I added another blog!

My newly added blog is:
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It's the newly added:
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It's a Catholic blog!
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It's a different blogspot!
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Please add me to your links:
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My Dinner With...Mr. Hastreiter

Actually, we've never been out to dinner. John Hastreiter is our Church Goods director at the Company I work for. We just have our talks.

When I began working at Leaflet, I already knew John as a customer shopping in his Store - at that time he was just starting the Church Goods dimension of the business. It has grown under his direction - and with his vision - dramatically so.

He's a very bright man, sophisticated as well as traditionally Roman Catholic - not a trad - he attends the Mass of Paul VI when he has to do so, yet prefers the traditional Mass. He is an invaluable resource for our Company. An incredibly astute young man. He has the ear of many seminarians and priests, and he listens to them as well. He knows his theology, and liturgy. He is very balanced, and I dare say, rather holy and spiritually mature. He's mellowed over the years, without compromising his values in the least. (Being a husband and a dad will do that for a guy.)

John is married with three beautiful children. His lovely wife is the"heiress" to the Matt family. (I'm kidding - she's not an heiress, but she is a Matt. So what does that mean? Her relatives publish "The Wanderer" and another relative publishes "The Remnant" - two staunchly Roman Catholic newspapers, both with reputations for being traditional Catholic newspapers - one with a more radical approach than the other, hence the Matt family has this curious reputation...None of it deserved on Karen's side.) When I understood Karen was a Matt, my first reply was, "But she's so normal!" As is her entire family - when I met her mother I somehow expected some chapel veiled woman who couldn't smile - such the opposite. The family simply prefers the solidity of the Tridentine Mass, as well as traditional Catholic upbringing - and the kids (I know her brothers) are living proof that there is nothing odd about traditional Catholics.

Anyway, when I first started at Leaflet, I was convinced that I was a conservative and traditional Catholic, who couldn't figure out why people had a problem with the post-Vatican II reforms. Certainly I knew of the abuses, and the far out theologies - I kept to the middle - keeping my blinders in place. John first shocked me when he told me that Cardinal Ratzinger was basically a liberal. My jaw dropped - Ratzinger? Liberals hated him. How could this be?

This afternoon we laughed about all of that, while I commented that I had changed so much. (I also remember being shocked when he countered a protest of mine and told me that some bishops and priests were gay - that was before the scandal hit the fan. Sure, I knew gay priests - but bishops? I complained John scandalized me and could also scandalize customers. How stupid was I?) Suddenly, today, John, who never reads blogs, told me that since I have been blogging I have changed even more. I was rather impressed that he noticed. He is a really sharp fellow. What is more impressive, he never batted an eyelash when I couldn't understand where he was coming from - even when I complained - after he explained to me what had been going on in the Church. He always remained my friend, allowing me time and space to make up my own mind.

Indeed, I have changed. Reading other blogs, getting comments from other bloggers, I have come to realize how terribly important it is for the traditional liturgy to be restored. Through other bloggers, my Catholic faith has been deepened, my understanding of the Church has thus far been expanded, which explains my occasional "It's too much! Stop the blog, I want to get off!"

I realize as Catholics we can no longer isolate ourselves and content ourselves with a personal piety, pretending there is nothing wrong in the Church, or that people who insist upon the integrity of the liturgy, faith and morals, are creating discord while clinging to an obsolete ecclessiology.

I've read home-school blogs that absolutely crush my smug little prejudice that these are somehow weird people who only want a "Little House On The Prairie" type world. Nothing could be further from the truth! I've read trad blogs that have so opened my eyes to the issues of liturgy, theology, and ecclessiology that are indeed matters of supreme importance. At the other blogs I visit I have been able to hear other people I would have otherwise ignored, or simply not have heard.

Congratulations to all the good Catholic bloggers, those listed on my sidebar, as well as those I continually discover. Thank God for the Catholic web logs!

And thank God for John Hastreiter and his beautiful Catholic family - he is one of the finest men I know - I love and respect him, despite the fact he is quite my junior.

What were you thinkin'?

Salve Regina has an interesting quote from Paul VI on the reform of the liturgy. Holy Father was certainly prophetic in Humane Vitae,,,what about the Mass?

From an allocution at the Wednesday audience by the Servant of God, Pope Paul VI.

" A new rite of the Mass: a change in a venerable tradition that has gone on for centuries. This is something that affects our hereditary religious patrimony, which seemed to enjoy the privilege of being untouchable and settled. It seemed to bring the prayer of our forefathers and our saints to our lips and to give us the comfort of feeling faithful to our spiritual past, which we kept alive to pass it on to the generations ahead.

It is at such a moment as this that we get a better understanding of the value of historical tradition and the communion of the saints. This change will affect the ceremonies of the Mass. We shall become aware, perhaps with some feeling of annoyance, that the ceremonies at the altar are no longer being carried out with the same words and gestures to which we were accustomed..." - finish the allocution at Salve Regina

I venerated Paul VI, I saw him several times. I love him. I think he is a saint.

Although, now I must ask, what was he thinking?

"War, What's It Good For?

Absolutely Nothin'!" Elaine Benis, "Seinfeld"

Remember that episode from Seinfeld, when Elaine insisted that is what Tolstoy wanted to title "War and Peace"?

The President's brief address last night concerning troop escalation (they refuse to call it that) in Iraq, was not at all funny. The war is not funny - nothing about our involvement in Iraq is funny. We created the mess, it seems to me we have to clean it up.

The President's proposal for an increase in military is relying on two things, the willingness of young men and women to enlist, as well as keeping our National Guard troops on extended tours of duty. The later are National Guard troops - meant to protect the homeland, yet they find themselves on foreign soil. These men and women are our co-workers, our neighbors, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, away from family, home, job and country. I am in total awe of our military, their dedication, their courage and generosity, their sheer goodness, as well as their fidelity to duty, God, and Country. Male or female, their virile dedication is awesome. They are daily in my prayers and thoughts. Daily! Even all day!

Curiously, in the workplace, or out and about in daily life, I rarely hear much from others about the war. No one discusses it, except to criticize the President or his cabinet. In the United States, one would never be able to tell we are at war - it's business as usual. The mindless obsession with celebrity is the only indication that there is some disconnect...something is not right in our society. I think the distraction by media, reality programming, along with celebrity has become an escape for our anti-depressant drug culture these days.

Just as psychedelics, grass and rock were a distraction for the Vietnam Stateside generation. Certainly there were massive demonstrations against the war - which seems to be beginning now with this war - yet on a much, much smaller scale. In the Vietnam era, we were not attacked on our soil, as we were on 9/11 - this experience presents an entirely different dynamic.

Despite the "massive protest" in the Vietnam era, there were many people who just floated by, unaware of what was really going on. Many kids just dropped out - my friends and I were among them. Most of us never participated in rallies - unless there was a rock band, or dope was there. We loved Crosby, Stills and Nash and raised our fists at concerts, but we were usually doped up. Sure, we were against the war in a "didn't want to go" type of way. A couple of friends did some stuff to protest, and seemed to be really into it, two of them, girls at the time, were pretty much infatuated with a couple of the guys who led the group - the ladies really were not political.

Freaks my age, all grown up and successful, albeit still uber liberal, want and expect massive protests against Bush and the mess we have to clean up (because it really is justice that we do so) while I believe some, along with the media, want to bring back the '60's in many ways. Hopefully, we are all much more sensitive to the sacrifices our soldiers are making - learning our lesson on how badly the Vietnam vets were treated, than to discredit those who have died, as well as those fighting in their place; we can't just bail on those who have died and bring a premature end to our involvement in rebuilding a nation we pretty much destroyed in the first place.

Support the war or not, most people just don't act like it's going on at all. It's a little conflict "over there" someplace, it's not affecting us. My advice: Skip a few doses of prozac or other antidepressant drugs that keep you happy, really think about what is going on. Turn off American Idol, or Grey's Anatomy, or whatever veges you out - think and pray about what is taking place in our Country at this time. Stand up for our troops - don't ever let anyone sell our military short, just because they hate Bush. (I'm not in love with him either!) It doesn't matter if they are a movie star, a rock star, or some bull-dyke Rosie on morning TV, or Nancy Pelosi, or Teddy (Drunk-Again) Kennedy. Support our men and women in harms way!

I'm ashamed to admit it, but it was 30 years after Vietnam when I realized that some Credence Clearwater and Crosby Stills and Nash songs were about Vietnam. Part of the culture was doped in the '60's; and surprise, surprise, more people are medicated today than they were then. "Prozac Nation" don't ya know.

(And, did you know, if we would have stuck it out in Vietnam, we would have been victorious? We must support our troops! Pray for our troops! )

Who Does God Approve?

Pictured, The Apotheosis of St. Thomas Aquinas.

At the end of his life St. Thomas stopped writing, he lived in silence. He had a mystical experience, a revelation, that led him to declare everything he had written was as straw. (Therefore, we may conclude that this painting does not represent Heaven, much less an appropriate entrance into Heaven. No one is going to be comparing notes on what Thomas wrote, nor what anyone else wrote.)

Who does God approve?

Someplace, in the psalms we are told,

"This is the man I approve, the lowly and afflicted..."

I cannot remember which psalm it is, yet we know from Our Lady's Magnificat that it is the humble the Lord exalts...

"He has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

...the rich He has sent away empty."

Sometimes, the liturgical controversies, the ecclesial conspiracies, the theological speculations...everything that gets religious people going, all of that wearies me.

I so wish I could be like a very simple, and obviously poor old man I would occasionally see at Mass, quietly kneeling in the most profound recollection after everyone else had left the Church. He appeared to be a retired worker, the years of hard labor lined in his face. I recognized that he was probably not a man with university degrees, nor a man of much sophistication, and I could tell he was alone in life. Yet he seemed to me to be very close to God and undistributed by the world or the tumult in the Church. He was united to Jesus, and it radiated from his face, as he knelt, eyes closed, his head slightly uplifted toward heaven.

This is the man God approves.

More on Conspiracy Theory #5

This is just going to get bigger - just like that fishy stuff going on in Los Angeles...

Rorate Caeli posted a link to First Things (after Robert Miller linked to him in his article) regarding an analysis of the Wieglus events in Poland. New Catholic wrote:

"We believe that Prof. Robert Miller's analysis of the events at First Things, with a kind link to us, presents an accurate portrayal of the deep Vatican problems related to the Wielgus Affair, particularly the disastrous process of episcopal nominations, centered in the Congregation for Bishops." - Rorate Caeli

I think I was on to something in last night's post, JPII - What Did He Know?

New Catholic prefaced his quote from First Things with this disclaimer:

"Let us remind our critics that we had not published a single word on Wielgus in December 2006 - because we had trusted the first note issued by the Holy See, according to which the "Holy See ... took into consideration all the circumstances of his life, including those regarding his past" and the "Holy Father... nourishes full trust in Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus and, in full awareness, has entrusted him with the mission of pastor of the Archdiocese of Warsaw". " - Rorate Caeli

And then New Catholic finishes with this from First Things:

"The concluding paragraph of Miller's text is particularly appropriate:

'Now, either the Vatican knew about Wielgus' past when it appointed him, as Wielgus says and as the Vatican's statement in December strongly suggests, or else it did not, as Re now maintains. If the former, then the Vatican's investigation of Wielgus prior to the appointment was grossly negligent, failing to discover information that was readily available in Poland. If the latter, as seems much more likely, then the Holy See exercised very poor judgment in making the appointment in the first place and even worse judgment in attempting to ram it through even after the truth about Wielgus became public. It stood by Wielgus while it knew he was lying to the faithful by denying the allegations. Many faithful Catholics looking at this situation will think that our bishops, rather than their critics, are the ones doing the real harm to the Church here.'" - Rorate Caeli

See! It happens!

People's Choice Awards...

It was on. I watched a portion of it. I hated it.

A couple of days ago people were critical of this painting I posted depicting Angelina Jolie as an object of veneration, by artist Katie Kretz . A friend who protested the painting and celebrity publicity, said that if the tabloids disappeared from the supermarket, no one would miss them nor the celebrities they promote. I had to disagree.

If you watched the People's Choice Awards tonight, you know how right-on this artist was in painting the piece. There is most definitely a cult of celebrity. And the "People" make really poor choices for their entertainment.

This awards show represents "popular" culture. These celebrities are "popular" cult figures.

And some people want us to elect our president by "popular" vote! Can you imagine?

John Paul II - what did he know?

Did John Paul really know who he appointed as bishops and archbishops? One can't really expect the pope to know everything about everyone who marches up the ranks of Church hierarchy, can he? He would have to trust those promoting the candidates. Some say JPII wasn't interested in the minutiae of day to day business in the Vatican; yet appointing bishops certainly must have concerned him.

I came across an interesting article on WorldNet Daily - not in reference to the Polish Archbishop who last Sunday resigned over allegations he was a Communist spy - rather about the homosexual infiltration in the Church. JPII, as I've said before, was very sophisticated and politically savvy, so I'm sure he knew about the "spy-priests" - or did he? Of course he was not responsible the recent Wieglus' appointment as Archbishop. Nevertheless, I suspect he had to know about what was going on in his homeland, especially as concerned his priests. Although, this from WorldNet on the homosexual thing, may apply to the espionage matter.

"Posted: May 2, 2005

The reason Catholic Church leadership includes homosexuals is because John Paul II refused to believe reports that potential clergy held that orientation – a mistake that will not be repeated by Pope Benedict XVI, says geopolitical expert Jack Wheeler.

In a column on his intelligence website, To the Point, Wheeler explains that a Vatican source disclosed to him why John Paul discounted the charge of homosexuality.

"Whenever Vatican investigators brought the results of their vetting process regarding an individual's candidacy for bishop, cardinal or other office, and they revealed he was a homosexual, John Paul II would refuse to believe it," he writes.

"He did so because accusing someone of homosexuality was a standard practice of the Communist government in his native Poland regarding anyone it regarded as an enemy of the state. From his ordination as a Catholic priest in 1946 to elevation to Archbishop of Krakow in 1963 and Cardinal in 1967, the then Karol Wojtyla witnessed this personal destruction repeatedly. So traumatized, he summarily dismissed such accusations as pope, and would approve the elevation of anyone so accused. "

Wheeler says that's why the church is "riddled" with homosexuals today." - WorldNet Daily

Of course, I don't know how factual this report is, however it seems reasonable - although, I like to think doubtful. If it is true, could the same dynamic have been at work as regards the man

recently presented for Episcopal installation from Poland, accused of working for the Communist party? Maybe it is a continuing practice in the Vatican. That may explain the approval for Wieglus' appointment - which he has now resigned.

And, this may explain many appointments, even on the diocesan level...

Someone in authority must know about these people though! Gosh, I hear all the petty gossip - even about priests who habitually oversleep and miss their morning Mass, while the "nun in charge" has to do a Liturgy of the Word with Communion when it happens. So how can this big stuff be overlooked?

Conspiracy Theory #5!

Apostasy

Pictured, an illumination, "The Abbot and the Apostate Monk."

This post isn't about Mahony, or other bishops or clergy, it comes about as I've pondered and prayed for friends who have left the Church over the years.

One day in the monastery, the novices were discussing a priest who left the Church to get married, he was highly regarded by the community, and considered very spiritual. He left, not only to marry, but to be a part of a protestant ministry.

I recall protesting, "How could anyone leave the Church with Jesus truly present in the Eucharist and after receiving so many mystical graces?" That was said by a rather fervent, as well as naive, novice in a contemplative monastery. Just a few years later, when the breast of Divine consolation was pulled out of my mouth, I faltered for a time, afraid of the dark night, seeking my consolation elsewhere.

Certainly, the defection of some ought not to surprise us, yet charity compels us to be concerned, and to pray for them. Nevertheless, each man chooses his path. Some of my friends remain Christian and live devout lives, albeit outside the Catholic Church. Some have abandoned religion all together for a lifestyle incompatible with Church teaching. While others have embraced neo-paganism, wicca, or witchcraft. (The later were usually converts from the "old religion" in the first place.)

In 1 John 2;18, the Apostle writes of the presence of antichrists in these final hours:

"It was from our ranks that they took their leave-

not that they really belonged to us:

for if they had belonged to us,

they would have stayed with us.

It only served to show that none of them was ours."

I think of the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, those who awaited the bridegroom in the night of faith, the wise having their lamps ready, while the foolish neglecting their lamps only to wander off to obtain the oil of consolation and light elsewhere. While away, the bridegroom returns and the wise virgins joyfully enter the wedding banquet as the doors are locked behind them. When the foolish virgins return, they understand they have become persona non grata, and are barred from entering. It seems harsh doesn't it? The Beloved Disciple tells us they "never really belonged in the first place" while the parable confirms eternal life is denied the apostates.

One friend in particular cannot accept the idea of a God who permits suffering, unable to understand, or accept the concept of original sin, while adamantly rejecting the fall as a condition all men inherit. The idea of a Savior, redeeming mankind, by his perfect sacrifice is no consolation. If I understand things correctly, many mystics and Church Fathers feel one aspect of Satan's rebellion pretty much involved the same difficulty. Not that he didn't believe - he simply rejected the Incarnation and the Redemption. He voluntarily rejected God in disobedience because he could not bear to hear Him, (which is the root of the word obedience, "to hear") Satan, refused and rebelled against God's plan - which is pretty much what my friend is going through now.

It seems to me, any apostasy finds its archetype in Satan's apostasy. In the garden he invited Eve to eat of the fruit of the tree, encouraging her to reject God's plan for mankind, assuring her that she would be all knowing as God. Convincing her that God had deceived and cheated Adam and Eve of a greater beatitude. (Now I believe Adam and Eve lived as saints, enjoying a Divine Union and beatitude unlike any saint or any of the greatest mystics, except for Christ and the Blessed Virgin.) Truth be told, our first parents were deceived and fell from grace.

Theologians, as well as philosophers, tell us there is a natural consequence, even chastisement for every sin or act, proportionate to its gravity. The sin of our first parents was a serious act. Scripture tells us God walked with Adam in the garden, Adam knew God intimately, therefore God would have clearly instructed him about everything - albeit, warning him not to partake of the fruit of that particular tree. Adam and Eve knew what they were doing, just like you and I know what we are doing when we chose to commit a mortal sin - it would not be a mortal sin if we did not have full knowledge and complete consent of the will. Strangely, we can know what constitutes a mortal sin, while understanding its consequence, yet we commit the sin.

The original sin of our first parents was so severe, so grievous, it altered our nature, affecting all of nature, so to speak. Subsequently, in procreation, the effects are regenerated not unlike an imprint upon our DNA, if you will. It remains the condition of human being before baptism in Christ. At least, in my simplicity, this is how I understand it. Is it fair? Yes, because of God's justice, as well as His mercy and love, which immediately provided an antidote, the Savior. Did God do this to us? No, we did, or rather, mankind in our first parents did it. The only analogy I can use to comprehend, much less explain it simply, is to compare it to what we know today as regards some children born with physical or mental defects through no fault of their own.

My best analogy is the mother who drinks heavily during pregnancy, and runs the risk of giving birth to a child with birth defects. The child she conceived did nothing to cause the malady, and sadly, it is in reality, the fault of the mother, even though she may never intended to harm her child. Despite her motivations, the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome affected the baby in the womb. The results clearly are a natural consequence, a severe chastisement if you will, upon an innocent child. My example is simple biology, yet I believe it fits my analogy with the supernatural generation of man.

We cannot comprehend God with the intellect. We cannot grasp the Trinity, the Eucharist, the Resurrection and other mysteries except through faith, experienced in love, while persevering in hope throughout the difficulties of life. Theologians and mystics can describe and explain the mysteries of faith, nevertheless, everything presented to us by the Church requires the assent of faith. The wise virgins of the parable held onto this faith, their hearts burning with love, while awaiting the bridegroom in patient hope. We all must pray for perseverance while preserving our faith through prayer and good instruction in charity.

My poor explanations to my friend, just as the Catechism and the scriptures, along with the writings of the saints and Fathers, have been rejected. They are just words. Just words. I'm nothing but a simple man myself, without great education, I just don't know how to posit the faith any better than I've done.

It is indeed sad when a soul falls away.

In the monastery the monks always conclude night prayer with the intention, "And for our brothers who are away." Pray for my friends who are away.

Something Fishy, Conspiracy Theory #4

"Finally... it has happened... to me... right in front of my face... and I just can not hide it" -CeCe Peniston

Homogenizing homosexuality within the Catholic Church and culture, from the top down, is it happening right in front of our face in Los Angeles and elsewhere? That gay fish pin story just doesn't go away. Lump it together with all the speculation of recent years that there is a homosexual subculture in the Church, what is a person to think?

More on the fish story:

Contrary to Sacred Tradition, Cardinal Roger Mahony's Archdiocese of Los Angeles 'Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics' [MLGC], under his Episcopal authority, has robbed this ancient symbol of its sacredness, mutating and deforming the Christian Eucharistic fish symbol into a profane external sign of the homosexual subculture.

Cardinal Mahony instructs his nearly 5 million Catholic members to "see in the [gay] fish pin a sign of recognition of our lesbian and gay sisters and brothers." Is Cardinal Mahony trying to hook his already desensitized laity with this fishy bait?

The Cardinal is perversely distorting a once holy and revered symbol used not only by the early Christians but today's Christians as well. Through the gift of the same Sacred Tradition the Apostles received from Christ, the early Christians recognized one another in the image of the fish during the persecution of their Church. - Barbara Kralis Renew America

The above snippet is from an extremely well researched and documented article by Barbara Kralis, brought to my attention at Roman Catholic Blog.

What else can I say? If it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck, even if it has rainbow feathers.

[As regards fish however...what will feminists think when they discover "fish" was a late 20th century vulgarity used by homosexuals in reference to women? It could be another conspiracy thing maybe...well, probably not...one shouldn't get their conspiracy theories all mixed up.]

EAT FRESH!

And of course, the royal cats...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Exalted Highness Duchess Agnes the Venal of Londinium-le-Thames Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Countess-Palatine Celine the Recumbent of Gallop Hophill Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

One last 13th Night silliness:

I got my very first tag since blogging! From The Crescat ! (I added a couple of categories.)

It's a film meme. "You love me! You really, really love me!" (Oh! Sally Fields, shut the hell up!)

Your Favorite Film?

Zeferelli's "Romeo and Juliet" - I've always been in love with Olivia Hussey!

Your Favorite Film Priest?

Montgomery Clift, in "I Confess".

Your Favorite Film Nun?

How could you even ask this? Audrey Hepburn, "The Nun's Story"!

Your Favorite Religious Movie?

"Song of Bernadette" "I did see her! I did see her!"

Your Favorite Comedy?

"Waiting For Gufman" I did not realize Corky was Christopher Guest and I thought he was just a really gay actor.

Your Favorite Action Film?

"My Dinner With Andre"

Your Favorite Thriller?

Yeah, that would be the "Thriller" video by Michael Jackson.

Your Favorite Foreign Film?

"A Man and a Woman" - I'm old.

Favorite "Alternative" Lifestyle Film?

"The Bird Cage" I agreed with the Senator, I also thought Mrs. Coleman a wonderful woman.

Your Favorite Animal Film?

"Babe" I love that pig!

Your Favorite Animated Film?

"Bambi" of course.

Your Favorite "B" Movie?

"Beaches" - I'm so kidding.

Your Favorite "Newer" "B" Movie?

All of the "Scream" series.

Your Favorite Black Comedy Film? (As In Humor.)

"Mommie Dearest", with "Serial Mom" a close second.

Your favorite Period Film?

"Gladiator"

Your Favorite Biblical Film?

"The Passion of the Christ"

In your opinion, the most important film in Cinematic history?

"Moonstruck" I know! Wasn't Cher great!

Oh! Yeah! I tag Rhapsody, Adoro, Cathy, and Ray!

Meet me missus...

Her Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Noble Excellency Gladys the Charming of Chignall Duntisbourne Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

On Epiphany - I Received a Title!

Actually, my nobility has simply been recognized.

(Friends, family, employees were obviously correct when they said I was a Royal SOB! I never knew what those initials meant until today.)

"You love me! You really, really love me!"

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Milord Earl Terrance the Profuse of Grasshopper in the Hole Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

The Wrong Red Hat...Fits Conspiracy Theory #3

Gerald had it as breaking news this morning, Amy posted about it, and of course Spirit Daily has the report as well. (In homage to Michael Brown, I was going to preface this post with, "Our Sad Time..."

So what's his name, Archbishop elect Stanislaus Wielgus, pulled an 11th hour resignation deal on Polish Catholics because of his scandalous affiliation with the Communist party when he was an up and coming priest. He wasn't alone in this, I'm sure. Although, I always thought being a member of the Communist party meant automatic excommunication at one time?

Anyway, this story fits in well with a real conspiracy theory. Even though some people may have never heard about it before, especially now when communism is dead...or is it? (Yes, that could be another conspiracy theory in itself.)

In previous lectures, a famous local priest, (along with Dr. Alice Von Hildebrandt more recently) has discussed the communist infiltration into seminaries citing Bella Dodd's writings. Presented is a quote on the topic taken from Bella Dodd:

"Speaking as a former high ranking official of the American Communist Party, Mrs Dodd said:

'In the 1930s we put eleven hundred men into the priesthood in order to destroy the Church from within." The idea was for these men to be ordained and progress to positions of influence and authority as Monsignors and Bishops. A dozen years before Vatican II she stated that: "Right now they are in the highest places in the Church" - where they were working to bring about change in order to weaken the Church's effectiveness against Communism. She also said that these changes would be so drastic that "you will not recognise the Catholic Church.'" -Christian Order (That sounds about right.)

Other more (sedevacantist) traditional groups incessantly point to these claims by Dodd and others while connecting all the dots for the crises of vocations, the clerical abuse scandals, the corruption of Catholic teaching, the overhaul of the Latin rite into the novus ordo, and so on. These people appear to have extensive documentation, and they've written numerous books providing evidence for their claims, yet inexplicably, they go largely ignored by Church and media. One such book, "The Devil's Final Battle" - which was not written by sedevacantists - outlines some of these theories as it pertains to the Fatima third secret.

Lumped into this pinko-commie-Church-destroying pig pile is the homosexual priest network, the Masons, the witches and demons of the catholic New Age, along with radical feminism. I'm not sure if these conspiracy theorists believe they are all in cahoots, but I'm pretty sure they think these departures from authentic Catholic teaching the intention of the Communist master plan. (Can't you just hear Judi Tenuta now, "It could happen!")

In my opinion, the resignation of the Archbishop-elect would indicate he wasn't as sinister an agent of the Communist state as conspiracy theorists would like to think. It may have simply been a mode of survival for him, which may not qualify as heroic virtue either. As politically savvy and well-informed as JPII was, don't you think he knew about this stuff?

At any rate, be careful what you read. Some of these books and theories have an undermining effect upon the Catholic faith all by themselves. I think it's better to remember Lot's wife, and not look back at the chaos and destruction, rather fix our eyes on Jesus, who inspires and perfects our faith. (Unless you enjoy conspiracy theories. But take them with a grain of exorcism salt.)

Don't keep your head in the sand either.

The Goddess

My friend Rhapsody sent me a link to a neo-modernist painting entitled "Blessed Art Thou" by Katie Kretz representing Angelina Jolie in a glorified pose similar to the Madonna. Rhapsody didn't like it. Ms. Kretz gives a fine narrative on the painting on her blog however, a portion of which I have posted here:

"This painting addresses the celebrity worship cycle. The title, “Blessed Art Thou”, is taken from a line in the Catholic prayer “Hail Mary”: “…blessed art thou among women”. Our culture is deifying celebrities, but in the bible, it is the meek who are blessed, so the title presents a question for the viewer to ponder.

I chose a setting where the cycle begins: psychologically oppressive environments like this one are one of the feeding sources for the consumer, hungry for “information” about the celebrity's private life. I am interested in the psychological ramifications of celebrity worship, particularly as they relate to class.

Angelina Jolie was chosen as the subject because of her unavoidable presence in the media, the world-wide anticipation of her child, her "unattainable" beauty and the good that she is doing in the world through her example, which adds another layer to the already complicated questions surrounding her status." The Studio -the artist's blog.

I have to say I like the piece - I wish I would have thought of it. (As with my own art, I wouldn't want to live with the painting however - I'm not a big fan of Jolie.) Michael Jackson has a painting of himself as a god with cherubs surrounding him, although he commissioned it I am sure. Angelina Jolie did not. I don't know what Jolie thinks of herself, but I'm sure she knows she is not a goddess. Although the artist has made a valid study of how our culture glorifies celebrity. When they use their fame and influence for charitable and political ends, as Jolie and others do, they take on an aura of virtue and near holiness in the eyes of many fans.

Is this because many people in our culture lack a real faith, or authentic religion? Or maybe because the traditional saints - living and dead - no longer captivate the imagination and devotion of the average person. In our materialistic culture, the rich and famous, along with their luxurious and extravagant lifestyle, so highly publicized in all media, maybe represent the heaven on earth so many people desire and expect in this life - convinced, as everyone seems to be, we are all going to heaven anyway.

In my opinion, this is good art asking valid questions, reflecting a cultural phenomenon. Is it great art? Maybe not in the class of Raphael - yet it is in a class with Tooker, French and Cadmus. Is it blasphemous or anti-Catholic? Not at all!

(If I were Brad Pitt, I'd buy it for Angelina - it's not that expensive at $50,000.00)

Feast of the Theophany

The Eastern Church maybe does it better. Epiphany that is. The Latin rite hints at it in the office for this day, yet the significance is virtually obscured for the average person, and rarely have I heard a priest discuss this in his homily. Unless you are extremely liturgically sensitive in your prayer, you may miss the riches of the feast of the Epiphany.

In the West we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord on the following day of the observance of Epiphany. Although we do not have a separate feast for the Miracle at Cana.

These three theophanies, or manifestations of the divinity of Christ are subtlety embodied within the liturgy for the feast of the Epiphany, which enlightens and deepens our prayer. (Once again proving the necessity for the Sacred Humanity of Christ to be the door that leads to authentic contemplation of the Divinity.)

"We keep this day holy in honor of three miracles:this day a star led the Wise Men to the manger;this day water was turned into wine at the marriage feast; this day Christ chose to be baptized by John in the Jordan, for our salvation, allelulia." Magnificat antiphon.

It is much more important than merely a feast of Christmas - more so than most understand...perhaps that is why we celebrate the next day, as a separate liturgical feast, The Baptism of the Lord.

This day, The Lord revealed Himself as God...so clearly...yet people continue to reject Him, and even abandon Him for pastures unknown. Maybe because, in some instances, He just doesn't fit their idea of God...and they no longer recognize their Master, as the ox and the ass were able to do - because these beasts of burden were humble and simple - accustomed to obedience. The highest Angel - Satan - could not even tolerate the mystery of the Incarnation in this Theophany, much less God's plan of salvation.

Ah! Love is so not loved!

How do you pray?

Fr. Thomas Keating and the Centering Prayer phenomena.

"Centering Prayer is neither Catholic nor prayer, yet it is offered at most retreat centers. Nowadays, most retreat centers can scarcely be called Catholic and are notorious for adopting New Age and other non-Catholic techniques and philosophies.

An additional problem with retreat centers is that they often promote universalism (everyone is saved). In a short article by Fr. James Behrens, a universalist and Trappist at Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers, Georgia (where centering prayer and yoga retreats are offered), he asserts his belief in universal salvation by saying: "Salvation is a given...no one is left out... all the Bibles could be destroyed tomorrow and it would not make a difference."

What is the connection between Centering Prayer and universalism? At the root of Centering Prayer is the belief that we are all already saved and because of this belief, we do not need to pray to God for salvation. New Agers believe that we are God and God is everything, so we do not need to pray to God in a relational way (as someone apart from ourselves), but rather to the god within. " Spero News Forum

The above editorial concerns the Enneagram as well as Centering Prayer, two essentially non-Christian approaches to the spiritual life, 'adapted' and often promoted by some Roman Catholic priests, monks and nuns. I've written on these topics before, and I'm heartened that other more qualified people continue to do so as well.

What's the big deal however? What if Zen or yoga trips your mystical trigger? What harm is there in that? What if Wicca or neo-paganism answers your spiritual needs? What if you practice a Christianized version of trancedental meditation and call it Centering prayer? Personally, I don't care what people do when they say they are praying, I just get annoyed when a few dress it up and try to pass it off as Roman Catholic contemplative prayer.

I've run into a number of la-di-da mystics out there as it is, pseudo-nuns and oodles of 3rd order religious or self-styled hermits, convinced they are contemplatives - despite their apparent lack of discernment, and perhaps a bit of presumption, these folks at least are pursuing an authentic prayer life. New Age feel-good religious seem to me to be simply pursuing themselves - or the god they believe themselves able to become.

Just because someone is a member of the Poor Clares, the Sisters of St. Joseph or the Cenacle, doesn't mean they are an authority on Catholic mystical theology, much less posess a penetrating understanding of the New Age crap they are in to. It might even be possible an elderly Trappist could be a bit theologically off center as well. (I've lived with monks - living in a monastery and wearing a habit doesn't guarantee orthodoxy.) However, these well intentioned people may not know they are leading others astray with false teachings. Unless... maybe...just maybe... they... do... know!

OH! MY! GOSH!

IT'S CONSPIRACY THEORY #2

Tests are in!

Nurse Diesel emailed me!

Oh! The wonders of the internet and "My Chart"!

The tests confirm it!

I'm not just getting older...

I'm getting better!

But I still have to do a follow up visit!

More co-pays!

Oy!

(This post is for you DMK!)

(I hope you arrived in Rome well and that your cell is made up!)

Conspiracy Theory #1

Since there is nothing to blog about, I've decided to start a series on Conspiracy Theories...

The First: Global Warming!!!!!!!!

What if...

The earth is simply going through a natural cycle? There have been warmer winters in the past...during the 1800's in Minnesota, as a matter of fact.

What if politicians and ecclesiastics are jumping on the Global Warming hysteria bandwagon to distract people from "other" issues - in a sort of "wag-the-dog" socio-politico-religio marketing ploy? What if?

Watch the headlines. What Archbishops or Conference of Bishops is suddenly so concerned? (Not that there is anything wrong with that. Yet it seems to me their predecessors missed with Galileo at one time. Of course, contemporary minds cannot be wrong.) Nevertheless, why is Bush and the GOP so suddenly concerned about this issue? Although Al Gore and the DFL always seem to be concerned - maybe Pelosi has something to do with it. (Well, they are not that concerned.)

Conspiracy theories, such as those fabulously entertaining New Year's psychic predictions, can be a lot of fun. You don't have to believe them to enjoy them, but they are fun to read.

From time to time I'll post some other fun "Conspiracy Theories" - listen closely, because you may hear the beginning of the "Twilight Zone" television soundtrack welling up in surround sound about you...

[Disclaimer: The Administrator of this blog does not necessarily endorse or agree with the theories presented. He does like the photo however. :)]

The Penitent

The commemoration of Blessed Angela of Foligno, January 4th.

"She married young, had several sons, then, around 1288, all in her immediate household, husband, sons and mother, died. She was worldly, wealthy, vain, beautiful, even unfaithful to her husband, according to legend. She found herself unable to confess some of her sins, and, receiving communion, thus added sacrilege to these. Praying to St Francis that she find a confessor, she came upon her relative, the Franciscan, Brother Arnaldo. He would become her confessor, spiritual director, amanuensis. In modelling her life on St Francis she found herself before a crucifix, stripping herself of her clothing, vowing poverty and chastity. In 1291 she asked the Privilege of Poverty from the apostle Peter in Rome and sold the remainder of her possessions, giving the proceeds to the poor. She became a Franciscan tertiary and journeyed to Assisi, receiving first a vision of the Trinity in a chapel dedicated to the Trinity, then another in the Basilica of Assisi, from seeing stained glass of St Francis in Christ's bosom. Like Margery Kempe she started screaming and crying when this vision left and left her desolate. Brother Arnaldo was furious.

He thought she was inspired by the devil. He made her explain herself to him. A flood of visions. He struggled to write these down, in Italian, in Latin. She speaks of Christ as the God-man, stressing the paradox of Divinity and Humanity. Brother Arnaldo describes the stages of her spiritual journey, sometimes of God's presence and joy, sometimes of the deepest desolation and temptations of the devil." - A Circle of Angels

So, sinners, we should pray the Blessed Angela to obtain the grace of conversion for us, confident in God's mercy.

Modesty and Calvinism...

There is a distinction.

The Apparition of the Madonna to St. Bernard wherein he nurses at her breast. It is a mystical moment in the life of the saint, rarely represented in art.

Presented is the history of the iconography shown here:

" The imagery of Bernard's miracle of lactation is founded on the words purported to have been spoken by Bernard in prayer before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, "Monstra te esse matrem." (show thyself my mother!) With this request the statue is said to have come alive and have 'expressed' a stream of milk to the mouth of Bernard. Louis Réau traces the iconography of the lactation miracle of Bernard back to the 14th century, finding three paintings from that period, six in the 15th century, eight in the 16th, seven in the 17th, and ends with three in the 18th century.165 14th century "Legend of St. Bernard" Majorcan;166 The Virgin Mary stands holding Jesus in right arm, pressing her right breast with her left hand using the p/z gesture; shooting a stream of milk to the kneeling Bernard in a praying attitude as three saints look on (fig. 10). > 15th century "La légende de la lactation" Flemish;167 p/z gesture to breast and holding the Christ child; Bernard holding book and pen; no milk.

ca. 1475 "Maria erscheint dem heilegen Bernhard" flemish;168 breast cupped with left hand, holding Jesus with right hand; Bernard kneels and prays; no milk. ca. 1540? "Aparición de la Virgen a San Bernardo" by Juan Correa,169 Spanish; Virgin in a mandorla cloud presses her right breast with her right hand to shoot a stream of milk to Bernard using the p/z gesture, holding Jesus in her left arm; Bernard kneels as he receives her milk. 15th century "The lactation miracle of St. Bernard,"170 detail of a retablo by the Valencian Master of Burgo de Osma; the Virgin appears to Bernard alone in a mandorla above an altar, pressing her breast between her thumb and second finger to shoot a stream of milk to the lips of Bernard; Bernard holds his hands in prayer and receives the milk drawn in a straight line from the Virgin's nipples to his closed lips. 1659 "La légende de la "lactation" mystique de saint Bernard" Bruxelles;171 The Virgin standing, with the baby Jesus in her left arm, and Bernard kneeling, elevated above the earth on clouds, overlooking Clairvaux, Bernard's newly established monastery; the Virgin squirts a stream of milk into Bernard's waiting mouth; no gesture visible 1665-75 "La visión de San Bernardo" by Bartolomé Murillo,172 Bernard kneeling with his hand on his chest in the pseudo-zygodactylous gesture receiving milk from the Virgin Mary; the Virgin appears in a cloudy mandorla and presses her right breast with her right hand to shoot a stream of milk to the saint, her nipple between her thumb and second finger, while she holds Jesus in her left arm.

(Pictured at left, an image I lifted from "Sacred Weblog of the Universal Inquisition")

Rubens (1577-1640) "Saint Augustin en moine."173 In the painting the figure of the risen Christ holding a cross looks down upon the saint from the left side, while the Virgin on the right presses her right breast with her right hand, presumably to gift Augustine, on whom she gazes, with her milk. Augustine himself kneels between the mother and son looking up into the heavens with his arms crossed. Directly associated with Murillo's painting of the lactation vision of Augustine is the painting by Murillo, "The vision of Saint Augustine" ca. 1678174 in which the bearded Augustine kneels with his hands low and outstretched, with the image of Christ crucified on the viewer's left, gazing upwards towards Mary, to the viewer's right, who is pressing her breast to squirt a stream of milk to his lips; putti fill the upper realms of the painting. ? "Saint Bernard et la Vierge," by the Master of the life of the Virgin, Cologne, the Virgin and Bernard stand in a mundane scene behind a low wall on which the baby Jesus sits; Bernard gazes at the child as Mary, with eyes lowered towards the saint, bares her left breast and holds it with the pseudo-zygodactylous gesture; Jesus touches her p/z hand, as Bernard touches the leg of Jesus with one hand while holding a book with the other; no milk. " Breast Feeding

The Puritan and Calvinist influences in our culture do indeed remain intact in the American psyche, even in an atmosphere of so much depravity and overt sexuality, while elements of Jansenism seem to be entering a new renaissance amongst some ultra-traditionalists. These provocative (provocative to a sexualized culture) images of St. Bernard will of course be shocking to some people. I post them because another blogger was recently criticized for a painting he posted on his blog, with a couple of commentators warning him that he was presenting an occasion of sin to those who would visit his site. It all happened on Roman Catholic Blog . (I myself had used the image he uses for his current post once before - borrowed from his earlier use of it.)

At the hospital today I was looking through People magazine - now that is soft porn - and definitely not art. "Brittney - put some underwear on!"

(Don Marco - where are you when I need you!)

Tested again and again...

Many tests today to find out what's wrong with me...

Of course they don't tell you and one has to wait to hear from the Dr. to know the complete diagnosis. Although, there is evidence of kidney stones...now the possible designated culprit in my collapse a few days ago.

The prostate thing is still not clearing up, although the heart thing is getting better. No hospital stays are in the offing, praise God! My Dr. asked me why I am so adamant not to go into the hospital, I told him I can't leave my cats alone. (If I learn I have something terminal, they are coming with me.)

My friends who imagine I like drugs because of my strange sense of humor about them, will be surprised to note that I refused two prescriptions for pain relief. No kidding!

How very un-Carmelite of me to post about my health. I apologize.

I intend to be back to work tomorrow.

Keep me in your prayers that I may be found worthy of the promises of Chrst at the hour of my death.

Rainbow Alliance

Can you get by this?

Rainbow Ick -thys

"Early Christians recognized each other by the sign of the fish.
See in the fish pin a sign of recognition of our lesbian and gay sisters and brothers.

See in the fish pin a sign of recognition of our lesbian and gay sisters and brothers. The pin signals solidarity with all people of faith who promote justice and inclusivity for every person in their faith communities." -Los Angeles Archdiocese MLGC

"In 2006 we celebrated our 20th anniversary of this ministry. The Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics was founded by Cardinal Roger Mahony on February 4, 1986 and is supported throughout the Archdiocese at parish level a an active outreach ministry with gay and lesbian Catholics, their parents, families and friends." -LA MLGC

Significance of the Rainbow

"Because almost every society has considered the rainbow its private preserve, not surprisingly the bow has assumed many guises. The optimism that we associate with the rainbow is hardly universal. For example, the ancient Greeks named the rainbow Iris, and she became the bearer of the gods' often dread messages of war and retribution. Some societies see the rainbow as an ominous serpent arching across the sky, while others imagine it to be a tangible bridge between the gods and humanity. In Judeo-Christian culture...the rainbow is a symbolic bridge to the divine, a sign of God's covenant.

Throughout history, the rainbow is seen primarily as a symbol -- whether of peace, covenant, or divine sanction -- rather than as a part of nature. As a symbol, rather than a natural phenomenon, the rainbow can depart quite radically from nature. (Marketing) can satisfy (or create) our collective desire for emblems, and in so doing, it has absorbed the rainbow..." Raymond L. Lee "The Rainbow Bridge"

And Now, A Very Special History of the Rainbow Flag

"Use of the rainbow flag by the gay community began in 1978 when it first appeared in the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade. Borrowing symbolism from the hippie movement and black civil rights groups, San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker designed the rainbow flag in response to a need for a symbol that could be used year after year. Baker and thirty volunteers hand-stitched and hand-dyed two huge prototype flags for the parade.
The flags had eight stripes, each color representing a component of the community:

1. Hot Pink for Sex 2. Red for Life 3. Orange for Healing 4. Yellow for Sun
5. Green for Nature 6. Turquoise for Art 7. Indigo for Harmony 8. Violet for Spirit." -Rainbow Flag History

My Thoughts

In Nazi Germany homosexuals had to wear a pink triangle. If everyone would have worn it, no one would have known who was gay.

So you can take a negative and make it positive - "Queer" once a negative and demeaning term for homosexuals has been taken back by them as a badge of honor; Queer Nation, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Queers without Borders, etc.

There is reverse psychology going on here marketed by homosexual activists, with the Cardinal and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in collusion.



UPDATE: Roman Catholic Blog had the first post yesterday regarding this issue and he provides an index of sorts of the blogs with in-depth background on the issue; Curt Jester, Cafeteria Is Closed, etc. Thanks, as usual, for the leading the way guys!

The Problem of the Internet

Considerations.

About a year ago, I signed up to be part of a network called The International Fellowship of St. Bruno, and so I regularly get emails by the members discussing spiritual topics. I never enter into the discourse because I do not know how to access the website, I forgot how, I should say. (Nevertheless that is how I am with groups, I rarely join any, and if I do, I rarely participate. Friends know this about me.)

For the past week or two members had been discussing the Internet and the temptations inherent in its use, as well as how it may or may not take one away from a contemplative life. Thus I have been ruminating their questions and concerns for a few days.

I realized my Internet use can be excessive, to say the least. It's a captivating tool. I rarely realize how fast time passes with its use. As a person who rarely expresses his opinions in public conversations, I have no problem blogging just about anything and everything I think. Although writing has always been my preferred means of communication, aside from painting.

Visiting the author Michael O'Brien's website I came across his reflections concerning the Internet, which I will share with you.

Michael O'Brien

"Does the apparent connection to a global community offered by the internet give us a genuine communion, or does it offer us a dangerously misleading pseudo-communion? Does it disconnect us even as it tells us it is connecting us? Is it merely a new language of communication, or is it a palantir, the “seeing stone” in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, opening the portals to the eye of the Dark Lord at the tap of a computer key? The palantir was all about communication, all about transcending the limitations of human sight and hearing, dissolving distance, dispelling separation. But what is this newfound power, this instant knowledge of good and evil, really about? Why has it appeared so swiftly, and spread everywhere, and why does it engender so much addictive behaviour in its devotees? That it is a tool with potential for immense good is undeniable. That it is a tool for immense evil is also undeniable. The internet is neither good nor evil in itself. Evil cannot be created. No created thing is evil. As the Lord says, it is not what goes into a man that is evil, but what comes out of him. Even so, we must always consider whether our tools and powers are disposing us toward good or toward evil. Do they make it easier for us to live the good, or more difficult? The question I’m asking today is, are there consequences to an omnipresent e-culture other than its obvious good and evil effects?

Alas! Sigh! Here I am trying to connect with you via the very medium that is killing us.

Killing us? A bit extreme, Mr. O'Brien! Well, yes, but in all honesty I think it fair to say that this very useful, morally neutral tool is now devouring countless lives, warping our sense of time and our scale of human values—not to mention the moral absolutes. The subject is vast and crucial. I will try to write more about it in forthcoming newsletters—hopefully in January, after Christmas, in time and in eternity (if I do not employ an axe of my own on this slave that enslaves me)." Michael O'Brien December 2005

Internet Porn

Since I've started blogging I have spent less time in prayer on some days, much less time reading, even less time watching television - which is perhaps the best thing about this laptop. I notice things as I look for images or surf the net for stories. The most brief accidental viewing of a pornographic image can embed in one's memory. Not unlike a provocative scene in a movie, or a television ad. Images get filed away in the unconscious. To be honest, they do not move me to lust, yet there remains something sinister about them.

Priests frequently mention that Internet porn is one of the top sins Catholic men, of any age or status most frequently confess. I can indeed see how a person can be ensnared by these images when they so easily pop up while searching the net. Curiosity can lead one to click on the pop-up, or an image, or even a suggestive title. If one let's one's curiosity get the best of him - he's just about captured already. Once captured, it's hard to get out, a habit may develop, and a sort of addiction is born.

Fortunately, for myself, I have never liked pornography. When I was younger, before high blood pressure problems and the medications one takes for it, chastity was indeed a battle for me. Nevertheless, pornography always repulsed me. I imagine it is a grace that I could see the diabolic in it. However, that is not to deny a mere glimpse of it could incite my passions - when I was younger - I simply never indulged in it, or used it. Thanks be to God.

St. John of the Cross wrote - sadly I can't find the quote - that a soul united to God could look on the most obscene image and not be disturbed. I am not there yet, nevertheless, I have the grace that when I see even the most obscene image, I immediately turn away, repulsed, without taking pleasure in it. That is sheer grace however. Having said that, there is much to be said for mortification and penance, and the so-called purification of the senses to acquire this attitude.

Sometimes God permits a soul striving for holiness to engage in a tremendous battle with sins against chastity. In and through the humiliation of continually falling and rising, as well as the dryness and distaste one may experience in one's perseverance in spiritual exercises - what takes place, almost imperceptibly, is at once both an active and passive purification of the senses. Almost unnoticed by the soul engaged in the spiritual combat. This may take many years, but the soul may suddenly find itself undisturbed by the things that once captured it so easily. The soul is purified in and through it's struggle with actual sin - not just the temptation, to such a degree it no longer finds delight in those things by which it was stimulated in the past.

Yet it is indeed a ferocious battle - albeit victory is assured, provided the supreme weapons be the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and constant prayer - with complete trust in the Divine Mercy. (This final victory is possible in any struggle with sin involving the senses.)

The falls the Lord permitted, along with the humiliating struggle He supported the soul in, cause the soul to understand that it was His grace alone that freed him from the bondage of his sins. That is why, perseverance in the struggle is so important, even more so than the victory, that at times seems so unobtainable. Souls become discouraged by their failings, yet if they are humble and humbly persevere, grace triumphs and the soul eventually finds peace. But I digress.

Is the Internet Addictive?

Aside from the obvious issue of pornography, can internet use be excessive and even sinful? Is it addictive in itself? I'm inclined to think so. Unless one's occupation requires one to be at the keyboard all day, it seems to me there are some issues with excessive use.

These may or may not involve such things as neglecting one's other responsibilities, or family, and friends. Neglect of prayer and good reading - Lectio Divina. Indulging in idle curiosity. Scripture says somewhere, in much speaking one cannot fail to sin. Blogging is a lot of chatter, don't you think? What about people who blog at work or surf the net at work? That is sort of a "little white collar crime" as well as a sin.

Don't get me wrong, because I think the Internet is an inestimable good, and blogging is not only fun, it's informative. However, for myself, I think I have to practice a greater discipline in my use of this laptop.

I so envy the Carthusian grande silence.

The Old Feast of the Day was a Commemoration of the Bris of Jesus.

Or the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord.

As well as the naming of Jesus. Some people think that it was a rite akin to Baptism, to purify the Jew from original sin - some fundamentalists think this. NOT. Here is a description for those who never watched the episode on "The Nanny" with Fran Drescher:

The Origin of Bris Milah (Circumcision)


Times change. Styles change. But some things never change: Bris Milah is one of them. It is a bond between God and the Jewish nation for all time. It is a bond that can never be broken.

When our forefather Abraham reached the ripe old age of 99 years (Genesis 17) the Almighty promised him that his descendants would have a special relationship with their Creator. This would forever be symbolized by the Bris Milah (Covenant of Circumcision). "This will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you".

Abraham circumcised himself as well as all the men of his household. When his son Isaac was born, he too, underwent Bris Milah on the eighth day, as Divinely specified. (As did Jesus today.)

Heroism Throughout the Ages


Throughout the generations the Jewish people have been unyielding in performing this mitzvah. Bris Milah was often performed in secret, defying innumerable despots and hostile regimes.

Nazi Germany, Communist Russia, and ancient Greece and Rome all tried to ban Bris Milah. They understood correctly that this distinctive rite is the cornerstone of the Jewish faith, and that proscribing it would be the first step towards eliminating our nation.

The Jewish people, non-observant as well as observant, are uncompromising on this issue. They recognize that in order for their children to survive as Jews, they must induct them into the Divine covenant of Bris Milah. (The Child Jesus was no exception.)

The Mohel (pronounced, moiyh-el)


A Mohel performs the circumcision with spiritual intent. A Bris by a Mohel is more than a simple medical procedure; it is a connection with the Divine. At a Bris Milah blessings are said and prayers are recited as the child takes his place as a member of the Jewish people. Carried out according to Jewish tradition, Bris Milah is a profoundly moving experience for all in attendance. - Bris, Jewish Circumcision

Thus with my male health problems, the Divine Infant Jesus is most assuredly the focus of my prayer in this first of His sufferings and shedding of blood.

"Jesus, sweetest Child, circumcised on the eighth day, called by the glorious name of Jesus, and by your name and your blood, revealed as the Savior of the world; have mercy on us!" - Carmelite novena to the Infant Jesus.

Mazel Tov!