Prayer request

Do pray for LarryD's sister and her husband:

Ed's story began in February with a case of bronchitis. When the x-ray came back, though, the doc told us that small nodules were found throughout the lower third of both sides of his lungs.

After a cat scan, nodules were also found on his thyroid. He's had a needle biopsy of his thyroid (negative) and a needle biopsy of the lung (positive for cancer).

The strange thing is that the cancer cells in the lung have some characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer. So, they are not sure if it's thyroid cancer or non-smoker's lung cancer.

The Passion of Benedict XVI

Let us here recall how, in the history of the Church, it has often been found to be the case that the disciples must follow in the footsteps of their Divine Master -- and such is never found to be in vain or without some greater purpose. Is not Pope Benedict himself presently bearing the cross of similar abuses and attacks?

Finally, let us recall that Benedict XVI himself has not been naive to these realities. Let us bring to mind these words which he spoke during the homily of the Mass of his papal inauguration, April 24th, 2005:

One of the basic characteristics of a shepherd must be to love the people entrusted to him, even as he loves Christ whom he serves. “Feed my sheep”, says Christ to Peter, and now, at this moment, he says it to me as well. Feeding means loving, and loving also means being ready to suffer. Loving means giving the sheep what is truly good, the nourishment of God’s truth, of God’s word, the nourishment of his presence, which he gives us in the Blessed Sacrament. My dear friends – at this moment I can only say: pray for me, that I may learn to love the Lord more and more. Pray for me, that I may learn to love his flock more and more – in other words, you, the holy Church, each one of you and all of you together. Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves. Let us pray for one another, that the Lord will carry us and that we will learn to carry one another.

Let us then carry the Holy Father by our prayers now as he bears this cross; as he bears with the abuses and buffets which Christ Himself bore to an even greater degree. Let us pray for him, support him and publicly defend him, as he, our earthly shepherd, is indeed struck by the sword and surrounded by wolves. Let us not be scattered but instead rouse ourselves, taking heart and taking courage, remembering that the ploys and attacks of Satan are ultimately in vain for ultimately, in Christ, the battle is already won and He reigns victorious.

Read the entire piece at NLM.

Remember the pressure our Holy Father must be under. Remember his age too. Remember the duty of loyalty and prayer that we owe him. Keep him in prayer always. And learn about the issue at hand - realise that what you're hearing on the media is utter falsehood. Defend the Pope! It's your duty!

On celebrating Latae Sententiae

I don't know about you, but every time I read that, I hear Enya-like music and can almost smell the faint allure of Sacrilege** in the air. And then I'm filled with the desire to be made a bishop so I can ex-communicate all these folks (I know, they're ex-communicated latae sententiae, but the mitre-mashing and crozier-crashing would be satisfying nonetheless!). But it's only a feeling, and I have to settle for ridicule instead.

So come on, folks, let's not overlook this next year. Circle March 25, 2011 on your calendar right now: World Day of Prayer for Women's Ordination Celebrate Latae Sententiae!

Hehehehehe. Go see what LarryD has to say on the World Day of Prayer for Women's Ordination. :D

In the Still of the Night

Zha Wen, my friend and fellow PS grad student and part-time Chinese teacher pointed out that the moon (yue liang) was brilliant tonight. It really was. And Mars and Saturn are up in the sky too.

Wen told me that moon in Chinese culture is seen as a reminder of family.

And I understand why. I always find the moon and stars rather mystical. Firstly there's the timelessness - the light that we see set out from the stars so many, many years ago. Then, and more relevant to the Chinese idea, is that someone miles away, gazing up at the sky, sees the same image that I do -and distance somehow disappears.

Wen also said that the roundness of the full moon is reminiscent of the family.

Here's an English translation of a Chinese poem that voices this sentiment

In the Still of the Night
I descry bright moonlight in front of my bed.
I suspect it to be hoary frost on the floor.
I watch the bright moon, as I tilt back my head.
I yearn, while stooping, for my homeland more

More versions of the poem here

A Galilean Night
Credit & Copyright: Jens Hackmann
Source: APOD

They don't say things like this on TV anymore

How do you know if you love someone? When you care more about another person's happiness than your own, then you're in love.




Marriage is for life. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.




Jamie: What a jerk I am Charles! I mean how could I have been taken in by that phony?
Charles: I give up. How could you?
Jamie: I guess I was just looking for something to believe in, and I thought I found it.
Charles: Well look Jamie, if you want something real to believe in, why don't you try God?
Jamie: Yeah. From now on I'll remember that.



The last one really surprised me. Imagine that being said so naturally and sincerely on TV today...No way.

St Thomas à Kempis' motto

"In omnibus requiem quaesivi et nusquam inveni nisi in een Hoecken met een Böcken"

Everywhere I have sought rest and found it nowhere, save in little nooks with little books.

You know what's best

Lord, You know what is best; let this be done or that be done as You please. Give what You will, as much as You will, when You will. Do with me as You know best, as will most please You, and will be for Your greater honour. Place me where You will and deal with me freely in all things. I am in Your hand; turn me about whichever way You will. Behold, I am Your servant, ready to obey in all things. Not for myself do I desire to live, but for You - would that I could do this worthily and perfectly!

- St Thomas à Kempis

This is depressing

Catholic Advocate has a list of Catholic congressman who voted "yes" on Obamacare.

■Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (D, AZ-01) YES
■Representative Ed Pastor (D, AZ-04) YES
■Representative Harry E. Mitchell (D, AZ-05) YES
■Representative Raul M. Grijalva (D, AZ-07) YES
■Representative Mike Thompson (D, CA-01) YES
■Representative George Miller (D, CA-07) YES
■Representative Nancy Pelosi (D, CA-08) YES
■Representative Jerry McNerney (D, CA-11) YES
■Representative Anna Eshoo (D, CA-14) YES
■Representative Dennis A. Cardoza (D, CA-18) YES
■Representative Jim Costa (D, CA-20) YES
■Representative Xavier Becerra (D, CA-31) YES
■Representative Diane E. Watson (D, CA-33) YES
■Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D, CA-34) YES
■Representative Grace F. Napolitano (D, CA-38) YES
■Representative Linda T. Sanchez (D, CA-39) YES
■Representative Joe Baca (D, CA-43) YES
■Representative Loretta Sanchez (D, CA-47) YES
■Representative John T. Salazar (D, CO-03) YES
■Representative Betsy Markey (D, CO-04) YES
■Representative John B. Larson (D, CT-01) YES
■Representative Joe Courtney (D, CT-02) YES
■Representative Rosa L. DeLauro (D, CT-03) YES
■Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D, IL-04) YES
■Representative Jerry F. Costello (D, IL-12) YES
■Representative Phil Hare (D, IL-17) YES
■Representative Peter J. Visclosky (D, IN-01) YES
■Representative Joe Donnelly (D, IN-02) YES
■Representative Brad Ellsworth (D, IN-08) YES
■Representative Michael H. Michaud (D, ME-02) YES
■Representative Richard E. Neal (D, MA-02) YES
■Representative James P. McGovern (D, MA-03) YES
■Representative Ed Markey (D, MA-07) YES
■Representative Michael E. Capuano (D, MA-08) YES
■Representative William D. Delahunt (D, MA-10) YES
■Representative Bart Stupak (D, MI-01) YES
■Representative Dale E. Kildee (D, MI-05) YES
■Representative John D. Dingell (D, MI-15) YES
■Representative Betty McCollum (D, MN-04) YES
■Representative James L. Oberstar (D, MN-08) YES
■Representative William Lacy Clay (D, MO-01) YES
■Representative Carol Shea-Porter (D, NH-01) YES
■Representative Frank Pallone (D, NJ-06) YES
■Representative Bill Pascrell (D, NJ-08) YES
■Representative Albio Sires (D, NJ-13) YES
■Representative Ben Ray Lujan (D, NM-03) YES
■Representative Tim Bishop (D, NY-01) YES
■Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D, NY-04) YES
■Representative Joseph Crowley (D, NY-07) YES
■Representative Nydia M. Velazquez (D, NY-12) YES
■Representative Charles B. Rangel (D, NY-15) YES
■Representative Jose E. Serrano (D, NY-16) YES
■Representative John J. Hall (D, NY-19) YES
■Representative Paul Tonko (D, NY-21) YES
■Representative Maurice D. Hinchey (D, NY-22) YES
■Representative Dan Maffei (D, NY-25) YES
■Representative Brian Higgins (D, NY-27) YES
■Representative Steve Driehaus (D, OH-01) YES
■Representative Charles A. Wilson (D, OH-06) YES
■Representative Marcy Kaptur (D, OH-09) YES
■Representative Dennis J. Kucinich (D, OH-10) YES
■Representative Mary Jo Kilroy (D, OH-15) YES
■Representative John Boccieri (D, OH-16) YES
■Representative Tim Ryan (D, OH-17) YES
■Representative Peter DeFazio (D, OR-04) YES
■Representative Robert Brady (D, PA-01) YES
■Representative Kathy Dahlkemper (D, PA-03) YES
■Representative Joe Sestak (D, PA-07) YES
■Representative Patrick J. Murphy (D, PA-8) YES
■Representative Chris Carney (D, PA-10) YES
■Representative Paul Kanjorski (D, PA-11) YES
■Representative Michael F. Doyle (D, PA-14) YES
■Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D, RI-01) YES
■Representative James R. Langevin (D, RI-02) YES
■Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D, TX-15) YES
■Representative Silvestre Reyes (D, TX-16) YES
■Representative Charlie Gonzalez (D, TX-20) YES
■Representative Ciro D. Rodriguez (D, TX-23) YES
■Representative Henry Cuellar (D, TX-28) YES
■Representative Peter Welch (D, VT-At-Large) YES
■Representative Tom Perriello (D, VA-05) YES
■Representative James P. Moran (D, VA-08) YES
■Representative Gerald E. Connolly (D, VA-11) YES
■Representative David R. Obey (D, WI-07) YES

Other protagonists - Joe Biden, Bart Stupak, Nancy Pelosi, Kathleen Sebelius. To make matters worse, 60 Catholic nuns endorsed the plan, giving some of those listed above greater "courage" to vote against the teachings of their faith.

Something's obviously wrong isn't it?

Information via CMR

Palm Sunday

At the Vatican (Via Daylife)












Pedro Orrente, 1621

Painting via The Crescat.

It's Holy Week. During the last 40 days of Lent, the Church has been rather quiet low-key - it's almost as if she has been resting and building up for the coming seven days - the most intense week of the Church's liturgical year. After Palm Sunday, we have Maundy Thursday, where the evening liturgy is a burst of joy before the sombreness of Good Friday and the silence of Holy Saturday. And then, at midnight, with the Exultet, it'll be Easter.

This struck me at today's Passion narrative

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren."

- Luke 22:31-32

What does the Church have to offer the youth?

The previous post reminded me of a post I saw on NLM, which asks the question, How Should Catholics Market Catholicism? Do read it.

Here's an excerpt:

From a marketing angle, I wouldn't think that Catholics are going to fare very well in the long run with these attempts to forge a media-pumped youth culture. It might lead to instant profits for a handful of organizations, but I doubt that it will do much in the long run, simply because the form emphasizes experience over substance. The kids attending them do not return with a serious sense of liturgical decorum, for example. They have no chants they can hum. It is unclear what (or who) precisely they have fallen in love with. They aren't being given the truth about the glorious truth of what we Catholicism has to offer.

And what is that which we have to offer? The Catholic Church offers a sanctuary of beauty in world that can be very ugly. It offers a chance for quiet, for prayer, for intense seriousness, for reflection on topics that the world doesn't want us to think about, topics like death and salvation and sacrifice and spiritual discipline. It offers immense joy but a joy disciplined by rationality and truth. Rather than severe links with the past, Catholicism draws attention to them through the lives of the saints, the music of the first millennium, and an organized and orderly sense of prayer that strives to be a representation of the orderliness of creation.

This breathtaking photo by J.P. Sonnen

This is what apostasy looks like

That's how LarryD puts it.



So inspid.

Support our Holy Father

From Fr Tim:

Reading Auntie Joanna's blog, I am reminded that Pope Benedict does have a public email address: benedictxvi@vatican.va

Now might be a good time to send a supportive and encouraging email. Obviously he is not going to read them all himself but it is possible that an official might let him know that there has been a number of loyal and kind messages incoming.

And do remember to pray for him. One way of reminding yourself to do this is to try to gain plenary indulgences as often as possible, fulfilling the condition of praying for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Yes do send the Holy Father an email. And pray, pray, pray!

An interesting page in addressing clergy here

O Lord, we are the millions of believers, humbly kneeling at Thy feet and begging Thee to preserve, defend and save the Sovereign Pontiff for many years. He is the Father of the great fellowship of souls and our Father as well. On this day, as on every other day, he is praying for us also, and is offering unto Thee with holy fervour the sacred Victim of love and peace.

Wherefore, O Lord, turn Thyself toward us with eyes of pity; for we are now, as it were, forgetful of ourselves, and are praying above all for him. Do Thou unite our prayers with his and receive them into the bosom of Thine infinite mercy, as a sweet savour of active and fruitful charity, whereby the children are united in the Church to their Father. All that he asks of Thee this day, we too ask it of Thee in union with him.

Whether he weeps or rejoices, whether he hopes or offers himself as a victim of charity for his people, we desire to be united with him; nay more, we desire that the cry of our hearts should be made one with his. Of Thy great mercy grant, O Lord, that not one of us may be far from his mind and his heart in the hour that he prays and offers unto Thee the Sacrifice of Thy blessed Son. At the moment when our venerable High Priest, holding in His hands the very Body of Jesus Christ, shall say to the people over the Chalice of benediction these words: "The peace of the Lord be with you always," grant, O Lord, that Thy sweet peace may come down upon our hearts and upon all the nations with new and manifest power.

Amen

- by Pope Leo XIII

Young Moon and Sister Stars

Young Moon and Sister Stars
Image Credit & Copyright: Anna Morris

Explanation: A young crescent Moon shares the western sky with sister stars of the Pleiades cluster in this pretty, evening skyscape recorded on the March equinox from San Antonio, Texas. In the processed digital image, multiple exposures of the celestial scene were combined to show details of the bright lunar surface along with the Pleiades stars. Astronomical images of the well-known Pleiades often show the cluster's alluring blue reflection nebulae, but they are washed-out here in the bright moonlight. Still, during this particular night, skygazers in South and Central America could even watch the 5 day old Moon occult or pass in front of some of the brighter Pleiades stars.

From APOD

How silly

Even Cardinal Mahoney spent most of the time looking down at his booklet/notes.

This ruined The Crescat's efforts to refrain from mockery this Lent

Is the pope a reactionary or a prophet?

An interesting article - might not be perfectly accurate in its conlcusions, but nonetheless:

In the five years since, it has become clear that the daunting reputation the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger brought into office as "God's rottweiler" was, in many respects, misleading. A man less likely to cuff a child would be hard to imagine – although, as the latest and biggest scandal to rock his papacy has revealed, his choirmaster brother was not above cuffing choristers.

On Saturday, Benedict tried to put the lid on that scandal with a letter to the Catholics of Ireland apologising for the "sinful and criminal" abuses of children whose disclosure has rocked the Irish church to its foundations and helped bring down a Dublin government. Using language rarely heard from popes, whose utterances on some issues are held by Catholics to be infallible, he said he was "truly sorry" for what had happened over a period of decades.

But, as at other crucial junctures in his papacy, Benedict's gesture left many critics – and admirers – feeling that he could have achieved more by being bolder. As the scandal over clerical paedophilia spread through Europe, more than one senior Vatican official suggested it would be diplomatic for the pope to extend his letter to include countries other than Ireland.

Words such as "diplomatic" and phrases such as "media impact", though, have little relevance for Benedict. He stuck to his original plan, with the result that Catholics in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy feel he does not care about similar outrages that have come to light in their own churches. Emotions in Germany are running particularly high about the silence of the first German pope for almost 1,000 years.

The affair highlights two characteristics of this most paradoxical of pontiffs: his timidity and his stubbornness.

Read the entire piece here.

Healthcare related news

Kathleen Parker about Bart Stupak in the Chicago Tribune

Poor Bart Stupak. The man tried to be a hero for the unborn, and then, when all the power of the moment was in his frail human hands, he dropped the baby.

Now, in the wake of his decision to vote "yes" for a health care bill that expands public funding for abortion, he is vilified and will be forever remembered as the guy who Stupaked health care reform and the pro-life movement.

Of all the disappointed activists, Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote.org and creator of StandWithStupak.com, was perhaps the most demonstrative in his support of pro-life Democrats. He even created a video with a remake of the final battle scene from "Braveheart."

A helmeted British Barack Obama says, "Our cavalry will ride them down like grass. … Full attack!" Whereupon, Stupak, eyeglasses incongruously perched on his blue-painted face, commands his pitchfork army, "Steady. … Hold, hold, hold."

Alas, Stupak couldn't hold.

Read the rest here.

Stupak still puzzles me. Did he really just betray his conscience so easily? Or was he fooled? What happened?

---

Sr. Kehaan receives Presidential pen for supporting health care against Bishops’ decision

Washington D.C., Mar 24, 2010 / 12:39 am (CNA).- Sister Carol Kehaan, President of the Catholic Health Association, has been awarded with one of the 20 pens used by President Barak Obama on Tuesday to sign the health care bill.

It is a presidential tradition to give out the pen used to sign the bill to lawmakers and proponents who have played a key role in any piece of major legislation. [...]

As Fr Z says, "well done, good and faithful servant". Sister Keehan defied the US bishops and supported the pro-abortion healthcare bill. Fr Z has an interesting article on the topic here

AmP has more:

Sr. Keehan, as most of you know, was a staunch ally of the Democrat efforts to push through their health care reform. She issued press releases on behalf of her organization asking representatives in Congress to pass the legislation, even without including abortion funding fixes (which they did). She met with Obama personally several days before the final vote in Congress, she contacted individual congressmen and assuaged their conscience that they could vote for the bill as-is, etc.

You can't possible tell that she's a nun can you?

And from Carl Olson, something which Democrat Congressman John Dingell said, compared with Pope Benedict's words on the subject:

Pope Benedict XVI: "The development of peoples is intimately linked to the development of individuals. The human person by nature is actively involved in his own development. The development in question is not simply the result of natural mechanisms, since as everybody knows, we are all capable of making free and responsible choices. Nor is it merely at the mercy of our caprice, since we all know that we are a gift, not something self-generated. Our freedom is profoundly shaped by our being, and by its limits. No one shapes his own conscience arbitrarily, but we all build our own 'I' on the basis of a 'self' which is given to us. Not only are other persons outside our control, but each one of us is outside his or her own control." (Caritas in veritate, 68)

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI): "Let me remind you this [Americans allegedly dying because of lack of universal health care] has been going on for years. We are bringing it to a halt. The harsh fact of the matter is when you're going to pass legislation that will cover 300 [million] American people in different ways it takes a long time to do the necessary administrative steps that have to be taken to put the legislation together to control the people."

Craig on the healthcare bill

Hehe. Excellent monologue.

Baptism water rosary

Via Fr Tim Finigan:

This photo is doing the rounds at the moment. Here is the accompanying text:

This was taken at the baptism of Valentino Mora, son of Erica, a single mom of 21 who asked the photographer to take a picture of her son for free. The photo of the baptism of Valentino Mora is sweeping the Internet, because at the time the priest pours the Holy water over his head, the water flows in the shape of a rosary. This story began at the Parish of the Assumption of Our Lady in Cordova, Spain, where the baptism of a one month baby took place. At the time that Valentino came to the baptismal font for the sacrament of baptism, Erica asked the photographer Maria Silvana Salles, who was hired by other parents baptizing their babies, to take a photo of her son as a favor, since the young mother had no way of paying for it. The photographer, moved by Erica's request, agreed to take a photo of Valentino. Maria Silvana works with a traditional camera and had to send the film to be developed to a shop in Cordova. When she received the photos, she noticed with surprise that the water poured from the head of Valentino was a perfect rosary. The photo of the baptism of Valentino has awakened faith in the people of Cordova who come to the humble home of Erica and Valentino Mora to touch him. The truth is that this sign of faith has mobilized this town in Cordova, whose neighbors go to Maria Silvana's store to buy the picture as if it were a prayer card.

He Was Despised

Handel's Messiah is not liturgical music or even Church music broadly speaking but rather popular concert music. Nonetheless, it has many moments of great inspiration when performed properly - which to me means reducing the theater aspects of the piece in favor of letting the purely religious dimension speak for itself.

For Lent, this version of "He Was Despised" illustrates what I mean. Virginia Warnken of Trinity Wall Street provides a warm, humble, and deeply sincere reading of this beautiful piece. You find in this performance something resembling a liturgical comportment - it is high art channeled and disciplined by piety. When she returns to the main theme at the end, she offers subtle embellishments that are all the more powerful because she has up to then avoided them. All singers should note too how she is able to sustain long notes in a deep register while never letting the underlying fire diminish even slightly. The result is powerful, compelling, moving.

From NLM

Two Sleepy People

Christ Carrying the Cross

Via The Crescat.

I love El Greco's paintings. There's something about his figures - they're a bit unnatural (because they are so long and slender) but elegant.

We share the same first name by the way ;)

Thirty years ago today, Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot

"When he finished his sermon, he walked to the middle of the altar; at that moment, the shot rang out," says Sister Luz Isabel, who was among the congregation at a private chapel in El Salvador's capital, San Salvador.

"It sounded like a bomb explosion. Monsignor Romero held on to the cloth on the altar for a moment and pulled it off. Then he fell backwards and lay bleeding at the feet of Christ," she says, standing a few metres from the exact spot where the Archbishop lay fatally wounded.

Read the rest here

Via Fr Selvester

“A church that suffers no persecution but enjoys the privileges and support of the things of the earth - beware! - is not the true church of Jesus Christ. A preaching that does not point out sin is not the preaching of the gospel. A preaching that makes sinners feel good, so that they are secured in their sinful state, betrays the gospel’s call.”

“Peace is not the product of terror or fear. Peace is not the silence of cemeteries. Peace is not the silent result of violent repression. Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all. Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity. It is right and it is duty.”

Strange buildings

Stone House (Guimarães, Portugal)

Dancing Building (Prague, Czech Republic)

Kansas City Public Library (Missouri, United States)

This project, located in the heart of Kansas City, represents one of the pioneer projects behind the revitalization of downtown.

The people of Kansas City were asked to help pick highly influential books that represent Kansas City. Those titles were included as 'bookbindings' in the innovative design of the parking garage exterior, to inspire people to utilize the downtown Central Library.

Image via: jonathan_moreau

Wonderworks (Pigeon Forge, TN, United States)

Habitat 67 (Montreal, Canada)

Expo 67, one of the world's largest universal expositions was held in Montreal. Housing was one of the main themes of Expo 67.

The cube is the base, the mean and the finality of Habitat 67. In its material sense, the cube is a symbol of stability. As for its mystic meaning, the cube is symbol of wisdom, truth, moral perfection, at the origin itself of our civilization.

354 cubes of a magnificent grey-beige build up one on the other to form 146 residences nestled between sky and earth, between city and river, between greenery and light.

More weird buildings here

Port-Salut : the Trappist Cheese

S.A.F.R Port Salut is a semi-soft pasteurized cow's milk cheese from Brittany with a distinctive orange crust and a mild flavour. The cheese is produced in disks approximately 23 cm (9 inches) in diameter, weighing approximately 2 kg (5 lb).

...

The cheese was originally invented by Trappist monks during the 19th century at the abbey of Notre Dame du Port du Salut in Entrammes. The monks, many of whom had left France to escape persecution during the French revolution of 1789, learned cheese-making skills as a means of survival and brought those skills back with them upon their return in 1815. The name of their society, "Société Anonyme des Fermiers Réunis" (S.A.F.R.) later became their registered trademark, and is still printed on wheels of Port Salut cheese distributed today.

In 1873, the head of the abbey came to an agreement with a Parisian cheese-seller granting exclusive rights of distribution, and the cheese soon became popular. The abbey sought trade protection, and eventually (in 1959), sold the rights to a major creamery. The cheese is now produced in a factory; the characteristic smooth crust the result of a plastic-coated wrapper.

I didn't realise we have the Catholic Church to thank for it. Yum :)

Healthcare

Stupak caved on Sunday



It's so disappointing. Stupak seemed to be such a tenacious defender of life. I don't understand why he gave up. He has already earned the wrath of many in the Democratic Party. Now he has alienated his pro-life supporters. Very weird.





Archbishop Chaput has some thoughts

As current federal health-care legislation moves forward toward law, we need to draw several lessons from events of the last weeks and months:

First, the bill passed by the House on March 21 is a failure of decent lawmaking. It has not been “fixed.” It remains unethical and defective on all of the issues pressed by the U.S. bishops and prolife groups for the past seven months.

Second, the Executive Order promised by the White House to ban the use of federal funds for abortion does not solve the many problems with the bill, which is why the bishops did not -- and still do not – see it as a real solution. Executive Orders can be rescinded or reinterpreted at any time. Some current congressional leaders have already shown a pattern of evasion, ill will and obstinacy on the moral issues involved in this legislation, and the track record of the White House in keeping its promises regarding abortion-related issues does not inspire confidence. The fact that congressional leaders granted this one modest and inadequate concession only at the last moment, and only to force the passage of this deeply flawed bill, should give no one comfort.

Third, the combination of pressure and disinformation used to break the prolife witness on this bill among Democratic members of Congress – despite the strong resistance to this legislation that continues among American voters – should put an end to any talk by Washington leaders about serving the common good or seeking common ground. Words need actions to give them flesh. At many points over the past seven months, congressional leaders could have resolved the serious moral issues inherent in this legislation. They did not. No shower of reassuring words now can wash away that fact.

More news:

Some Dems walk plank with 'yes' vote

By ALEX ISENSTADT | 3/22/10 10:38 AM

POLITICO runs down the list of lawmakers whose votes could cost them dearly in November.

Pelosi bets the House on health care

By JOHN BRESNAHAN & DAVID ROGERS | 3/22/10 8:17 AM

No one threw more political chips on table

From LarryD

Strain Forward To What Lies Ahead

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know him and the power of this resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Read the rest

Margaret Moth

She barely survived being shot in the face in Sarajevo in 1992, only to go back as soon as she was physically able. The multiple reconstructive surgeries that followed, as well as the hepatitis C she contracted from a consequent blood transfusion, were mere obstacles she moved around.

But more than three years after being diagnosed with colon cancer, her tremendous life journey has come to an end.

Moth, known for her gutsiness, striking appearance, distinctive humor and sense of fun, died early Sunday in Rochester, Minnesota.

More here, at CNN.

A priest on the front lines

This is so wonderful:

Catholic military chaplain Cpt. Carl Subler on March 5 at a small U.S. combat outpost in Sha-Wali-Kot in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan. [source]










a smoke grenade container he uses to carry communion wafers.



I hope The Crescat wouldn't mind that I lifted all the photos from her post.

Update: just found this article on Fr Subler:

The U.S. Army brigade's Catholic priest spits, smokes, cracks jokes and has come under fire like so many other American soldiers. He keeps altar bread in an empty grenade canister. On Sunday, he donned purple and white vestments over his uniform and celebrated Mass on a makeshift altar of four stacked boxes of MREs.

Capt. Carl Subler stood in the dust at an earthen-walled compound and prayed for the safety of those assembled, half a dozen soldiers who are fighting the Taliban near the contested town of Marjah in southern Afghanistan. He also prayed for peace in a country that has known war for decades. The men kneeled in their faded uniforms and some took communion, a reflective moment in a time of war.

"I find that my prayer life kind of suffers when I'm back home. I can pop a top on a cold one and watch TV," said Subler of Versailles, Ohio. "I find the more creature comforts are taken away from us, in many ways, we look to God with even more hope."

Read the rest at NPR, where you'll find some more great photos.

Behold the Cross

St. Bartholomew Altar


Sir Peter Low's choir sang this at Mass today. 10am Sunday Mass at the Cathedral is always such a treat. Really beautiful music.

There's something special about being in a cathedral Mass (the Good Shepherd Cathedral is the only cathedral I've visited...so I'm not really speaking with much experience :D). I'm so glad the Cathedral here is not brightly lit, doesn't have projectors - it's not modern (yuck). When I'm inside, and especially when the choir starts singing, I feel I'm back in ancient Christendom - the timelessness of the Holy Mass and our Catholic Faith strikes me particularly strongly.

It was an special treat that Mass was celebrated by His Grace this morning. :)

Tecum Principium

Tecum princípium in díe virtútis túae: in splendóribus sanctórum, ex útero ante lucíferum génui te.	-- Ps. 109.3, 1 -- With Thee is the principality in the day of Thy strength: in the brightness of the saints, from the womb before the day star I begot Thee.
Díxit Dóminus Dómino méo: Séde a déxtris méis: donec pónam inimícos túos, scabéllum pédum tuórum.	The Lord said to my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool.

"The one man sticking up for babies"

...as one of Jean's friends commented on this cooool photo she posted on Facebook

From the album:
My Favourite Pope Pics: Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia. by Jean Elizabeth Seah

Also in:
Groups: Catholics Who Condemn the Media's Recent Treatment of the Pope

from http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56812757019

Humour is in fact an essential element in the mirth of creation. We can see how, in many matters in our lives, God wants to prod us into taking things a bit more lightly.
-Pope Benedict XVI

http://us2pope.net/
http://www.vaticanfriends.com/

Zodiacal Light Vs. Milky Way

Zodiacal Light Vs. Milky Way
Image Credit & Copyright: Daniel López

Explanation: Ghostly Zodiacal light, featured near the center of this remarkable panorama, is produced as sunlight is scattered by dust in the Solar System's ecliptic plane. In the weeks surrounding the March equinox (today at 1732 UT) Zodiacal light is more prominent after sunset in the northern hemisphere, and before sunrise in the south, when the ecliptic makes a steep angle with the horizon. In the picture, the narrow triangle of Zodiacal light extends above the western horizon and seems to end at the lovely Pleiades star cluster. Arcing above the Pleiades are stars and nebulae along the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy. Recorded on March 10 from Teide National Park on the island of Tenerife, the vista is composed of 4 separate pictures spanning over 180 degrees.

From APOD

Yesterday Cafe

:)

Vote for the funniest fail

over at LarryD's.

Here's one contender:

You dirty woman

She's invoking dear St Joseph to help pass a bill that will fund the killing of the innocent. And she calls it "life-affirming."
She's prostituting not only her own personal faith (she has done that so many times already), but the communion of saints and the Catholic religion for her filthy politics. Ughhhhhhh.

If it were a Republican invoking religion in the public sphere to oppose abortion they'd be lambasted by the media.

Everyone should now be shouting theocracy, theocracy, theocracy!—right?

Oh by the way she got the feast wrong too.

St Joseph the Just, patron of fathers and head of the Holy Family, please pray that the injustice of abortion will be defeated and pray also for the conversion of duplicitous, treacherous politicians like Nancy Pelosi.

If you don't drink the tea, how will you know that it's poison?

"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy." - Nancy Pelosi




Ahh. Only after you pass the bill? The audacity!

Just discovered this interesting blog:





"My biggest fight has been between those who wanted to do something incremental and those who wanted to do something comprehensive," Nancy Pelosi said in a meeting with reporters this morning. "We won that fight, and once we kick through this door, there'll be more legislation to follow."



Scary.

Seasoned with the divine salt.

I've been reading the Church Fathers as part of my Lenten resolutions. What an excellent resource their writings are. Hopefully I can share some stuff in the future.

Currently I'm reading St Athanasius' "Life of Anthony". I liked this, from yesterday's reading:

"This answer amazed both the bystanders and the philosophers, and they departed marvelling that they had seen so much understanding in an ignorant man. For his manners were not rough as though he had been reared in the mountain and there grown old, but graceful and polite, and his speech was seasoned with the divine salt, so that no one was envious, but rather all rejoiced over him who visited him."

To have a manner and speech that is graceful and polite, seasoned with the divine salt. That's something I'll be praying for! :)

Canopy

By Ding Li. What an awsome photo!!

St Patrick's Day!

It's the feast of St Patrick! See my post from last year here



(Lyrics)

From LarryD:

What follows are the only known translated remnants from a heretofore unknown epistle of St Paul.

It's The Letter of Saint Paul to the Leprechauns...

"Paul, an apostle - not from men nor through men, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead - and all the brethren who are with me, To the Church of the wee little folk in Knocknasheega: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

"I have not come for the golden riches you hoard, nor your magically delicious Lucky Charms. I already possess all the riches a man could desire, for in my poverty out of love for Christ, I have indeed become rich. I come to bear you up in the traditions I have taught you, short though you might be. I come to exhort you to stand tall in the faith, and rise up to the fullness of the truth that you have heard and thus believe....

Read the rest


(I love the leprechaun hats :D)




Enjoy some Irish tunes in honour of the patron saint of the Emerald Isle

Penance on the solemnity of St Joseph

Some sensible advice from Fr Z. No, we don't have to fast on solemnities, but we still can. In societies where doing so is possible, such a day is a good opportunity to help the poor experience the joy of a Catholic feast day (rather than indulging on ourselves, who enjoy God's abundance and goodness all year round). Also remember that we can set a bad example for others (who might not know about the relaxing of the Friday penance on solemnities) if we're seen feasting on a Friday. The Friday penance already seems a forgotten practice for many. We must not do anything that could hinder the practice even further.

Friday 19 March is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Therefore, because of the solemnity, Friday Lenten abstinence is not required.

Of course you are not obliged not to abstain either. You can voluntarily abstain from meat on a solemnity if you choose.

We should take into consideration that in some places where there are people of Italian origin there is custom of preparing a free and open "table" dedicated especially for the poor. Such initiatives will often include dishes with meat. The Church’s law should put people at their ease that, were they to eat meat on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, they would not be breaking the Church’s law on abstinence on Fridays of Lent.

That said, on a personal note I will for at least part of Friday not eat an meat in public. I will be traveling during the day and if in the airport or on the plane I have the opportunity to grab a bite to eat, it will not include meat. I don’t want to have people looking at a priest eating a cheeseburger on a Friday of Lent (which is, coincidentally, when I usually crave a cheeseburger), even though it is a solemnity.

Social Capital Research

I'm not working on anything related to social capital now (there was a bit on the subject in my honours thesis), but I think this is a really great site. So much information summarised and available for anyone to use. And it's run by a PhD student. Really cool.

Click on the picture to visit the site :)

John Locke, by Michael Oakeshott

Something by Michael Oakeshott on the liberalism of John Locke:

The moderate individualism of Locke has no attraction for those who have embraced a radical, an Epicurean individualism. Locke’s “steady love of liberty” appears worse than slavery to anyone who, like Montaigne, is “besotted with liberty.” Democracy, parliamentary government, progress, discussion, and “the plausible ethics of productivity” are notions—all of them inseparable from the Lockian liberalism—which fail now to arouse even opposition; they are not merely absurd and exploded, they are uninteresting. Not a little, indeed, of the revolt against so-called Victorianism is in fact a revolt rather against Locke and his legacy of liberalism. This liberalism may have given us our liberties (though that is doubtful), it may be a view of things which will come again, but just now it is not one which commands attention or indeed respect. I am not, of course, referring merely to liberalism in politics and liberalism as a social gospel. The liberalism of Locke has invaded other interests than these; but everywhere it is equally dead. The liberalism, for example, which made a revolution in theology respectable and determined its limits is no less dead than that which sponsored the respectability of democracy. And everywhere what has been fatal to liberalism is its boundless but capricious moderation.

Here's how he concludes his excellent essay on Locke. What great prose:

Locke’s life and character, like his philosophy and like his liberalism, are full of instructive contrasts. His influence upon the politics of his time was immense, but always indirect; he could never be persuaded to take the stage. He was a successful politician, but a man without guile or ambition. He was a bachelor who kept accounts; a bourgeois who never had a home of his own; a man of property without any property. His life was spent in a great variety of places, in England and on the Continent, and in a great variety of occupations; but there is nothing of the cosmopolitan in his character. He was a busy man of affairs who appeared always to be at leisure. It was, however, fitting that he should live the full span of a man’s life and should die, in the XVIIIth century, without an epigram on his lips. He was moderate in everything except his love of moderation. There is nothing at all of pretension in his character; he was meek, and until recently he inherited the earth.

Do read the entire essay. It give you a good idea what it takes to be a political philosopher (Oakeshott examines Locke's standing as a philosopher), and is an example of very good writing too.

I found it on the website of the Michael Oakeshott Association

Canadian Sunset

Via The Digital Hairshirt

Stand with Stupak

Via CMR

There's going to be a lot of pressure exerted by Pelosi and gang on the group of Democrats who're against the current healthcare bill. May they stand strong!

Catholic Eye Candy!

Matthias Church, Budapest


Marian altar frontal



From the Treasure of Gourdon; lost around 524, recovered in 1845. The hoard features a chalice and paten in Merovingian style

More beautiful photos at Catholic Eye Candy. Go check it out!