St. Therese of Lisieux died on this date at 7:20 in the evening in 1897.The 110th Anniversary of the death of St. Therese.
St. Therese of Lisieux died on this date at 7:20 in the evening in 1897.
Well, knock me out!
Yesterday I did two pious posts and decided to fast from the Internet for the rest of the day - 24 hours to be exact. Heck, the world did not end, I minded my own business, and I didn't worry about emails or comments. There is life outside the Internet! I may fast from all media on Wednesdays and Fridays after this.Be not solicitous...
"Son, be not curious nor give yourself to useless cares.What is this or that to you? Follow me.
For what is it to you whether this man be such or such; or that man do or say this or the other.
You are not to answer for others, but must give an account for yourself; why therefore do you meddle with them?" - Imitation of Christ, Bk. III, Chp. 24
Catholic Georgetown University
The General speaks
General Pace stands by his opinion that homosexuality is immoral.
"Are there wonderful Americans who happen to be homosexual serving in the military? Yes," he told the Senate Appropriations Committee during a hearing focused on the Pentagon's 2008 war spending request.
"We need to be very precise then, about what I said wearing my stars and being very conscious of it," he added. "And that is, very simply, that we should respect those who want to serve the nation but not through the law of the land, condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God's law." - MyWayNews
An indication of idiocy by a State Senator:
Harkin, D-Iowa, said he wanted to give Pace a chance to amend his remarks in light of his retirement.
"It's a matter of leadership, and we have to be careful what we say," Harkin said.
Pace noted that the U.S. Military Code of Justice prohibits homosexual activity as well as adultery. Harkin said, "Well, then, maybe we should change that." - MyWay
Maybe Iowa should change Senators.
"Are there wonderful Americans who happen to be homosexual serving in the military? Yes," he told the Senate Appropriations Committee during a hearing focused on the Pentagon's 2008 war spending request.
"We need to be very precise then, about what I said wearing my stars and being very conscious of it," he added. "And that is, very simply, that we should respect those who want to serve the nation but not through the law of the land, condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God's law." - MyWayNews
An indication of idiocy by a State Senator:
Harkin, D-Iowa, said he wanted to give Pace a chance to amend his remarks in light of his retirement.
"It's a matter of leadership, and we have to be careful what we say," Harkin said.
Pace noted that the U.S. Military Code of Justice prohibits homosexual activity as well as adultery. Harkin said, "Well, then, maybe we should change that." - MyWay
Maybe Iowa should change Senators.
No homos in Iran.
The president of Iran told students at Columbia that there were no homosexuals in Iran. (For one thing, they execute them, as seen in the above photo.)"In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country," Ahmadinejad said to howls and boos among the Columbia University audience.
"In Iran we do not have this phenomenon, I don't know who has told you that we have it," he said. - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 9/24/07
I've been waiting for a statement like this to post about homosexuality in Muslim culture. I'll try to do it tomorrow - it may be more prevalent than Ahmadinejad is willing to admit - although some Muslim men seem to have a way to justify it.
Origins...
Who knew?
Do you know the origins of the expression, "Cock and bull story?"
Most people know it means a fabricated or highly exaggerated story intended to deceive. (I always thought it referred to an argument between a rooster and a bull.)
But no! This is the origin of the phrase:
It is a corruption of a "concocted and bully story". Bully is the Danish bullen, or exaggerated. Therefore, it stands to reason that a cock and bull story is a made up, exaggerated story.
Bishop Peter F. Christensen
Ray from Stella Borealis has excellent coverage on the installation of Bishop Peter Christensen for the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin.
Congratulations Bishop! And bigger congratulations to the Diocese of Superior - you are very blessed to have him!
Fr. Sergius-Maria
Fr. Sergius - I have been trying to contact you via the email address you left on Abbey 2 - your email does not work for me either. Try contacting me again by going to the email on my profile for this blog. Thanks. God bless you.
Why Hillary CANNOT be our President
We simply can't have this insane looking person constantly nagging and haranguing the Nation like some shrew, day in and day out. It's just much too much.She was such a "taser".
The above photo is pretty much why Julie is no longer a cop. She was taser happy. (She got this guy when he showed up at Mass in shorts.)What I am really reading...
Mother Teresa: Come Be My LightI think it will change my life.
Get it on Amazon for 40% off - it's cheaper than buying it in a bookstore and you won't have to wait for them to get it in.
My summer reading...
I haven't even finished!
Ms. Catherine of Alexandria has a heady little list of recommended reading that she went through - very impressive indeed - but what else do librarians do? Anyway, as promised I decided to do a list of my own summer reading.
Actually, I'm still reading it, I started it in May. It is the riveting "Bergdorf Blondes". Quite a dense read, hence I am savoring every page. I would read for a while and then I would have to digest what Plum Sykes wrote and put the book down for a while. Here is a review:
"They're ravenous. They're ruthless. They live in a strictly hierarchical, alpha-dog, eat-or-be-eaten world. No, it's not a rerun of Wild America; it's the world of dressed-to-the-nines Park Avenue heiresses, aka Bergdorf Blondes, botoxed to within an inch of their barely-into-the-third-decade lives. Our unnamed London-born heroine is New York's favorite "champagne-bubble-about-town" and just as effervescent and exhilarating as a fine bottle of Dom Perignon. Blissfully self-interested and flush with the cheeriness that comes from being, well, flush, Miss Disposable Income 2004 sashays her way through New York society in search of the perfect P.H. (Potential Husband)-"Have you any idea how awesome your skin looks if you are engaged?"-and the perfect butt-shaping pair of Chloe jeans."
After I finish this I hope to read O.J's new book - "If I'd Dune It" or something.
Pull up to the bumper baby...
Cathy of Alex has an interesting post/poll going on about wearing your convictions on your vehicle of transportation. She wouldn't do it, but I took this picture of her vehicle yesterday outside of Church, and thought I'd post it for her. (Unfortunately, because of the glare, you can't see all the rosaries on the rear view mirror, or the rear bumper sticker that says, "My other vehicle is a broom".) Isn't she a fun gal though?
The kids and Halloween...
Oh, those kids!Both Aggie and Celine are already excited about Halloween. We were out shopping this morning and all of the stores already have everything out for the big holiday. So the girls are busy planning their costumes.
Aggie hasn't made up her mind as to what she'll be yet, but she is thinking of dressing up as The Crescat - you know, Carolina Canonball, but Kat seems to have lost her format on her blog and Agnes can't find the picture she wants to dress up as. Her second choice is to dress up as Professor McGonagall's cat, Animagus - from Harry Potter of course.
While Aggie is clever, Celine is a bit more creative. Last year she was Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, but this year she wants to dress up as Harry Potter's owl, Hedwig. I like that idea.
The holidays come so fast, don't they?
Who said that?
"We are friends of liberty everywhere, but we go not abroad in search of monsters to destroy." - John Quincy Adams, 1821
Is Ron Paul unpatriotic?
Or just objective and honest?
I received an email with an article from Lew Rockwell on some things Ron Paul said during the Republican Presidential debates in South Carolina. Here are a few excerpts:
...
Ron was asked if he really wants the troops to come home, and whether that is really a Republican position.
...
"Well," he said, "I think the party has lost its way, because the conservative wing of the Republican Party always advocated a noninterventionist foreign policy. Senator Robert Taft didn't even want to be in NATO. George Bush won the election in the year 2000 campaigning on a humble foreign policy – no nation-building, no policing of the world. Republicans were elected to end the Korean War. The Republicans were elected to end the Vietnam War. There's a strong tradition of being anti-war in the Republican party. It is the constitutional position. It is the advice of the Founders to follow a non-interventionist foreign policy, stay out of entangling alliances, be friends with countries, negotiate and talk with them and trade with them."
...
He was then asked if 9-11 changed anything.
...
He responded that US foreign policy was a "major contributing factor. Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attacked us because we've been over there; we've been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We've been in the Middle East – I think Reagan was right. We don't understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics. So right now we're building an embassy in Iraq that's bigger than the Vatican. We're building 14 permanent bases. What would we say here if China was doing this in our country or in the Gulf of Mexico? We would be objecting. We need to look at what we do from the perspective of what would happen if somebody else did it to us. "
...
And then out of the blue, he was asked whether we invited the attacks.
...
"I'm suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it, and they are delighted that we're over there because Osama bin Laden has said, 'I am glad you're over on our sand because we can target you so much easier.' They have already now since that time – have killed 3,400 of our men, and I don't think it was necessary."
...
Giuliani didn't like that and protested Paul's remarks. Ron Paul had this comeback:
...
Ron Paul was invited to respond, and concluded as follows:
...
"I believe very sincerely that the CIA is correct when they teach and talk about blowback. When we went into Iran in 1953 and installed the shah, yes, there was blowback. A reaction to that was the taking of our hostages and that persists. And if we ignore that, we ignore that at our own risk. If we think that we can do what we want around the world and not incite hatred, then we have a problem. They don't come here to attack us because we're rich and we're free. They come and they attack us because we're over there. I mean, what would we think if we were – if other foreign countries were doing that to us?" - Lew Rockwell
I received an email with an article from Lew Rockwell on some things Ron Paul said during the Republican Presidential debates in South Carolina. Here are a few excerpts:
...
Ron was asked if he really wants the troops to come home, and whether that is really a Republican position.
...
"Well," he said, "I think the party has lost its way, because the conservative wing of the Republican Party always advocated a noninterventionist foreign policy. Senator Robert Taft didn't even want to be in NATO. George Bush won the election in the year 2000 campaigning on a humble foreign policy – no nation-building, no policing of the world. Republicans were elected to end the Korean War. The Republicans were elected to end the Vietnam War. There's a strong tradition of being anti-war in the Republican party. It is the constitutional position. It is the advice of the Founders to follow a non-interventionist foreign policy, stay out of entangling alliances, be friends with countries, negotiate and talk with them and trade with them."
...
He was then asked if 9-11 changed anything.
...
He responded that US foreign policy was a "major contributing factor. Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attacked us because we've been over there; we've been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We've been in the Middle East – I think Reagan was right. We don't understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics. So right now we're building an embassy in Iraq that's bigger than the Vatican. We're building 14 permanent bases. What would we say here if China was doing this in our country or in the Gulf of Mexico? We would be objecting. We need to look at what we do from the perspective of what would happen if somebody else did it to us. "
...
And then out of the blue, he was asked whether we invited the attacks.
...
"I'm suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it, and they are delighted that we're over there because Osama bin Laden has said, 'I am glad you're over on our sand because we can target you so much easier.' They have already now since that time – have killed 3,400 of our men, and I don't think it was necessary."
...
Giuliani didn't like that and protested Paul's remarks. Ron Paul had this comeback:
...
Ron Paul was invited to respond, and concluded as follows:
...
"I believe very sincerely that the CIA is correct when they teach and talk about blowback. When we went into Iran in 1953 and installed the shah, yes, there was blowback. A reaction to that was the taking of our hostages and that persists. And if we ignore that, we ignore that at our own risk. If we think that we can do what we want around the world and not incite hatred, then we have a problem. They don't come here to attack us because we're rich and we're free. They come and they attack us because we're over there. I mean, what would we think if we were – if other foreign countries were doing that to us?" - Lew Rockwell
School Nurse
Invasive School Officials. Everything was going fine until I get this call from the School Nurse. She called to inform me that she is concerned that both Agnes and Celine have an eating disorder. (I don't know how she can know this after only two weeks in school.) She explained it to me.
The nurse, Mrs. Buddig said the other kids have noticed that Aggie throws up after she eats anything, and since she is so much thinner than Celine, the nurse believes Aggie has bulimia. On the other hand, she said Celine eats all of the time, even in class, and she is overweight. Duh! I knew that.
I said, "My dear Mrs. Buddig, I know the eating habits of my kids and there is nothing wrong with them. Aggie throws up because she doesn't want to get fat like Celine. Celine just likes to eat - it's all baby fat and she will loose the weight when she feels like it. There is nothing wrong with my girls."
Mrs. Buddig answered, "Mr. Nelson, there is obviously something wrong with your girls and I strongly recommend you get a doctor's advice on the matter."
I just said, "Yeah, Okay - I'll take care of it." and I hung up. I think there is a prejudice against single dads at that school.
(Photo: Mrs. Buddig - she should talk.)
I knew this family.
The cause for sainthood has been opened for the mother of this family, Gwen Coniker. I certainly believe it is warranted.Candidates for the Presidential Nomination
Do you know who they are?I commented on another blog that few people have even heard of some of the more conservative candidates, such as Ron Paul, or Sam Brownback and so on. If it wasn't for certain blogs and conservative websites, I would never know who these guys are. Most people get their news via popular media, especially network news, and these guys get barely a mention. I imagine if some of them get a large enough following, their views may influence the platforms of the only two significant political parties in this country, although I have to wonder about that as well.
I'm reminded of Ross Perot, who made a decent enough showing at the polls several years ago, but that was the extent of it. Does anyone remember him?
[Photo: Ron Paul]
The All-School Mass.
They are good kids!
Today was the first All-School Mass of the year for Celine and Agnes. It didn't go too well - another call from the Headmistress to me followed Mass. She claimed that both Aggie and Celine were listening to their iPods and texting mesages throughout the Mass. Exasperated I said, "Listen Sister, at least they went to Mass and were quiet. I've been at your All-School Masses and they sound like a pep-rally. What do you want me to do about it?"
Sister says they can't bring their iPods or Blackberry to school any longer. Gosh!
Great Question!
Are research dollars wasted?
Reasearchers have found that kids are smarter than chimps! I hope my former employees read this, they always told me a monkey could do a better job of managing than I did. What the hell did they know?
Do you know about Old Catholics?
Old Catholics.No, not elderly Catholics, but the schismatic sect known as Old Catholics. They date back to the 17th century. Their orders are valid, but illicit. It is my understanding that in a grave emergency, or if a Roman Catholic was in danger of death, the Old Catholic sacraments are valid. The Wild Reed has an interesting post on Old Catholics and their history, including an in-depth interview with Fr. Robert Caruso, a local Old Catholic priest. (Ed: The site is pro-gay, so if that offends you, use the Wikipedia links below for information on "Old Catholics". Neverthelesss, it is a good interview and not focused upon pro-gay issues.)
Old Catholics (Wiki link) should not be confused with the SSPX (Wiki link) or any sedevacantist group (Wiki link). (For instance, the Old Catholic church ordains women.) In the United States they are much more liberal than the most dissident of Roman Catholic churches, while they remain distinct from the so-called Liberal Catholic Church (Wiki link), which has no connection with the Roman Catholic Church whatsoever. In these confusing times, I believe it is good to know the differences.
[Photo: Ordination in an Old Catholic church.]
Larry Craig is all mixed up.
There's no place like the Senate.First Larry pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
Then Larry said he wasn't guilty.
Then Larry said he would resign his Senate seat.
Now Larry wants to stay.
It seems Senator Craig can't make up his mind. Is it poor judgement, or just indecision? Is this a good thing or a bad thing for a Senator? Do politicians flip-flop or what? I don't know, I would never hire him.
What if a President was like that?
Then Larry said he wasn't guilty.
Then Larry said he would resign his Senate seat.
Now Larry wants to stay.
It seems Senator Craig can't make up his mind. Is it poor judgement, or just indecision? Is this a good thing or a bad thing for a Senator? Do politicians flip-flop or what? I don't know, I would never hire him.
What if a President was like that?
Back to school and the single dad...
Two days back in school and I already got a call. Both the girls have to wear uniforms to school for the first time this year. That means with real shoes. Aggie went to class with flip-flops on and I get a call to bring in her shoes or take her home. I told the Headmistress, "What's the deal, it's not like she was going to be serving Mass today or anything." I can see how this school year is going. (Yesterday Celine had to go into the girls room and wash all of her make-up off.)
Mother Teresa
It was something she said:
"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway."
"Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."
"There is hunger for ordinary bread, and there is hunger for love, for kindness, for thoughtfulness, and this is the great poverty that makes people suffer so much." - Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
[It turns out the first two paragraphs are not original to Mother. My friend David sent me the original source: http://www.enotalone.com/article/4991.html]
Sister Mary Charles McGough
+ Sister Mary Charles McGough OSB +
On Sunday, 2 September, Sister Mary Charles McGough OSB died at St. Scholastica Monastery <http://www.duluthbenedictines.org/ministries_arts.php>, Duluth, Minnesota. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from Notre Dame University, and received training as an iconographer from the St. John Damascus Sacred Art Academy in Ligonier, PA.
She was an experienced artist in other media as well. Sister Mary Charles was proficient in woodcut prints, watercolor, and ceramic sculpture. Her iconography follows the Byzantine style.
Sister Mary Charles completed many large commissions for churches and religious houses such as; St. Paul Priory, St. Paul; St. Olaf's Church, Minneapolis; Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham, Mass.; St. Michael Monastery, Elkhorn, Nebraska; and St. Andrew's Church, Brainerd, Minnesota.
Visitation will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, and the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, 7 September, both in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at the monastery in Duluth.
(Thank you David for this obituary.)
On Sunday, 2 September, Sister Mary Charles McGough OSB died at St. Scholastica Monastery <http://www.duluthbenedictines.org/ministries_arts.php>, Duluth, Minnesota. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from Notre Dame University, and received training as an iconographer from the St. John Damascus Sacred Art Academy in Ligonier, PA.
She was an experienced artist in other media as well. Sister Mary Charles was proficient in woodcut prints, watercolor, and ceramic sculpture. Her iconography follows the Byzantine style.
Sister Mary Charles completed many large commissions for churches and religious houses such as; St. Paul Priory, St. Paul; St. Olaf's Church, Minneapolis; Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham, Mass.; St. Michael Monastery, Elkhorn, Nebraska; and St. Andrew's Church, Brainerd, Minnesota.
Visitation will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, and the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, 7 September, both in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at the monastery in Duluth.
(Thank you David for this obituary.)
How do you spend Labor Day?
I hear it's a big day to spend with family - which is why everything is closed...Yet all the malls and stores are open today, so I went out to get my girls some school supplies at Target. It was crowded. I fought with a woman over the last Hello Kittie backpack. My girl Agnes still likes Hello Kitty stuff, even though she's 10 this year. I asked her if she didn't think it was about time she got into Brittney Spears stuff or something, but her sister Celine said Brittney is so over. As a single dad, what the heck do I know?
Then I stopped at the liquor store for some wine and vodka - I'm having a few friends over tonight. (I hope they show up - otherwise I'll have to drink all that stuff by myself tonight.) I continued on my big, family-holiday adventure and stopped at Walgreen's for cigarettes and my prescription inhaler; I then moved along to the grocery store. (While driving around, I noticed that even the Volvo salesroom was open, as were the garden centers and little gift shops around town. Even the local bank was open. And I am not making that up!)
In the checkout line at Kowalski's, I noticed a woman behind me with flowers and I said, "Why don't you go ahead of me if that's all you have." She was so grateful and said, "Thanks, I have to get to the cemetery." Then she proudly added, "That's what this holiday is all about you know!" (I am not making that up either!)
On my way home I made a visit to my parish Church and sat outside to pray a couple decades of the rosary - I sat outside because it is locked up for the big family holiday. (I thought, that's okay, everything else is closed too!)
Monsters have families too!
This is Jackson, my little nephew! isn't he cute? (He does all the cooking now.) He is my nephew Todd's son. Jackson looks very much like his beautiful mom, Carrie.(See! My relatives are not imaginary!)
The silence of God.
"There was silence in heaven..." Revelation 8:1
The Holy Father said today that Mother Teresa suffered the "silence of God". He explained that some souls experience the silence of God in order to better understand the dilemma faced by unbelievers. The linked article also mentions the Holy Father's statement at Auschwitz when he said the holocaust was a time when God was silent.
"All believers know about the silence of God," he said in unprepared remarks. "Even Mother Teresa, with all her charity and force of faith, suffered from the silence of God," he said. - Reuters
Political art...
These depictions of the Madonna in a burka and bin Laden as Christ have created a new "art controversy" in Australia and across the blogosphere. So I thought I'd post it just to annoy people.Muslims do venerate the Blessed Virgin, thus the above depiction purported to be of Our Lady may not be so offensive. I'm not at all certain what the artist intended with bin Laden resembling traditional images of Jesus. Bin Laden is no messiah. However, the image of bin Laden did inspire my post on what Jesus may have looked like at Abbey-Roads 2.
Nevertheless, these images, though disrespectful, are simply vapid attempts at political art - no different than the Danish cartoons which caused outrage amongst Muslims several months ago. Blink, and these images are gone too. The images are kitsch, not art.
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