January 2004 Archives

When I actually decided to answer a couple of the questions about PACs (with whom I find myself only in mixed agreement, NAACP, ACLU, etc.) I got results that were even more surprising. Obviously this just tells me to pack up my vote and write in Smockmomma or JCecil3--cause there ain't no way
2-9 are getting my vote the way things stand now.

Your Results:

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%) Click here for info
2. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (67%) Click here for info
3. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (55%) Click here for info
4. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (53%) Click here for info
5. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (49%) Click here for info
6. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (48%) Click here for info
7. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (46%) Click here for info
8. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (44%) Click here for info
9. Bush, President George W. - Republican (43%) Click here for info
10. Libertarian Candidate (29%) Click here for info
11. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (13%) Click here for info

My thanks to T. S. O'Rama who has pointed out a lack of clarity in some comments that I left chez Alicia. It seems that I somehow managed to give the impression that "Steven Riddle seems to see triumphalism as saying what you are thinking."

What I intended to say, and apparently did not make clear, is not that triumphalism is "saying what you are thinking." Rather the worst aspects of the thing meant by the derogatory connotation of "triumphalism" is the kind of in-your-face, I-told-you-so, rhetoric that often accompanies it. There are perfectly civil and courteous means of expressing any thought you have.

The specific example I used was some of the rhetoric seen in various places accompanying the November Debacle in the Episcopalian Church. I quite wrongly charged Fr. Jim with something that "smacked of triumphalism." But I had grown overly senstive to the blasé and callous statements that amounted to "What can you expect from a bunch of heretics?"

I liken it to being on the other side of the rhetoric as when during the height of the sexual abuse scandal we were often hearing, "What can you expect from a religion of woman-hating, self-loathing, non-marrying, clergy." It does not feel good to be on that side of triumphalism.

Moreover, I need to make clear, this only is associated with the derogatory connotation of the word. It has nothing to do with the denotation of the word at all.

So my bottom line is that the worst aspects of triumphalism lay not in the doctrine or theory but in its discourteous practice and the lack of charity that often accompanies its demonstration. There is a qualitative difference between saying "Serves you right for that mess during the reign of Henry the Eighth." And, "The separation from the Church over disagreement on one point of doctrine necessarily paved the way for future disagreements of which this is the latest demonstration." Even then, unless requested, such an explanation should not be offered until after such time as you have tried to help console the person who is reeling from a substantial blow to their worldview. St. Josemaria Escriva reminds us that one of the seventeen evidences of a lack of humility is:"to give your opinion when it has not been requested or when charity does not demand it."

You can say what is on your mind, but you can say it in a way that demonstrates what you mean without detracting from the dignity of the person or their belief (however incorrect it may be) and in a way that can be more healing and charitable than a simple record of the error.

Hope that clears up my intent. I did not mean to say you shouldn't speak what you think (although there are times when this is true as well) but that such speech should take place with consideration and courtesy. I think I'm sensitve over this issue because more than anything else, I want people to express what they're thinking in a way that invites conversation and even vigorous debate but which encourages charity and respect. I want to hear what people are thinking--but I want to hear the substance of it, not the surface of it--reasoning not sloganeering.

Results picking the best approximation of the truth available in the answers:

Well, I'll swan! Y'all are *Barbie and Kenny* of
the Grand Ole Opry Collector's Set. Chances are
y'all will be hitched forever...or at least
until the cows come home.


Which Ken & Barbie Couple Do You Belong To?
brought to you by Quizilla

From Pax Nortona a link to this Presidential Candidate Selector. Try it. You may be surprised as I was. Do note, however, that my top rated real candidate didn't just barely broke 50%. Indicative I think of my ambivalence. Also indicative of the fact that for the most part I don't think presidential candidates should be beholden from the start to any special interest groups. (See the latter half of the quiz.)

1.  Your ideal theoretical candidate.   (100%)  Click here for info
2.  Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat   (56%)  Click here for info
3.  Bush, President George W. - Republican   (52%)  Click here for info
4.  Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat   (46%)  Click here for info
5.  Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat   (46%)  Click here for info
6.  Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat   (39%)  Click here for info
7.  Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat   (38%)  Click here for info
8.  Libertarian Candidate   (38%)  Click here for info
9.  Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat   (36%)  Click here for info
10.  Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat   (34%)  Click here for info
11.  Phillips, Howard - Constitution   (18%)  Click here for info

Abortion and Misandry at Confessions at a Hot Carmel Sunday.

I read somewhere recently a statement that implied that no one was pro-abortion. (Was it at Jeanne's?) And initially that made a certain amount of sense to me. I could buy the fact that very few people actually thought of abortion as a "best practices" procedure.

However, I am not so certain when I examine the issue closely. When anyone speaks on the issue (and of course all we really get is sound bites) the only thing I tend to hear is a recommitment to "protect a woman's right to choose" (repugnant enough as it stands). However, where are the politicians who are explaining how we will help that woman have a child and still maintain a reasonable quality of life. Statistics show us that single mothers sit as a majority at the very base of our economic scale. True, not all single mothers are impoverished and we don't understand the full complexities of what causes these conditions of poverty. However, the statistics would seem to suggest that young single women who have children are likely to fare poorly.

Is it any wonder that a scared teenager might seek an abortion (perhaps with the collusion of boyfriend and even parents)? How then does a supposedly "pro-choice" politician make the choice for keeping the child viable? How does such a politician suggest we remove the poverty stamp from such an arrangement? I have heard nothing.

Hearing nothing causes me to think that pro-choice is pro-one-choice, not really about providing opportunities to make the right decision. If that is the case, a politician has no right to claim that they are "pro-choice." They are pro-abortion. And of course we have all recognized that.

But there are still those who say that the label unjustly stigmatizes people who in conscience are against abortion but who are stalwart defenders of the right to choose.

Well, then, my reply would be--truly defend the right to choose. Tell us how you would support women who make the right choice. Tell us how you would help the poor and downtrodden. Tell us how you would make life better for these oppressed. For until such a politician does so, he or she is not pro-choice, and certainly not pro-woman. They are pro-abortion.

On the other hand, I hear too much about removing the (non-existant) right to abortion from the pro-life side and not enough about what should be done to help. I don't think we mean to be so callous, but it sometimes appears that we are so focused on bringing a child into the world that everything else blurs out--permanently. Once the child is born, how will it be cared for? Who will care for the mother of the child? How will the family be nurtured and made strong? We need to remember than in most cases the person having the child has already demonstrated that they are not strong on making good choices. How do we help them understand and learn to make better choices for themselves and for their families?

Frankly, I'm sick to death of hearing about pro-death politicians and pro-death legislation, with all the frothing and fomenting that goes with it. We are all pro-death until we devise schema that allow unfortunate individuals pushed to the edge a chance to truly choose life. Merely outlawing abortion is insufficient. I need to hear along with this passion for saving the unborn a passion for saving their mothers, their families, and their lives down the road. I know it's there. I just don't hear enough about it.

It is exceedingly worthwhile to work for the elimination of abortion. But while we do so we do well to remember that we need to have facilities, institutions, and programs in place that will aid struggling young mothers and their children. This is true even when the mother decides to give her child up for adoption. Often a pregnancy in a young life has disrupted education, family life, and stability for the young mother. What will we do for these young people? Are we prepared at this point to receive and accommodate the enormous needs that must be met if we could stop the abortion machine?

Let us truly be prolife then, moving forward with a two pronged foray. Do not let our rhetoric be solely, "Stop abortion now," but let it also convey a notion of loving, caring for, and nurturing young mothers and children. Let us be seen as not merely opposing, but building something positive for the future.

from A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist
Abbot Vonier

Anyone who believes in the Eucharist, as every Catholic Theologian does, grants enough to that external thing in the supernatural sphere--the sign, to make him ready for more. If under the appearance of bread and wine there can be the Body and Blood of Christ, Saint Thomas, the most honest and logical of all thinkers, will say that under baptismal water thre also can be the power of the Holy Spirit, so that baptismal water , or any other sacramental sign, is not only an infallible token of God's activity in the souls of men, it is more. Water, chrism, and words of absolution, all contain a participated power from Christ. (p. 45)

from Zaccheus Press

And I will note that while Tom of Disputations is reading this book, it is not nearly so daunting a prospect as that fact would suggest. I, too, am reading it, though I'll grant you probably much more slowly, and understanding it well. Vonier is a fairly lively writer with a good sense of rhythm and some excellent examples and metaphors. So don't let the title deceive you--this is a most excellent book for the average Catholic who is seeking to understand the faith.

Praise:

Franklin is back home and the family is reunited, his dad seems to be doing better.

Christine is already having people look at the house that she must sell in the next few months in order to join Gordon in Louisiana. (simultaneous rejoicing and sorrow)

Prayers:

For Christine and Gordon, who are presently separated by a great distance. For Christine as she prepares the house for sail, that it may go smoothly with her and the sale proceed as quickly as may be necessary.

For all who are suffering from marital problems, most particularly those in our own families or communities, that the Lord may intervene and remind them that a marriage is of three persons.

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Shirley: The hospital has thrown her out and she has no consistent nursing care for a very serious head injury.

For the local Carmelite Chapters that the visit from the provincial during the next two weeks is fruitful and helpful to their growth and development.

For Franklin's mom who has long been dependent upon Bill (his dad) for day to day support and now is really feeling the crisis

For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility

For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

First this delight from Lee Ann:

Ah, grape plastic laminate nature. How many odes have the poets directed to your easy-clean beauty? Because nothing says “nature” like grape plastic laminate.

O fair nature in grape plastic glory
What wondrous laminate beauty sublime!

And this important New Item from Father Jim:

Decomposing whale explodes on Taiwan street

Go, enjoy.

. . .and manipulated the outcome. Anything to be associated with Shakespeare. Though I have to say all of the couples are . . . uh . . . interesting?

You are Ken & Barbie as the star crossed lovers
Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Thanks to
the invention of instant communication, your
love may be as timeless as your tale.


Which Ken & Barbie Couple Do You Belong To?
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For those who haven't encountered yet, please consider joining Peony's group reading of Pride and Prejudice and commenting on it. I might be a fellow-traveller or silent observer as I'm not certain I can maintain the reading load with my own optional reading, work, and two other book groups. But we'll see.

Hey, SHE volunteered below! And frankly looking at the vast field running, I don't see any alternative (except maybe Elinor Dashwood who evidently has already garnered a few write-in votes in previous elections).

Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. (Daniel 3:67-70)

(Please forgive me one more day of this praise and thanksgiving--the Lord has laid some weather upon us this week.)

Praise:

Franklin is back home and the family is reunited, his dad seems to be doing better.

Christine is already having people look at the house that she must sell in the next few months in order to join Gordon in Louisiana. (simultaneous rejoicing and sorrow)

Prayers:

For Christine and Gordon, who are presently separated by a great distance, that Christine will be able to bear up under all that must be done in the next few months. Pray especially for Heather that the coming transition might be easy and smooth for her.

For Christine as she prepares the house for sail, that it may go smoothly with her and the sale proceed as quickly as may be necessary.

For all who are suffering from marital problems, most particularly those in our own families or communities, that the Lord may intervene and remind them that a marriage is of three persons.

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Shirley: The hospital has thrown her out and she has no consistent nursing care for a very serious head injury.

For the local Carmelite Chapters that the visit from the provincial during the next two weeks is fruitful and helpful to their growth and development.

Please continue prayers for Linda's recovery from the surgery and return to work this week. Also prayers for a special need for our family right now would be appreciated.

For Franklin's mom who has long been dependent upon Bill (his dad) for day to day support and now is really feeling the crisis

For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility

For Tom of Goodform's father-in-law who has been diagnosed with a stroke--for full recovery and for no recurrence of the affliction.

For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.

For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

I write this with some trepidation knowing the streams of vitriol it can unleash. But I also know that the advantage of swimming about in a backwater is that I can say pretty much any outrageous thing I care to and very, very few will notice or make comment. And that is good because it gives me breathing space to consider very difficult matters.

Personally I have not read the blogs that may assert the contrary notion (to the above title), but I have it on good authority that they are out there.

Speaking for myself the answer is a resounding, "No!" In other words, my conscience would not allow me to do so. However, I am not every other person. I have my own unique conscience and God-given experiences, my own understandings, and my own interpretations of the world. These are not universals, nor are they completely accessible to anyone else. And it is ultimately presumptious of me to determine what another's conscience necessarily dictates.

But let's qualify that immediately by saying from my point of view a Catholic in good conscience can't really support a Republican either. And again, I may only speak for my own conscience. Knowing that the candidate is likely to be none other than our present leader, I find untenable most arguments that would make it possible to vote for him. I believe that we were lied to regarding information used to justify the war in Iraq and I truly believe that there was more than a little profit motive involved in the invasion. (I also believe that the removal of Saddam Hussein is an undoubtedly good thing--but we all know that we may not use illicit means to effect a good--John at Disputations made that resoundingly clear to me on at least on occasion, and it is a critically important concept to keep in place. We may not sin that good should come from it)

I know I wade into dangerous waters when I say these things, but while the democrats fail in supporting abortion, the republicans tend to fail on much of the social agenda. They may oppose abortions, but I haven't heard much about their plans for aiding and assisting the poor women and scared young women who feel driven to abortion. I know it is not up to the government to support every single person or idea, but I am more than a little disturbed by the fact that so much attention is focused on preserving the life of the child (which is critically, fundamentally important) and so little focused on preserving the quality of life of the mother, and thus the family that would be formed as a result of giving birth. If this young mother has been driven from her house as a result of this pregnancy, if she drops out of school, or falls by the wayside because of these unfortunate circumstances there are not a tremendous number of support organizations to help her. There are large numbers of "pregnancy crisis and counseling centers," and a great many try to provide the kinds of services described, but more is needed and more focus of the life of the mother on child after birth is needed. Here in Orlando there is a wonderful organization that runs a small house for about fourteen high-school aged young mothers. This organization cares for the children while the mother is at school. They provide counseling and training and parenting and housekeeping courses after the school. They attempt to school the woman in having sufficient self-respect and self-esteem to avoid this situation in the future (assuming that the young woman made a choice that resulted in this child) and generally provide guidance and counseling.

I guess I'm saying I'd like to see more talk about what one does to support people who opt not to have an abortion. How can we help them feel life is not at an end?

I've strayed from my intent. I see as problematic issues on either side of the coin. Democrats in general support abortion and oppose capital punishment. They tend to be more environment friendly and less business friendly.

Republicans, on the other hand, tend to oppose abortion and support capital punishment. And some may argue, with some legitimacy, that capital punishment is different both in kind and degree. That is it is only levied upon those who truly deserve it after an intricate process of determination of this merit. However, capital punishment differentially affects the poor, who cannot afford the Johnny Cochrances and others to defend them. Moreover, the Holy Father has stated that while there may be circumstances under which capital punishment may be legitimate they are as rare and as circumscribed as those conditions that must be met for a just war.

I find republican social policy generally laced with repugnant assumptions--not generally spoken aloud, but tacit. It strikes me as overly Calvinist in the assumption that the poor are poor because they deserve to be.

All of this said, none of it is true for every republican or every democrat. I find currents in both parties unpalatable.

But can a Catholic in good conscience support a Democrat? I think so. From a purely pragmatic standpoint, nothing any politician is likely to do will get past what the Supreme Court has so firmly set in place and so violently protected at every turn. Witness the immediate injunction against the ban on partial birth abortions--surely an example of no-brainer legislation and restriction if every there was such. The state of belief of a politician in this matter is between the candidate and God. While the vote may cause the person to be excommunicated or not a Catholic in good standing, there is no law that says that a Catholic must vote for a Catholic. And one must judge a vote by the fullness of the intent of that vote. If the purpose in choosing a democrat is to protect the right to abortion then the choice would be illicit. If on the other hand one truly believes that a democrat would better serve the dispossessed and oppressed then all weights must be thrown into the balance. Our bishops have wisely refrained in the past from overt support of one candidate or another not out of cowardice but out of the very concrete realization that there are far too many factors to weigh and one of those must include the conscience of the person who would vote. It would certainly be no worse to vote for such a person than to vote for a known bigot, liar, or other miscreant. I wonder whether Jesus would have better things to say about those who sacrifice babies to Moloch or the poor to Mammon. Somehow I don't think either one would come out spotless--and these are part of the overall consideration when one sits down to vote. And if one considers the fullness of the issues, on nearly every other plank the democratic platform seems to more closely approach the social teaching of the Catholic Church.

My basic hope and prayer is that those Catholics who feel drawn to the democratic party remain faithful to Church teaching on abortion. I pray that they continue to influence and shape the policy of the party so that it softens from stridently pro-Herodian to listening to what I believe to be the heartbeat of the majority of Americans. The democratic party has to abandon the fringes of the pro-abortion movement and move toward the restriction of abortions after the first trimester. (Roe basically guarantees unrestricted abortion during that first trimester). From that point, we, good Catholics and Christians that we are, can work toward making the world a place of true choices where the prospect of abortion is no longer the shadow of salvation, but truly is an unappealing option in the light of the opportunities still in place for young women who are threatened with this terrible crisis.

My point is that careful examination of ANY politician's viewpoints is likely to reveal several points at which the politicians is at odds with received teaching. Abortion is an extremely important--indeed overridingly important issue; however, it seems anti-Catholic to suggest that anyone who can support a democratic candidate cannot be a true Catholic. Certainly anyone who can unreservedly support such a candidate--anyone who does not vocally and frequently make a point of their opposition to these key points of difference, may be looked at askance. But the truth of the matter may be far deeper and individual consciences are formed in different ways. I could not in good conscience vote for a democrat. But I my conscience and heart also weigh on me very heavily when I consider the alternatives. What I need to vote for is a truly Catholic Politician--pro-life, pro-woman, pro-family, pro-poor, pro-God. I honestly don't see such a person in the field of contenders and I do not hold out much hope for the election of such a person. How many people today would vote for a Mother Teresa who was running for office? Then ask the other question--is it even really possible for a person like Mother Teresa to hold such an office? Many great Royal Saints were not particularly well-known for their ability to rule. And there may be a reason for that.

My last word: Rather than looking outward and condemning what we see there, we do better to truly wrestle with our own consciences and with our own choices. We are called not to judge others and not to wish other into a separation from community and not to call upon us another split in the Church. Many Catholics who stand fully pro-life may find it difficult or impossible to support a republican for any number of very valid reasons. That is a matter for prayer, reflection, and meditation for the Catholic involved. However, it is not a matter for coercion or for shunning. We must allow each other the freedom of thought that God has allowed each of us. We must correct overt error such as when a Catholic teaches or thinks that abortion is neutral or even a positive good. But when we stare into the heart of the issues what we will see will be dictated by how we have been formed in God and we should exercise the same care, concern, and charity for one another that God lavishes upon us. My prayer is that all Catholics spend a great deal of time soul-searching and walk into the next election with their eyes wide open knowing exactly for whom and what they are voting and how that vote will need to be moderated by social activism and hard prayer and work.

And now--to usurp a more worthy person's words, "Après ça, le deluge."

Jeanne Stark brings attention to her husband's new blog. There's not much there yet; however, my sense is those of you who care for a blog of progressive flavor, similar to Catholic Sensibility and JCecil's Site, might enjoy some of the musing at Reality--What a Concept. But I may be incorrect. Impression have been formed on the basis of certain resonances I have detected in recent days with writings at these two blogs.

Visit Jeanne herself at Find Me in Florida Again.

A few days ago Don (of Mixolydian Mode) published a list of literature that he found comforting or "a nice escape." This followed from a post by Terry Teachout regarding literature he often retreated to. This got me to thinking and I decided to list work that I found strangely engaging and, indeed, comforting.

One of my selections agrees with Mr. Teachout (as I recall) the others are uniquely mine:

(1) The King James Version of the Bible, particularly Psalms and The Song of Solomon.

(2) Rex Stout (Mr. Teachout's choice)

(3) Henry James--particularly the short stories

(4) Agatha Christie (I can't explain it other than an early childhood attachment)

(5) Tom Sawyer (and only Tom among the works of Mr. Twain)

(6) My Antonia

(7) The works of Jack Vance and Clark Ashton Smith (sheer joyful playing with language)

(8) Dubliners most particularly the serenely frighteningly magnificent "The Dead"

(9) James Lee Burke--The stories disturb me but the masterful control of language and the atmosphere engage me.

(10) John Keats

(11) "The Tempest"

That's how I see the list right now. I'll need to do more thinking and try to understand what factors control these choices.

With all of them except Christie, part of the attraction and appeal is the deft handling of language. And even with Christie to some extent--her writing is rather flat, but predictable and comforting in the way of a Grandmother's stories.

Before you get the idea of some high-falutin' literateur, I should mention that I love the turns of Henry James's sentences and the constructions both of story arc and character in all of their convoluted neurotic glory. I don't claim any great understanding of true appreciation of his art.

summist--a name given to the divines of the Middle Ages who propounded their dogmas in works called Summae Theologiae. . . This name was adopted by Thomas Aquinas who published his celebrated work on divinity under the tilte of Summae totius Theologiae.

So to all the active summists and the present-day O.P.s of whatever rank--a most blessed feast of St. Thomas.

You, my friend are a true individual. You most
likely hate trends and are creative. By seeing
things differently, people either admire you or
think you are a bit strange. I'm guessing you
are a lot like me. Perhaps a Good Charlotte
hater? I hope so. An inspiration to us all,
continue being you! (If you like GC, I'm sorry,
I am just expressing an opinion)


A Deeper Look Inside Yourself (with pics)
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and for the absolute antithesis of my personality nothing could better set the stage than:

Raver Bear


Which Dysfunctional Care Bear Are You?
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On the other hand--shiny objects that swim, swirl, or otherwise make patterns RULE!

Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. (Daniel 3:67-70)

(This was so appropriate for what I was hearing around the country yesterday, I thought it remained a good praise for today.)

Prayers:

For all who are suffering from marital problems, most particularly those in our own families or communities, that the Lord may intervene and remind them that a marriage is of three persons.

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Shirley: The hospital is trying to throw her out and she has no care to return to at home.

For the local Carmelite Chapters that the visit from the provincial during the next two weeks is fruitful and helpful to their growth and development.

For Christine and Gordon, who are presently separated by a great distance, that Christine will be able to bear up under all that must be done in the next few months. Pray especially for Heather that the coming transition might be easy and smooth for her.

Please continue prayers for Linda's recovery from the surgery and return to work this week. Also prayers for a special need for our family right now would be appreciated.

For Franklin, his parents, and his whole family that they weather the current health crisis and come out of it more aware of God's loving presence in their families.

For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility

For Tom of Goodform's father-in-law who has been diagnosed with a stroke--for full recovery and for no recurrence of the affliction.

For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.

For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

You're a gryphon. You're very powerful without
needing to brag about it. Creativity is one of
your strong suits. Your outward personality may
change drastically according to your mood,
which is not always a good thing. You're a
loyal guardian when you choose to be and you're
aligned towards *good*.


What mythical beast are you?
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In several place around St. Blogs, most notably here and here (blogspot is boing its usual wonderful thing with regard to direct linking) there has been concern expressed with regard to the new ICEL Mass translations. In one location it goes beyond concern to suggest that a possibility is further schism of the SSPX variety--if for example we were to return to the Latin (Tridentine) Mass.

While I agree with the spirit of some comments (for example return to simple literal translation is indeed simple. To move from :

"The Lord be with you"
"And also with you."

to

"The Lord be with you."
"And with your spirit."

is awkward and doesn't really express the intent of the what is being said. We want the Lord only to be with a person's spirit and not there as a bodily protector in times of trial. We want the Lord to be present to the spirit but not to the mind and body? The spirit is somehow seperate and not part of the full being? The translation implies this.

But let's face it, while awkward and not true to the spirit of what's being said, this isn't the Mount Everest of translation difficulties. I might not favor it, but I would have no trouble saying it after I got used to it again.)

But I am disturbed by some responses that suggest that all faiths are equally valid. While all Christian faiths partake of salvation, they do so through the font of grace and salvation, God's established Church on Earth. So, too, in some mysteriously different way, those of other faiths who enter into the kingdom do so through the aegis of the Catholic Church.

In other words, in the Catholic Church resides the fullness of faith and the fullness of the truth of God that we can experience here on Earth. With the possible exception of the Orthodox Churches (I am not theologically adept enough to address this) that is untrue of any other Church. It is insufficient to say "Well, there's always the [place a denomination here] Church down the street."

John of Disputations made this point several days ago. Too often we are not interested in seeking the truth. We have bought into the post-modernist lie that truth is relative. It is not. The Truth, in the person of Jesus Christ, is absolute. And the Truth was established on Earth as the Church of Jesus Christ, the mystical body of Christ. Just because a few of the neurons in the body go haywire and start producing garbled speech is no reason to consider abandoning the body.

Now, to give all due credit, I don't believe the person who wrote about this suggested that the ICEL retranslation would bring about such a crisis. If I understood correctly, he was suggesting a reversion to the Tridentine Mass might cause such difficulties. Of this I cannot say; however, I can say that no matter what the language or the translation or lack thereof, so long as the core stays the same--the words of institution are valid and are a reasonable translation of those used by Jesus, Himself, everything else is table decoration. I don't much care if it's Latin, Urdu, Swahili, French, Spoken Sanskrit, Etruscan, or what--the real presence of Jesus Christ at the banquet of the Eucharist is the only thing that matters. I can tolerate a great deal of nonsense and things I don't particularly care for to be close to My Lord and My God in the real presence. Outside of the Catholic (and perhaps Orthodox Churches) where else can this be true?

Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. (Daniel 3:67-70)

(This was so appropriate for what I was hearing around the country yesterday, I thought it remained a good praise for today.)

Prayers:

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Shirley: The hospital is trying to throw her out and she has no care to return to at home.

For all who are suffering from marital problems that the Lord may intervene and remind them that a marriage is of three persons.

For the local Carmelite Chapters that the visit from the provincial during the next two weeks is fruitful and helpful to their growth and development.

For Christine and Gordon, who are presently separated by a great distance, that Christine will be able to bear up under all that must be done in the next few months. Pray especially for Heather that the coming transition might be easy and smooth for her.

Please continue prayers for Linda's recovery from the surgery and return to work this week. Also prayers for a special need for our family right now would be appreciated.

For Franklin, his parents, and his whole family that they weather the current health crisis and come out of it more aware of God's loving presence in their families.

For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility

For Tom of Goodform's father-in-law who has been diagnosed with a stroke--for full recovery and for no recurrence of the affliction.

For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.

For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

You might be interested in this post and its accompanying comments.

Link via Gutless Pacifist.

In a rather daring debut on the St Blog's Network, Dr. Philip Blosser--related to another blogger, advances into the foray with two new blogs:

Scripture and Catholic Tradition

and

Blosser's Homepage

The Old Oligarch has a wonderful reflection on the question of birth and contraception and the contraceptive mentality. (Thanks for the link go to Father Jim).

Having recently finished Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop (a wonderful, gentle, and fine tribute to Jean-Marie Latour--a fictional biographical retelling of the story of the life of the first Archbishop of Santa Fe) it behooved me to hie me to the bookstore and seek out what lay upon the remaindered shelves.

Doing so I discovered the following delectable commodities and took it upon myself to acquire them:

Steven Millhauser--Martin Dressler
Tom Wolfe--Hooking Up (with its amazingly excoriating look at John Updike, John Irving, and Norman Mailer called "My Three Stooges."
Frank Kermode--The Language of Shakespeare a magisterial, but approachable study of the Bard, examining the growth and development of the poetic genius through the entire corpus of his work.

These three have been added to the list to read nearly immediately along with C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. (I suggested that we also look at The Snakebite Letters by Peter Kreeft and Lord Foulgrin's Letters by Randy Alcorn to see how the genre, small though it is , has prospered.)

Missed the discussion yesterday of Our Lady of the Forest largely because I could not penetrate its murky depths because I simply didn't care.

The following entry from Abbot Vonier's study seemed apropos following on Barbara Dent. The human will can make only feeble motions on its own, unstrengthened by grace. We can keep at a work no more than a moment or two without God's strength behind us.

from A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist
Abbot Vonier

The Eucharist ought really to illuminate for us all the other sacraments with its own radiance. The Eucahrist is the sun in the firmament of sacramental grace. Is there not, however, sometimes a danger on the one hand of giving the Eucharist a position such as would hardly retain it in its sacramental setting, while on the other hand there may be the greater peril of our lowering the status of the other sacraments to conventional forms of lesser spiritual power? Yet the Eucharist ought to safeguard for us all the spiritual glories of the other sacraments, by keeping them within the orbit of the divine Presence; while they in turn, being as truly sacraments, although they do not contain the Body and Blood of Christ, will enable us to see even the Eucharist in its true perspective. We may put it in the following way: One sacrament, while remaining entirely a sacrament, and indeed through its sacramentality, and not as an unusual feature or external adjunct, contains the true Body and Blood of Christ; it does this in virtue of its sacramental state, not because it is more than a sacrament. (p. 42-43)

(book available from Zaccheus Press)

And for Vonier and the believing Catholic the importance of the Eucharist being a sacrament is that it is a sign that effects what it signifies. A sacrament is not merely an external ritual or an empty ceremony, but it is a sign that contains the fullness of the meaning of the sign. It is a symbol that causes what it symbolizes to enter reality and transform it. In short, it is a sign that bestows grace and has as its object the bestowal of grace, the strengthening of the connection between creator and creation.

Barbara Dent's book My Only Friend Is Darkness is an exposition of the teaching of St. John of the Cross from an experiential viewpoint. Ms. Dent makes some remarkable and critically important points about our relationship with God in the following passage:

from My Only Friend is Darkness Barbara Dent

When faced with the summons to reckless self-giving, we make endless qualifications, excuses and rationalizations. John will have none of them.

Our hearts must be purged of all unruly affections and desires arising from the four traditional passions of joy, hope, fear and grief. When we calmly consider what and who does actually arouse in us the extremes of these passions, we shall not often find that it is our personal relationship with God. . . .

The aim of this purging of desires for the not-God is to transform our human will into one fully united with the divine will. The more we are emotionally dependent on created things and on people, the more our will is tugging to get free of God, or is in conflict, or is merely ignoring the directives of his will for us.

If we succeed in fully controlling only one of the four passions, the others will also become subdued and redirected to God as a result. Until we achieve this control, we remain captive and incapable of full union and deep contemplation. . . .

Anyone who thinks this is easy is either (1)severely emotionally inhibited and repressed; (2) naturally unresponsive and cold-hearted; (3) ignorant of what it is to love with all the too, too human heart; (4) a psychopath; or (5) already a saint!

John pushes home his point relentlessly. "There is another very great and important benefit in this detachment of the rejoicing from creatures--namely, that it leaves the heart free for God. This is the dispositive foundation of all the favours which God will grant to the soul, and without this disposition he grants them not (Ascent III, XX, 4, italics added). (pgs. 89-90)

In the end the service of God is all the really matters. While we must take heed of present circumstances, we need not be dominated by them. Love of God stirred by activation of the will in opposing our besetting sin is a step toward sanctity and wholeness. Outside of this all work is futile, all accomplishment only ash and dust. We are transformed in God and in the transformation we become new people and every part of the old man resists this death. Every part of us seeks God and flees Him simultaneously. And grace alone determines the outcome. Do we seek grace? Do we know the fullness of what can be accomplished in us? If we spend a single moment in the Bible we do. In a moment we become Paul when we were Saul. Or we become Ananias and Sapphira. The choice is ours--to seek grace and God's will or to seek our own.

I have not forgotten my promise to post materials from the Carmelite congress. I received a request this weekend regarding those posts. The first was received with such resounding silence and there were so many things on my mind that frankly, it completely slipped my mind to continue posting. This will serve a dual purpose of getting my notes in order and informing those who are interested about what transpired. Look for more in the near future.

Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. (Daniel 3:67-70)

Prayers:

For Christine and Gordon, who are presently separated by a great distance, that Christine will be able to bear up under all that must be done in the next few months. Pray especially for Heather that the coming transition might be easy and smooth for her.

Please continue prayers for Linda's recovery from the surgery and return to work this week. Also prayers for a special need for our family right now would be appreciated.

Shirley is up and about. Doctors said that the type of wound that she received is fatal more than 90% of the time. She will require nursing care for the next several weeks; however the job she obtained is with a good Christian employer and appears not to be threatened. Please continue to pray for her recovery and particularly for her son who is a veteran's hospital.

For Franklin, his parents, and his whole family that they weather the current health crisis and come out of it more aware of God's loving presence in their families.

For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility

For Tom of Goodform's father-in-law who has been diagnosed with a stroke--for full recovery and for no recurrence of the affliction.

For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.

For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

No time this morning. But later today, I hope--insights from Barbara Dent(My Only Friend is Darkness) and Abbot Vonier on the signification of the Eucharist.

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
(Daniel 3: 64-66)

Praise:

Shirley is up and about. Doctors said that the type of wound that she received is fatal more than 90% of the time. She will require nursing care for the next several weeks; however the job she obtained is with a good Christian employer and appears not to be threatened. Please continue to pray for her recovery and particularly for her son who is a veteran's hospital.

Linda came through her surgery with little pain and no apparent complications at this point! Praise God.

Prayers:

For Franklin, his parents, and his whole family that they weather the current health crisis and come out of it more aware of God's loving presence in their families.

For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility

For Tom of Goodform's father-in-law who has been diagnosed with a stroke--for full recovery and for no recurrence of the affliction.

For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.

For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

You have undoubtedly noticed that the prayer request list has gotten quite long. You've also no doubt noticed that much of it is not subject to a tremendous amount of change. My suggestion if you would like to take these intentions to daily prayer is to simply print up a recent list and tuck it into your Liturgy of the Hours, purse, or book that you always take with you to prayer. Rather than assaulting God's ears every day with every one of these, offer only those most recent and then all the intentions that we have carried every day. God knows what they are and He honors our intentions to pray for them. But God is more interested in us talking to Him than presenting "wish-lists." Naturally He will answer all prayers, but we needn't exercise ourselves over the list too much. On the other hand reading the list may bring up an issue we are presently working on and need help with.

Also, from here on out, I will try to confine the repeated requests to the "Extended Entry" portion of a post. If you don't have the list, it will always be available. But because I am already asking so much by requesting both requests and prayers for all of these intention, I don't want to try your patience too much. Anyway, thanks to all and thank you all for your wonderful, prayerful response.

Suffered a huge spam attack in the comments. Took precautions this time and our wise web-master has installed MT-Blacklist which allows a one-step removal of the spam comments. Interestingly the spam strikes posts no one is likely to read any more. For example, I had to search the first 1000 entries before most of them were caught and deleted.

Originally I arrived at my editing page delighted that an apparent conversation was occurring (after all there was an increase of about 20 comments), but, alas, it was spam. The harsh way of the web-world.

All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. (Daniel 3: 61-63)

Praise:

Linda came through her surgery with little pain and no apparent complications at this point! Praise God.

Prayers:

For Franklin, his parents, and his whole family that they weather the current health crisis and come out of it more aware of God's loving presence in their families.

For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.

For Kairos Guy for a job possibility.

Por favor, le ruego una oracion por la proteccion de mis hijos Michael y Francis, que la Virgen los guie siempre y que me ilumine para ser una buena madre.Gracias con todo mi corazon. Antonia
Translation per Alicia (thank you): Please, requesting a prayer for the protection of my children Michael and Francis, that the Virgin will always guide them, and that she (the Virgin) will light my path to be a good mother. Thank you with all my heart.

Please pray for St. Joseph's youth group and their upcoming summer trip, including the planning. Please pray for all who God wants to come to fill our three buses and especially for Gina, Ann, Fr. Piche, Fr. Wilson and the other priest - for protection and for a fruitful trip.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.

For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.

Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

Jesus asks each of this question. And he expects a personal response. It would be enough, I suppose to respond with Peter's answer. But only enough. We need to ask ourselves, "Who is Jesus?" And when we think we have an answer to that question we need to ask the next--how is this displayed in my daily life?

By our baptism we are called to evangelism. But how can we proclaim the good news if we haven't any real understanding of what it means? And we can judge our understanding of the good news only in the light of who Jesus is.

Jesus is not looking for prefabricated answers. We can recite the catechism to our hearts' content, but unless those words mean something more than the abstract intellectual realities they convey, Jesus is not a reality for us.

In quiet time we would do well to answer the question, "Who do you say I am?" And when we answer that question, we should ask Him, "And how, Lord, do I live it out?" Then listen. Just listen. Conversation goes both ways and the still, small voice cannot be heard over the din of our self-important bluster.

I do not know if I will be able to blog on the 21st so I request your prayers early.

Prayers:

My big need for the day: For Linda whose surgery is today

For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.

For Kairos Guy for a job possibility.

Por favor, le ruego una oracion por la proteccion de mis hijos Michael y Francis, que la Virgen los guie siempre y que me ilumine para ser una buena madre.Gracias con todo mi corazon. Antonia
Translation per Alicia (thank you): Please, requesting a prayer for the protection of my children Michael and Francis, that the Virgin will always guide them, and that she (the Virgin) will light my path to be a good mother. Thank you with all my heart.

Please pray for St. Joseph's youth group and their upcoming summer trip, including the planning. Please pray for all who God wants to come to fill our three buses and especially for Gina, Ann, Fr. Piche, Fr. Wilson and the other priest - for protection and for a fruitful trip.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.

For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.

Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

I have noted in strolling through St. Blog's that y'all are not going to make it easy on me to collect prayer requests. There are so many needs and so little time for wandering.

If you stop by here and you have a pressing need, please don't hesitate to post it in the nearest day's prayer requests. I would truly appreciate it because though I try, I don't visit everyone every day, and even when I do I forget half of the things that are needed in the community.

My only real service to the community are my prayers and I am more than willing to pray for anyone who needs it, so please, just let me know. If you prefer to remain unnamed and unmentioned, please send an e-mail. All of these needs just give me more reason to talk to God--something I should be doing more of anyway.

For those who simply can't get enough Noli Irritare Leones has a well-considered review of the merits and demerits of the book. As the blogmaster does not come from a Catholic point of view she is less likely to be offended by much that put-out the Catholic Audience.

Father Jim of Dappled Things also chimes in with an opinion with which I heartily concur. Read Foucault's Pendulum instead. (But do not look for thriller-paced writing. While a wonderful, fascinating, and compelling read, it is, after all Umberto Eco. ) (And scroll up a bit for a well-considered "Southern" view of Robert E. Lee and the mysterious phenomenon of the close celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. day and Lee-Jackson day. (Used to be, just after the announcement of a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., that Virginians had a single holiday Lee-Jackson-King day.))

Eric Johnson, one of the Contributors to Catholic Light, has an elegant and interesting on-line project titled OpenSource Shakespeare. Highly recommended for those with an interest in Shakespeare it features a wonderful index that allows you to find all of the lines a given character in a play speaks. If you have any need of or interest in Shakespeare, this site my provide the kind of resources and information you would be interested in.

I have added Mr. Johnson's remarkable endeavor to my left-hand column so it will be readily available for the future.

Mr Serafin reports (and I take the liberty of repeating):

Karen, of From the Anchorhold blog, is in rehab now - at a "sub-acute rehabiliitation facility". Among other conditions, she has open wounds that need dressing and healing before she can go home. She seems to be on the road to recovery, thank God. And Karen says the facility is better than many others.

For those who might like to drop her a note and let her know you are praying for her, here is her current address:

Karen Marie Knapp Room 210 Bed 1
Christopher East Health and Rehabilitation Center
1132 East Knapp Street
Milwaukee WI 53202

Please continue to pray and let Karen know you are praying for her. Thanks.

Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.
All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. (Dan 3: 62-65)

Prayers:

Please continue to pray for my friend Shirley who suffered a brain injury at the hands of an incapacitated relative. She had surgery and is recovering.

For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility

For Kairos Guy for a job possibility.

Por favor, le ruego una oracion por la proteccion de mis hijos Michael y Francis, que la Virgen los guie siempre y que me ilumine para ser una buena madre.Gracias con todo mi corazon. Antonia
Translation per Alicia (thank you): Please, requesting a prayer for the protection of my children Michael and Francis, that the Virgin will always guide them, and that she (the Virgin) will light my path to be a good mother. Thank you with all my heart.

Please pray for St. Joseph's youth group and their upcoming summer trip, including the planning. Please pray for all who God wants to come to fill our three buses and especially for Gina, Ann, Fr. Piche, Fr. Wilson and the other priest - for protection and for a fruitful trip.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.

For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.

Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

Here are some notes taken during the homily indicated above. (Yes, I am still sufficiently Protestant in midset to believe that if someone is willing to take the time and effort to prepare a sermon and tell me something worthwhile, I should take the trouble to try to capture it as best I can in the course of the event. [Hope this serves as a warning to all of the priest out there--some of us ARE listening. ;-)]I admit this is but a poor reflection of the fullness of the sermon, but it does give me something to go by.)

Homily for Votive Mass of St. John of the Cross

"In the evening we will be examined in love"

Power and love are incompatible with true love. Love is something mutually and freely given, so there must be some equality.

Our Lord washing the feet of the Apostles is a sign of true friendship. By washing the feet of the Apostles He gives up all power over them. We must love one another as He has loved us. We give up the need to dominate one another and all claims power.

It is this love that was embodied in St. John of the Cross. "In the evening we will be examined in love." He lived a life that easily could have led to hatred and bitterness. His father married beneath his station and died early in John's life.

In 1563 entered Carmelite Order. In 1567 became a Priest of the Order. In Medina del Campo met St. Teresa and began to introduce her reform to the friars. Twice caught and locked up. In prison wrote some of his poetry. "In the evening we will be examined in love"

The spirituality of St. John of the Cross is dependent upon his experience of God. To gain our lives we must lose them in God through self-denial and complete immersion in God.

In the popular mind St. John is known for his austerity and on "nada." He was compassionate, kind, welcoming, and loving. We do not often look at the radiant love of St. John of the Cross.

Absolute abandonment to the will of God. He was particularly scathing of religiosity and of attachments to externals. We must abandon things to make space for God to get in. Our world is haunted by a desire for the interior life. Let us continue to climb-the holy mountain of Carmel where we will find God.

"In the evening we will be examined in love"

One of the things learned at the conference, or perhaps more correctly reinforced at the conference, is that the Carmelite is a prophetic witness to the modern world. We spent a long time talking about what this actually meant, but in sum, we are to bear the message of the Gospel into the world not merely in action, but also in prayer. The Carmelite way is that prayer is always first and prayer informs any action taken. However, prayer is only half formed if it doesn't express its reality in some form of action. So, I offer this reflection. Inspired by the congress and by other factors, it is highly personal, but I also hope that it is provocative enough to help others.

First desire to live a truly sinless life. Only then is it possible to ask the grace of living without offense to God. The reason few of us approach the divine majesty is that very few of us really want to. The price is too high. We would have to abandon common pursuits. We would have to relinquish simple pleasures. There are few great saints who drank or smoked to excess. There are a few portly saints, which may be more a reflection on poor eating habits and bad metabolism than on overeating. But this is all beside the point. We really want to indulge in what we know is forbidden. We simply want to. We want to watch the movies we watch and read the books we read. When we are corrected for it, we look for explanations as to why it isn't wrong. And indeed, so long as we do not seek perfection there is nothing wrong with these lesser goods.

Yet, if we do desire perfection, we need to look to the two earthly human examples of perfection--Jesus and Blessed Mary--and their distant mirrors, the saints. We do not see Jesus sitting about watching television--when He is not preaching or teaching He is praying. Even moments of leisure are purposeful. We are adjured to "consider the lilies" not for the lilies themselves, but for what the lilies have to tell us about the glories of God's reign and the riches of His love.

We are a people who seek to protect our own idleness. We excuse our emptiness with innumerable excuses. The reality is that every moment away from God is a moment away from God. Every second spent in an idle pursuit is a wasted second. Yes, leisure is a valuable time if such leisure is spent in the presence of God. It is a waste (and sometimes a sin) when God is not invited in.

We are not perfect because we choose not to be. We would rather follow our own lead, exercise our own wills, spend time in our own pursuits, and then later try to argue them around to God. Every moment spent with less-than-the-best is a moment stolen from God. . All we have is the present, this moment, this opportunity. All that we have not done is buried in the past. The future is unknown and may not come. So the acceptable time is now, and if more of us chose it, we would have a world far more reflective of the Kingdom of God.

For myself, I know that I have failed time and again to take advantage of Grace. And so I write to remind myself that the first step is a choice--carefully and freely made--to experience God in His fullness right now, to request--no, beg--the grace of delighting myself solely in service to Him through prayer and service to my fellow sojourners. I am tired of darkness, I want to be light for those around me. I want all to rejoice and recognize God in the here and now. I want the grace of perseverance in God's service. I want it enough to make the difficult choice to ask for it and to ask God to help me leave this broken self behind.

From The Imitation of Christ, Book I.1
Thomas á Kempis

HE WHO follows Me, walks not in darkness," says the Lord. By these words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.

(Now, will someone kindly bookmark, or otherwise note this and refer me to it on a nearly constant basis? I resemble the grandmother in "A Good Man is Hard to Find"--“She would have been a good woman,
if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.” )

Prayers:

Special Urgent Request: For my friend Shirley who suffered a brain injury at the hands of an incapacitated relative. She is having surgery to repair this. Please pray for her.

For Linda whose surgery is Wednesday but who goes to the pre-op today

Por favor, le ruego una oracion por la proteccion de mis hijos Michael y Francis, que la Virgen los guie siempre y que me ilumine para ser una buena madre.Gracias con todo mi corazon. Antonia
Translation per Alicia (thank you): Please, requesting a prayer for the protection of my children Michael and Francis, that the Virgin will always guide them, and that she (the Virgin) will light my path to be a good mother. Thank you with all my heart.

Please pray for St. Joseph's youth group and their upcoming summer trip, including the planning. Please pray for all who God wants to come to fill our three buses and especially for Gina, Ann, Fr. Piche, Fr. Wilson and the other priest - for protection and for a fruitful trip.

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.

For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.

Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

Staying at a neat hotel in Tampa that allows access to computers hooked to the internet for free. It's got great accommodations and is the kind of thing that might actually make me change my mind about Tampa in general.

Anyway, a long exhausting day of conferences by some of the major names in Carmelite studies. But more importantly than that they are by major scholars, they are by people who are committed to directing and to helping those who pursue the Carmelite path.

Started with morning prayer and a magnificent Votive Mass of St. John of the Cross--the homily of which alone was worth the entire price of the conference. This was followed by the first conference--Father Kiernan Kavanaugh--yes, the main translator of Sts. John of the Cross and Teresa of Jesus talking about "The Kingdom of God in St. Teresa of Jesus." Well planned, well considered and inspiring. I hope when I get back home and I can synch my palm I can post a better summary of what went on. It seems so long ago.

But suffice to say the essence of nearly every talk here is that prayer is not judged on how much we know but on how much we love. But I will try to get back tomorrow if possible. Sorry things are so sketchy, but I'm sure you all understand. I just wanted to share some of the excitement and the true movement of the Holy Spirit that appear to be going on here. (And I have committed the promised intentions to the care of my Carmelite Brothers and sisters here.)

Hope to write more tomorrow.

The Big Five Personality Test

Extroverted	||||||	30%
Introverted	||||||||||||||||	70%
Friendly	||||||||||||||||||	72%
Aggressive	||||||	28%
Orderly	||||||||||||||||||	80%
Disorderly	||||	20%
Relaxed	||||||||||||||||	62%
Emotional	||||||||||	38%
Openminded	||||||||||||||||||	76%
Closeminded	||||||	24%

Take Free Big 5 Personality Test

Meaningful? Who knows--but here it is. Ask the bloggers who have acutally met me--for a start.

Please pray for me and for my OCDS brothers and sisters as we gather this weekend in Tampa for a large-group meeting. I sha'n't be posting much (if anything) during the next few days as I do not have a traveling computer other than my PDA (and I don't do Web-stuff on it). So just a notice.

Praise:

Franklin's father came through the angioplasty well. He'll be released to a rehabilitiation center shortly. Please continue to pray for Bill, Franklin, and the whole family.

Prayers:

A special request--por favor, le ruego una oracion por la proteccion de mis hijos Michael y Francis, que la Virgen los guie siempre y que me ilumine para ser una buena madre.Gracias con todo mi corazon. Antonia (I cannot translate this request in its entirety, but it appears to be a request for prayers for Antonia's sons Michael and Francis--further clarification would be appreciated. Does it request for guidance and illumination so that Antonia might be a good mother? I do know that we are thanked with all her heart.

Please pray for St. Joseph's youth group and their upcoming summer trip, including the planning.  Please pray for all who God wants to come to fill our three buses and especially for Gina, Ann, Fr. Piche, Fr. Wilson and the other priest - for protection and for a fruitful trip. 

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.

For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.

For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.

Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

I have replaced Ella Enchanted with a delightful (so far) little ditty by James McKean titled Quattrocento. Seems booksellers are having a brief renaissance theme of recent date. What with The Quarrel that Started the Renaissance, Michaelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, The Passion of Artemesia, Quattrocento, and perhaps others I am unaware of, we are having a veritable renaissance boom.

Courtesy of JCecil3

My life is rated PG.
What is your life rated?

I had previously reported reading a book by Jacques Maritain titled Art and Morality In fact, that is a single chapter of a larger work titled The Responsibility of the Artist which is available through the Maritain Center.

I share a brief reflection based on part of the text.

from The Responsibility of the Artist
Jacques Maritain

Artistic value and moral value belong to two different realms. Artistic value relates to the work, moral value to man. The sins of men can be the subject-matter of a work of art, from them art can draw aesthetic beauty -- otherwise there would be no novelists. The experience of moral evil can even contribute to feed the virtue of art -- I mean by accident, not as a necessary requirement of art. The sensuality of Wagner is so sublimated by the operation of his music that Tristan calls forth no less than an image of the pure essence of love. The fact remains that if Wagner had not fallen in love with Matilda Wesendonck, we would probably not have had Tristan. The world would doubtless be none the worse for it -- Bayreuth is not the Heavenly Jerusalem. Yet thus does art avail itself of anything, even of sin. It behaves like a god; it thinks only of its own glory. The painter may damn himself, painting does not care a straw, if the fire where he burns bakes a beautiful piece of pottery. The fact matters to the painter, however, because the painter is not the art of painting, nor is he merely a painter. He is also a man, and he is a man before being a painter.

The last lines of this are the most stirring and dreadful. God will not judge us on fine writing or persuasive reasoning. He will judge us on right thinking, believing, acting on the truth, and ultimately right living that stems from these. Art, as fine and as consoling as it can be, does not save us. That is done by Christ alone, who can begin to be known by art, but who ultimately is known by Himself entirely. He makes Himself known through the power of the Holy Spirit to the person who, through whatever means, becomes aware of Him and seeks Him in fullness of heart and mind.

from The Responsibility of the Artist

Any man who, in a primary act of freedom deep enough to engage his whole personality, chooses to do the good for the sake of the good, chooses God, knowingly or unknowingly, as his supreme good; he loves God more than himself, even if he has no conceptual knowledge of God.

Praise God! I do not need a complete conceptual understanding of God, or even a particularly good one, in order to truly love God in my actions. True, more of these actions are inspired in greater love based on knowledge--but it isn't knowing that is the key--it is ultimately loving. Even if you do not know why you are obedient, obedience to the law of love is love of God.

(Interestingly the passage directly above comes after a demonstration of the "good love" Antigone demonstrates toward her brothers and toward her people through the rebellious act she commits.)

Ella Enchanted
Gail Carson Levine

Rating:***
Review:

I found the book delightfully written--the "backstory" to the fairy tale we know as Cinderella. It takes place in a land of magic, ogres, elves, fairies, and dragons and there is vivid imagination at work here.

But the book is intended for young people and as such it left me with a very strange aftertaste. I don't know if the author intended it, but there is a very strong whiff of atheistic nihilism in the story. When the heroine's mother dies (extremely early in the story--I'm not giving anything away here) the heroine laments about never, never, never, never seeing her mother again. This assurance remains undiluted throughout the narrative. The only sense of the supernatural that comes through is that fairies are apparently immortal.

The premise of the story, while clever, is also disconcerting. The heroine is enchanted with a "fairy gift" of complete obedience. If an order is given Ella must execute it no matter what the cost to herself or those around her. The idea here is to show how a good thing might not be so good. But it also suggests, it seems, that there are ways of being obedient that adhere to the absolute letter but not to the spirit--and as far as the author is concerned, that's perfectly okay because obedience is not what it's cracked up to be.

So, while I think it's a very fine book, well-written, clever and full of ideas, I cannot recommend it to the audience for whom it is intended. If you intend to allow your child to read this book or to see the movie made from it, you would do well to preview it yourself and be ready to discuss it with your child.

It is books like these, well executed but (perhaps unintentionally) filled with insidious messages that pose the real threat that people associate with the Harry Potter books. The Kingdom of Fairy is treacherous.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.
You heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever. (Dan 3: 57-59)

Praise:

Franklin's father came through the angioplasty well. He'll be released to a rehabilitiation center shortly. Please continue to pray for Bill, Franklin, and the whole family.

Prayers:

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.

For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.

For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.

Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

The Mamas have moved. Find them here. Welcom to St. Blogs. Org, a homey place.

Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever. (Daniel 3:55-56)

Praise:

Franklin's father came through the angioplasty well. He'll be released to a rehabilitiation center shortly. Please continue to pray for Bill, Franklin, and the whole family.

Prayers:

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.

For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.

For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.

Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

Rumor has it that Fr. Groeschel was hit by a car this weekend and suffered some extensive injuries. I haven't been able to verify this independently; however, prayer for Fr. Groeschel's health and well-being would certainly not be out of order even if the rumors prove untrue.

Presently in addition to the list of last week I have added:

Abbot Vonier A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist available from Zaccheus Press

Gail Carson Levine Ella Enchanted

Robin McKinley Spindle's End

Gerald Vann O.P. The Aquinas Perscription

Joel Giallanze CSC Questions Jesus Asked

Jacques Maritain Art and Morality

All very fine books. I am also looking into the "Redwall" series of Brian Jacques, although with a bit of trepidation--I've not cared for Animal centered books post Wind in the Willows. I found Watership Down obnoxious and wearisome--though I must confess a weakness for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of N.I.M.H. so it's possible that the Jacques book may be to my liking. I couldn't find the first in the series (Redwall? ) so I've got a copy of Mossflower.

Rating: ***1/2 (out of *****)
Summary: About twenty short stories that combine the world of Arthur Conan Doyle with the cosmos of H.P. Lovecraft.

Review: While a pleasant walk down nostalgia lane, revisiting two of the most frequented sites of my youth, still not a particularly strong anthology. As one would expect with pastiche or hommage stories, there is much here that is slick and superficial and that fails to get at the depth of the appeal of either author.

Possibly one of the reasons for this is that it wasn't particularly the world of the authors that was appealing in itself--it was that world and the language that created it. Thus, present the world without the language and there is much to be desired in the writing.

Still, if you enjoy both characters this is worth a look for a couple of stories, most particularly the final one in the anthology. Also there are a couple that elaborate on Watson's Afghanistan experience that are fairly interesting. Still and all, nothing that really recaptures the sense of awe and dread of H.P. Lovecraft, and the usual slick Holmsian surface without the resonance of Doyle's presentation.

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (Daniel 3:53-54)

Praise:

Prayer Project Praise One of the unemployed for whom we were praying, Shirley, got a job! Louis got a temporary job and Gordon has a formal job offer! All praise and thanksgiving to our merciful Lord!

EMERGENCY PRAYER REQUEST: For wisdom, fortitude, and prudence as Gordon has yet another interview and potential offer that would keep him in our area. (Please pray hard on this one as the choices are very difficult for him.)

Prayers:

For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.

For Alicia and her relicensing issue (if it still exists)

For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.

For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.

Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

Gordon has negotiated and signed a contract for a good job

The downside of this is that they will have to move from here--good friends that we have come to rely upon for many things. But Praise God in His mercy and in His wonderful plan and keep praying for the others on our list-

(1)Franklin and Katherine
(2) Louis, for a permanent Job
(3) Deb. T (Denise's Carmelite formation director)
(4) Bill Doran

And all of those in search of gainful employment in these trying times.

Not! But they are fun and it is interesting to get a glimpse inside the mind of the quiz maker.

Poseidon


?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla

Later My apologies, I failed to acknowledge Fr. Jim as the source whereat I found this quiz.

For all four levels of the quiz

What Classic Movie Are You?

Mr. Bogner pointed out that different results come with different numbers of questions. I don't choose to acknowledge my results on the 45 question version. When I do 18, I come up as Gandhi (another of Erik's favorite people). These are the results of the 9 question--highly satisfactory.

What Famous Leader Are You?

The 27 Question Test results in Albert Einstein, who is a hero of mine. Ditto 45 question test (this time.) My ideas saved/will destroy the world. Ha!

I just received the most ghastly appalling e-mail and my outrage must be vented.

It starts with a prayer card showing St. Thérèse and an animation of a blossoming rose. It is followed with this:

REMEMBER to make a wish before you read the poem. That's all you have to do. There is nothing attached. This is a powerful novena. Just send this to four people and let me know what happens on the fourth day.

Do not break this, please. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of reward.

(Did you make a wish?) If you don't make a wish, it won't come true.

Last Chance to Make a Wish.

Make a wish and say a prayer? What is this sympathetic magic? I wish for a million dollars. Now I'll say the prayer and it will come to me.

I don't know if this has its origins in Catholic Circles or if it starts Catholic and is picked up by others, but it is an abuse of prayer and religious life akin to those that sparked reformation theology and it is a practice that should be soundly repudiated by every thinking Catholic as soon as they encounter it.

Prayer to and with the Saints is efficacious--it is not wish fulfillment or fantasy land. It also is not sympathetic magic. Ultimately one must be aligned with God's will and completely willing to do whatever God has in mind.

This kind of thing does us no service. And worse, it does God no service. How many who are not believers receive this, try it, and conclude that God is not listening, or worse does not exist?

Sorry I'm so het up about it, but it just acts in opposition to all we stand for and it needs to be acknowledged for what it is--wishful thinking not faith.

We all "know" that prayer works wonders. That is, it sits up in the tops of our heads and exists as an intellectual reality. Often that reality does not begin to really touch our hearts because we make no efforts to have it do so.

The reason for posting praise reports is to concretely affirm and extol the virtues and the power of prayer. When you keep track of what it is you are praying for and you have a certain knowledge that good resulted from your prayer, that intellectual reality becomes a core reality. Prayer is a powerful tool and a wonderful privilege. I have been privileged to witness its efficacy time and again since starting this small list of requests. I thank everyone who has been praying, and I encourage you all to look at the praise reports and give thanks to God who grants our prayers as He sees fit.

Praise God on His Holy Throne amidest the Seraphim who attend Him in the presence of all the saints.

Thank you all so much! Your prayers have affected the lives of people you do not know and have helped to establish the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth.

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. (Daniel 3:52)

Praise:

Prayer Project Praise One of the unemployed for whom we were praying, Shirley, got a job! Louis got a temporary job and Gordon has a formal job offer! All praise and thanksgiving to our merciful Lord!

EMERGENCY PRAYER REQUEST: For wisdom, fortitude, and prudence as Gordon considers his job offer. (Please pray hard on this one as the choices are very difficult for him.)

Prayers:

For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.

For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.

Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements

For Robert Walsh and his family.

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.

See Don's wonderful post on why he might prefer that movie makers leave the books he loves alone. I disagree, but I understand the reasoning and appreciate it. Good reading, good thoughts.

I have really been enjoying this book and learning a tremendous amount about theology of the Eucharist. At least it is a beginning. I know that I'll have to temper it with other things--but this acts as a kind of "outline" of the issues. If you haven't looked into such things in depth, you might find the book an interesting beginning. It isn't terribly difficult to read, but it goes slowly because each chapter is a stunning revelation.

from A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist
Abbot Vonier

[long Latin quotation of St. Thomas Aquinas with accompanying translation omitted--but worthy of attention]

Every sacrament, then, has something to declare: it recalls the past, it is the voice of the present, it reveals the future. If the sacrament did not fulfill its function of sign proclaiming something which is not seen, it would not be a sacrament at all. It can embrace heaven and earth, time and eternity, because it is a sign; were it only a grace it would be no more that the gift of the present hour; but being a sign the whole history of the spiritual world is reflected in it: "For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until He come." What Saint Paul says of the Eucharist about its showing forth a past event is true in other ways of every other sacrament. (p. 14)

Abbot Vonier goes on to elucidate what exactly is revealed of the past, present, and future in the sign of the Eucharist. And he makes an exceedingly important point that the Eucharist is indeed a sign in the fullest sense of what a sign is because what it signifies, it brings about.

Wonderful, wonderful food for reflection. I have been blessed by reading just a little of this book. And glancing through the rest, it is exciting, challenging, interesting, and informative. I will continue to share on and off as I continue to read.

Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name. For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper. (Daniel 3:26-27)

Praise:

Thanksgiving and praise for Grace's successful surgery yesterday.

Prayer Project Praise One of the unemployed for whom we were praying, Shirley, got a job! All praise and thanksgiving to our merciful Lord!

Prayers:

For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.

(Erik, please forgive me if I misspelled your name, I couldn't find it on your blog anywhere.)

My post about head-bobbing has gotten a number of comments, and I'm half horrified by the amazing number of different instructions it seems people in various parts of the country are receiving. Effectively this means that if I go to a different parish I have to try to figure out among all the various nonconformists, noncompliants, and just the terminally daydreaming what is the proper liturgical posture before receiving communion. It sounds as though some have profound bows, some have simple bowing of the head, some may have nothing at all. All, I assume, dicatated by the Bishop of the Diocese.

In a place like the nearby Shrine which is a ministry for tourists to the area that means I could see about forty different things going on at communion time. It's already bad enough with the congregation standing about half the time with "Let Us Pray," and sometimes getting up halfway through, and sometimes sitting through the whole thing.

This is exactly why I oppose democratic rule in the Church. Tell me the ONE appropriate thing to do--whatever it may be. Don't give me options, don't make it the bailiwick of the Bishop to decide among four or five possibilities or invent something new. Please. I don't want to be distracted with what I should be doing, I want to be focusing and centered on the Eucharistic sacrifice. I don't want to think about me--I want to be thinking about Jesus. The advantages of a very clear rubric are that I don't need to be thinking about the mechanics, I can be thinking about and receiving the Lord.

When I was young and we were going to receive someone of importance at our school or church, the adults would practice with us for days ahead of time so that when the dignitary came, we could do what we were supposed to without flaw and we could focus more on the dignitary than on ourselves. That's the point, it seems to me of rubrics. Lead me on, deeper into the embrace of the Lord. Don't make me try to figure our if I should genuflect, bow, nod, do the twist, or whatever is the movement of the week. And for heaven's sake, try to help everyone do the same thing. There will always be a few noncompliants--but catechesis from the pulpit helps tremendously.

The first time I heard about standing at "Let Us Pray" was when I was at "Our Lady of the Angels" (Father Jim's church). It was clearly explained from the pulpit--both the proper action and the reasoning behind it. Apparently they had had a series of these talks to help people adjust to the changes in the liturgy. As a result, most of my experiences at Our Lady of the Angel reflect a relative uniformity of practice (Yes--there are always some strays and unexpected events).

Erik--you can see I do have a touch of the Prussian.

I think I shall start a new section in the side column because I never want to lose track of this post at Santificarnos. Thank you, Mr. Gil.

But you have to admire a blog whose slogan is a paraphrase of one of the great lines from a so-so Mel Brooks film--Otto-Da-Fe

from A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist
Abbot Vonier

The urgent problem is, how am I to be llinked up effectively with that great mystery of Christ's death? When shall I know that Christ is not only the Redeemer, but also my Redeemer? Mere membership with the human race does not link me up with Christ, though it be true that Christ died for the whole race. This membership is indeed a condition, sine qua non , of my becoming one day a member of Christ; but a member of Christ I shall not become unless some new realities be brought into play. These new realities which are the link between me and Christ are faith and the sacraments. (p. 2)

One more passage to give a flavor of the power of the exposition and of the ideation--

Saint Thomas divides the life of mankind into four seasons--the state of innocence before the fall, the state of sin before Christ, the state of sin after Christ, and the state of bliss in heaven. No sacraments are necessary in the first and in the last state; sacraments are necessary to man in the two middle states. But it is in the "state of sin after Christ" that sacraments reach their perfection; the seven sacraments of the Christian dispensation are sacraments in the highest sense, because, besides signifying the grace which is the inheritance of faith, they also contain that grace and cause it.* (p. 10)

*Nostra autem sacramenta gratiam continent, et causant." Summa III q. 61, a. 4, ad 2.

It is this sparkling clarity of thought and strongly rhythmic and orotund prose that is one of the chief delights of reading this book. Once again, I strongly urge everyone who is interested in this subject to consider supporting Zaccheus by purchasing the book.

Thank to Joel of Pax Nortona a monochrome self portrait (of me--not him!). Thanks to Mr Picassohead.

I especially like the Yves-Tanguy limbo-space in which to construct one's portrait.

For those who care (and I know I'm always interested in the readings of others):

Our Lady of the Forest David Guterson (a book-group read)

Death Comes for the Archbishop (The other book-group)

Shadows over Baker Street Hommage? Pastiche? I don't know, but it is pure fluff and I'm enjoying it (a lot).

A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist Abbot Vonier (see below)

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger Ronald Sider

The Company of the Commited Elton Trueblood

The Politics of Jesus John Howard Yoder

Utopia Lincoln Child (more mindless fluff by part of the team that gave you The Relic and Cabinet of Curiosities)

Digital Fortress by the much reviled Dan Brown--sorry folks, I just like his (lack of) style and can't get all that worked up over the content of any of his work. A cursory glance at Angels and Demons (which I enjoyed tremendously even with its evil renegade--oops, better not say too much--almost a spoiler there--suffice to say that we have a magnetic bottle of antimatter in St. Peter's Square--the bottle is deteriorating.) reveals that Brown is not so much anti-Catholic as completely ignorant and led by his sources.

Born Again Chuck Colson

Just as I Am Billy Graham

Roman Triptych His Holiness John Paul II (Fourth time through this, and praised as poetry by no less that Czeslaw Milosz. I hadn't been overwhelmed by the Holy Father's Poetry before, although I found it pleasant and sometimes inspiring, but this book simply blows me away every time I open it--Thanks D.)

Okay, it's a checkered list and doesn't include everything. I'm still struggling through M. Garrigou-Lagrange and of course a host of others, but this should suffice to whet anyone's appetite for more. And perhaps I'll talk about them after I've read them. Though Lee Ann and T.S. are so much better at that than I am, perhaps I'll leave it to them.

While I attempt to conform to all reasonable requests of the GIRM, there are some aspects that I find just plain annoying. Todd mentions one of these. Below is my response to him (See January 6, 2004: Checking in on IGRM changes):

I find the head nodding rather distracting and insufficiently respectful--typical of a society that has forgotten common and uncommon courtesy. You are in the presence of Him to Whom you owe all that you are, all that you have, all that you will ever be, and so you nod your head and give the big thumbs up and a "Cool, Dude!"

I prefer the Byzantine and Eastern rite profound bow (however, I do not do this in Roman Rite Churches because it is out of place and contra received instruction). Mindfulness, to my perception is mindfulness also of the relative stature of the two participants in this communion. As one protestant is quoted to have commented, "If I believed as you did regarding the Eucharist, I would have to prostrate myself upon the floor in its presence."

A head bobbing to the King of the Universe is somehow lacking.

All of that said, do I do the little head-bobbing thing? Yes. Why? Because that is what obedience is about--not my preferences, not what I find to my taste, not what I think is the right way to go about things. I have lived long enough and have had sufficient experience to realize that I am wrong at least as often as I am right. Moreover, St. Teresa of Avila advises us on the subject of obedience to do all that your spiritual advisor tells you to do and to pray about it. If it is in God's plan for you to do something else, then God will move your advisor to change his command. Until then, it is binding. And so, as a faithful son of my mother the Church, I obey--but I don't particularly like it.

Later: I suppose one of the things I find distasteful regarding this discipline is that it seems once again to detract from a sense of reverent awe and respect. One more time we are making casual what should never be other that awesome and awe-inspiring. Regardless of the time that it takes, if we were doing this properly, it seems, we would all be kneeling at an altar rail. (And this from someone who is not particularly "traditionalist" in any of his views.) I just can't think of any other way to appear before the King of All.

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

Praise:

Thanksgiving and praise for Grace's successful surgery yesterday.

Prayer Project Praise One of the unemployed for whom we were praying, Shirley, got a job! All praise and thanksgiving to our merciful Lord!

Prayers:

For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.

For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

For Dylan's return to health and return to us.

For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.

Special Prayer Projects:

SPECIAL SHORT TERM (I HOPE) PROJECT
Please pray for Linda's continued recovery and return to health and pray to ward off any possibility of relapse.

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.

I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.

I arrived home yesterday to find waiting for a me a delightful surprise. I had just received a copy of a new book from an new Catholic Publisher--Zaccheus Press.

Being the inveterate reader I am, I couldn't wait to plunge into A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist by Abbot Vonier. Also being an editor, I couldn't resist taking in the overall package. And let me say I am extremely pleased.

Generally I've become used to preconciliar books being published in less-than-handsome volumes. For example nearly everything of St. Louis de Montfort and St Alphonsus di Liguori is published in editions that have 19th century typefaces--crowded, dark-looking, fragmented letters, relatively poor printing. Don't get me wrong--no matter what the typeface or printing quality these volumes are worth having. Sophia Press, on the other hand produces some very handsome, but often bowdlerized and reedited versions of classic works.

The editor of this work assures me that it is completely intact. It has not been abridged, although spellings have been changed to conform to modern American English usage and a few other things have been updated. The most distressing thing about Sophia Press materials is the insistence upon eliminating that most valuable tool for any study, apologetic, or reference usage--the index. Contra Sophia's policy, the editors at Zaccheus have done the laborious work of adding an index to Abbot Vonier's book.

I haven't read the entire work--it is slow going, requiring some careful reading and thoughtful consideration. Moreover, I am not competent to judge the contents of the work. However, it is sufficient to me to know that Avery Cardinal Dulles considers the work "essential," Peter Kreeft recommends it to our attention and Father Aidan Nichols, O.P. gives it a resoundingly solid introduction.

If you are interested in understanding Catholic Doctrine, I recommed that you look at this book. While densely packed and written, the prose is exemplary of the clarity that often accompanied the best work of the eary Twentieth Century--Fr. Knox, Fr. Benson, Hillaire Belloc, and C.S. Lewis.

Moreover, apart from any considerations of the merits of the individual work, the foundation of another press dedicated to publishing solid Catholic works and explications of Catholic thought must be greeted by at least a small welcoming cheer. And a book so handsomely produced as this--well-bound with good cover and solid introductory and concluding materials is a welcome addition to any library.

Check it out at their site. The price is reasonable and the book has been so far very enlightening and very interesting. In addition to being a guide to the understanding of Catholic thought concerning the eucharist it also makes for a very interesting introduction to a small portion of Thomistic thought. Well worth your time and attention. And the publisher is interested in feedback to help him continue to improve the books he is presenting. So buy, read, and comment in order to get the kind of Catholic Books you want to see in the future.

Later: (Note for Erik). Fr. Nichols refers to Abbot Vonier's work as a "semiotic" theology of the Eucharist. I thought you might find that interesting, seeing as he likely was ignorant of Saussure but contemporary. This work is slightly later than The Course which, if I recall is 1916, 1918.

Give thanks to God, for He is good, His love endures forever.

Prayers:
For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community as she undergoes surgery today. For sucessful surgery and rapid recovery.

For Robert Walsh and his family.

For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces who will not be able to spend this holiday season with their families, that this may nevertheless be a season of "comfort and joy" beyond their greatest expectations.

Special Prayer Projects:

SPECIAL SHORT TERM (I HOPE) PROJECT
Please pray for Linda's continued recovery and return to health and pray to ward off any possibility of relapse.

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, Shirley, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4) From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy.

I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.

First and foremost to God all praise and glory for the efficacy of prayer and the riches of His grace. Keep praying for Linda, but she was doing much better yestereve and I have high hopes for the continuation of her recovery from this bout of asthma.

And my most sincere appreciation and thanks to all of those who wrote to tell me that they were praying and for all of those who I know were praying but did not write. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It affected my ability to deal with the situation and hastened Linda's recovery. I am deeply grateful.

What Classic Movie Are You?

Well, what can one say? I'm an Oliver Stone vehicle--could be worse--I could have been The Doors.

I'm sorry to impose on everyone again, but I would really be comforted to know that there was a lot of prayer going on for Linda. She's had a minor relapse, probably from trying to overdo things, and I'm more agitated than is helpful. So I suppose it is prayer for calm and the ability to handle whatever needs to be done and prayer for Linda's complete restoration to health.

After the recent invasion of the Blogroll and its implications for my visitors, I removed it from my site. As a result, I have slowly managed to add back in the sites I visit on a more-or-less routine basis. I'm still missing a few I cherish and can't seem to find my way back to. If John Bell is still visiting, please leave me a link so I can find my way back. I also have one in Japan that I need to find and am uncertain how--although I think the link was on Mr. Bell's site.

Also if anyone else notices that their name is lacking on my list and it was there before, drop me a line and I'll be happy to add it back in.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but I appreciate all the help.

To all who replied to the post and comments below on economic justice. I will try to find some of those resources and adjust my living style to better reify the gospel message and the Church's teaching on social and economic justice.

Give thanks to God, for He is good, His love endures forever.

Prayers:
Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.

For Teresita M. who will be having what she expects to be a difficult interview with her supervisor today

For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces who will not be able to spend this holiday season with their families, that this may nevertheless be a season of "comfort and joy" beyond their greatest expectations.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4) From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy.

I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.

If something is very inexpenisve, extremely cheap, a real bargain it is that way for one of two reasons:

(1) It's old and unwanted
(2) It's cheap because of the exploitation of the poor.

Either way, it's not much of a bargain. I'm trying to be more aware of what I buy and what it means in the global economy and in the economy of salvation. All of our choices have repercussions, sometimes we choose to close our eyes to them.

Here

T.S. O'Rama asks the important question, "Btw, who ISN'T embarrassed buying the Nat'l Enquirer?"

And I wade in and answer boldly, "I, for one, am not." I enjoy National Enquirer, Weekly World News, and other alternative visions of our present reality.

By the way, I also was a 46% snob. There are some things that simply aren't done. And then there's the rest. And what's wrong with imported brie, if you don't make a habit of it?

"Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed. " 1 John 2:32(?)

And why does it matter?

Think about how much you love your own children. Think about how your heart melts when they ask forgiveness. And now turn that to the true majesty who is Lord and Creator of All. We are dim reflections of His glory. So what is true for us is more true of Him.

Remembering who we are is a wonderful way to embark on a new year. Let us recall and place ourselves under His headship. He is Lord, Creator, Master of all, and Father whose heart breaks with love.

A trying day, and then it shall be over:(by the way, read that as a hopeful statement, not a threat).

from "Lycidas"
John Milton

Weep no more, woeful shepherds, weep no more,
For Lycidas, your sorrow, is not dead,
Sunk though he be beneath the wat'ry floor;
So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed,
And yet anon repairs his drooping head,
And tricks his beams, and with new spangled ore
Flames in the forehead of the morning sky:
So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high
Through the dear might of him that walk'd the waves;
Where, other groves and other streams along,
With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves,
And hears the unexpressive nuptial song,
In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love.
There entertain him all the Saints above,
In solemn troops, and sweet societies,
That sing, and singing in their glory move,
And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes.
Now, Lycidas, the shepherds weep no more:
Henceforth thou art the Genius of the shore,
In thy large recompense, and shalt be good
To all that wander in that perilous flood.

Give thanks to God, for He is good, His love endures forever.

Prayers:
For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.

For me as I deal with a very difficult anniversary.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces who will not be able to spend this holiday season with their families, that this may nevertheless be a season of "comfort and joy" beyond their greatest expectations.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4) From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy.

I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.

I have an awful habit of purchasing large numbers of prayer books. I don't buy them to actually use the prayers qua prayers, but because many of the prayers are a fruitful beginning to a period of time with the Lord.

Well today I bought another such book for two reasons--it was already incredibly cheap and marked 50% off even the cheap price. And the following prayer struck me right to the heart. I thought the book worth it, even if there were nothing else between the two covers.

New Friends

Lord, today you have made us known
to friends we did not know,
and you have given us seats in homes
which are not our own.
You have brought the distant near,
and made a brother of a stranger,
Forgive us Lord. . .
we did not introduce you.

A Polynesian Prayer

How many opporntunities do we overlook? How many chances do we miss to introduce Him whom we supposedly love to people who have no knowledge of Him? What a wonderful reminder to usher in the new year. In the everyday things of life, in every moment of quiet in every introduction, there should be three involved--you, the new person, and the Lord.

Oh, and just in case you wondered--that wasn't the end of the treasures:

Overcoming Separation

My God and my Lord:
eyes are at rest, the stars are setting,
hushed are the movements of birds in their nests,
of monsters in the deep.

And you are the just who knows no change,
the Equity that does not swerve,
the Everlasting that never passes away.

The doors of kings are locked
and guarded by their henchmen.
But your door is open to those who call upon you.
My Lord, each lover is now alone with his beloved.
And I am alone with you.

Rabi'ah al--Adawiyah,(717-801) India

By the way, if you're interested, the book is called The Bridge of Stars and I found it on the remainered shelves at Barnes and Noble.

Sir Philip Sidney's The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia

And a complete on-line Translation of Goethe's Faust

And here you will find a plethora of on-line works including:

Translations of some of the Poetry of Fredrico Garcia Lorca, Osip Mandelstahm, Rainer Maria Rilke (including the Dunio Elegies and The Sonnets to Orpheus, Petrarch, Leopardi, Baudelaire, Catullus, The Homeric Odes, Chaucer, Sidney, a new Translation of Racine's Phaedra, Cyrano de Bergerac, Aucassin and Nicolette, Verlaine, Apollinaire and others.

And at This site translations of Ovid and others including some interesting rhyming translations of Tang Dynasty Poets.

I found the translation of Baudelaire's extraordinarily difficult poem "Les Correspondences" very nice indeed.

And consider for a moment the notion of this venture--free on-line translations/texts. What a great way to start the New Year.

I might also suggest sampling the poet's original work. Some of it is appealing.

Give thanks to God, for He is good, His love endures forever.

Prayers:
For Franklin's father who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought.

For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.

For the men and women of the American Armed forces who will not be able to spend this holiday season with their families, that this may nevertheless be a season of "comfort and joy" beyond their greatest expectations.

Special Prayer Projects:

(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.

I paraphrase her mother:

"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.

(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.

(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.

(4) From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy.

I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.