Monday, December 31, 2007

Tell Me When it Hurts. Now? Now? How about Now?


"He who is estranged seeks pretexts to break out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." (Prov 18:1-2)
No matter how hard I try, I can not fully appreciate the sacrifice converts to the Catholic Church make. Due to the well intended, but miss guided opinions some of our protestant brothers and sisters have of the Catholic Church.
It truly pains me to see family's ripped apart because someone is thinking about becoming Catholic. But the pain I feel I do not completely understand. I've never had to make a decision that cut right to the heart of a loved one. While at the same time trying to get closer to the one who is Love. I've never had family who bluntly refuse to even make an effort to understand. In other words, I've never had to decide between the Lords Will and family.
One would think it would bring the two together. But in our fallen state sometimes getting closer to God does the opposite with family.
I came across this verse this morning, and it sheds light on some of the reasons why families lash out at those who become Catholic. But the same is true in many cases in families where someone leaves the Church.
"He who is estranged seeks pretexts to break out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." (Prov 18:1-2) Read and pray over this verse. The wisdom of our Lord is deeper then we can imagine.
Talk at ya Later

Monday, December 24, 2007

Merry Christmass to you all.


In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustusthat the whole world should be enrolled.This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.While they were there,the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.The angel said to them,“Do not be afraid;for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,praising God and saying:“Glory to God in the highestand on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Talk at ya Later

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Christmass is in the Air With the Sounds of Music


Haaa, I can't stop laughing!!!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Bishop Morlino Opposes 'Emergency Contraception' in Catholic Hospitals

By John-Henry Westen12/21/2007
LifeSiteNews (www.lifesite.net/)
MADISON, WI (LifeSiteNews) - Madison Bishop Robert C. Morlino has distanced himself from the Wisconsin Conference of Catholic Bishops neutral position regarding a bill which would mandate even Catholic hospitals to administer the morning after pill (so-called emergency contraception) upon request to women who have been raped. In a letter to the Wisconsin legislature, dated December 17, the Bishop tells the legislators, "I urge you, by this letter, to oppose AB 377," (the legislation in question). A debate over such measures has been raging in the US with numerous states having enacted similar legislation and several bishops' conferences refusing to oppose the measures. At issue is the abortifacient nature of the morning after pill, which some scientists have called into question even though several studies have shown abortion is a possible outcome of administering the drugs.
Read the rest at: http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=26249&wf=rsscol
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Cardinal: Sex-Ed Isn't Contraception Education

Cardinal: Sex-Ed Isn't Contraception Education
Hong Kong Bishop Defends Rights of Families to Teach Children
HONG KONG, DEC. 20, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Sex education does not have to be contraception education, said the bishop of Hong Kong. And he called on society to promote families as children's first educators in the area of sexuality.
In a pastoral letter for Christmas, Cardinal Joseph Zen responded to a push toward giving more information about contraception to young people and proposing "timely abortions" as the solution to unexpected pregnancies.
"The holy Infant in the manger is crying," he wrote, "for too many young people are misled, too many families are shattered, too many little lives are abandoned."
"Sex education cannot be anything other than education with value orientation. The so-called value-free idea is already a value choice. When a person suggests that abortion, the termination of an innocent life, is a solution for a young girl facing an unexpected pregnancy, they have already presented a set of life values," Cardinal Zen said. "Today, the media talk of sex education with a value orientation toward marriage, family and life, as imposing burdens of ‘repression' and ‘continence' and not as an avenue of formation to guide young people to self-mastery and respect for the dignity of one another's bodies. This kind of talk is truly regrettable.
"Modern psychology clearly points out that self-mastery is a necessary element for a mature personality and for success in life. We educate students to self-discipline and train in order to achieve academic and physical advancement. Why do we exclude self-discipline in psychosexual development?"
Secret to happiness
Read the rest: http://www.zenit.org/rssenglish-21348
Adam The Catholic gives this two thumbs up!!!!
Talk at ya Later

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

War on Christmas Continues




War on Christmas Continues
12/17/2007
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights (www.catholicleague.org/)

NEW YORK (Catholic League)-As the following examples indicate, the war on Christmas is not over:

After one person complained about a nativity scene in Shawnee State Park in Ohio, the state parks’ chief ordered a ban on crèches from all parks. It took the governor to overturn this decision.

In Wesley Chapel, Florida, Jesus was banned from a holiday display

The mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island censored all religious displays

Government officials in Tehama County, California tried to ban Santa in office displays but had to reverse their decision after a protest.

A nativity scene in Olean, New York was removed from the City Hall lawn after Wiccans placed the pentacle alongside it.

A crèche was banned from Triangle Park in Manistique, Michigan.

After a Catholic sued and won demanding a crèche alongside a menorah in Briarcliff Manor, New York, local officials banned both the Christian and Jewish symbols.

The Dickens Christmas Festival in Saginaw, Michigan was renamed the Dickens Holiday Festival so the city could advertise in local schools. The schools ban the words “Santa,” “Christmas” and “Nativity.”

Atheists Alliance International put up a tree on the lawn of Chester County Courthouse outside Philadelphia with copies of the covers of books saying, “Why I Am Not a Christian,” etc.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is trying to block the display of a crèche in Shelby County, Alabama.

Freedom from Religion Foundation is trying to stop the display of nativity scenes in three Wisconsin towns.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue commented as follows: “The cultural fascists are still at it, but the good news is that more and more Americans are fighting back.”

Talk at ya Later

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Do You Have Tough Decision?


Do you ever have a tough decision and regardless what you choose, it still feels like this?

Monday, December 17, 2007

Is Christian Hope Individualistic?


This is from Pope Benedict XVI encyclical letter Spe Salvi.
"Is Christian hope individualistic?
13. In the course of their history, Christians have tried to express this “knowing without knowing” by means of figures that can be represented, and they have developed images of “Heaven” which remain far removed from what, after all, can only be known negatively, via unknowing. All these attempts at the representation of hope have given to many people, down the centuries, the incentive to live by faith and hence also to abandon their hyparchonta, the material substance for their lives. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews, in the eleventh chapter, outlined a kind of history of those who live in hope and of their journeying, a history which stretches from the time of Abel into the author's own day. This type of hope has been subjected to an increasingly harsh critique in modern times: it is dismissed as pure individualism, a way of abandoning the world to its misery and taking refuge in a private form of eternal salvation. Henri de Lubac, in the introduction to his seminal book Catholicisme. Aspects sociaux du dogme, assembled some characteristic articulations of this viewpoint, one of which is worth quoting: “Should I have found joy? No ... only my joy, and that is something wildly different ... The joy of Jesus can be personal. It can belong to a single man and he is saved. He is at peace ... now and always, but he is alone. The isolation of this joy does not trouble him. On the contrary: he is the chosen one! In his blessedness he passes through the battlefields with a rose in his hand”[10].
14. Against this, drawing upon the vast range of patristic theology, de Lubac was able to demonstrate that salvation has always been considered a “social” reality. Indeed, the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of a “city” (cf. 11:10, 16; 12:22; 13:14) and therefore of communal salvation. Consistently with this view, sin is understood by the Fathers as the destruction of the unity of the human race, as fragmentation and division. Babel, the place where languages were confused, the place of separation, is seen to be an expression of what sin fundamentally is. Hence “redemption” appears as the reestablishment of unity, in which we come together once more in a union that begins to take shape in the world community of believers. We need not concern ourselves here with all the texts in which the social character of hope appears. Let us concentrate on the Letter to Proba in which Augustine tries to illustrate to some degree this “known unknown” that we seek. His point of departure is simply the expression “blessed life”. Then he quotes Psalm 144 [143]:15: “Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.” And he continues: “In order to be numbered among this people and attain to ... everlasting life with God, ‘the end of the commandment is charity that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith' (1 Tim 1:5)”[11]. This real life, towards which we try to reach out again and again, is linked to a lived union with a “people”, and for each individual it can only be attained within this “we”. It presupposes that we escape from the prison of our “I”, because only in the openness of this universal subject does our gaze open out to the source of joy, to love itself—to God.
15. While this community-oriented vision of the “blessed life” is certainly directed beyond the present world, as such it also has to do with the building up of this world—in very different ways, according to the historical context and the possibilities offered or excluded thereby. At the time of Augustine, the incursions of new peoples were threatening the cohesion of the world, where hitherto there had been a certain guarantee of law and of living in a juridically ordered society; at that time, then, it was a matter of strengthening the basic foundations of this peaceful societal existence, in order to survive in a changed world. Let us now consider a more or less randomly chosen episode from the Middle Ages, that serves in many respects to illustrate what we have been saying. It was commonly thought that monasteries were places of flight from the world (contemptus mundi) and of withdrawal from responsibility for the world, in search of private salvation. Bernard of Clairvaux, who inspired a multitude of young people to enter the monasteries of his reformed Order, had quite a different perspective on this. In his view, monks perform a task for the whole Church and hence also for the world. He uses many images to illustrate the responsibility that monks have towards the entire body of the Church, and indeed towards humanity; he applies to them the words of pseudo-Rufinus: “The human race lives thanks to a few; were it not for them, the world would perish ...”[12]. Contemplatives—contemplantes—must become agricultural labourers—laborantes—he says. The nobility of work, which Christianity inherited from Judaism, had already been expressed in the monastic rules of Augustine and Benedict. Bernard takes up this idea again. The young noblemen who flocked to his monasteries had to engage in manual labour. In fact Bernard explicitly states that not even the monastery can restore Paradise, but he maintains that, as a place of practical and spiritual “tilling the soil”, it must prepare the new Paradise. A wild plot of forest land is rendered fertile—and in the process, the trees of pride are felled, whatever weeds may be growing inside souls are pulled up, and the ground is thereby prepared so that bread for body and soul can flourish[13]. Are we not perhaps seeing once again, in the light of current history, that no positive world order can prosper where souls are overgrown?"
Talk at ya Later

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Did Mary Have a Clue?



With Christmass knocking on the door, I've been wondering. Did Mary have a clue? Did she know she was going to bury her son? As a parent, the thought of burring my own child, has the making's of HELL. Real, life altering, the world is ending, Oh Lord the pain is so great please let me die now, Hell.

Did it cross Mary's mind when she said yes to serving God? Maybe, not so much that she would bury her son, but how Jesus was going to be betrayed and murdered. Just think of the temptation Mary had, to tell Jesus to stop all of this. But, she didn't! Mary watched the very life she gave birth to so many years before, slowly suffer and die.

Look at Job back in the Old Testament. His family was taken from him and he was a wreck! How horrible was it to not only see your child brutally murdered, but you're God! For me, Jesus is my Lord and my God. For Mary it is the same, but also the boy she nursed. The child she sang songs to. The toddler that came running into bed in the middle of the night crying because of lightning and thunder. Those sleepless nights rocking Jesus because he felt sick. Everything that embodies Motherhood. Those three days before Jesus rose from the dead had to be an eternity.

Jesus suffered and died for our sins. Mary suffered right alongside her son, Jesus the Christ. For when one part suffers, the whole body suffers.

Talk at ya Later

Saturday, December 15, 2007

What the Heck!!!!!

Canadian priest-politician opposes pro-life bill
Ottawa, Dec. 14, 2007 (LifesiteNews.com/CWN) - The Unborn Victims of Crime bill, submitted to the Canadian parliament by Conservative Ken Epp, received its first hour of debate in the House of Commons on December 13.
The bill-- which would allow criminal charges to be laid in the death or injury of an unborn child when the child's mother is the victim of a crime-- faced heated opposition, however. Among the leading opponents was Raymond Gravel, a Catholic priest who was given permission to enter politics by Bishop Gilles Lussier of Joliette.?
"I'm a Catholic priest," said Gravel as he began his remarks on the proposed legislation.?Gravel said he was "uncomfortable" with the bill "because the member putting it forward is part of a group called the pro-life group which in my view is a rather extreme fanatical group, when it comes to life." Gravel continued, "I'm pro-life but I'm not part of the pro-life movement in Canada."??
The priest-- who had promised his Bishop before entering politics that he would not take positions that went against the doctrines of the Church-- added, "I also think this bill will open the door to a re-criminalization of women who have abortions, and that's not to be desired."
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=55366
Talk at ya Later

Thursday, December 13, 2007

God who? I Can't Stop Looking at Me!


This past Saturday was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Where we celebrate Mary's conception. At mass a very well though out reflection was given. It was said "Sin is dangerous because it turns us away from God.... By changing the way we look at our selves." Yes this is true. We feel dirty to some degree. But this is not the point I'm going after.

Sin does change the way we look, But it changes where we look too! Instead of focusing on God, we are focused in on our selves. Putting our desires before the will of the Lord. But sin has a longer effect on us other than just the sin.

Once we have admitted we have sinned, we are still looking at ourselves. Because of the shame that sin brings along with it, we spend some time going about how bad we feel for sinning. All along still not completely turning our eyes toward God. Look at Adam, he was hiding because he had sinned. Adam was looking at himself seeing his nakedness, not looking at God.

With Christmass just around the corner, let's remember how the Blessed Virgin Mary kept her eyes on God. So let us too keep our eyes on God, and always be ready to say yes to the will of the Lord.

Talk at ya Later

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Theologian's book could mislead faithful

Theologian's book could mislead faithful, bishops' committee says
By Nancy Frazier O'BrienCatholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A Vietnamese-American theologian's 2004 book on religious pluralism contains "pervading ambiguities and equivocations that could easily confuse or mislead the faithful," the U.S. bishops' Committee on Doctrine said in a Dec. 10 statement.Father Peter C. Phan's "Being Religious Interreligiously: Asian Perspectives on Interfaith Dialogue," published by Orbis Books, also contains "statements that, unless properly clarified, are not in accord with Catholic teaching," the committee said.In its 15-page statement, the committee said it undertook an evaluation of "Being Religious Interreligiously" at the request of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and "invited Father Phan to respond" to questions."Since Father Phan did not provide the needed clarifications, and since the ambiguities in the book concern matters that are central to the faith, the Committee on Doctrine decided to issue a statement that would both identify problematic aspects of the book and provide a positive restatement of Catholic teaching on the relevant points," the statement said.

Read the rest at
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0707015.htm

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The Primacy of Peter Part 5


Here Jesus is talking to the Apostles"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, (In Greek word for you is Plural) that he might sift you (In Greek word for you is Plural) like wheat, but I have prayed for you (In Greek word for you is Singular) that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your bretheren." Lk 22:31-32
We see here Satan has demanded to test all of the Apostles. But Jesus says he has prayed only for Peter. So that Peter can "strengthen your bretheren"
This all seems quite odd if Peter does not have an authority over the other Apostles. Why would Jesus only pray for Peter if they are all equal? Why would Peter strengthen the others if there all equal?
Talk at ya Later

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Friday, December 7, 2007

Why am I Catholic? (by KaterinaMarie)

Sola Scriptura?

The movie ‘Noëlle’ calls for caution

By Anita Crane 12/6/2007
Celebrate Life Magazine (CLmagazine.org.)
"David Wall made Noëlle to open the eyes and break the hearts of those who are numb in apathy. Wall said that he didn’t intend for this film to be about religion, but it is. If he learns about the sacraments, maybe he will make a masterpiece." Anita Crane
STAFFORD, VA (American Life League) - The film Noëlle arrives in American theaters on December 7. On the upside, its haunting music and beautiful cinematography set the mood for a Christmas mystery in New England. Noëlle also treats viewers to a few good laughs. Finally, David Wall – Noëlle’s writer, producer, director and lead actor – is a captivating performer. On the downside, I was disappointed by the lack of character development and the story. After all, Noëlle is painfully misleading about the Catholic faith. Yet when I spoke with David Wall, he disarmed me by saying, “Don’t take this in a negative way – if I had to join a church, it would probably be the Catholic Church.” Of course, I had to reply, “We want you!” Then Wall and I discussed his film. The Noëlle synopsis goes like this:
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=26122&page=1

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

The Primacy of Peter Part 4

We continue in understanding the Biblical basis behind Peter's primacy.

Why is Peter getting these keys? Well not these pictured here, but you get the idea.


We go to the Bible. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, ..." (Mt 16:19) What's going on here? To understand this we have to look back into the Old Testament. "I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station. In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." (Is 22:19-22)


Waaaay back then it was normal for there to be one way in and out of the city. In that "way" it was normal for there to be a door there. It makes sense if you're gonna have a door to put a lock on it. That lock most likely required a key.

Now the Kings back then had many servants that held an office of minister. But the kings would have one Office of prime minister. He was the top minister, hence the word "prime" before "minister". Now the prime minister held the authority of the king. It did not make him equal to the king. But when the king was not there, the prime minister spoke on behalf of the king. His decisions held the same authority. This office was passed on.
So lets see whats going on here. Isaiah is king at this time in the Bible. The Davidic king. Eliakim is made prime minister of the Davidic kingdom. Ok well lets see whats going on in Mt16:19. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,..." It seems Jesus is giving the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter. If Jesus is the Davidic king, then heaven would be the Davidic kingdom.
Talk at ya Later

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Don't Take Christ out of Christmass


I can relate to how difficult it can be to get good Christmass cards. Cards that show the reason for the season. Check out these guys. I think what they are doing is a great thing!
Talk at ya Later