"I own Malibu!"

"Perhaps I've been a bit too harsh." Nurse Diesel from"High Anxiety".

I used Gibson's anti-semitic slurs and his unfortunate arrest to point out that I have often heard many traditional, devout religious people make similar statements. I was implying that there seems to be an almost latent anti-semitism laying dormant in a lot of us. I received a comment on that post which I found offensive and subsequently removed, yet it pretty much proved my point. That being said, I really do not want to visit that topic again.

However, the comment harsh as it was, caused me to once again consider that what a person says or writes often comes off more harsh than the person intended. My citicism of Mel Gibson for example. Dianne Sawyer aired an earlier interview with him where he discussed issues he once had with addiction; drugs and alcohol. Evidently he has had something of a relapse, an experience I ought well to understand, as I'm always falling back to smoking my cigarettes. Much to the chagrin of my Dr. and my boss.

The interesting part of this morning's discussion was when Sawyer interviewed a psychologist, expert in addictions and he spoke about that place in the brain that finds gratification and relief when one indulges in any pleasure that can be addictive. It is to placate that need. In reference to Gibson, he does have a dark side, a suffering that accompanies his struggle and loneliness, and he has used substances to assuage that pain. His film work obviously is nourished and enriched by his torment. I understand that.

I immediately felt compassion for him and saw in his public apology a genuine sincerity, as well as pain and sadness. I sometimes pontificate and become hyper-critical of religious people, (who do the same thing - pontificate and act holier than thou) when they slip and fall and betray the same weaknesses and mistakes I am responsible for in my own life - if not for the grace of God...

Yet the refuge some may find in traditionalist religious discipline, maybe - just maybe - especially in the black and white world of ultra-traditionalism, becomes their refuge and help to keep them on the straight and narrow. Now of course our faith is our refuge and strength, as it should be. What I'm suggesting is that the more "fundamentalist" expressions of it may be an answer to the peciliar needs of those struggling with addiction or coming from a background of instability. Mel is known, or at least suspected of being a sedevacantist, ultra-traditionalist, as is his father.

Whatever, Mel has taught us a lesson, the bigger the ego, the bigger the fall sometimes. Gibson has probably realized he doesn't own Malibu by now, and it wasn't the Jews who got him in trouble either.

UPDATE:
Check out "Mel's Church" on the "Cafeteria is Closed" for some more background on Gibson's traditionalism.

Oh Ladyeeeeeeeeeeee...

Knock it off!

Pictured, Joan Houk, who is to be "ordained" Monday, July 31 on a boat in Pittsburgh. Here's a statement from the diocese:

"This unfortunate ceremony will take place outside the Church and undermines the unity of the Church. Those attempting to confer Holy Orders have, by their own actions, removed themselves from the Church, as have those who present themselves for such an invalid ritual," according to the statement released by the Rev. Ronald Lengwin, a spokesman for the diocese.

Like most guys, I absolutely must watch the evening news, national as well as local. This evening on ABC they had a segment on the so-called "ordinations" of women that are to take place tomorrow - the "first of it's kind in the U.S.!" (I doubt it - I've heard of a few CSJ's who say mass- they must have been ordained.) A German "woman bishop", who alledgedly had been ordained by an unnamed sympathetic real bishop, will "officiate" at tomorrow's ceremony. (The group ordained by this mysterious Roman Catholic bishop were subsequently excommunicated. Nevertheless these women assume, like many Anglicans, that the line of succesion would be intact. Crazy as that may sound - the original ordinations would have had to have been valid in the first place, and since there has never been an allowance for the ordination of women in the Roman Catholic Church's discipline, there is no validity whatsoever. Dah!)

The woman pictured was presented as a devout Catholic all of her life, still married, and a grandmother - "She loves the Church"! (Celibate priesthood - that's another rule lady. Oh Ladyeeeee!) They said she worked for years for the Church and came to finally realize her call to priesthood. She knows she is defying the Pope yet explained "rules must be broken". As a devout Catholic she claims her love for the Church, yet in her disobedience, "she must stand up for the faith". ABC News acts as if these women are members in good standing with the Roman Catholic Church...instead of acknowledging they have their own little sect. It's like playing house, or dressing up for Halloween. She vested for the camera and was as nice as pie. She is so not a priest, no more than I was when I was little and cut up bed sheets and with color crayons, made vestments and had mass for my cat and dog. Don't they know this? They will never be priests of the Roman Catholic Church, no matter how many vestments they put on or how many rituals they imitate.

These women are like a housewife I came across online while researching nun's habits. She has a website about how she dresses up like a nun at home and wishes that she could go out dressed like that, but fears what the neighbors might think, while her family understands her. (Some transvestites have wives that understand them as well.)

Either that scenario, or they have worked so long in parishes or some Catholic charity or other agency, they think the Church is just a social agency - and obviously seem to understand the priesthood as "just a job". Their ecclessiology and theology is really screwed up, not to mention their spiritual life.

Check out Christus Vincit and Cafeteria is Closed for the latest updates - Brian Michael Page of Christus Vincit was highlighted in the Washington Post article on the subject (no, not his hair, his post on the subject!) - Good going! Christus Vincit! (This is every bloggers dream!)

On the rocks?

And they said it wouldn't last!










Long term, faithful monogamous relationships between same-sex couples is very rare indeed. Some people do manage to stay together, but many barely make it to two years. Couples that do stay together often seem to have, at one time or another in their relationship, sexual dalliance as a part of the longevity factor, independent of one another or as a team. Women's relationships are perhaps more stable, I don't know many lesbians so I couldn't say- although the once famous Boston couple recently split up - after all that rucous they caused!

I have known, worked for, worked with, gay men throughout my career and so I'm not unfamiliar with their lifestyles. I know for a fact that not a few couples are deeply into pornography, possibly as a continuum of adolescent behavior that may help to satisfy their narcissism, if not just to keep the "fire" going.

All along I have believed that the gay agenda is so impassioned about the recognition of same-sex marriage because this would legitimize the homosexual in the eyes of society, placing them on par with heterosexuals. The gay agenda is intent upon this accomplishment, no matter what the cost, even to children, whom they adopt into an irregular lifestyle - with a sort of Neverland-dreamscape delusion thing going on. No matter how many blue and yellow Equal stickers or Rainbow stickers people put on their cars, the lifestyle, that is, the sub-culture, can never be on a par with heterosexual life. It's a sad but certain fact.

What follows is an interesting piece on the same-sex marriage topic that may or may not surprise people, it looks as if few same-sex couples really want to tie the knot after all. (Although with medical insurance costs climbing higher, some couples may want to pretend to be married in order to get the benefits, if and when they are available.)


"Even when they couple, homosexual relationships are relatively short-lived. A study of homosexual couples in Holland found that same-sex unions lasted an average of 18 months and included an average of eight additional sex partners outside the "monogamous" relationship.

Surprisingly, in France, despite the legalization of homosexual civil unions in 1999, a government commission issued its report in January of this year and recommended against legalizing same-sex marriage. The "Parliamentary Report on the Family and the Rights of Children" said the government should "affirm and protect children's rights and the primacy of those rights over adults' aspirations."

After canvassing experts in France, and traveling to Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada in order to assess the reforms that have occurred in those nations, the commission said that the best interests of children argue against same-sex marriage.
The commission determined that it "is not possible to think about marriage separately from filiation: the two questions are closely connected, in that marriage is organized around the child."

As a result of that determination, the experts on the government panel realized that the right of homosexuals to marry would simultaneously or subsequently also have to include the right to adopt. "A majority of [the commission] does not wish to question the fundamental principles of the law of filiation, which are based on the tripartite unit of 'a father, a mother, a child,' citing the principle of caution," the report said. "For that reason, that majority also, logically, chose to deny access to marriage to same-sex couples."

If so few homosexuals want to get married when they are given the opportunity, why are "gay" and lesbian activists fighting so hard for legalizing same-sex marriage? Probably because homosexual activists are interested in the cultural victory that legalized same-sex marriage would represent, said Price.

"While winning the right to marry may be the 'crown jewel' of the gay-rights movement, what homosexuals really want is for homosexuality to be declared normative, natural and God-ordained," he said. "Their deepest desire is that homosexual behavior would no longer be sin." -Agape Press

If you know of anyone who is trying to break free of the gay lifestyle or who is seeking to live a faithful Roman Catholic life while dealing with this issue, there is a support group known as Courage, check it out.

Bad Max

The Jews! The Jews!

Gibson had a bad-boy image all along - you saw "Mad Max" and "Road Warrior" - so he got a DUI. Who cares? John of the Cross says 'esteem no man because the Devil will show you his faults'. He's a celebrity, drank too much, and the police were on top of their job - they arrested him. I thought - big deal. Then I read remarks he made in a rage during the arrest process, for which he apologized when he sobered up. I expect he'll go to Betty Ford and all the rest and make some grand overture to counteract his ant-semitic slurs. (What an ego for a short guy though, saying "I own Malibu." and other power play phrases. Wow! People sure think they're important. Money, money, money! Honor, honor, honor! Fame, fame, fame!)

Did you ever see his interview with Raymond Arroyo where he couldn't sit still, acted like he had a twitch, and kept rubbing his hair? I thought he was on something, if not, just wierd. He's no saint. people seeemed to want to canonize him for "The Passion of the Christ" - him and Cavesiel. Get out! (Katherine Hepburn was being interviewed once and asked why she did not live in Hollywood and questioned about what she thought of the acting community, she answered, "They're pigs. They're all pigs." Words pretty hard to ignore from a Hollywood insider.)

What I find interesting with Gibson's remarks however is how it is not that uncommon for the "devout" to harbor a deepseated, unexpected hostility towards Jews. I hear it almost every day; I've heard really good priests and nuns express mistrust as well as condemning remarks - it betrays at the very least a suspicion of Jews, if not down right anti-semitism. My dad called Jews "kikes" - Gibson's dad blames them for pretty much everything wrong in the world. Gibson might have picked something up from his dad. Drunken remarks, like the proverbial "Freudian slip" can reveal alot about a person. Little more has to be said.

But don't try to tell me "The Passion of the Christ" was an anti-semitic film - it wasn't - the movie pretty much illustrates what happened to Christ. But don't try to canonize the actors - or the director for that matter.

St. Martha, patron saint of worriers...

Feast day for the very, very nervous.

"Jeepers Richard! I'm nervous!" Madelaine Kahn's character, Victoria Brisbane, from "High Anxiety."

Everyone always likes to use Mary and Martha as examples for the so-called active and contemplative life. I cannot dispute the Fathers and all the other saints, if time allowed I would write how Teresa of Avila praised the so-called active life and called attention to its own unique contemplative qualities. Teresa of Calcutta and her sisters are marvelous examples of this. Enough said on that.

When it comes to Martha complaining about Mary not helping out when the Lord was at her house, I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't incited to do so by the men in Our Lord's company who may have thought it unseemly for Mary to be sitting at the Teacher's feet - after all, it was the men Jesus was speaking to, a woman's place was indeed servile. Martha's exasperation may have been with this attitude, plus having to leave her work to call Mary. Of course we don't know that.

What we do know is that Martha was agitated, a bit anxious and nervous. Don't we all get like that? Today I am. Everything seems overwhelming for me today, I'm worried about many things, I need St. Martha's intercession to help me realize that "Only one thing is necessary." (Hard to understand sometimes when you're in the throes of anxiety.) Nevertheless, I think I should get some medication for panic attacks, while asking Martha for her help.

Terry Nelson loves...

Ann Coulter!

What a b***h! That's what women are called when they're straight forward and honest and cut to the chase. While those who speak the Truth and stand against the liberal establishment are labeled with even worse expletives. Coulter is tough, intelligent, as well as grounded in her faith enough, not to be intimidated - by any man, even Hilary Clinton. I love her! (No offense, but she's pretty hot looking too! Hilary, eat your heart out - Oh! That's right, you don't have one.) Here's a couple of quips from her interview with Charlotte Allen of beliefnet:

Q: Is it important to you as a woman to be standing up for positions that many people (especially liberals) think are unrepresentative of women: opposing abortion, favoring the death penalty, and so forth?

AC:The answer to any question beginning "Is it important to you as a woman" is: No. It's important to me as a Christian and an American to take the positions I take, but I would hold the same positions if I were a man. And by the way, despite your nearly mystical fascination with polls in earlier questions, you have apparently not brushed up on the abortion polls if you think opposition to abortion is "unrepresentative of women." No matter who takes the poll or how the questions are asked, women almost always oppose abortion more than men do. Abortion is a convenience for men who want to be able to have sex with women without consequence. Women love and protect children. Godless men--like Herod in Jesus' time, the Pharaoh in Moses' time, and Bill Clinton in our time--target babies for destruction.

Q: As a woman, do you long for that source of great fulfillment for many women: a husband, a family? Or do you see your life's vocation as primarily in the public arena?

AC: As a journalist, do you long to have a sense of decorum? Or do you see your life's vocation as primarily asking strangers utterly inappropriate personal questions?

Q: I found your book enormously entertaining. But when I finished, I asked myself: What was the point of this book? What would you say the point of "Godless" is?

AC: It is a clarion call, a flashing neon sign warning people that liberalism is the opposition party to God. (And by the way, I had the same reaction the first time I read the Bible: Sure, it's fascinating and wise and full of important information, but what was the point of it exactly

Read the entire interview on beliefnet. The lady speaks for me! (I wanna do another interview! I'll set something up with Jon Lovitz - maybe he'll call me a b***h!)

Neo-Nazi influences in radical Islam

Did you realize there is a connection?

Things are getting more serious by the day in the Middle East.

The Roman Summit failed yesterday, much to the Vatican's dissapointment.

Israel and Hezbollah continue duking it out.

Al Qaeda has thrown their hat in the ring calling for world wide holy war. (I thought that's what they have been doing however.) "It is a jihad (holy war) for the sake of God and will last until (our) religion prevails ... from Spain to Iraq," al-Zawahri said. "We will attack everywhere."

The neo Nazi President Mohamoud Ahmadinejad of Iran keeps up his threaats, while students in Iran are volunteering to go fight in Lebanon. " Iran is a sworn enemy of Israel and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map". -While Israel accuses Iran of arming Hizbollah"

No wonder polls are saying that Americans are by and large pessimistic about the future. Over 50% of those polled feel The war in the Middle East will escalate to full scale war involving other nations.

It is an incredibly unstable time all around. I can't help but take it all very seriously. A person in my office commented how unusual it is for our country to be at war and yet nothing has changed in our daily lives. So much so, that if one does not watch the news and has no one they know in the armed forces, one's lifestyle is not at all affected. We are in big denial I think.

Naturally I have been pondering the Arab-Israeli hostilities and wondered what it all means. Did you ever read Roy Schoeman's "Salvation Is From The Jews"? It's a couple of years old now but still available and relevant of course. Mr. Schoeman is a convert to Catholicism from Judaism, although he sees his conversion more as coming into the fullness of faith, as do I.

He traces the history of Judaism very simply and intelligently, as well as it's fullfillment in the Roman Catholic Church. I misplaced my copy but I recalled many points of his connecting the current virulent anti-semitism of the Arab world and radical Islam to Nazi Germany. The above picture is from Roy's website of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem meeting with Hitler. They were in each other's back pockets, as it were, when it came to anti-semitism. An irony of course because Arabs are also non-Aryan semites. Isn't it curious however that Islam and Naziism could find a common ground. Hitler wanted to use Islam to help exterminate the Jewish people. Schoeman believes that today, radical Islam has continued the Nazi legacy. He's not alone in this thought.

Chuck Morse has a splendid article on the connection of Islamic terrorism to Nazi Germany, covering much of the data written about in "Salvation Is From The Jews".

From David Greenberg I have this concise history which corresponds succinctly the association of Nazi influence and fascist Arab anti-semitism we are seeing today:

"Then came the Holocaust, which not only marked the pinnacle of European anti-Semitism but encouraged it in the Arab world as well. Because Arab leaders shared the Germans’ hostility to Britain and France—the dominant colonial powers in the Middle East—they were eager to make common cause with Hitler, despite Nazi belief that they, like the Jews, were inferior to Aryans. The mufti of Jerusalem, among others, actively spread propaganda about “Anglo-Saxon Jewish greed” while praising the Nazi war effort. Even years later, sympathy for Nazism could be easily found in Arab culture. When Israel apprehended Adolf Eichmann in 1960, a Saudi newspaper headline read, “Capture of Eichmann, Who Had the Honor of Killing Five Million Jews.”

If the Holocaust nurtured Arab anti-Semitism, it also helped to discredit such bigotry in the West. Indeed, it helped mobilize support for a Jewish state internationally. In 1948, Israel was finally granted independence. As if to welcome their new neighbor into the region, the Arab countries promptly invaded. Israel repulsed the attacks, and in the three Arab-Israeli wars that followed (1956, 1967, 1973), the Jewish state managed to survive and even to expand its territory. Most controversially, it took over the Gaza Strip from Egypt and the West Bank from Jordan, which were home to large numbers of Palestinian Arabs." [snip]

Our Lady and Islam, the better connection.

I always go back to Our Lady of Fatima and her call for prayer, penance, and fidelity to the Commandments, as the means to acquire peace, that peace God has entrusted to her. I just can't help but think there is a connection of her apparitions in 1917 to the times we are now living, even if only by inference. We must pray, pray the prayers of the rosary for peace.

Secularism and the denial of the Truth

You have got to read this from Don Marco, my priest-monk friend from the Abbey of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome. (I'm not posting tomorrow so this is it! He is absolutely brilliant and ought to have either his own blog or write more books!)

"We live in the company of the saints. We are in communion with them, and communion implies communication. There is, at every moment, a mysterious exchange taking place between us and the saints who surround us. The Letter to the Hebrews says that we are "watched from above by such acloud of witnesses" (Heb 12:1).

I was shocked and saddened to read that a group of citizens are planning to bring a lawsuit against the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico to have the three crosses removed from the city's official seal. (The city is named after the three crosses of Mount Calvary.) Similar objections have been made against the symbolism associated with Sacramento, California and Corpus Christi, Texas, both named for the mystery of the Eucharist. California is dotted with cities and towns named after the patron saints of the missions around which they grew up, San Francisco being the most famous of these. Ignorance of the saints, or even indifference to them, is one thing: an ideology that seeks to erase their memory from the collective consciousness is quite another.

The names of saints are more and more rarely being given to Catholic babies. While there is a part of ignorance here, today's parents were the victims of the disastrous lack of catechesis that followed the Second Vatican Council, there is something more. The pressure to secularize every area of life is picking up momentum. Change what people say, and you will change what they think. The modification of vocabulary, and in this case the suppression of the glorious heritage of Catholic saints' names, will lead to a modification of values and, ultimately, of morality.

Monasteries have the splendid custom of attributing a saint's name or a biblical name to every room and place, from the cells to the workrooms to the storage rooms. The significance of this age­ old custom is as beautiful as it is profound: the monastery is inhabited not only by the visible people who live within its walls, but also by its invisible residents, the angels and the saints. The naming of a room for a saint is a confession of faith; it flies in the face of secularist ideologies that would have us believe that reality stops with what is visible.

The movement to secularize every thing and every place is as pernicious as it is aggressive. It is part of the "smoke of Satan" that Pope Paul VI saw penetrating the Church to foment confusion. It is important that we respond to the crisis with courage and with conviction. The invasion of the secular must be countered by a renewed acceptance of the sacred, and by re­claiming all things for Christ under the patronage of his saints and his mysteries: our cities, our towns, our homes, our institutions, our rooms, and, yes, our children.

The feast of Saints Joachim and Anna invites us to consider these things. Joachim and Anna arrived in North America with the first colonizers from France and Spain, those who named every new place for the saints of Christ. By this, they made it clear that the Kingdom of Heaven was also expanding and that all places and peoples were invited to live in communion and in communication with the saints.

In seventeenth century France devotion to the Holy Family became a mark of the renewal that, following the Council of Trent, blew through the Church like a refreshing breeze, a mystical invasion. The Holy Family was understood, at that time, to refer to the entire extended family of Jesus, including his grandparents, Joachim and Anne.

From France, Jesuit missionaries, Ursuline and Hospitaller nuns,and devout layfolk carried the devotion to the Holy Family to New France. A sanctuary dedicated to Saint Anne was built in 1658 between the Saint Laurence River and the Beaupré coast in Québec. Other smaller shrines to Saint Anne mark the "Catholic geography" of New England.

After the French Revolution, the Church knew an extraordinary burst of energy characterized by the foundations of hundreds of new religious communities of women; many of these nineteenth century foundations were dedicated to the Holy Family and, again, the grandparents of the Lord were not excluded. Some of these French communities came, in turn, to America where they taught generations of Catholics to reverence the human family of Christ and to live in communion with the saints.

Saint Anne and Saint Joachim have a special message for the grandparents among us. Grandmothers and grandfathers have a particular vocation in the order of grace. Grandparents are called to foster the supernatural life of their grandchildren, to pray for them, to pray with them, and to model holiness for them. Grandparents can reach places in a child's heart that no one else can reach. Grandparents can introduce their grandchildren to the joy of living with the saints.

We are the spiritual descendents of the saints. We profess our faith in the communion of the saints and acknowledge their presence in our homes and in our lives. We renounce the evil ideologies of secularization that, by suppressing the things that call to mind the saints, aim at erasingthe supernatural from daily life.

In the Eucharist, heaven descends to earth and earth is assumed into heaven. In the Eucharist there is infinitely more than what meets the eye. Saints Joachim and Anne are present to us; their most holy Daughter, the Virgin Mary, is present to us. Let us ask them to join their intercession to ours, imploring peace for the Middle East. This too is the communion of the saints: the Holy Sacrifice offered here can bring peace there. Live then, as if you were seeing the invisible! There is nothing more real than that."

The Holy Father and peace...

Pope Benedict XV

Pope Benedict XV had a peace plan in 1917, in accord with Emperor Charles' support (now Blessed Charles of Austria) which was subsequently ignored by other world leaders who were capable of preventing the 'Great War', World War I. Popes have often gone ignored in history, or defamed and lied about, such is the case with Pius XII, and more recently, Paul VI in his encyclical "Humanae Vitae". Now perhaps Benedict XVI is being ignored as one of the lone voices speaking out against the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

It is reported today that the Holy Father emerged from a chapel dedicated to the Holy Virgin saying, " 'It seems to me that in this moment, something is moving,' Benedict told reporters on his return from a visit to the Our Lady of Healing shrine where he prayed for peace." [snip - Guardian] He must believe something is happening that may lead to a peaceful settlement. He asked prayers for the meeting in Rome today of leaders seeking a peaceful solution to the war betwen Hezbollah and Israel. (Although it appears there has not been any firm resolution forthcoming from the Roman meeting as of this post.)

"Pray the prayers of the rosary for peace." Our Lady of Fatima from her peace plan of 1917.

Remembering St. Olaf, the Downtown Church

Icon: St. Xenia of Petersburg, Fool for Christ

St. Olaf in Downtown Minneapolis used to be my parish when Monsignor Flemming was pastor. I have some fond memories from back then. The Church has changed physically with the latest renovations, but the spirit of the parishoners has remained as vital as ever. It's a good parish, always noted for its middle of the road stance, welcoming everyone, conservative and liberal alike. It's mission in the heart of Downtown Minneapolis is essential, the Church is a haven amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, a real 'soul saver' offering the sacraments to people who may not otherwise receive them.

I posted a picture of St. Xenia, because I think of many types like her that worshipped with me at St. Olaf. Lovely and holy people in their own right, or so I am convinced.

One woman, Mary Ellen, always edified me. She would call out, "I want to be a nun in Rochester!" Sometimes Monsignor would quiet her down at Mass by saying, "Now, now, Mary Ellen, keep quiet." Once she turned and saw me coming in for confession during noon Mass wearing shorts and she yelled at me, "You can't wear shorts in Church!" I mouthed "Shut up!" back at her and she just smiled at me and turned around. She always smiled at me. Once she was next to me and wasn't approaching Communion, I patronizingly thought that she was too simple to have any sin that could keep her from Communion and I whispered something to that effect. She blasted me with, "How dare you! You don't know my soul!" She so much put me in my place.

There was another woman, very anorexic who went to confession every day, sometimes three times in a row. She would dissapear for some time and when I saw her again she would have new clothes and would have gained weight, I figured out she had been hospitalized and her medication adjusted, since she seemed much more peaceful and less agitated. I see the same woman now at St. Agnes where I believe she has found some stability.

Once, before the chapel was built I was in the main Church for adoration. (It was around the time "Brother Son, Sister Moon" had come out, when Francis took off all of his clothes and laid them at his father's feet.) This man walked up slowly towards the altar, I heard gasps and looked out of the corner of my eye to see what was going on. The guy was stark naked and suddenly prostrated himself on the floor before the Blessed Sacrament. The old ladies were gasping and so I knew they would fetch someone to take care of the matter, and I laughed out loud.

I have fond memories indeed of the old St. Olaf's. It's a lot more slick these days. I don't care for the renovated sanctuary - it reminds me of the Mormom Tabernacle. Everyone else I know still likes it. It doesn't matter, it's a good parish.

July 29 and 30 St. Olaf is celebrating their patronal feast as well as their 65 year anniversary. What an appropriate time for their new pastor, Fr. Mark Pavlik to be installed by Archbishop Harry Flynn. See Ray's post at Stella Borealis for all of the details.

Little Murders

Little Murders - a play and movie by Jules Feiffer, 1970. Still; Alan Arkin.

Plot summary:

"A girl brings home her latest boyfriend to meet her parents. This is done against the background of random shootings that had just begun in NYC at the time the play was written, 1969. How the family's failings are magnified by the social confusion of the times is the crux of the plot."

I think of Feiffer's play everytime I hear about snipers and serial killers and killings in our Country's cities - such as the freeway sniper now active in Indiana. Violence it seems is apparently escalating once again. His play was rather prophetic in many ways, albeit a black comedy. For people in Lebanon and Israel, Iraq and Afghanistan, and not a few other places in the world, it is everyday life once again.

I am also reminded of Mother Teresa's prophetic words that made her listeners, the Clintons among them, rather uncomfortable:

"February 1997 - National Prayer Breakfast in Washington attended by President Clinton and the First Lady. 'What is taking place in America,' she said, 'is a war against the child. And if we accept that the mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another.'"

In the late '60's the musical "Hair" opened on Broadway and I was in NYC to see it, in one of the songs they shout out sexual terms for various sexual acts as a sort of declaration of sexual freedom. One could substitute those words in the same mantra like fashion regarding what has brought all of this upon us;

"Contraception"
"Sexual Promiscuity"
"Abortion"
"Homosexuality"
"Consumerism"
"Materialism"
"Indifferentism"
"Euthanasia"

On and on. Pope Paul VI in his encyclical "Humanae Vitae" also prophetically foretold what might happen to us in the future. (The future is now.)

Pro-life but immodest...

(Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the unborn.)

Or is it pro-choice and tacky?

When Our Lady appeared to Blessed Juan Diego and left as a sign her image upon his tilma, the impression is obvious, she was pregnant, signifying her Motherhood of Jesus Christ. The apparitions occurred after her feast of the Immaculate Conception in Advent,the time of preparation for the birth of Christ. Our Lady's miraculous image demonstrates that maternity is beautiful as well as being a sacred event.

So I went to my little 'upscale' Store nearby, shopped by the "Creek" people just as nearby. I see this young, very good looking, obviously affluent couple with a young child in a stroller, shopping. The attractive wife is very pregnant, wearing a low cut, form fitting, strappy top that would ride above her waist even if she hadn't been pregnant. She had tiny little tight shorts on - she was very fashionable. I've seen it before so I wasn't really reacting. Nevertheless, I wanted to see her face and saw she was very pretty, looking at her I realized she was also rather sexy - that's when I turned away and then the objective thought process began.

I would have thought someone of her station and beauty would have better taste. She looked intelligent enough, thus one might rightly assume she would not be such a victim of trend and follow immodest fashions. Then it occurred to me that women really want to look sexy, they think that by looking like street life - if you're half-ways beautiful, is fashionable and appealing. (Hey - is pregnancy a time to try and look sexy?) This woman with her belly hanging out would be the same type that would gag if she saw a pot-bellied man in a wife-beater undershirt drinking a can of beer on his front steps, or a plumber bending over showing man cleaveage as he fixed her kitchen drain. Is walking around with your belly hanging out any more acceptable? It's really immodest, if not indecent. I wonder if they realize that there is a genre of pornography devoted to sex with pregnant women? I wonder if they understand that they sexualize themselves, and the baby they carry, because of the way they dress?

A pregnant woman is indeed beautiful, the grace of pregnancy is wonderful. There is no shame at all in it. Posing nude like Britney Spears, Demi Moore, and others is not so much celebrating the beauty of it but rather sexualizing it. These women and others are more likely than not pro-choice/pro-abortion 21st century forward thinking people. Fashion people like to say they are celebrating a woman's right to choose and that a chosen pregnancy is beautiful and therefore should be flaunted. They dismiss the idea of modest pregnancy clothes as having been born of a shame of being pregnant or of appearing fat. They obviously do not study history in fashion schools.

Coco Chanel started this whole 20th century obsession with being thin and minimally dressed. The fashion evolved through the century and women like my mother, cried becuse she looked "like a cow" when she was pregnant, while lamenting not being able to wear normal clothes. After the pregnancy, she dieted and starved herself to get thin again, just as all the Hollywood ladies do today. Now we find ourselves where we are today - the other extreme. I think women should be more modest all of the time, but especially in pregnancy. It's not a public thing, it's a sacred familial event, and it ought to be protected.

Put some damn clothes on!

"If Loving You Is Wrong

I Don't Want To Be Right" - Lyrics, Barbara Mandrell, my favorite version sung by Luther Ingram.

"If loving you is wrong I don't wanna be right
If being right means being without you
I'd rather live a wrong doing life."

(Pictured, Giotto's allegory of "Infidelity" Scrovegni Chapel.)

So why do men cheat? Have they stopped loving their wives? Or is it "The being in love that makes them high" as the Michael Jackson song says? Then again, it could be what Loretta's mother said in "Moonstruck" - men are afraid of death, so they cheat. I think it's that simple in some respects and yet a whole lot more complicated, albeit motives may vary from case to case. I'll just "think out loud" on this one however.

In many cases I believe the "new promiscuous" for youth has it's roots in the "old promiscuous" of dad, or more frequently now days, of a mom. However, I'm focusing on the guys for this post. If there is a disorder, if there is something a guy is doing on the side, "hurting no one" as they say, he's wrong. Disorder begets disorder. It impacts those nearest the unfaithful parent even if it is unacknowledged. Like alcoholism, there is enabling going on, denial - all the co-dependent stuff associated with the addiction. I've seen it. In my own family and the families of others. The guy who cheats is no longer present to his family or significant other - he's "excommunicated" himself as it were.

Like I've said, I've seen what happens. The dad is gone at key times, or late coming home - he's absentee. The mom is upset about it, tense and unhappy, resentful and passive aggressive, or she is in such denial, she works, shops, cleans, drinks, goes to Church - does something - compulsively to cope. She emotionally withdraws from the situation - or worse - overcompensates for the absence of the dad. Often no one ever acknowledges there is a problem, it gets repressed and everyone goes into denial mode. It screws up the kids - boys and girls. Especially when other addictions are involved.

So why do men cheat? In many cases I think there is a lack of self-esteem, they feel like a failure - or they are afraid they will be a failure. They may be overwhelmed with the stress of work and family life and seek an escape. That fear of death thing isn't that off the wall. Death represents failure, preceeded by growing older and imagining oneself inadequate, no longer needed, etc. There are manifold components to this. Then of course there is just plain lust, that is so often mistaken for love, as evidenced by celebrities such as Donald Trump or film and pop stars, who have an endless string of marriages and divorces. The gratification in having someone that desires you sexually is a powerful aphrodisiac - more appealing in the moment than the presidency of the United States (obviously) or the love and devotion of home and kin, or even a new sports car - its an ego thang!

Whether there is a mistress or just a chain of more or less anonymous sexual encounters, the guy has chosen to resolve conflict in this manner, seeking affirmation and validation through a physical act. Sometimes, as in an affair, there is also a level of emotional involvement, often mistaken for love when it is really infatuation or inordinate affection and attachment at best. The guy may feel more appreciated or loved by his new paramour. As time and encounters go by he reinforces theses feelings by lavishing gifts and favors. It's a power trip, as well as a control thing - something a man sometimes does when he feels he has been undermined in a relationship or situation, or when he senses the passion has died out in his current marriage. It can happen when both parties take one another for granted, and often enough, in today's culture, the wife finds herself the dominate wage earner or may have a better position in the work force. Again this becomes hugely apparent in the exaggerated reality of celebrities lives; break-ups occur when one party becomes more successful than the other and one of them is caught cheating - it's a compensation thing, I'm sure. I think it applies to ordinary couples as well. The cheating is a form of declaring one's independence, while shirking responsibilty, as well as betraying commitment, all the while insisting that he loves his wife. It hurts the person one is having the affair with and it destroys families, while harming emotional and moral stability. It's a moral dilemma, as such, it is not a 'victimless crime' and contributes to the further errosion of culture as well.

Ultimately, it boils down to men indulging the "joy of the will in natural goods" without directing and consecrating this joy to God. St. John of the Cross speaks indirectly of these things in "The Ascent of Mt Carmel" Book Three, Chapter 22. He likens this indulgence (by analogy, of infidelity) to drinking of the cup of the whore of Babylon when he asks;
"Who fails to drink little or much from the golden chalice of the Babylonian woman of the Apocalypse [Rev. 17:4]?

Going on to explain the harms that result;
"No matter how small the amount of this wine of joy, it immediately takes hold on the heart and subdues it, producing obscurity in the reason, as happens with those who get drunk from wine...
Spiritual weakness will augment and bring such evil on the soul that it will find itself a captive of its enemies, grinding at the mill like Samson with his eyes plucked out and the hair of his first strength cut. And afterward it (the soul) will perhaps die the second death as he (Samson) did together with his enemies."

In the end, promiscuous behavior and infidelity become so habituated, that it may seem to be an addiction. Repentance followed by frequent confession, with prayer and the Eucharist are the steps one must take in order to amend one's life and begin to repair the damage done to family and friends.

Fr. Altier, "the embattled"?

The "Definitive" word?

Sort of a quasi-official response to all the rumors about the reassignment surgery in the St. Paul/Minneapolis Archdiocese involving Fr. Altier by Dennis McGrath. (Very much towing the 'party-line'.) Although - truth be told, Elizabeth Schwaub would have the more accurate account of all the happenings - there is an email from her included in Mr. Abbott's piece.

My understanding is that Fr. Altier is doing very well in his new assignment, he has not been silenced in his ministry; he preaches and teaches and helps out at St. Augustine's in South St. Paul. He's getting new, decent vestments and appointments for his chapel at the hospital, and bringing the liturgy into line, and generously offering confessions. He's doing what he alawys has, serving tirelessly with devotion in this present assignment. He is a faithful, dedicated, and obedient priest. I know several pastors who would give their eyeteeth for such an assignment - parish life is "embattled" these days. Altier will not be in this position forever - remember how God let Elijah rest only for a short time under the broom tree, and then He sent him on to continue his mission? Fr. Altier will be back, just wait!

Sex and the single girl...

Girls just want to have fun - so do boys!

So my earlier post, "The low spark of low rise pants" about chastity and boys didn't impress anyone much. Maybe it was too frank, maybe no one cares. However I think that I am not the only Christian that finds a problem with youthful moral standards, read on:

"SCARY STATS
What is happening with our teens? According to researchers at Yale and Columbia University teens pledging virginity until marriage are just as likely to have STDs as their peers. The reason for this is “technical virginity,” a loophole found by an increasing number of teen girls which allows them to do “everything but” intercourse and still claim virginity. This reasoning is insidiously attacking the bodies and minds of our young people, and is re-enforced through today’s popular celebrities." [snip] Haley DiMarco, "The New Promiscuous"

"And I just want to have a good time!" from 'Runaway' - Janet Jackson

So, what have I been saying...hello! Anyone out there listening?

Papa likes bow-wows and kitty cats!

Holy Father at the Great St. Bernard Pass on his vacation in the Alps.

He is so unobtrusive, so meek and mild, not flaunting himself or creating a stir when he travels. Unannounced, without fanfare, he visited Switzerland and a couple of monasteries. Can you imagine their delight when they learned the Holy Father was at the door?

I love this Pope!

The low spark of low rise pants...

(Title adapted from Steve Winwood and Traffic - "The low spark of high heeled boys." very cool '70's song.)

Guys and Chastity.

So, "how does a young man remain sinless" (Psalm 119) in the summertime? First of all he should pull his pants up and probably not shop at Abercrombie & Fitch - although they have the coolest clothes - that sometimes look like they came out of the dumpster - but they are cool.

This post is obviously only for guys interested in, or striving for chastity. A lot of young guys think it is impossible to remain chaste. Some think that they are chaste and celibate if they simply refrain from vaginal intercourse. We learned from the Clinton-Lewinski affair that many young people do not consider oral sex or masturbation "sex". These kids can't be Catholics however, can they? Yeah, I think there are Catholic kids with a messed up understanding of what sex is, and they probably do not see the need for confession either.

I could talk here about 'urban wear' and 'beach wear' or "club wear", and all sorts of suggestive and immodest fashions, but that's pretty obvious to everyone, right? Well, even if it isn't, I'm not going there. We all should know that minimal clothing is seductive. We know movies and TV and MTV is sexualized beyond belief. Music as well. Some of the rap and pop music pretty much glorify certain sex acts as well as promiscuous and lesbian behavior. (The homo stuff just isn't cool for guys - thank God.) Watch the Music Awards shows - it's pretty graphic choreography. So kids are surrounded by sex - you hear it in their language, and the age level is getting younger all of the time.

So how does any guy remain sinless? Especially in the age of Viagra? Confession, confession, confession - the Sacrament of Reconciliation - as often as needed. Frequenting the Sacrament with contrition - and a firm purpose of amendment of course - even if it seems like you 'can't' amend, or do not 'feel' like you can - try and understand that you 'will' it. Holiness is in the will.

Daily prayer, especially the rosary, and daily Mass when possible. Mental prayer or meditation is essential - where the daily examination of conscience is an obligatory component. Another good form of prayer is Lectio Divina - which is meditation/mental prayer and reading scripture all rolled into one. The other means is the practice of recollection outside the time of prayer; keeping one's self in the presence of God through short little prayers or aspirations, using the name of Jesus, and most especially, by frequent spiritual communions. Spiritual communion renews our awareness of Christ's presence in the Eucharist and renews our communion with him in "His silent loving action in the Eucharist" - at work in us through our explicit desire - thus His presence in us is "at work to accomplish infinitely more than we could ever ask or imagine." Then, try to spend some time each week or more in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in adoration or simply enjoying to be in His presence. Cultivate devotion, confidence and love. Check out John Paul's book, "Theology of the Body" or other good commentaries on it, the book clears up many things concerning sex.

Some guys get themselves habituated to certain sins. All men, especially young men, have to be aware of their own bodies - not just to pump up, or how they are dressing themselves - but their biology and psychology. Our sexuality is a good thing and has one purpose, that of procreation. So many young people have problems with "delaying gratification" in a culture where everything is immediate. Men have built in release valves as it were. The temptation to masturbate goes away if you occupy yourself with something else - anything to take the focus off "it" - if you know what I mean. (Although, I don't see how that is possible with some kids who walk around the streets pulling at themselves all of the time - what a disgusting habit picked up from rap artists and other street trash. Don't ever do that!) Men's bodies have a natural release, it's politely referred to as 'nocturnal emissions'. Men do not have to masturbate. It won't 'fall off' or 'wither up' if you don't use it, as some proponents suggest in a round about way by saying it could lead to prostate cancer. Nonsense! The devil likes to suggest these things as well, it's ludicrous. (In the way of perfection, even natural responses from one's body ought not to be sought and one must remain detached from the pleasure, yet unperturbed when it occurs. And do not let your mind or the devil try to trick you into thinking the experience is a sin because you experienced pleasure - that is often a trick to keep you in that sexually charged moment and an invitation to commit a sin auto-erotically. )

As for other types of acting out sexually, these may have a compulsive dimension as well. One has to work at it. But never focus or dwell on the temptation or the act - it takes hold that way. Let impure thoughts go in one ear and out the other, don't focus. Sometimes they stick in the mind - don't focus on them, go on as if they are not there. (Don't get all uptight and try to repress them however, it makes them worse, be calm and let them blow away like "leaves on a windy day".) And if you feel like you've sinned by entertaining the thoughts - don't let your body or the devil convince you that you have already sinned gravely so you may as well go all the way. That is so much his best trick. The other really bad trick of his is, if you do fall, he suggests doing it again, since you've already sinned anyway. Every consent to his wicked suggestions forges another link in his chain - break it immediately through an act of contrition and go to confession as soon as you can. These acts of humility and repentance are your arms in battle, with trust in the Divine Mercy of course. That reminds me, pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy, even if you are steeped in sin, Jesus promised He would not fail to grant His grace and mercy to "even the most hardened sinner, even if he were to recite the chaplet only once." It is a very powerful prayer.

Maybe you've never heard of it, but there is a mortification referred to as custody of the eyes. It's when you keep from indulging your curiosity about things, the practice trains you to control your "wandering eyes". It can be exercized by not watching TV, or not listening to certain music at times, or not checking some one out on the street or at the beach. As you drive, ride or walk, or are just sitting there, you're going to see someone with a great body and perhaps little on it. You saw it, maybe you looked twice, it's not a sin - even though your body may have reacted. Take that reaction as a warning, divert your attention, move on, jump in the pool - do something. But do it without anxiety and without over reaction. Gradually one learns to not objectify and sexualize everybody and everything, especially if you do not make your body and other peoples body "an idol". There is a certain amount of idolotry in our culture that is directed toward the body. We live in a time wherein the most obvious sign of outward devotion may be properly called, "the cult of the body". We've got to stop our "sacrificing to idols" - a pagan custom revived in our day not unlike that which prospered in ancient Rome and Greece.

One more thing - never ever indulge in pornography - do not even have it near you. No magazines, no videos or DVDs, no nothing. The imprint upon the memory and imagination is powerful and diabolical. If you come across it you can't help the fact that you saw it, but do not let yourself get into it. Move along. Mortal sin is committed only when you willingly and deliberately entertain yourself with it, look at it or watch it indulgently, or act upon it. To see it accidently or even look with some curiosity, yet then to reject it - even though your body may have reacted - is not grave sin, don't get tricked into going further. But never have it around or buy it.

Be patient - but not too patient with yourself, remain calm, ask for help in prayer, keep going to confession and never give up. Chastity is possible - even in the summertime - and maybe even in Los Angeles.

Benedict on Vacation.

The Holy Father vacationing at John Paul's old retreat. It looks like Pope Benedict wears the soutane even on vacation - while he hikes around the mountains.

No wonder that many young priests and seminarians are so eager to wear the cassock around town these days. I like it now! (Please guys, just don't wear a cape - a nice long coat in the winter is so much better.)

I know a really cool priest who wears it even when he motorcycles around town - he tucks it under his leather jacket - wearing jeans underneath of course.

The funniest man alive!

Jon Lovitz for Subway!

Jon Lovitz is one of my favorite commedians. I want to start a fan club - and maybe get paid from Subway.

I love Lovitz!

EAT FRESH!

Justice and peace...

Crucifixtion.

When I was in the monastery, Fr. Maurus died of cancer. Trappists do not embalm normally, nor do they use coffins. What is lovely about a monastic death is that the community assembles around the dying, praying. When the person dies, his body is placed in the chapel and monks keep vigil around the clock until the funeral. In Fr. Maurus' case, the funeral had to be delayed for relatives who were coming from a great distance to attend. Fr. Maurus began to deteriorate, the cancer or medicines began to smell foul. We burned incense to cover the odor, but it did little good. It reminded me of the "Brothers Karamozov" where the monk who had died decomposed and the people were disappointed as if this indicated he had not been a saint.

I hadn't known Fr. Maurus very well, but he was always kind and seemed an exemplary monk. He visually reprimanded me one evening as we novices were going upstairs to our cells and I started silently playing like the kids from "The Sound of Music" on the stairs, making everyone laugh out loud. I wasn't aware that Fr. Maurus was behind us, he gave me a severe look. I was sure he'd vote against my acceptance when it came time.

Yet there he lay, a corpse, before he had the chance. Instead of feeling disliked by him as I knelt reciting the psalter with my brother, I felt his warmth and kindness, I can almost smell that sickenly sweet odor of his rapidly decomposing body as I write.

At Mass today I thought of him again. The responsorial psalm was one of the psalms I prayed at Fr. Maurus' feet.

"Kindness and truth shall meet;
Justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven." -Psalm 85

It was at this verse that I understood something of the monk's life and that of the cross. It seemed to me that this passage contained the meaning of what happened on Calvary. The intersection of "kindness and truth" with "justice and peace" formed the cross, that cross of Jesus crucified, "the root of Jesse has blossomed" with the crimson corpse of the Divine Son, while justice has looked down from heaven, like that scene in Gibson's film, "The Passion", where that huge drop of water, that tear falls from Heaven, from the Divine Father.

"Kindness and truth" - Mercy and humility.
"Justice and peace" - Doing what is right, which is the way of peace.

Since then, suffering has had greater meaning for me, while I look upon this insight as a personal legacy to me from Fr. Maurus.

Later I thought of yesterday's post and Fr. Maurus' silent rebuke that night long ago. I always want to be funny. Last night I posted on that priest (Fr. Fay) because I wanted to insert the "Brainerd Cash Call" into one of my posts, at that poor guy's expense. If only the truth I could keep focused upon would remain Jesus and Him Crucified. One knows these things yet one never seems to learn.

I considered that perhaps Fr. Fay may have "sold his birthright for a meal" as Essau had, yet Fr. Fay can gain back his inheritance through repentance, as did the Prodigal Son. Let's pray for Fr. Fay and for all priests. Especially for those who prefer anything at all to the love of Christ.

And may the soul of Fr. Maurus and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Mea culpa!

Decadence

What's wrong with this picture?

Pictured: The Rev. Michael Jude Fay, right, and Cliff Fantini.

I listen to KQ in the morning, to the dismay of fellow employees and religious. I listen for the 'sound-bites' and tune out the gross stuff - sometimes I turn it off when it gets too bad. Like Milton in "Office Space" I protest that I can listen to the radio at a moderate level so as not to intrude upon other's space. (Actually, a couple of other employees listen on their own - oh my gosh! Did I out them?)

Anyway, this entire self-revelation is for the purpose of using one sound bite I absolutely love. It's from the "Brainerd Cash Call" bit when a DJ is calling rural residents around Brainerd to guess how much cash has accumulated as the prize. One older women he calls replies, "Gay!" The DJ responds , "Pardon me, what did you say?" She says, "Are you gay?" Out of the blue, totally out of context - it's hilarious! It was the first thing I thought of when I read the following story,
"Gay!"

"Priest's extravagant lifestyle leads to downfall.

Connecticut diocese demands resignation.

July 9, 2006
New York Times News Service
DARIEN, Conn. — The Rev. Michael Jude Fay had his hair highlighted each spring at a local salon at prices of $85 or more, his hairdresser said. His vacation getaway was an ocean-view condominium in Florida that he owned with a close friend from Philadelphia. And he repeatedly spent thousands of dollars on luggage, jewelry, and designer clothes, even though his salary was a modest $28,000 a year.

To many of his parishioners at St. John Roman Catholic Church in Darien, Fay's lavish ways came as a shock nearly two months ago when the Diocese of Bridgeport demanded his resignation because of questions about his suitability for the priesthood, his lifestyle, and his financial stewardship of the church.

To those parishioners, he was the dutiful son of a New Jersey police officer and an advocate for the poor in wealthy Fairfield County. At times aloof, he was also sensitive in dealing with grief-stricken parishioners and showed flair in producing Broadway-style plays with local talent.
“People loved him,” said Richard Manegio, a Darien businessman whose ex-wife relied on Fay when she was battling cancer.

But a handful of parishioners, current and former employees and local merchants had nursed suspicions for years about the longtime pastor. In interviews, they — and investigators, lawyers and church officials who came into the case more recently — said Fay's taste for the gilded life seemed to have spun out of control in recent years.

“He was the most high-class priest I've ever seen,” said Frank Colandro, the owner of a deli across the street from the church, mentioning Fay's expensive-looking shoes and watches. And the more Fay spent, his critics say, the more autocratic and secretive he became about the church's finances." [snip] Read on, it's not that hard to figure out, the Cash Call lady ends the conversation with, "You're gay!"

The above story is not really that unusual. I know some high living priests. I do not suspect them in the least of using Church finances for personal expenses. The guys I know have their own money and are not extravagant when they spend money for the Church, they have excellent taste and provide beautiful appointments and/or renovations for their parishes. They are good stewards of other people's money. Of course I have heard of irresponsible priests as well, they are usually removed after the hot tub is installed at the rectory. I also know guys who have a 'preferential option' for the rich. Yet there is nothing untoward in that either. The fellow in the above article is either being 'kept' or using parish funds irresponsibly. He sounds like a charmer.

"Eat Fresh!" As Jon Lovitz would say.

I thought about it, and I disagree...with myself!

And it is Bastille Day.

Hey! The French Revolution wasn't a good thing you know. Marie Antoinette was a very devout Catholic and nothing at all what proponets of the revolution said about her. But that is not my point here. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Corondolet had a few sisters guillotined in the revolution, along with many other nuns and priests. Martyrs all.

My last post consisted in a bit of "nun bashing" - it did a disservice to the faithful Sisters who still exist. (I'm not talking about the radical feminists among them in this post, who had aroused my anger. Nor am I talking tonight about the 'mean' ones I experienced.)

Today a lovely Sister came into the Store with her sister. I know these two well, they are parishoners at St. Louis Church in downtown St. Paul. I knew the one is a Sister, I assumed she was a Daughter of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who, from their original foundation in France, always wore secular clothing to hide from the revolutionaries, and they continue in secular garb today, not living in community, but among the laity. I was astonished to find out she was from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Corondolet, an order to whom all Catholics in the mid-west owe an enormous debt of gratitude. If it had not been for these early 'pioneer' Sisters, we would never have had the schools and hospitals, or one local college in particular, that we grew up with and in some cases still have today. Nor would I have been properly instructed in the faith!

Realizing this elegant woman of tremendous intelligence and piety was a member of this order, living with her sister in an asisted living facility, moved my heart to repentance for what I had posted earlier. I remembered the good Sisters I did know and who were so kind to me. Why is it the 'mean' ones had stood out so much? I apologize.

I remember when the habits were discarded, some Sisters who insisted on keeping them had their veils literally torn off their heads and were told that they must conform to lay clothing under obedience. They did. That's an extreme however. Some Sisters simply obeyed and went with the lay clothing rule, even undergoing fashion consultations and make-overs. Nevertheless, when these orders were founded, they had adopted the fashions of the times, albeit widow's weeds. The modern Sisters felt it imperative to return to dressing in accord with the times - hence lay clothing. That's not necessarily a bad thing, they were returning to their original foundations in that respect. More deeply, I understood the habit doesn't make a Sister, and a Sister isn't a museum artifact. St. Catherine of Genoa once told a friar, "If I thought that habit would make me holy, I'd rip it off your back and wear it myself!" Granted, the 'neo-reformers' of some orders went to extremes by their misplaced zeal in returning to their roots, but there remained many good Sisters, while complying obediently, never lost their fervor or dedication to their vocation, and remain very faithful to the original charism of their particular orders.

Here is a brief history of the origins of the Sisters of St. Joseph:

"HISTORY
The roots of our Congregation are found in the town of Le Puy, France. Around 1650, the Jesuit priest, Father Jean-Pierre Medaille gathered together women who wanted to grow in prayer and service. Father Medaille provided wonderful writings to shape the Sisters’ spirituality.
As the Community flourished in its early stages so did the political unrest in France. During the height of the French Revolution the Sisters were disbanded, many seeking refuge among relatives. Five of our Sisters were guillotined because they remained faithful to the Church giving shelter to the priests who refused to make the oath of allegiance to the revolution. With the end of the revolution, the remaining Sisters who had been imprisoned were released, and one of them, Mother St. John Fontbonne reorganized the Community members in Lyon in 1807.
In 1836 the Sisters established their first North American house in Carondolet, just outside of the present day St. Louis, Missouri.

Since that time the Sisters of St. Joseph have spread out in numerous directions throughout North America and the world. Our particular branch of the family tree moves from Carondolet, to Philadelphia (1847), to Toronto (1851), to London (1868)."

The St. Paul, Minnesota federation trace their foundation (look at them now!) to the same origins. May God bless them, especially the sisters who had no choice but to adapt, while remaining faithful to the Magisterium.

Nasty Habits

A 'religious sister' - "Still crazy after all of these years"

Raise your hand if you know Catholics that have left the Church and blame it on the 'mean' nuns they had in school as a kid. These were the habit-clad versions that whipped you into shape with a pointer across the face, or a twist-you-down-to-the-ground with a turn of your ear. The ones who told kids they would end up in jail or amount to nothing, while doting on the prospective priests and nuns in the class. The same ones who wouldn't let girls like Mary Jo Copeland participate in the "May Crowning" because she had greasy hair and a dirty uniform and came from a bad home. Some of us stayed in the Church despite them, many others couldn't wait to get out.

So now they are old and liberal and a 'kinder gentler' lot. They dress in awful secular clothes and get their hair done, unless they are dykes, then they are pretty butch. Nevertheless, they still do not have an authentic spirituality. And now they espouse all the right trends of the culture of death. Their 'convents' are centers of new age thought, wiccan ritual, and they still dominate colleges and spirituality centers. Some even function as 'priests' - although, if they go for ordination, they 'risk' excommunication. Risk? They are already excommunicated in conscience! Stay away!

I've often said, the old breed drove people away by their puritanical, dogmatic rigidity, as well as an enormous lack of charity. The new ones drive them away by their free-wheeling, liberal anti-Catholic, materialist lifestyle, as well as a lack of charity. Sure they 'do' charity - that is, secular work that helps the poor; yet understand this, the greatest lack of charity is sending souls to hell. Hence, pro-choice 'sisters' are doing a better job than their predecessors. But whose keeping score?

[Praise God we have authentic nuns like the Nashville Dominicans as well as others who teach and serve in the Church today, and provide an authentic witness to the laity!]

Might as well say it "you're addicted to love!"

George Cardinal Pell of Sidney, Australia.

His Eminence has an article in his dioceasan newspaper concerning the problem of sexual addiction. One of the few Cardinals or Archbishops in the Church to really address this problem - to my knowledge at least. SA or sexual addiction groups have been around for well over a decade. In fact much of the research for this type of recovery has been developed in the Twin Cities at the Courage Center in Golden Valley. The support groups are based on AA groups and normally work from the 12 step program of recovery. Some celebrities have been in treatment here. As in any addiction, there are usually many other dynamics at work causing the behavior. Addictions and obsessive compulsive behaviors are often symptoms of a deeper problem.

I know a few people who have gone through these programs and also have participated in the SA groups. There are mixed reviews about it. The counselling is helpful to a point in discovering the root problems of the addiction, the meaning behind the act, so to say. The support group thing is helpful as well, although people say it keeps them focused upon the problem. The effort and accompanying anxiety to avoid acting out sometimes keeps their attention upon the attraction or habit. There are often relapses. But there are relapses for those in treatment for substance abuse as well.

I know a theologion and psychologist who disagree with the idea of sexual addiction and cite St. Augustine and his conversion, as well as St. Paul who said, "God does not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength." This priest I know questions the theory by saying that it takes the fact of man's free will out of the equation - man is free to choose or reject every temptation. Granted, one may experience an overwhelming compulsion, either forged through habitual sin or some other condition. Naturally the person's culpability is lessened if that is the case.

What is missing in secular treatments is an authentic spiritual component. There ought to be a substantial spiritual plan with an emphasis on life style changes, especially avoiding near occassions of sin, the practice of mortification, and authentic mental prayer, as well as sacramental confession. The person must realize that they have forged a chain of sins or inappropriate behaviors that having become habitual and psychologically gratifying seem to also be stronger than their will. Recovery is a process of effort, falling and rising, yet trusting in the Lord to lead them to victory. There is no miraculous cure normally, the Lord expects us to work with His grace and to ask for His mercy. Therapy, groups, medication - all of these things are good and often necessary at times - but prayer and mortification and the sacraments are the ultimate remedies. A nun once said to me, "A saint is a sinner who keeps trying." Sometimes Our Lord does deliver a person suddenly and seemingly spontaneously from an addiction.

I have another friend who, at adoration during the Holy Year of 2000, told me he heard a voice he felt was the Lord's say to him, "You are free!" He told me recently that his sexual difficulties never afflicted him again, he felt he had finally been given the gift of chastity. We can have faith that God does indeed hear our prayers, for this man I speak of wrestled with his affliction for almost 20 years!

Remember what Pope John Paul I said regarding serious sins, even habitual sins:

"I will limit myself to recommending one virtue so dear to the Lord: He said, 'Learn from me who am meek and humble of heart." I risk saying an error, but I am saying it: the Lord loves humility so much that, sometimes, he permits grave sins. Why? So that those who have committed these sins, afterwards, having repented, may remain humble. One is not tempted to believe oneself half–saint or half–angel, when one knows that one has committed grave faults. The Lord so much recommended: be humble."

Anyone struggling with habitual sins need to have humility, along with confidence and love, trusting in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I hope Cardinal Pell does not rely only upon the psychological establishment and realizes the Church has a treasury of resources to help people now recognized as suffering from sexual addiction. We have the Eucharist and the sacrament of penance.

Finally, at the root of it all, the addict is just really saying, "Say you love me!" (That's a song too. Segues nicely with Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love.")
(Sorry for the quality of this post - I was rushing to be beat the shut-down time eblogger posted that is supposed to occur this afternoon.)

Ruins

Could it be? The Church of England is imploding?

News is that they have said it is theologically correct to ordain women as bishops. Catholic News Agency has the full story. Actually they said it was "theologically justified".

Truth be told, it seems most mainline Churches who have embraced apostacy are disintegrating, while traditional Catholicism is entering a 'new flowering' a 'new spring time' as foretold by John Paul II.

In an op-ed for yesterday's Los Angeles Times, Charlotte Allen wrote a wonderful piece on the collapse of liberal Christianity in the post-modern era. Citing everything from the acceptance of gay marriage to women bishops. It is an insightful read. She refers to what is happening as the "melt-down of liberal Christianity". She's dead on! Read it here, "Liberal Christianity is paying for it's sins."

Beating out the Tenenbaums!

Some thoughts on modern family life. (Can't use this picture enough!)

Pope Benedict's recent pilgrimage to Spain was to attend the World Meeting of Families in Valencia. As everyone knows, the traditional family is being undermined by secular culture. The list of what is infecting and attacking the family is a long one; contraception, abortion, children out of wedlock, single parent homes, gay marriage, etc. Contemporary culture is trying to destroy the family - we all know that. So is materialism.

My friend Don Marco, in a homily yesterday was speaking about what went wrong after Vatican II. He said:

" What happened? The reality was one­ sided: Church listening to world without world listening to Church. Church adapting to world without world adapting to Church. Church open to world without world open to Church. Instead of the Church evangelizing the world, the world began secularizing the Church. Confusion ensued. In many cases, the General Chapters of Renewal mandated by the Second Vatican Council were, in effect, Chapters of Demolition, breaking with the past and intoxicated with change for the sake of change. Seminaries and novitiates closed. People stopped going to Mass. Children stopped learning their catechism and their prayers. In a single generation, families that had been strong in the Catholic faith for centuries fell away from the Church, some into agnosticism, some into neo-paganism, some into materialism and indifference."

This wonderful monk from Rome hit it pretty dead on. After Humanae Vitae was promulgated by Paul VI and it's subsequent rejection by many, if not most, the contraceptive mentality was in full swing. Sexual morality fell by the wayside while economic affluence excellerated, and materialism and luxury became the staple of many people's lives. Through it all developed a relatively good mantra, 'focus on the children' ostensibly regarding impoverished children of the underclass who lacked basic education and the means to acquire it - naturally, it is more comprehensive than that, but I won't develop that for this post.

It seems to me that oftentimes the 'focus on the children' thing is taken to extremes by the upper middle class family. How do I mean that? I'm talking about parents who spoil their kids. Parents who oftentimes both have jobs outside the home and who become their kids servants. They car pool their kids to this game and that activity to the point of exhaustion. They 'wine and dine' them and take them on exotic vacations. They buy them everything they want and all of the latest software, cell phones, and ipods - anything they want. If they want designer clothes, they got it. If they want tatoos and body piercings and multi-colored hair - they got it.

Yes these parents also pay for a great education and provide a wonderful home, sometimes a lake cabin to boot, for the family. Many provide a Catholic atmosphere in their homes and encourage prayer and catechisis. Most attend Mass on Saturday night, or Sunday morning, or even Sunday night, if they are late getting back from the cabin. Whatever, they squeeze it in. Sometimes they even luck out by attending a wedding on Saturday afternoon, which they reckon kills two birds with one stone - it takes care of the Sunday obligation as well.

Cardinal Re spoke about what is important for the family at Valencia this past weekend, here is a report on that:

" Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, said during the International Theological Pastoral Congress at the World Meeting of Families that faith and not material possessions is the greatest inheritance parents can leave their children.

At the closing Mass of the Congress, which was concelebrated by some two thousand bishops, Cardinal Re explained that, “some parents cannot leave many things as an inheritance, but if they pass on the faith to their children they will be giving them the most precious good that exists.”According to the AVAN news agency, Cardinal Re maintained that, “what is sown in the heart of a child will bear fruit in the future,” and that there are many parents, “whose faith is deepened thanks to their children, in whom they see the values of the Gospel.”The cardinal said many people do not value the importance of the family out of selfishness, over-dedication to work, or the desire to follow the latest fads. He also reiterated that teaching children to pray is, “to teach them the greatest strength,” for their lives." - Catholic News Agency

I was thinking on similar lines this past week when considering family life and parental responsibilities. I wondered how many parents realize how importatnt it is to raise children to be saints? How many raise them in such a way as to avoid mortal sin, at all costs, even to the point of death, as in the case of St. Maria Goretti? Material goods, scholastic and athletic achievements, grace and natural beauty, riches and wealth, things many parents and their children think are almighty important - they are just not. What is of prime importance is their soul and their eternal salvation, and sadly, a lot of kids - their parents as well - do not know what that means.

St. John of the Cross writes; "Christ says of these people, that they circle the earth and the sea in order to enrich their children, and they make them children of perdition twofold more than they themselves are." [Mt. 23:15] It is just such a sobering awesome responsibilty to be a parent and raise children. Let's pray for families - parents and children.

Compunction

"When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes"

"When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf Heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate..."
-Shakespeare, Sonnet 29


Yesterday's post brought me a great grace, it is called compunction. Compunction is not a word used very much anymore these days. My understanding of it is that it is like contrition, but it remains after the confession of one's sins. It's not depression nor is it "the sadness that leads to death" as St. Paul writes. It's a spiritually healthy condition, so desirable and consoling I wish I could be steeped in it every waking hour. It's very much linked to humility. One may imagine a saint, such as Bernard, pictured here, overtaken with compunction - "stung to his heart" by the sight of Jesus crucified and what Love has suffered in atonement for men's sins, and Bernard takes up Christ's cross and follows him. Still, feeling the sting in his heart, he understands his own sins have been the cause of so much grief, of so many wounds inflicted upon the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "Deep calls unto deep."


Papa John Paul I

I have searched my office at home, my art cabinets, and every book, as well as my office at work, for a marvelous quote I had from John Paul I - not JPII - but his predecessor. The Holy Father was speaking at the Wednesday audience, I have no documentation on hand, but it is authentic. The Holy Father said something to this effect, "Excuse me for saying this, others may fault me, but I think the Lord loves humility so much that He sometimes allows very good souls to fall into sin, even mortal sin. In fact He may permit them to fall repeatedly into a very grave sin, in order that the soul may become humble. Yes God so loves humility that He will allow Himself to be offended so that the sinner may come to repentance and become humble." I know I didn't do his statement justice but it is very close to what the Holy Father said.

In 1972 I had a profound conversion experience, my life changed completely. I entered monastic life because I was convinced I could not be saved in the world. It wasn't enough, so with Charles de Foucauld and Benedict Joseph Labre I left the enclosure to live a penitential life as a 'pilgrim'. But that was way too difficult - I believed I had to return to enclosed monastic life.
Returning from Europe I asked to be receivd once again, only to find out that my novice master had left, the Abbott had resigned and all the novices left as well, and they were not accepting anyone at the time. My superficial spiritual edifice suddenly and dramatically collapsed.

Living in Boston at the time, I was in the North End one Saturday, walking amidst the stalls at the market while a car had stopped at the intersection I was at, the stereo was blarring and it was Dianna Ross' song, "Love Hangover". (It was the height of disco and I was still pretty young - obviously.) I thought it was the coolest song ever. I walked back downtown, bought some hip clothes and went out to the bars that night - actually, just about every night for a few months. I returned to my old way of life, out of desperation, loneliness, isolation, (I was supposedly a hermit) and what is called 'acedia' - something many people today think is the 'dark night' - it's not.

Did you ever see "Looking For Mr. Goodbar", the movie with Dianne Keaton about a promiscuous school teacher who had a double life going out to all the clubs at night while teaching at a school by day? That was kind of me - the male version of course! I worked at a Church in Back Bay at the time and everyone thought I was a monk, but I went to all the clubs by night. My fall from grace was sudden, and my recovery was just about as sudden. This sinful period was only a matter of a few months. I left Boston to come home to the Twin Cities, realizing I was ruining my life in Boston. It was the most mortifying experience of my life, I hated it here. Gradaually I adjusted, regained my old job with better pay and a higher position. I returned to the practice of prayer and daily communion, balanced with a 'love of the world' - in this, to a lesser degree, I found some affinity with Teresa of Avila. Nevertheless, it was a knock down drag out fight to cut every tie with my sinful past. A series of fallings and risings at every step.

Through it all, I remained close to our Carmel and my 'spiritual sister' who is still there. Once in a letter she reassured me by writing, "Even if you have to go to confession every day, even twice a day, never fail to do so. Remember, a saint is a sinner who keeps trying." (I got to know a lot of priests in those days.) Only much later did I read the statement of John Paul I, about sin and the acquisition of humility. Only then did I really understand temptation and sin and God's inscrutable mercy.

I find comfort in this quote from St. Teresa Benedicta a'Cruce, "In aridity and emptiness the soul becomes humble. Former pride disappears when a man no longer finds in himself anything that might cause him to look down on others." - Science of the Cross . In my aridity and emptiness I fell back into sin, but never worry, it returns, only this time the soul understands God is with it, that faith and hope support it, that love sustains it. Edith Stein wrote elsewhere, "The soul ought to consider aridity and darkness as fortunate omens; as signs that God is beside it, freeing it from itself, taking the initiative out of its hand." My dreamsicle spiritual life, coddled by God in it's first fervor was too immature, too superficial, too unguided, too idiosynchratic for me to be on my own. It had to collapse, God had to take the initiative out of my hands, I had to become humble - God it is who inspires and perfects our faith. That is how I learned the meaning of these words, "I have more understanding than all who teach me because I do your will." Ps 119. Not that I go it alone now without counsel, but there is a freedom of spirit the Holy Spirit bestows in addition.

In the market, after Mass this morning, I heard the same music I listened to in Boston years ago, and all of these memories came flooding back vividly and poignantly, increasing the compunction I experienced at Mass. I did not have the same sins that Fr. Erickson had, but I have sinned too, all of us have. As I said yesterday, God's mercy is so inscrutable. We must have hope - confidence and love, as little Therese taught. And we must have humility and mercy in our hearts.

May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon them.