’ death rows are eager to suffer more meaningful death by donating vital organs to dying patients…Here finally, we have the opportunity to extract true payment — literal transfer of life from the condemned to the dying.

One thing we must realize here is that is he is not referring to the removal of organs after a person's execution. Here, he is referring to the removal organs while the condemned person is under anesthesia. What will sto this man from slowly killing off everyone he views as unwanted given the fact he goes on to list the types of "suicides" that should exist including "Suicide by proxy".

“Optional assisted suicide,” which he explained included “individuals, sometimes in good physical and mental health, who choose to be killed by another”:

The compelling factors may be physical (end stage of incurable disease, crippling deformity, or severe trauma), mental (intense anxiety or psychic torture inflicted by self or others), or doxastic (religious or philosophical tenets or inflexible personal convictions). Also in this group would be the forebears of Christianity in ancient Rome, whose “choice” to be killed by hungry lions in the Coliseum was preferable to the alternative “choice” of renouncing their faith (spiritual death).

“Obligatory Suicide,” a category comprised of “those irrevocably condemned to kill themselves,” such as “the Japanese ritual of hara-kiri” required by “a devout Shintoist guilty of intolerable sin [to] gain access to the next life.”

“Optional Suicide,” which differed from optional assisted suicide in that these would-be obitiatric subjects “are in no way afflicted by illness but who have arbitrarily and irrevocably decided that they must die.”

“Suicide by Proxy,” encompassing “the killing by the decision and action of another, of fetuses, infants, minor children, and every human being incapable of giving direct and informed consent.”

And what is his reason? Here's the kicker, it isn't to put anyone out of their misery as they above should already prove, but here it is in his own words.

I feel it is only decent and fair to explain my ultimate aim….It is not simply to help suffering and doomed persons kill themselves—that is merely the first step, an early distasteful professional obligation (now called medicide) that nobody in his or her right mind could savor. [W]hat I find most satisfying is the prospect of making possible the performance of invaluable experiments or other beneficial medical acts under conditions that this first unpleasant step can help establish—in a word obitiatry.

Source

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

"I'm listening out of the corner of my ear."

Yes, you heard me right. So, I hope this gives you a good laugh and maybe a bit of food for thought.

Have a great day.





Picture Source

How has the Holy Spirit touched your life?

In today's world, God often seems to be a distant figure although Christ promises us that he would send us the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete or comforter. So, I ask you how has God or if you prefer, the Holy Spirit, touched your life?

As we ponder this question, we should look at those hidden gifts that are often over looked since they are such a quiet part of our lives. Often, we hear of the "charismatic" gifts such as healing, but there are quieter gifts we need to forget such as the strength to heroically live in a modernist world, peace during adversity or illness, the ability to comfort those in need, and the gifts to teach and lead. All graces are given to us are meant to strengthen the Church and our families as St. Paul reminds us. Gifts should not divide the community or be the primary focus of our faith, because blessed are those who believe without seeing.

Given this, how do we blend the heavy focus on healings and prophecy found in certain circles with the need to believe without seeing? Christ feeds us milk when we are babes and moves us to "hard" food as we grow through a phase, often known as the "Dark Night”, which is devoid of consolations and forces us to rely on faith instead of emotions. Do we pray for consolations or do we accept the Dark Nights given to us though the daily struggles we face?

Political Headlines

A South Dakota law that has been the source of ongoing litigation became effective July 18, 2008 mandating physicians inform pregnant women contemplating abortion:

they are "terminating the life of a whole separate, unique living human being."

she is willingly putting herself at a higher risk of suicide and depression and that in choosing to end the life of her child she is terminating an 'existing relationship' that is protected by the US constitution and that her "existing constitutional rights with regards to that relationship will be terminated." Source

Find out who will not be our next VP while I breathe a sign of relief although I still believe Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck are the best of the job given modern trend.

h/t: Southern Appeal

The Dark Knight: A Modern Political and Church Commentary?

A recent posting at Obsidian Wings has left me wondering if maybe, just maybe I will go see The Dark Knight although lately I tend to avoid the movies due to content issues, because I enjoy movies that make me think about political or religious issues. I will reference several comments that really spoke to me.

One of the larger intellectual questions the film asks is whether humans can be the final arbiter of their own power. In other words, should I (or anyone) be entrusted to decide which laws I can ignore for the sake of the greater good?

Obviously, these questions relate quite directly to our own war on terror. But they also extend well beyond the national security context. The questions raised there cover everything from epistemology to the theological divide between Catholics and Protestants.

But once the legitimacy threshold is crossed, it’s hard to see how Jokers won’t eventually arise. After all, if we can break the law to beat terrorists, why can’t we break the law if we’re convinced (really firmly convinced in our heads) that electing Democrats or Republicans will destroy the country?

Beware link to post on Obsidian Wings contains spoilers.
h/t: Southern Appeal
Source:The Dark Knight Movie Poster

Jubilee Year of St. Paul: July 28, 2008 to July 29, 2009

At the First Solemn Vespers of the Solemnity of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul 2007, Pope Benedict XVI announced the upcoming Pauline year and that it is to be characterized by ecumenism.

I am catching up a bit as I did not cover the original announcement, but I figure this is an important issue as the Jubilee Year just began. During this Jubilee, our Holy Father has made a plentary indulgence available to all of the faithful. I'll cover this in a different post.

Icon Source: St.Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church

Usus antiquior continues in the Diocese of Charleston

A Solemn High Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite (the Traditional Latin Mass) will be offered in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Charleston, SC, for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15th at 7:15 PM, in the upper church. All are invited.

Final Oblation

On July 11, the Feast of Our Holy Father St. Benedict, I professed the promises contained in the Final Oblation for Oblates of St. Benedt in front of a small group of friends, seminarians, deacons, and my parish priest. My parish priest made this day unbelievably special for me by simply allowing this to take place at my home parish with my friends presents and the externals.

Although it would have been a special day regardless of where this profession took place, having it take place at my home parish made it unbelievably special and the reading, homily given by Father, and the presence of a first class relic of St. Benedict which I was given the unbelievable priviledge of carrying to the main Church made the day unforgettable. The reverence Father imbued was amazing. I felt like a bride at her wedding. Unfortunately, I forgot to have pictures taken of that wonderful day.

Saint Benedict of Nursia

St. Gregory the Great writes about St. Benedict in The Dialogues, Book 2

There was a man of venerable life, blessed by grace, and blessed in name, for he was called "Benedictus" or Benedict. From his younger years, he always had the mind of an old man; for his age was inferior to his virtue. All vain pleasure he despised, and though he was in the world, and might freely have enjoyed such commodities as it yields, yet he esteemed it and its vanities as nothing. Source

This man of venerable life went on to found the oldest western monastic religious order and in modern times independant houses that follow the Rule of St. Benedict have become known as the Order of St. Benedict. These modern monasteries that follow the Rule of St. Benedict have Oblates who promise to follow the Rule of St. Benedict as their circumstances in life will permit.

Medal-Cross of St. Benedict

Note: This article was originally published in The Scriptorium IX (1949), a publication produced by the junior monks of Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota. (excerpts from original article follow)

THERE IS NO MEDAL which possesses such wonderful power, and which is more highly esteemed by the holy Church than the Medal of St. Benedict. Whosoever wears this Medal with devotion, trusting in the life-giving power, may expect the powerful protection of the great Patriarch of Western Monasticism in time of spiritual and temporal needs.

The Medal of St. Benedict is more correctly called the Medal-Cross of St. Benedict. It is so termed because it is a medal on which is inscribed a Cross, or on which are found the letters of the Cross of St. Benedict. Since the years 1647-1650, the Cross of St. Benedict was imprinted on medals of oval or round forms, accompanied with the characters taken from a certain document, the so-called Metten-Munich Manuscript of which we shall treat later. After 1741-1742 there was joined to the Cross the likeness of St. Benedict, so that the one side of the Medal-Cross had his image, while the other carried the Cross and the letters which form the Cross of St. Benedict. The medals have been struck in various forms: round, oval, oblong, and square, while the design on the Cross was, at various times, Greek, Latin, or Gothic. The size of the medals also varies--some are about as large as an American dime, others the size of a nickel, a quarter, a half dollar, and even larger.

The four letters at the sides of St. Benedict's Cross: C.S.P.B. stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti. The five letters on the length of St. Benedict's Cross: C.S.S.M.L. represent the first part of a prayer, or ejaculation: Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux. The five letters making the breadth of St. Benedict's Cross are N.D.S.M.D.; Non Demon Sit Mihi Dux. The oldest manuscript has "demon" and might be literally translated "Let not the demon be my guide." The manuscript of the year 1415 has, instead of "devil", or "demon", a monster with wings of a "dragon." In the latter case the translation would be: "Let not the dragon by my guide."

The fourteen letters around the Cross, making its border are V.R.S.N.S.M.V.; S.M.Q.L.I.V.B. They come from a Leonine Poem and represent only three of its sixteen verses. The initials stand for the verses:

Vade retro Satana;Nunquam suade mihi vana.Sunt mala quae libas;Ipse venana bibas!

In English: "Begone Satan! Suggest not to me vain things. The cup you offer me is evil, drink the poison yourself!"3 These or similar words are supposed to come forth from St. Benedict's lips: the words of the first verse, apply to the temptation that visited him at his cave and over which he triumphed by the Sign of the Cross. The words of the second verse refer to the occasion when his enemies presented him the beverage of death, which he discovered by making the Sign of life over the cup that contained the poison.

Celebration of the Extraordinary Form at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

The Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist has come and gone leaving an impressive mark on the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (and perhaps the entire Diocese of Charleston). The Cathedral was built for the celebration of the Extraordinary Form as it was originally built a little over a sixty years prior to the chaos that ensued after the Second Vatican Counsel and in 1982, renovations and repairs were intitiated by Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler to implement the liturgical and sacramental directives of the Second Vatican Council. (Source) Sadly to say, these renovations wrecked a beautiful altar.

Thankfully, the impressive mark left on the Cathedral includes the return of votive candles and two beautiful statues of St. Paul and St. Theresa of Lisieux in the left chapel. Our Cathedral is truly beginning to look like a Catholic Cathedral again! Thanks be to God and our administrator, Father Wilson, for following the not too subtle lead of our Holy Father.

In my humble opinion, the greatest mark left on the Diocese by this celebration was the presence of our Diocesan Administrator, Rev. Msgr. Martin Laughlin. This shows us Father Wilson has the support of our Administrator and that the Extraodinary Form is supported through out the Diocese. Publicly showing this support is crucial, because as Msgr said, Father Wilson can do great things for the Cathedral Parish and in the process he will encounter resistance. This makes it even more important that those who support Father Wilson openly show their support and love. Letters and cards of thanksgiving are surely appreciated, because, unfortunately, he will surely hear more negative feedback than positive given the nature of our fallen selves. Thankfully, Father is not one for faint praise and he has been graced with the strength of silent leadership similar to that of our Holy Father.

Please pray for Msgr. Laughlin, the future Bishop of Charleston, Father Wilson, and all priests. I am sure our priests attempting to follow the lead of our Holy Father will encounter great opposition from their brother priests not just misguided parishioners. So, please pray for all priests!

PAX!

Picture Source: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Charleston, SC

Extraordinary Form of Mass -- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist will have its first extraordinary form of Mass publicly celebrated by the Rev. Gregory B. Wilson on June 24.

On June 24th we solemnly celebrate the Birth of St. John the Baptist, our parish’s feast day and the patron of the whole Diocese of Charleston. In addition to our normal Masses at 7:00 am and 12:05 pm, there will be a special High Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite (the Traditional Latin Mass) at 7:00pm in the upper church. Cathedral

Prayer Request and more

Please forgive my gramatical errors that you find in my posts today, I am trying to recover from a lung infection that I have been trying to shake for over a month now. Hopefully, I will get back later this week to edit my posts so they will make more sense.

Say a prayer for me and my family -- especially my father as he is has advanced COPD and will be seeing a heart/lung specialist later this month for prognosis.

A week of uproar

This week, without a bit of suprise the ruling came down from the California Supreme Court in the In re Marriage Cases that "to the extent the current California statutory provisions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, these statutes are unconstitutional." The opinion may be found here in PDF form.

Given the state of affairs in Calfornia and the Supreme Court of California, no one should be suprised by this ruling. However, this ruling is extremely damaging to society although many will not see this. This is shown by the the fact that the has already been an "outing" in the blogosphere by a rather well known blogger who admitted that he/she supports homosexual partnerships. This saddens me to no end! I am in the process of addressing this issue and I may or may not post the letter here. Yes, we need to have compassion, but being compassionate towards sinners does not mean we excuse or condone their sin.

I believe the problem we have here is we tend to hate and judge sinners. We think of murders, abortionists, and hard criminals as sinners. So the loving homosexual couple who cannot possibly have malice in their hearts cannot be on the same level as the mass murder and cannot truly be a sinner or be condemned. This is where we have to revisit what sin is and who are sinners. In fact, we are all sinners and deserving condemnation! Every day of our lives! Maybe, just maybe by the grace of god we don't go the path of the murder, thief, or commit another mortal sin but we are still sinners and as such must have compassion toward other sinners. However, this does not mean we are required to condone mortal sins such as active homosexual live styles, because we do not see malice in their hearts. In fact, the homosexual needs our love and support extensively, because they are sinners and outcasts especially when they finally attempt to live a chaste life instead of letting their passions rule them.

Altar arrangement

I didn't have to redo the arrangement after all. The deacon in charge of the sacristy took a picture of the altar arrangement and shared it with me. Here is the altar arrangement that caused a bit of a stir a few weeks ago.

This picture cannot be used with permission.

Altar Arrangements and More

A very dear priest and friend was reassigned to my parish recently and many changes have been taking place since his return. Yesterday, I stopped by the Church and we had six candles lining the altar with a crucifix in the center (the method our Papa has been using recently). I was overwhelmed with feelings of such joy when I saw this arrangement. It was beautiful!!! Unfortunately, at least one other priest was very unhappy with the change and possibly a valid point was made that the candles were too large (maybe) so the candles were removed from the altar. Thankfully, a compromise was made and the crucifix remained! The situation behind this saddens me, but does not deserve to be discussed here. I should have taken a picture!! Maybe they will let me redo that arrangement so I can take a picture. Prayers... are needed!

Modern Politics

How does one‘s political ideology develop? Is it regional or maybe familial? Is it personal experience or educational? Does the frequency of reading the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble, Bill of Rights and the Constitution in pact a person’s views? How does religion factor into one’s political views?

My earliest impressions of American and world history consist of the thought that we were fleeing tyranny, that the federal government was formed to protect rights of the States, defend the United States of America from international threats, and to regulate interstate commerce -- a small federal government protecting the States’ independence. In reality, this is long gone as the destruction of State Rights began with Abraham Lincoln and continues to be chipped away each year. For me, this ongoing destruction of State Rights has not changed my political outlook and I do not fear saying mistakes have been in the past that threaten the makeup of our country.

When I started this post several days ago, I wanted to truly dive into the history of the destruction of State Rights and the ongoing growth, but I realized over time that my thought process will actually take days so I am giving you a shortened version at this moment.

I fully support a national prolife amendment as this right is given to us through our declaration of independence, “…that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..” Frankly, if our Supreme Court would grow up, it would realize that a woman’s “right to choice” does not overrule the right to life each individual possesses. I believe this is a situation similar to over rights that have been denied to various individuals throughout the history of our nation and could be and should be resolved by the courts admitting they overstepped. Will this happen… probably not in my lifetime. Given the fact it is unlikely this will happen, a national amendment is the next best thing although I doubt seriously it would pass with the 2/3 majority vote as necessary. Given these two facts, I would be most satisfied with the Supreme Court at least reversing the anti-life rulings and giving each individual state the right to govern this issue.

Universal healthcare is an issue I cannot support. Try as I may, I cannot see giving the federal government more control over individual lives. It is bad enough that the federal government has first rights over my paycheck, but to give the federal government – a government that cannot protect the most defenseless among us – control over healthcare scares me. Maybe, just maybe in the beginning the federal government will not try to define what healthcare we have access to, but I know in the long run it will. Government dollars always come with “strings”. Accept this money and you must meet certain conditions. This thought process has given us many “federally mandated” laws. The nationwide drinking age of 21, the nationwide smoking age of 18, the growing nationwide seatbelt laws… Can you see the requirements that would be attached to federal health dollars with Universal Healthcare? Let’s try a couple on for size, given the fact we are facing a shrinking workforce. All pregnant women will be mandate to undergo testing and if the unborn child has certain disabilities or will not meet a government defined quality of life, that child must be aborted. People over a certain age or who do not meet a certain quality of life must be “euthanized.” Please don’t tell me I have a wild imagination, because we only have to take a serious look at the socialized countries throughout the world to see that this is the world we are headed for.

For the poor you will always have with you… this is our call, from Christ, to serve the poor. This does not mean we need to pawn the poor off to the government. This means we must be actively involved with caring for the poor. Maybe all of us, as individuals, should be more concerned with caring for the poor without the aid of the government instead demanding the government care for them. Honestly, if people were so concerned for the poor they would be in the trenches caring for the poor and setting up private organizations to care for them instead of demanding that an incompetent government needs to care for them. Let’s be realistic here, we have a “Social Security” program that is failing! Something must be done about this situation before Social Security alone bankrupts our country, because we have people who did not plan for their retirements and expect Social Security to care for them – Social Security, a short term program that was originally intended to help the poorest of our country during war time.

Prayer Request

Please pray for my daddy! I am sitting in the Emergency Room at this moment -- thank God for wireless internet access -- with my father. He is a long term smoker who cannot/will not quit smoking and has serious health issues stemming from this. Please pray that he will accept the treatments needed and diagnosis given. I am deeply worried about him!

Singlehood

Is God calling you to a vocation or living as a single person? Honestly, I don't know the answer and cannot know – you are the only person that can know the answer. However, there are a few important "signs" that usually exist and other questions one must ask while determining this. Are you drawn to a relationship with Christ and that relationship is deepening to the point that it is a marital like love? Is your prayer life growing? Are you looking for Mr. or Miss Perfect and unwilling to forgive or accept anything less than perfection? Is Christ first in your life or are you simply tired of looking for a spouse? What do you spend your time doing -- praying, reading spiritual items, or pursuing the things of this world?

Sometimes one must stop looking for a relationship to find one and, yes, lower their standards. I say lower their standards, because all too often we look for perfection in our relationships instead of accepting the sinfulness we have inherited from Adam and Eve. We tend to have a romanticized view of love instead of realizing love -- marital love or religious life -- is a choice one must make.

There is a beauty to devoting oneself to Christ that requires one to reach beyond one’s selfish desires. Prayer comes first so that devotion to Christ through love and adoration grows. Love of Christ such as this is beautiful and is as a love as all consuming as marital love. It is so consuming one knows that one cannot fairly love another in the marital state. One wants to be focused on Christ alone and sometimes this is a painful time, but it is beautiful and peaceful at the same time.

Repentance...

During this time of Advent, the matter of repentance has laid heavily on my heart although this post will be written off the cuff with references and links added at a later date. So often in modern circles and past times, our natural tendency is to demand a public punishment for sins committed when we may or may not know the person's full history or we presume that a person is unable to repent from a seriously sinful past. Is this truly what our calling as Christians requires of us? At this time, I must say no. In fact, our calling requires exactly the opposite of us.

We, as Catholics, do not believe as Luther did that Christ merely covers over our sinfulness and hides it. We believe that the blood of Christ, often through the grace of the sacraments, truly changes us. Our sins are truly washed away provided we seek a life of grace, frequently partake of the sacraments especially the Eucharist and Confession, and turn away from our sins with a contrite heart. Are we truly contrite? Do we truly believe our sins deeply offend Christ and are sorry for only that reason? Most likely, no. Most likely, we fear the fires of hell and separation from Christ then comes the realization that we offend Christ daily by our sins. Sometimes are sins are private while at other times they become publicly know when another witnesses our transgression. Private or publicly known sins severe our relationship with Christ when they are mortal in nature and sully our relationship possibly leading us away from Christ and to worse sins. This is why confession is absolutely necessary in the case of mortal sins even when our brothers are unaware of our sins and regular confession of our venial sins is a good devotion to aid us in our journey toward Christ.

So, where does that leave us in relation to our brothers in Christ when we are aware of their past sins? First and foremost, WE DO NOT JUDGE! Does this mean if a person is living a lifestyle that has sinful elements we must accept that lifestyle. No, this means we accept the person for where they are now and limit our involvement in their life so we are not involved in the sinful aspects while praying for their and our continued conversion or we can distance ourselves from them completely while praying for their and our continued conversion. If they question our actions, we can explain to them we feel uncomfortable being involved with certain activities due to their nature and that we are more than willing to discuss these issues with them if they desire. NEVER should we come across holier than thou, because all of us sinners and only by the grace God are we not walking the path they are on.

So, what do we do when it is revealed to us that a friend as a sinful past? Well, we do not judge! If they are living a Christian life, it would be unchristian for us to withdraw our friendship based on their past. Remember, it is only by the grace of God we did not commit the very same sins. Who knows, maybe one of our own sins is even worse in the eyes of God, but we are blind to it. We must take the plank out of our own eye before we can take the splinter out of our brother's even when our brother's sin is murder or adultery.

So, this Advent, let us focus on the reality of Christ coming as the Christ child, our savior, and the coming of his graces that bring us out of sin and to repentance. Although we are often unaware of it, we are sinners who fall every day and always need Christ at the center of our heart.

What exactly is so hard about sending Word attachments?

I wish this was a sarcastic question, but it really isn't and is a reflection of the frustration I am feeling at Church. I must grant the scheduler of the various ministries has a tough job, but why on earth should we go back at least five years technologically and start mailing (by "snail mail") the schedules? While I am more than willing to empathize with the relatively new scheduler, because she doesn't have a lot of computer experience, I really don't get why this is such a problem given the fact various people have offered to assist with the more technological side of things such as attaching the attachment and sending it out. Anyway, in the modern era, should we have someone capable of basic modern communications handling such an important task?

The most frustrating thing for me is that I am viewed as petty or my frustration is taken personally when I say I cannot chase a piece of paper or wait by the mailbox with expectation at this point in my life. The important things in my life are saved on my laptop and PDA so that I have instant access to them in the event of an emergency -- and unfortunately this happens more often than not nowadays. To me, nothing is more important than ensuring I am present when I am scheduled to as a Lector or EMHC, but I cannot ensure I always have a schedule -- on paper -- with me at all times so that I can ensure my presence or arrange proper coverage in the event of an emergency.

Does my attitude toward the ministries need improvement? Towards the ministries as a service to Christ and His Church, I don't think so. However, I am not sure I am willing to change my opinion about chasing paper schedules in the modern age. Heck, there are parishes that have their schedules online and my parish is having to mail everything. Isn't this also a major waste of the money given to the money in the way of the time it takes to stuff envelopes and the postage? Does my attitude towards the church need at least slight improvement, may... just maybe... because I honestly believe the church should be doing what is needed to ensure the most effective communication takes place instead of sitting back idling acting as if the parishioners who are busy are at their beck and call.

Serra International

Is there a Serra International near you? If not, check into the possibility of bringing this organization that promotes and supports religious life and the priesthood to your area.

Modern Sacred Music Not So Sacred?

According to Monsignor Valentín Miserachs Grau, director of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, modern sacred music has had greater deviations than any other area touched by the Second Vatican Counsel.

It is a great error, Monsignor Miserachs said, to think that people "should find in the temple the same nonsense given to them outside," since "the liturgy, even in the music, should educate all people -- including youth and children.""Much music written today, or put in circulation, nevertheless ignores not only the grammar, but even the basic ABC's of musical art," he continued. "Due to general ignorance, especially in certain sectors of the clergy," certain media act as loudspeakers for "products that, devoid of the indispensable characteristics of sacred music -- sanctity, true art, universality -- can never procure the authentic good of the Church." Source

Any person who sits in the pews of a Mass according to the ordinary form knows, truer words have not been spoken regarding modern liturgical music. Given the musical history of the Church, there is no reason for modern music to be the sad shape it is in.

Upcoming National Elections

Local elections for 2007 are finished and now the race to the absurdly early 2008 primaries begins. I say this tongue-in-cheek, because the 2008 race began a year ago. Honestly, I'm not a happy with any of the candidates on either side of the aisle. I don't consider myself a Republican, much less a Democrate. I am an independant thinker with federalist leanings although it seems like I vote solidly Republican.

As I continue to research the candidates -- Republican and Democrate alike -- I will blog about my findings, opinions, and continue to search for the lesser of evils, because, so far, I have found one candidate that truly stands for everything I believe in and has the potential to win on a national level.

So, what do I look for in a candidate. For starters, I look for a solidly pro-life candidate who is openly pro-marriage. If we can begin to protect the unborn and families, then we can look to the other issues such as the "war on terror", social security, immigration, and healthcare. If we cannot protect the most defenseless of society, then we cannot combat the other evils of modern society.

Frankly, most politicians talk in circles and never really say anything of meaning. One can only look at voting records, their personal lives, and those they associate with to even begin to know where they stand on issues. Talk in cheap in our daily lives and polician talk is worth almost nothing. Action is what matters. Does this mean a politician cannot have a conversion moment? No, I believe it is possible, but I remain skeptical until a solid voting history exists. Few of us ever really change; those of us that do change, change because Christ has touched their lives deeply, intimately, and personally.

So, does this mean I will only vote for a Christian politician. No. I will vote for the person who is most likely to promote a pro-life and pro-marriage agenda while truly standing for the principles outlined in the Constitution of the United States of America. We cannot have an agenda driven President and Vice President who will promote their personal agenda without regard for the people and freedoms of the United States.

I can be somewhat idealistic and expect a our President and Supreme Court Justices to uphold the Constitution regardless of what a vocal minority wants. Our right to free speach grants each one of us the right to voice our opinions without repercussions, but this does not mean the minority, albeit a growing minority, should be able to repress the true freedoms of religion and speech granted to each citizen of the United States.

It will be interesting to see where this election goes. I truly hope we do not windup with Clinton or Obama as our next president. God help us all!

Catholics and Holy Scripture

What does Holy Scripture mean to Catholics? This is an especially important question for us as individual Catholics, because we are often targeted as "those people" who do not accept scripture and/or add to what Scripture tells us. Given the nature of these misperceptions, we are obligated to know our faith and Scripture so that we can refute these perceptions and defend our faith. This means our faith and Scripture need to be personal. We cannot be satisfied with a mediocre or hand-me-down faith.

So, let's hear what our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has to say about this:

Sacred Scripture isn't merely a text written in the past, but rather the word of God that has within it a personal message directed to each individual Christian.

Above all I think it is this: to love the word of God in sacred Scripture. St. Jerome said, 'To ignore Scripture is to ignore Christ.' That is why it is important that every Christian live in contact and in personal dialogue with the word of God, given to us in sacred Scripture.

We must also keep in mind that the word of God is given to us in order to build communion, to unite us in the truth along our way to God.

Therefore, despite the fact that it is always a personal word, it is also a word that builds community, and that builds the Church itself. Therefore, we should read it in communion with the living Church. Source

When it rains it pours

This is so true in life when difficult times arise such as one's car going in the shop for scheduled maintenance only to find out that a major repair completed five months prior is needed again, having a minor accident while driving the rental car, and the craziness that can occur at work.

However, the same can be true for God's blessings such as being invited to the installation when one's beloved Bishop is installed as Bishop of another diocese and then being invited to volunteer at the Catholic Leader's Conference. As a volunteer, I will have the opportunity to meet an assist leaders such as Dr. Allen Keyes, Senator Brownback, and John Klink. In all honesty, originally I wanted to attend the conference as another attendee, but I realized being a volunteer will enable me to offer small and necessary services to the valued members of the pro-life movement. Most likely, I will also meet Father Frank Pravone a priest I respect for his work in the pro-life movement although I do not completely agree with his methods. Granted, we have different ideas regarding how to address this crisis, but at least we are on the same page. That's what Free Will is about! Moments like these are truly humbling, because one realizes how small they are in the grand scheme of things.

Home Again and More

Yes, I am finally home and have been from my trip to Birmingham. The Installation service was beautiful although I have my own little details, like the personal pet peeve that continues to question why we do not use more Latin in our liturgy although it is the language of the Church, I tend to notice and pick at during large ceremonies. As a former choir member who has sung at several large events, including the episcopal ordination of Bishop Baker, I tend to notice the little ceremonial goofs and other personal pet issues. So, stepping outside of my critical eye, I must say the ceremony was truly beautiful and well prepared. Abiding love for the people of Birmingham and those who have touched Bishop Baker's life flowed through the entire liturgy on Monday night at Vespers and at the Installation.

The ceremony was vastly different than his episcopal ordination, because this was only an installation, you could see certain of his personal touches through that liturgy that were missing at the ordination, and the installation took place at the Cathedral. When he was ordained Bishop, the diocese rented the local convention center and everyone was invited. There were no tickets to enter the ordination although there were mandatory tickets for the installation. Trust me, this little, bitty peon wonders why I was worthy of an invite and ticket, but I could see God's hand in the entire trip.

I must say that the mix of those attending the Installation was beautiful. I LOVED seeing so many religious orders present and wearing HABITS and had the humble priviledge of sitting next to a lovely sister of the Nashville Dominican Order assigned to St. Rose Academy in Birmingham, AL. A description of the event and his homily can be found here, where I was reminded of Bishop Baker's opening sentence of his homily:

I am happy to be the new Bishop of Birmingham in Alabama. No more rumors. No more Whispers in the Loggia!

In all honesty, I wish the whispers were still whispers and the rumors, rumors, but nah... we have lost our Bishop and are now a vacant see. This is an interesting time for our Diocese, but the first act of business was completed with remarkable speed and our Diocesan Administrator was named Wednesday morning -- the Rev. Msgr. Martin T. Laughlin. We pray for the diocese of Birmingham and, just as importantly, for our Holy Father as he decides who to appoint as our new Bishop and the priest who will be ordained and/or installed as the new Bishop of Charleston. I sincerely pray for two items 1) that we are not without a Bishop for too long, because we have seminarians in the wings waiting for ordination over the next few years and 2) that our new Bishop continues to encourage all vocations -- including those that are more unusual.

As for God's hand in this trip for me, I was able to make it although everything had to go wrong at work Friday afternoon and my allergies decided to kick in fulltime Thursday morning. Although I spent so much time on the road -- driving to Cullman, Hanceville, and to and from Birmingham -- while in Alabama, the trip was amazingly refreshing. After visiting the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, participating in the Liturgy of the Hours at St. Bernard Abbey and attending public Vespers in honor of Bishop Baker's installation, I found myself more focused, determined, and settled in my path. A busy trip, but one with many fruits.

On the Road Again. Just can’t wait to get on the road again.

    Well, these are the lyrics to the Willie Nelson hit On the Road Again although I doubt I share his sentiments again. Yes, I will be on the road again; this time I will be heading to Birmingham, Alabama and Cullman, Alabama. I will be staying at St. Bernard's Abbey and attending the installation of Bishop Baker as the Bishop of Birmingham. I am excited especially since this trip will include a mini retreat at St. Bernard's. Pray for me during my continued travels and I will be praying for you.

Something good comes from California

So often, we hear of the liturgical abuses that run rampant and the hindrances of the extraordinary form of Mass through various California dioceses, but today I have something good to report. Bishop Barnes speaks out against human trafficking and urges Congress to reauthorize the Victims Protection Act.

"This legislation should be reauthorized, adequately funded, and aggressively implemented," said Bishop Barnes, while noting that "as many as 700,000 persons are trafficked globally each year, men, women, and children." Human trafficking, the bishop added, is a "horrific crime against the basic human dignity and rights of the human person." Bishop Barnes included in his statement a request for the federal government to place emphasis on the recovery and care of victims, particularly "child trafficking victims, who are most susceptible to the long-term horrors of this crime." In his statement the 62-year-old prelate also asked that the general public, and Catholics specifically, work together to end human trafficking.
Source: Zenit – The World Seen from Rome

Given that human trafficking is a form of modern slavery, all of us should be speaking out against this horrendous evil just as our activist forefathers spoke out against slavery of blacks. Are we truly fighting for all people who are a position that prevents them from defending themselves?

Implementation of Pope Benedict's Summorum Pontificum

Today, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, A.D. 2007, Pope Benedict's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum begins implementation throughout Christendom. As one ponders recent liturgical history, one will often notice that in the years since the implementation of the current ordinary form of Mass have been years of turmoil within the Church and society in general. A number of immoral practices that were taboo have become common place. When members of society refuse accept these practices as normal or moral they are viewed as closed minded persecutors similar to the likes of Adolf Hitler. With these issues in mind, one must question why after sixty years of being hidden the extraordinary form of Mass is being dusted off and made more accessible. I have my own theory regarding the events of recent history.

In a brief summary, I believe in my deepest part of my heart that the Holy Spirit was at the helm. For those who love and support the extraordinary form of Mass this seems to be an odd and maybe even borderline heretical statement; however, I truly believe this was to protect the extraordinary form of Mass. In response to the early findings of the Second Vatican Council, what is now known as the extraordinary form of Mass could have been destroyed instead of preserved. Sacrosanctum Concilium could have been implemented through making changes to the Mass that was in use. If this has happened, imagine the historical and traditional losses our Church would have experienced with little recourse to retrieving the beauty found in the extraordinary form of Mass. If done properly, the desired changes could have been made to the extraordinary form of Mass while preserving the beauty of the Mass, but history has proven that the priests and “liturgists” of modern times are bent on their take of the Mass as the ordinary Mass can be said in a solemn and extraordinarily beautiful way. Many of the “changes” or desired changes are the work of those who do not accept the authority of Christ’s Church and have already left the Church by their actions and beliefs. Unfortunately, this shift of our focus from God to self has invaded secular society and Holy Church. A shift of focus that had been brewing in our Church for years before the Second Vatican Council

As a result, I can say with confidence that I believe Christ through the Holy Spirit allowed for the extraordinary form of Mass to be protected during these times of upheaval so it would not experience the trials of “inclusive” language, experimentation, and self centeredness instead of God centered.

To be continued…

Please use care when driving!

While driving back to my office Thursday afternoon, someone driving a large conversion van almost creamed me and my car when I stopped for a yellow light. Contrary to the perceived rules of the road, the rules of the road dictate that one stops for yellow traffic lights unless they are too close to the intersection to stop successfully. Unfortunately, the perception that one races to cross through the intersection when the light turns yellows can create major problems as my near miss shows. When I stopped for the yellow light, the conversion van behind me was traveling so fast and probably so close to my bumber that the driver had to turn the van sideways to avoid hitting me and the unsecured boxes on top of the van flew off the van onto the road. Honestly, my guardian angel must have had my back Thursday!!!

Please slow down, don't race to beat the red light, and stay off the bumper of the car in front of you. Thank you!!

Yes, I've been silent...

I have been silent the past few days, because they have been a time of recollection and travel for me which usually means my journaling is inappropriate for the public venue, blogging about current events, no matter how important, seemed inappropriate, or I stayed too busy to even consider blogging. So, contrary to my best inclinations, I fell silent here.

During my travels slightly north, I met with a dear priest I met shortly after his ordination. During our meeting, he reaffirmed my desire to pick up a copy of The Dialogue by St. Catherine of Siena. WOW! I started reading The Dialogue on Monday and have become spell bound. This is one book that I do not want to put down although it can be moderately difficult reading. It is easier to read than most of the works by St. Thomas Aquinas. Afterwards, I spent almost an hour in Eucharistic Adoration which was a fitting end to the morning.

From here, I had a pleasant lunch and then headed southwest to visit my dear friend Gigs and her family. As always, I find visiting them a real pleasure and I sincerely hope they enjoyed my visit too. Friday evening was spent with her hubby’s family having a joint birthday dinner for him and his father and once the boys were put to bed us girls had a movie night. Unfortunately, I woke up almost half the household when I screamed as a big flying palmetto bug took flight while I was trying to unwind during the wee hours of Saturday morning. Later Saturday morning I had a blast making breakfast for them and afterwards Gigs and I went to see The Bourne Ultimatum. As my life often proves, the best laid plans fall flat, because I did not return home until Sunday morning. All in all, I had a wonderful weekend and hope that I did not wear out my welcome with my dear friend and family.

As for our movie viewing, in addition to viewing The Bourne Ultimatum on the big screen, we watched Breach, Because I Said So, and What A Girl Wants on DVD. Given the big screen history of the Bourne Trilogy movies, The Bourne Ultimatum was true to form – pretty good viewing and special effects, but so far off track from the books that it is probably best if you have not read the books. Here is where two of my biggest pet peeves in movies come out, stop making the lead female into watered down or weaker versions of the original leading lady and stop messing up the story line. This is not the time or place for a full review of the Bourne Trilogy, so I’ll stop here.

Breach was good as far it goes, but just another one of those movies that make Christians, especially Catholics look bad. The bad guys tend to be overzealous and false Christians while the good guys are non-practicing, if not disdainful of Christianity. As a Catholic, I found this movie difficult to chew, because, of course, not only did he have to be an overzealous Catholic, he had to be attached to the extraordinary form of Mass, daily Mass, frequent confession, and was a proponent of natural family planning. Honestly, if I did not know the truth about Christianity, this movie would turn me against Christianity. Heck, it almost did as a person committed to a relationship with Christ.

Because I Said So was more than a letdown, it was disgusting. The modern lack of boundaries and respect showed all the way through. This is an example of why I try to screen movies before watching them.

What A Girl Wants was a sweet movie about a girl’s quest to find her father before entering college with a bit of romance thrown in. Of course, the evil stepmom and stepsister were introduced although they lost out in the end – as is true in most fairy tale style movies.

US Patriot Act, Colds, Medication, and Wiretaps

Yes, yes, the US Patriot Act has an impact on all of these issues. If you have cold, don't plan on going to your local grocery store or Wal-mart after the pharmacy has closed to purchase Sudafed or the equivalents, because you won't be able to purchase what you're looking for.

Maybe you remember this post, and maybe you don't, but I am not a fan of the current restrictions of pseudoephedrine first enacted by state governments and now enacted by the federal government. Granted, I am not a person that supports illegal drug use or manufacture; however, I believe there must be a better way to handle this situation that does not infringe on my privacy. Why does the government need a record of when and how much psuedophedrine I purchase? This may act as a deterent, but I still believe this is senseless government intervention and the easy way out of actually pursuing those who produce smaller amounts. My biggest concern with this subject is the fact it is part of the US Patriot Act, which I am not a fan of as shown by this post, as the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA).

Any who, why does this need to be part of the Patriot Act? Wasn't the Patriot Act suppose to protect us from terrorists? My original concerns regarding the infringement of personal rights continue to grow with each new enactment of the Patriot Act. Each time I must show my driver's license to purchase cold medicine, three times each month as forced by as law, I wonder how much farther this insanity is going to go. Do they really believe those who have wrong motives are going to readily share their information with the government? The truth is, NO! So, who are they actually managing to collect data on? The innocent person with allergies or other congestion problems that require daily treatment. Yes, they have a new alternative out, but it does not work for everyone. So what, I don't have anything to hide, but why does that mean I must be entered into a data base that mainly obtaining information regarding the law abiding person?

When are we going to quit giving our government control over our lives? We have given our government the power of Big Brother and, frankly, we will not get back the freedoms we have lost. The most recent debate over wiretapping transcontinental phone calls is just another example.

Now, our government only needs to "reasonably believe" a person is not on USA soil instead of knowing at least one of the parties is abroad to utilize warrantless wiretapping or "eavesdropping". Hello? At this rate, where will we draw the line next? Many may say, that this administration has not abused the US Patriot Act, but what will stop of next administration from abusing it? What will stop prolife activities or religious activities or even let's say movements against homosexuality and homosexual unions from being added to the list of terrorist activities or otherwise monitored just like the purchase of pseudoephedrine?

The Duties of a Sacristan

This book spells out that the sacristan, always under the general direction of the clergy, undertakes the overall preparation of liturgical celebrations, including all that is needed for special days such as Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday.

The sacristan thus arranges the books needed for the celebration, marking all of the divisions. He or she lays out the vestments and anything else needed for the celebration, such as cruets, chalices, ciboria, linens, oils, processional crosses, candles and torches.

He or she also takes care of the ringing of bells that announce the celebrations. The sacristan should ensure the observance of silence in the sacristy.

The sacristan in harmony with the pastor also makes sure that the vestments, church furnishings, liturgical vessels and decorative objects are kept in good condition and, if necessary, sent for gilding or repair.

Other practical indications apart from these official recommendations are that the sacristan ensures that the things necessary for worship are always available. There should be a ready supply of fresh hosts and of duly authorized wine, sufficient clean purificators, corporals, hand towels, incense and coals.

In this context the sacristan is responsible for making sure that those who wash the altar linens do so according to the indications of the missal and that the water for the first wash is poured down the sacrarium or to the earth. The sacristan also takes care of burning old linens and other objects that are no longer suitable for liturgical use.

He or she also makes sure that the sanctuary lamp has sufficient oil, that the altar cloths are changed regularly, and that the holy water stoups are clean and replenished frequently.

The pastor may also decide to entrust other responsibilities to the sacristan.

Source: Zenit - The World Seen From Rome

My favorite item in this article was the statement that the sacristan should ensure that silence is maintained in the sanctuary. I would love to see this actually happen. There are few parishes where this is actually practiced especially before Mass when altar servers are being trained in their duties. Maybe scheduling more frequent altar server practices would assist with this issue.

Current Media Headlines

Cardinal decries amnesty's abortion policy.
Source: Zenit

Catholic schools too expensive?
Source: Catholic World News

Sexual abuser protected during landmark abortion case
Source: Catholic World News

Rate cut in the works?
Source: Christian Science Monitor

Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

These are strong words, words given to us by Christ himself in our gospel reading Sunday that we often forget in our daily lives as Christians. What does our Holy Father, our papa, have to say? Let's see.

Those words are a reminder that Christ's followers will always encounter conflict, the Pope said. Anyone who has the courage to pursue "truth without compromise" will meet with opposition and perhaps even outright persecution.
Christ is the source of peace for His followers, the Pope continued, and those who embrace the Lord's words without reservation will imitate Him by resolutely rejecting evil. In that way they may become, like St. Francis of Assisi, "instruments of His peace"-- not because they avoid conflict but because they overcome evil with good.
Pope Benedict concluded his short meditation on the Gospel by noting that the Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace, did not avoid conflict but shared fully in her Son's mission, always acting so as to reflect divine grace, and "never giving in to compromise with evil."
Source: Catholic World News

What does this tell us? As followers of Christ, we cannot expect the easy life as mentioned in this post and never compromising will lead to His peace -- the peace promised us.