Steven Riddle: March 2004 Archives

"Deliver us from evil,
--and from slavery to the senses, which blinds us to goodness."
(from the intercessions of Morning Prayer--Wednesday 5th Week of Lent)

How providential that our subject from St. Teresa Benedicta this morning is presaged by the intercession from morning prayer.

We don't like to face the truth of Jesus’ dictum, but it is important for us to do so. "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it " (Matthew 16:25). In short, we can't do it ourselves. Moreover, we should not expect it to be either easy or without unpleasantness--dying isn't a particularly easy process. But dying to self is critically necessary for advancing in real life.

from The Science of the Cross
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (and St. John of the Cross)

To take up battle against it [the animal spirit] , or to take one's cross upon oneself, means entering into the dark night actively. The saint [John of the Cross] gives several concise directions of which he himself says: "A person who sincerely wants to practice them will need no others since all the others are include in these." These directions are:

"1) Sustain always the desire to imitate Christ in all things and to bring your life into conformity with his. You must therefore study his life in order to imitate it and behave always as he would.

"2) In order to do this well, you must deny yourself every pleasure that presents itself to your senses, keep it far from you if it is not solely directed to the honor and glory of God.

"And in fact you should do this out of love for Jesus who knew no other joy and had no desire in his life other than to fulfill the will of his Father. He called this his food and nourishment [Jn 4:34]. If, for instance, some amusement offers itself to you in hearing of things that do not contribute to the service of God, then you should neither have pleasure in them nor wish to hear them. . . . Likewise, practice renunciation in regard to all your sense for as much as you are able to refuse their impressions readily. Insofar as you are unable to ward them off, it is sufficient that you take no enjoyment when these things approach you. Take care how you mortify your senses and preserve them from being touched by any inordinate desire. Then they will remain alike in darkness and in short time you will make great progress."

"The follow maxims will serve as a thoroughly effective means of mortification and harmoniously ordering the four natural passions: joy, hope, fear, and sorrow. . . . Take care that your inclination is ever directed:

not toward the easier, but toward the more difficult;
not toward the pleasant, but toward the unpleasant;
not toward the restful, but toward the troublesome;
not toward the more, but toward the less;
not toward what brings you more joy, but what brings displeasure;
not toward what prepares consolation for you, but toward what makes you disconsolate;
not toward the higher and more valuable, but toward the lowly and insignificant;
not toward what wants to be something, but toward what wants to be nothing."

. . . No further explanation is necessary to see that this active entry into the dark night of the sense is synonymous with ready willingness to take up the cross, and with persistence in carrying the cross. But one does not die from carrying the cross. And in order to pass completely through the night, a person must die to sin. One can deliver oneself up to crucifixion, but one cannot crucify oneself. Therefore that which the active night has begun must be completed by the passive night, that is, through God himself.

Always remembering that passing through either night is only possible with the generous assistance of Grace.

We don't like to think about these things. We would prefer to squeak into heaven, on a technicality if necessary. Who really wants to die to self--to give up the pleasures of the world, to not find joy in the little things that are around us? But I look at the lives of the Saints who chose to do this and fact of the matter is, their lives were filled constantly with a far greater joy than I can summon up from any created thing (except, perhaps, Samuel--but that's another matter.)

We don't want to do the work of sacrifice. We'll give money, we'll look to buy our way out of real self-giving, but it isn't sufficient. To truly serve God and to claim His greatest gifts for us we must die to self. There is no compromise. If we are to live the life God has for us we must abandon the one by which we protect ourselves from God's agency. We must shed the self-created life and assume the one that God has had for us from the beginning. It will either happen here on Earth or in the life to come. But it will happen. It seems to me that I would rather choose the joys the Saints partook of than the ones that I have daily, the ones that more and more taste of dust and ashes. The joys of eternity are available to us but we must be open to receive them and to receive them, we must love God more than we love ourselves. Loving God is the only thing that makes entry into the active dark night possible. We cannot do it by will, though we might start. We cannot do it by our own power, though we must contribute to it. We cannot do it without grace. And even with grace, if we do not allow grace to feed and fan the fires of love we cannot do it. Only love can draw one through the dark night. God's intense love for us is the magnet and our love for Him must transcend all earthly loves (even while it incorporates a great many of them). If we do not love God most of all, we cannot enter into the night, our strength and our courage will fail. And God wants us to enter this night so He can share how much, how intensely, how completely He Loves us. We cannot know this while senses are dulled by all the glittering attractions of the world. We must abandon our love of it (even as we continue to live in it) and direct all of our devotion and attention to God. In this we purify the senses, and like John of the Cross we will begin to truly love the vistas of creation, not for creation itself but for and by intense love of our creator. Our eyes begin to see what is really there, our ears to hear, our sense to actually touch. The weariness of the world washes away from them and we, like Lazarus are called out of the tomb into the real world--the world "charged with the Glory of God." That is our goal, that is ultimately our destiny. Why would we want to put it off until later? Why would we choose a lesser love over a greater?

But if we would choose this greater way, it will be hard to walk because of our fallen nature. Nevertheless, I, for one, want to open myself to God's call and to find Him here and now. I want to walk in the Garden in the evening and to be reborn into His image of me. He dreamed me into existence from the beginning of time, I want to fulfill His dream. I want to realize His dream for me.

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Prayer Requests 3/31/04

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Let your every creature serve you;
for you spoke, and they were made,
you sent forth your spirit, and they were created;
no one can resist your word. (Judith16:13)

Blessed be God, the giver of salvation
who decreed that mankind should become a new creation in Himself,
when all would be made new.
With great confidence let us ask Him:
Lord, renew us in your Spirit. (from the interecessions from Morning Prayer)


Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Requests


From Katherine--Please pray for Franklin's father, Bill. he is 80, back in the hospital. This time for gall stones. Once the CAT scan results are in, they may do surgery immediately. They have been waiting on another surgery because of his weakened condition and the impact of general anesthesia. So, this is a serious situation. Thank you for your prayers.

for Alicia's sons Marc and John who are discerning life decisions

from Peter Nixon at Sursum Corda:"A friend who is a longtime reader of this site wrote me yesterday to tell me that he has been diagnosed with renal cancer. I would ask you to keep him in your prayers. "

For Stuart Buck, a young man (29) who appears to have had twin strokes over the weekend.

Please pray for Bud MacFarlane to come to his senses and defy, rather than buy into, the culture of death, that offers such easy outs. Dear Lord, remind him of this

For all of those suffering from stress and depression who sometimes act out against others without even being aware of it, may the Lord grant them perfect awareness and peace.

Nathan asks for prayers for a seminarian friend, Theo, with a heart condition and for a protestant friend who is working through the difficulties that attend conversion to the Catholic Church

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

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A Conservative Site for Peace

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Stumbled in on this site and about three or four entries down there's a quote from Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity. That's enough to make my blogroll.

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Hard Words for Hard Times

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Oh, you didn't think you got away from St. Teresa Benedicta so easily did you? Thanks to the resounding silence (perhaps the highest of compliments, considering the material) I have determined to post more, as she must be making an impact. In this passage she refers to the beginning of the Dark Night of the Senses and why one embarks upon it, indeed, why it is truly necessary to embark upon it.

from The Science of the Cross
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

On the other hand, something entirely new is begun when the Dark Night starts. The entirely comfortable being-at-home in the world, the satiety of pleasures that it offers, the demand for these pleasures and the matter-of-course consent to these demands--all of this that human nature considers bright daily life--all of this is darkness in God's eyes and incompatible with the divine light. It has to be totally uprooted if room for God is to be made in the soul. Meeting this demand means engaging in battle with one's own nature all along the line, taking up one's cross and delivering oneself up to be crucified. Holy Father St. John here invokes the Lord's saying in this connection: "Whoever does not renounce all that the will possesses cannot be my disciple" [Lk. 14:33].

And it is in this last line that the true hardship of the word comes. It isn't that we can't be saved or we can't enter into heaven, but at times that seems like so small a goal compared with that of serving the Lord as Disciple. And discipleship is costly. I would recommend Bonhoeffer's book The Cost of Discipleship were it not so virulently anti-Catholic. But he points out in the course of the work that many of us want a costless or cheap discipleship. Such a discipleship is inauthentic--and that makes sense. How can carrying a cross be cheap or costless? If we wish to serve Christ in this world and in the world to come, it will only be at great cost. Consider the very short parable of the man who found a pearl of great price and sold all that he owned to purchase it. That is the cost--all that we think we own, all that we think is ours, all that the senses "possess," these must be completely surrendered to God as the "cost" of serving Him. And the cost yields a valuable rebate. No matter how much we give up and give to Him, He returns countless amounts more in the freedom, peace, and serenity of serving Him.

The gradual shedding of the world's hold on us is a necessary prerequisite to focusing our attention completely upon the Crucified One. And what other meaning in life is there? If Jesus is not the complete focus then we are not seeing anyway--so what loss is our sight of this world?

(Tomorrow, perhaps, I will include the précis of what is required to enter the dark night of the senses--other than the call by grace, of course.)

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Terry at Summa Mamas made mention of In Conversation with God--a work I had known about but had not paid much attention to thinking that it was another of those questionable works of half-baked piety and rancid new theology. (This is the "word" referred to in the header.) But her recommendation provoked me into looking more closely with the ultimate result that I bought the volume for Lent and Easter. There I found this piece of advice this morning:

from In Conversation with God--Volume II
Francis Fernandez

We Christians must seek the remedy and the antidote--just as the Israelites bitten by the serpents in the wilderness did--in the only place that it is to be found: in Jesus Christ and in his saving doctrine. We must not cease from contemplating him raised above the earth on the Cross if we truly want to reach the Promised Land that comes as the end of this short journey. That is all this life really is. And as we do not want to reach our destination alone, we will strive to get many others to look at Jesus, in whom is Holy Humanity, contmplate him in the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, in the Way of the Cross, in the scenes that the Gospels narrate for us, or in the Tabernacle. Only if we have great piety will we be strong against the harassment of a world which seems to want to separate itself more and more form God, dragging with it anyone who is not on firm and sure ground.

Later: Mr. White's note in the comment box reminds me that I did not make explicit my clear endorsement of this wonderful series. I've only used it a couple of days, but it has added immeasurably to my devotional life. Highly recommended. (Scepter is a publishing house for Opus Dei works. I have been greatly blessed by the works of St. JoseMaria Escriva, even if I have some reservations about some reported penitential practices.)

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On Television

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Forget for a moment that the post refers you back here, Mr. Appleby has hit the nail on the head, as did Neil Postman some years ago, and he starts with this delightful quotation:

"Television enables you to be entertained in your home by people you wouldn't have in your home.—David Frost"

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Here is something you can do about it. Consider the opportunity prayerfully, and please keep Mr. MacFarlane and his wife Bai in your prayers. There is a great spiritual battle in this seemingly small event and it can only be fought with the help of grace, prayers, and the holy angels that God will send.

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Prayer Requests 3/30/04

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Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things,
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor. (psalm 24)

Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Requests


for Alicia's sons Marc and John who are discerning life decisions

from Peter Nixon at Sursum Corda:"A friend who is a longtime reader of this site wrote me yesterday to tell me that he has been diagnosed with renal cancer. I would ask you to keep him in your prayers. "

For Stuart Buck, a young man (29) who appears to have had twin strokes over the weekend.

Please pray for Bud MacFarlane to come to his senses and defy, rather than buy into, the culture of death, that offers such easy outs. Dear Lord, remind him of this

For all of those suffering from stress and depression who sometimes act out against others without even being aware of it, may the Lord grant them perfect awareness and peace.

Nathan asks for prayers for a seminarian friend, Theo, with a heart condition and for a protestant friend who is working through the difficulties that attend conversion to the Catholic Church

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

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More Religious E-Texts

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Here's a site that has a great many e-books some in PDF, some in HTML, and others as TXT which can be modified to be read on palm devices. This includes a slew of G.K. Chesterton, the Catechism and other important works. For those who are not aware, it is possible to get a PDF reader for Palm from adobe. It requires that you convert ordinary PDFs into palm-readable PDFs, but it is very, very nice. (It also allows you to carry around many of the books from the Broderhof collective.)

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From St. Louis de Montfort

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First part available in its entirety here

from The Secret of the Rosary
St. Louis de Montfort

Saint Gregory of Nyssa makes a delightful comparison when he says that we are all artists and that our souls are blank canvasses which we have to fill in. The colors which we use are the Christian virtues, and the original which we have to copy is Jesus Christ, the perfect living image of God the Father. Just as a painter who wants to do a lifelike portrait places the model before his eyes and looks at it before making each stroke, so the Christian must always have before his eyes the life and virtues of Jesus Christ, so as never to say, think or do anything which is not in conformity with his model.

It was because Our Lady wanted to help us in the great task of working out our salvation that she ordered Saint Dominic to teach the faithful to meditate upon the sacred mysteries of the life of Jesus Christ. She did this, not only that they might adore and glorify him, but chiefly that they might pattern their lives and actions on his virtues.

See here for more Montfortian works online.

And here is an interesting prayer--The Fiery Prayer for the Apostles of the Latter Times by St. Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort.

It's a shame so much of this great Saint's work is co-opted by sedevacantists and other schismatics, as it is both profound and salutary.

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On Reading Spiritual Books

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Some books pose a real danger to one's complacency. For each person these books will be different, but they all threaten in the same way--they force one to think about God and how one is living life with respect to Him. This is not something I do readily. Often I go out of my way NOT to think about God because it will get in the way of what I really want to do. It's a whole lot easier to get along if God doesn't keep nosing in.

However, the spiritual life is not that way. In fact the spiritual life is enough to make one think that Freud actually got something correct in his hypotheses about the functioning of the personality. We have all experienced St. Paul's, " For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (KJV, Romans 7:19) This suggests that there is an internal battle raging constantly between our fallen nature and the nature God wants us to take on. Spiritual reading, properly done, spurs yet another encounter in the battle. This is why many avoid it.

Of recent date one book that has had the full strength of convicting force is St. Teresa Benedicta's work on St. John of the Cross--The Science of the Cross. Perhaps because the work is about poetry, perhaps because it is about St. John of the Cross, perhaps because it is written by St. Teresa Benedicta, but certainly because the Holy Spirit is using some connection between the work and my personality, nearly every line of the book speaks to me. Were I underlining it, the entire text would be underlined and annotated. It is one of those works I wish were readily available in electronic format so I could copy out sections and write all of my thoughts on it. It is a work that calls me to really think about Christ and God. It forces me out of comfort and complacency and into the challenging arena of spiritual warfare.

There are many books like this. Through time some have been tested and found excellent by many sources. The Imitation of Christ is chief among these. While there may be passages that do not speak to you at this very moment, there will be others that direct your attention to things you'd really rather nor look at. I am reminded of the scene of Judas's death in The Passion of the Christ. Just prior to it we are offered a brilliant image of the nature of sin in the form of a maggot-ridden, fly-blown corpse so distorted it is difficult to say what kind of animal it is. We very naturally don't want to look at such things. Nevertheless it is necessary and salutary work. If we are harnassed or shackled to such a thing, surely we would want to be aware of it. And we live in a world of people harnessed just so.

Another work that has helped many has been Fray Luis of Granada's A Sinner's Guide. So too with Scupoli's Spiritual Battle. These are all works that convict. But even those that do not address sin straight on, can still convict. St. Louis de Montfort's True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary Jean-Pierre de Caussade's Abandonment to Divine Providence, St. Thérèse of Lisieux Story of a Soul, in fact all the great works of the saints are designed with one purpose. They are designed for the sole purpose of any great Christian writer: to get you to open your eyes and walk toward God and to get you to see, if only momentarily how far you are from where God would have you be. And then to prompt you to move toward Him. This is true of the works of Flannery O'Connor, Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene (at his best), and Walker Percy. When you read this fiction, you should stand convicted.

All reading should be spiritual reading and all spiritual reading should be directed toward the transformation of life. Yes, I know there is a place for eutrepalia, and yes, there is a place for leisure. Nevertheless, we would do far better for ourselves were we not to coddle and nurture these notions. Time spent with what does not lead to God is time wasted. Surely eutrepalia is as possible and even as likely in great works that lead to God as in the collected opera of Dean Koontz, Stephen King, John Grisham, and Michael Crichton. Indeed, I think these latter works, and others as well, serve more to insulate us from God than to bring us to Him.

Whatever it is we do it should be directed toward God's glory. This includes even those little choices such as what to read and what to watch on television. When we surrender to God it must be all the way. It isn't just part of us that goes to heaven, but the entire person. So spiritual reading, as uncomfortable as it may be, should occupy a major portion of our reading time. We should seek our joy and consolations in the presence of the Lord. And where there is great beauty, there also is the Lord. Reading any worthy work with the idea of learning more about God will likely result in learning more about God. Thus, much of our reading can become spiritual reading (assuming of course that the work is worthy to begin with.)

It's obvious I've strayed from my initial point, but these notes should help a bit. Perhaps in the future I'll share some of my favorite works of spirituality. It seems that there is a great hunger in St. Blog's for advice concerning these matters. Or perhaps not. Even if no one else should ever cast an eye over these ruminations to myself they are fruitful as a reminder of the path I should be following. I pray they may also help those who are really seeking after God's will in all that they do.

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Prayer Requests 3/29/04

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Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory. (1 Chronicles 29: 11)


Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Requests


Please pray for Bud MacFarlane to come to his senses and defy, rather than buy into, the culture of death, that offers such easy outs. Dear Lord, remind him of this

Nathan asks for prayers for a seminarian friend, Theo, with a heart condition and for a protestant friend who is working through the difficulties that attend conversion to the Catholic Church

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

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Wonderful New (to me) Blog

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Look at this wonderful blog by a resident of Ireland. It is truly a religious blog, focusing on religious and spiritual topics and providing rich articles and links. Please visit and say hello to this wonderful and gentle visitor.

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Missed Opportunities

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Lent is drawing to a close and I am overwhelmed with the sense that I have not taken full advantage of the spiritual riches of the season. As with every year, though I anticipate Easter, I almost wish the season could linger a week or two or three. The disciplines instilled, the expected focus, the deliberate positioning of oneself in the way of grace all strike me as critically important, and six weeks is hardly enough to make something of them.

However, this season, the Lord has spoken to me very clearly through my friends in the blogosphere and through the works of His saints that He has had me stumble over. He has given me St. Katharine Drexel and her wonderul fiestiness. He has given me also Romano Guardini and his careful reminders about prayer and the mass. He has given me St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and her magnum opus--The Science of the Cross. He has given me the blessing of one man's devotion in a moving icon (twice) and He has asked me to reflect upon it. In addition he has showered upon me untold and unexpected riches in the world--responsibilities and opportunities.

Now, I look at this last week and I ask God to sustain me in the vocation to which He has called me. I look forward to Holy Thursday with it's memorial of the installation of the Eucharist. I look forward particularly to Good Friday with its somber reminder of What was done and Who was harmed to make good my sins. I look forward to the joyous season of Easter, and ask God that in its great joy, I do not forget the lessons of Lent, but I sustain them in my heart and in my practice.

Lent is not yet over. I always anticipate too much. But I am half-fearful and half joyful at its drawing to an end. I pray that the disciplines of the season are something I can take away with me and can make a permanent part of my life.

I pray also for all of you that this Lent has been a blessing and that the experiences of it alter your lives so that your paths are more ordered to God's will and to serving Him unstintingly in every facet of your lives.

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Prayer Requests 3/28/04

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Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Requests


Please pray for Bud MacFarlane to come to his senses and defy, rather than buy into, the culture of death, that offers such easy outs. Dear Lord, remind him of this

Nathan asks for prayers for a seminarian friend, Theo, with a heart condition and for a protestant friend who is working through the difficulties that attend conversion to the Catholic Church

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

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On Taking Up Our Crosses--WOW!

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from The Science of the Cross
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Knowing this, Jesus' disciple not only takes up the cross that is laid upon him, but also crucifies himself: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." They have waged an unrelenting battle against their natures, that the life of sin might die in them and room be made for the life of the spirit. That last is what is important. The cross has no purpose of itself. It rises on high and points above. But it is not merely a sign--it is Christ's powerful weapon; the shepherd's staff with which the divine David moves against the hellish Goliath; with it he strikes mightily against heaven's gate and throws it wide open. Then streams of divine light flow forth and enfold all who are followers of the Crucified.

It is in passages like this that we come to understand the true meaning of the word visionary.

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Another Reading Group

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Conducted by Father Shane Tharp at Ragemonkey. First book, the magnificent Meditations Before Mass by Romano Guardini. Go and join the discussion, it will be worthwhile.

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A Nightmare in the Making

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T.S. O'Rama (q.v. for some amusing comments) directs our attention to this suggested design for a church in Napled, FL. for Ave Maria University. I can't begin to enumerate the problems with this, but I'll try.

1. First strong wind (and there's a goodly number of them here in Florida) the Crystal Palace will be reduced to Our Lady of the Pointy Shards. (How did this thing ever meet code in South Florida?)

2. I work in a glass building. It is never the right temperature. In summer we are all using space heaters and wearing sweaters int he morning and stripped down to our shorts (figuratively) in the afternoon.

3. It's just not very attractive for a church. I like opening the Church up to take in all creation, but I've seen better and more sensible ways to do it.

I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what happens with it. I'll pray for its success and for me to be, as is more often true than not, completely in the wrong.

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No matter how one may regard the movie, something of this nature is magnificent and wonderful beyond words. I don't know Mr. Gibson's involvement in the interprise, but simply by allowing images from his work of art to be used Mr. Gibson demonstrates the fullness of heart that gave rise to the film. For him, it is obvious, there is a passionate interest in the saving of souls. First he blesses us with a film that is a moving, iconic experience for a great many. And then he blesses us by properly allowing that work of art to be used to assist many lost souls on the way to salvation. What a tremendous, powerful witness and what an example of evangelism.

A colleague at work brought a couple of the pamphlets distributed by this group in for me to see. They are well done and as moving in some ways as the film, constantly coming back to the theme of our redemption and of Christ's great love for us. They are of a different Christian tradition than our own, but they are doing the work of winning souls to Christ. It is my prayer that by posting this message a visitor who drops in looking for whatever odd thing may have led them here discovers the wonders of Christ's love through this outreach. If I only serve to point the way to others who can help bring one soul to Jesus, I have fulfilled a great purpose in God's plan.

Truly, Mr. Gibson seems to try to live out the fullness of St. Teresa Benedicta's imperative to artists--not just to portray, but to live out the Passion itself. His passionate love should be an example to all of us. This truly calls from the depths of the heart a true thanksgiving to God for the gift He has bestowed upon us both in the film and in the witness of the filmmaker.

(P.S. Take a look at the quotes from Church leaders to get a sense of the breadth of this campaign. )

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The Science of the Cross

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St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross made such a splash yesterday and the enthusiastic plaudits were such that I couldn't disappoint by not bringing more. First a definition: "St Paul who already had a well-developed science of the cross, a theology of the cross derived from inner experience (p. 20) And now this passage:

from The Science of the Cross
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

The saving power: this is the power that awakens to life those to whom divine life had died thorugh sin. This saving power had entered the Word from the cross and through this word passes over into all who receive it, who open themselves to it, without demanding miraculous signs or human wisdom's reasons. In them it becomes the life-giving and life-forming power that we have named the science of the cross.

Paul brought it to fulfillment in himself "Through the law I died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." In those days when all turned into night about him but light filled his soul, the zealot for the Law realized that the Law was but the tutor on the way to Christ.

It could prepare one to recive life, but of itself it could not give life. Christ took the yoke of the Law upon himself in that he fulfilled it perfectly and died for and through the Law. Just so did he free from the Law those who wished to receive life from him. But they can receive it only if they relinquish their own life. For those who are baptised in Christ are baptized in his death. They are submerged in his life in order to become members of his body and as such to suffer and to die with him but also to arise with him to eternal, divine life. This life will be ours in its fullness only on the day of glory. (p. 21)

There are two points in this that really spoke to me:

(1) In those days when all turned into night about him but light filled his soul, the zealot for the Law realized that the Law was but the tutor on the way to Christ.

The law is the sign that points to the great redeemer, not redemption itself. I know this from all that is taught and yet to hear this revelation from one who would know--a Jewish convert to Catholicism--completely transforms an intellectual truth into a heart-truth. St. Teresa Benedicta lived this transformation and more. She learned the truth of the law, abandoned it, and then learned the fullness of the law in Jesus Christ. She died as a martyr for her people (in her own words), taking them with her in a mystical way in the reality of her own death and rising. She reified the truth of Christ's sacrifice on the cross in her own life and death. And as with all martyrs she is among the best imitators of Christ.

(2) They are submerged in his life in order to become members of his body and as such to suffer and to die with him but also to arise with him to eternal, divine life.

This may be more significant for those of us who had adult, full emersion baptisms. In the Baptist Church, once you accept Christ, you are baptised in a pool of water--not by having water sprinkled or poured on you, but by being completely emersed in the water three times--"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." This is quite a different experience from that of most Catholics (many of whom cannot remember their baptism) and even most adult converts. I've seen many who have had water poured over them, but have yet to witness a full emersion Catholic baptism. That's an aside, but important. In full emersion you are truly submerged, and brought forth again fully symbolizing the death and resurrection into which we are being baptised.

In St. Teresa Benedicta's terms we are submerged into the body of Christ which is the living Church and the body of the resurrection. We die to self to become part of what is greater than we are. In dying we are resurrected as more than self, as a member of the body of Christ.

But I like the sense of submerged for another reason. It suggests the fullness of the truth that Christ is not only completely surrounding us, but within us. When one is completely submerged, eventually the fluid one is submerged in enters the body. Submergence in Christ once again suggests the truth of becoming a new person, of losing the old, false identity and assuming one's god-given place in the body of Christ. In addition, submergence contains within it hints of subordination, of right ordering, and of proper relation between the creation and the Creator. In all, a very satisfying fleshing out of Paul's magnificent, life-giving teaching.

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Prayer Requests 3/26/04

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Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51)

Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Requests


Please pray for Bud MacFarlane to come to his senses and defy, rather than buy into, the culture of death, that offers such easy outs. Dear Lord, remind him of this

Nathan asks for prayers for a seminarian friend, Theo, with a heart condition and for a protestant friend who is working through the difficulties that attend conversion to the Catholic Church.


For Johnnette Benkovic and family--whose son was recently killed in truck accident. May God grant them peace and serenity in the face of this tragedy. And for the soul of Simon Benkovic, that he may be enjoying the splendor of the beatific vision. (Request by RC of Catholic Light)

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

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On Dark Night of the Soul

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A blog that I have visited in the past (but don't read as often as I ought because of the blinding headaches I get from trying to deal with some of the difficulties presented by factions within Catholicism )Rerum Novarum presents an intensely interesting although very focused reading of Dark Night of the Soul. I found illuminating what Mr. McElhinney is saying, and have decided to visit the site more frequently.

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More Lawyers for St. Blogs

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I have to admit, I have a thing for legal blogs. Part of it is a discipline for me--I have a personal animus toward the profession as a whole, generally endorsing Shakespeare's solution to all the world's problems--"First Hang all the Lawyers." However, I know this is not the solution, and B.F. Skinner has shown us the way to face our fears, phobias, and hatreds is actually to face them.

In doing so, I have discovered how truly wrong I can be, about lawyers, but not necessarily about how law is conducted in the U.S. So my public apology to all lawyers who do not deserve the animus I occasionally allow to flare out. And my public commendation to those of St. Blogs--The Mighty Barrister, the Author of Crim Law, and now the gentlemen from the Tricoastal Commission. My apologies for casting aspersions on what should be one of the noblest of professions and for those lingering doubts that I just can't seem to get rid of. Allow me to express my deep appreciation for your presence here, helping me to understand the complexities of a field I too readily condense, simplify, and then despise. I have learned a tremendous amount and I am humbled for my previous arrogance. And I am really, really, really working on that deep-seated mistrust. You all help. Thanks.

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Here

an excerpt:

God’s timing never fails to be amazing. Here we are in the middle of the season of Lent, following Jesus as He makes His way to Jerusalem and ultimately to His passion, and suddenly, as if a flashback in a film, we’re taken to where the story began.

This amplifies the pathos of the coming passion. We see a woman captivated by an angel, in love with God, saying, “Let it be unto to me as you say.” Mary’s eternal “Yes” resounds through time and through space as Jesus Christ becomes man and is born for us.

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from The Science of the Cross: Introduction
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

But--in contrast to a holy realism--the artist's receptivity to impressions is one that the world views in the light of a particular domain of values too readily at the expense of other values. This results in a particular sort of responsive behaviors. It is characteristic of the artist to transform into image anything that causes an interior stirring and demands to be expressed exteriorly. Image here is not to be restricted to the visual arts; it must be understood to refer to any artistic expression including the poetic and musical. It is simultaneously image (Bild) in which something is presented and structure (Gebilde) as something formed into a complete and all-encompassing world of its own. Every genuine work of art is in addition a symbol (Sinnbild) whether or not this is its creator's intention, be he naturalist or symbolist.

It is a symbol: that is, it comes from that infinite fullness of meaning (Sinn) into which every bit of human knowledge is projected to grasp something positive and speak of it. It does so in such a manner, in fact, that it mysteriously suggests the whole fullness of meaning, which for all human knowledge is inexhaustible. Understood this way, all genuine art is revelation and all artistic creation is sacred service.

Despite this, it is clear that there is a danger in an artitistic inclination, and not only when the artist lacks an understanding of the sacredness of his task. The danger lies in the possibility that in constructing the image, the artist proceeds as though there were no further responsibility than producing it. What is meant here can be demonstrated most clearly by the example of images of the cross. There will sacrcely be a believieng artist who has not felt compelled to portray Christ on the cross or carrying the cross.

But the Crucified One demands from the artist more than a mere portrayal of the image. He demands that the artist, just as every other pesron, follow him: that he both make himself and allow himself to be made into an image of the one who carries the cross and is crucified.

(Note to T.S.--this definitely adds to Mr. Gibson's accomplishment in that the media excoriation is a definitive image of the One scourged. I too have little use for the detractors from the film who see only what they wish to see.)

The other aspect of responsibility for the art is too readily dismissed by modernists and postmodernists. Once the work is created they disavow any reactions or results of the art. We get crucifixes in urine and dung-smeared Madonnas and outrage when such works of "art" are criticized or publically declaimed. We get eminem saying that his lyrics encouraging hatred of women and of homosexuals aren't there to inspire hatred (then, what, pray tell, are they there for, because they certainly don't edify or entertain); we get filmakers who produce films that "tell the truth" (or so much of it as they are capable of seeing) who say they are not responsible for offending, hurting, or inspiring acts of terrorism and hatred. Nonsense. The artist's responsiblity does not stop at the production of the work. This is part of my problem with Stockhausen's comments after 9/11. The artist is also responsible for some interpretations of the work. Stravinsky was not responsible for the battles that broke out over The Rite of Spring but he was responsible for the music that resulted from his work. An artist cannot bear the burden of responsibility for every crackpot interpretation of his work, but as Mr. Gibson once again amply demonstrates, he must in some way answer for it--publicly or before God. Personally, I'd rather face the public than offend my God.

St. Teresa Benedicta goes on to point out another crucial responsibility of the sacred artist and that is to live out the life he is called to. Just as every one of us is called to imitate Christ in His mysteries, so too the artist is called to so. And perhaps an artist is called to do so more publicly because their work is in the realm of the public. That is, when we as individuals think matters less in some very real ways, than what those who have access to the media think and do. Thus, we have a personal, community, and familial responsibility to imitate Christ, but the more public the figure, the greater the burden of responsibility for the proper representation of Christlikeness. This is why so many are hurt and disappointed when Christian artists do patently non-Christian things. We have an example before us presently that needs our constant prayer that the party involved realize the implications of his action and learn to do the right thing rather than buying into the lies of the culture of death.

So the artist's work is a sacred undertaking because it draws our attention to Meaning and the One who is inexhaustible. And also the artist's responsibility is commensurately greater as his work is more popular.

All of this from an introduction to a book about St. John of the Cross and his doctrine. One can readily see why St. Teresa Benedicta is so much lauded and admired for her intelligence and her thought. And The Science of the Cross is her EASY book.

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Prayer Requests 3/25/04

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Make us the servants of your peace,
Renew our stength, remove all fear;
Be with us, Lord, througout this day.
For all is joy, if you are near. (Hymn from Morning Prayer)

Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Prayer Requests


Please pray for Bud McFarlane to come to his senses and defy, rather than buy into, the culture of death, that offers such easy outs.

Nathan asks for prayers for a seminarian friend, Theo, with a heart condition and for a protestant friend who is working through the difficulties that attend conversion to the Catholic Church.


For Johnnette Benkovic and family--whose son was recently killed in truck accident. May God grant them peace and serenity in the face of this tragedy. And for the soul of Simon Benkovic, that he may be enjoying the splendor of the beatific vision. (Request by RC of Catholic Light)

Please pray for Peyton, a classmate of Samuel. She had a seizure last night and went to the emergency room (met mom and dad at the Doctor's the morning)

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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Special Prayer Request

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From Marie MacFarlane's Sister, found on Fonticulus Fides. (Bai is Marie MacFarlane.)

I figured there is no further reason to delay in making a plea for your prayers. During their courtship and earlier years of their marriage Bud and Bai have appeared to all to be a devout Catholic couple.  But now, Bud is filing for divorce with no apparent interest in working for reconciliation, while Bai is leaving no stone unturned in her efforts to keep her family intact. 

Please pray for Bud that his heart will be softened and open to reconciliation, for Bai that she would know what is the most wise and loving course of action, and for their four young boys who are caught in the middle of this sad situation.

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Terrible, dreadful, awful. Stay as far from it as you can. It is yet another example of the froth and the spume that is continually churned out by some evangelical publishing houses. It provides for the reader what pop-psychology books supply--the intellectual and spiritual equivalent of a sugar-rush followed by the inevitable low when one comes to realize that it isn't possible to act upon it in the way the author has indicated.

The chief problem with the book is that Warren gives very little time to the real purpose of a purpose-driven life--the praise, worship, adoration, and profound love of God particularly through His Son Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Grace gets very little play in The Purpose-Driven Life.

In our last discussion of this book, Warren made the point that we are all called to "mission work." My reponse was, "So every member of the body of Christ is a foot?" This is just one example among many of the kind of facile gloss with which Warren approaches the spiritual life. What is most disturbing is that the audience for something like this is committed Christians, people who ought to know better and ought to be able to see through this surface. I don't say that the book will led them astray, but I do say that it strands them on an island of self-motivation largely apart from the bounty of Grace.

One gets the impression from the book that if you took it in your mind to do so you could become an evanglist like Billy Graham. Patent nonsense. Surely, if you are called to that by God and supported continually by Grace, it may happen. But the actuality is that very few of us are called to serve our brothers and sisters in that way.

Do not be taken in by this book. It will lead only to disappointment and disillusionment as the glow from forcing yourself though three hundred pages of execrable prose and even more execrable reasoning in a mere forty days wears off. Do yourself a favor and spend the forty days reading Dickens or Austen. It will do every bit as much for your spiritual life, and leave you with a legacy of great Art as well. (Austen never disappoints, and Dickens only rarely. Speaking of Dickens, another observation regarding the book: If one were to act upon Warren's words literally, we would become a nation of Mrs. Jellybys with children running wild in the streets while we meticulously tended to the mission in Africa.) No, we've been warned many times against this by better works.

Do not be drawn in by the enthusiasm of adherents. Read instead The Imitation of Christ, Introduction to the Devout Life, Practice of the Presence of God, or Story of a Soul. These are works that inspire devotion, love of God, and service with roots solidly in Grace. These are proven works--proven by the sanctity of the people who wrote them and proven by the grace of God which has beeen showered down through the ages on those who read them. Become a person with a real purpose by reading the Bible and learning to love, worship, praise, and adore our loving Father and His whole creation. But for heaven's sake, leave Warren on the remainder tables where he belongs.

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Becoming God's Friends

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from Awakening Your Sould to the Presence of God
Fr. Kilian Healy OCD

What more could God have done to invite us to be His fieends? Did He not send HIs only-begotten Son into the world to become man, so that we might find it easier to know and to love Him? Di dnot Jesus say on the eve of His passion:"No longer do I call you servants. . . but I have called you friends"? Was He not revealing to the Apostles and to the future members of the Church their vocation to intimacy with Him, the Son of God?

There you have it--we are called to a vocation of intimacy with Him. He has given the instructions, the example, and the grace. Now, we must take Him up on the invitation. How can we grow to love God if we do not talk to Him? Many of us already share our concerns of the day, but many of us do not share the deep-down reality of who we are. Part of the reason for that is that we are afraid of who we are in Christ. That person would be called upon to act differently than we normally do in the world. That person would have no entitlements and would have no rights before all. He would be a servant of God and a servant of the servants of God. We don't really want to be servants. Okay, maybe we want to be, but I can tell you, I'm not terribly keen on the idea. A servant gets kicked around. A servant gets ignored. A servant has no real recourse when abuse is heaped upon him.

So the role of servant doesn't really appeal to me--I suspect it doesn't appeal to many. However, the role of God's friend does appeal to me. It appeals to me so much that the role of servant may not be so bad. Here is where I must change. I must pray for the grace to serve and the grace to love. Only in serving our fellow men can we become God's friends. Jesus made it explicitly clear in the parable of the sheep and the goats. "Whatsoever you do unto the least of these, thy brethren, that you do unto me." Suddenly the idea of service isn't so bad. Perhaps I can serve. Perhaps I can learn to see Jesus in those in need. Surely with grace this can be accomplished. And perhaps I can begin to be who Jesus would want me to be. Perhaps I can begin to have an identity in Christ.

All is grace. None of this can happen if I refuse the actions of grace. None of this can happen if I remove myself from conversation with God. So I must seek to open the channels of grace, to exercise spiritual muscles and disciplines that I have heretofore left inactive. And I do this because all is grace and all is gift. I can do nothing of myself. But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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Added to the Book List

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I've added three books to the list, which just means it takes that much longer to get through any one of them. Some stall out, others move forward. However, these books are really interesting:

Finite and Eternal Being St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)--Said to be a study of the concepts of Potency and Act in Thomist Philopsophy. My wife opened randomly to a page and started reading and then laughing hysterically. She read the sentence and asked whether (1) it was in English and (2) how one could parse the sentence to make any sense of it. I replied that that's what you get for picking a sentence from the middle of a book, but it did give me pause.

Soul Making Alan Jones--I'm pursuing this one with the Monday Evening Fellowship group I attend. I have some real doubts about it--an attempt to conflate psychoanalysis and desert spirituality with Rahner, Schillebeeckx, and any number of Zen sounding would-be desert dwellers.

The Science of the Cross St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross--Magnificent from the first word on. Meant to share from it this morning, but don't have the text with me. My apologies. But a profound study of St. John of the Cross and his understanding of the Cross. Contrary to popular legend, the book is complete. While it might not be in exactly the form St. Teresa Benedicta would have it, had she seen it through to publication, it is in all essentials a complete version of what her thought on the matter was.

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Prayer Requests 3/25/04

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Teach us to be loving
not only in great and exceptional moments,
but above all in the ordinary
events of life. (Morning Prayer)

Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Prayer Requests

Today is the funeral of many who died in the attack on Madrid:
For the people who died in the terrorist attack in Spain, for their families and friends, for all of the wounded and their families and friends, for the people of Madrid who are haunted by this horrendous act, for all of the people of Spain, and for those who would perpetrate such evil that God transform their hearts and minds into those of people befitting the title "Children of God."

For Johnnette Benkovic and family--whose son was recently killed in truck accident. May God grant them peace and serenity in the face of this tragedy. And for the soul of Simon Benkovic, that he may be enjoying the splendor of the beatific vision. (Request by RC of Catholic Light)

Please pray for Peyton, a classmate of Samuel. She had a seizure last night and went to the emergency room (met mom and dad at the Doctor's the morning)

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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Our server was down during the time I normally add requests. However, I assure everyone that they were remembered at morning prayer. My apologies for missing this morning and also for a paucity of content today due to aforementioned server problem.

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An Interesting New Place to Visit

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See The Song of the Golden Horn. The Blog of a classicist, soon-to-be medievalist. Full of interesting and occasionally bewildering (to my feeble mind) observations. Enjoy.

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Via Noli Irritare Leones At least it isn't that ghastly Wuthering Heights

JaneEyre
'Tis a great mystery, but somehow you have come to
belong in Jane Eyre; a random world of love,
kindness, madness, bad luck and lunatic ex-
wives. There really isn't much to say about the
place you belong in. It's your place, and
though it seems far from reality largly due to
how random the events are, you seem to enjoy
it. You belong in a world where not too many
people understand you, and where you can be
somewhat of a recluse.


Which Classic Novel do You Belong In?
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Reading List

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A Handful of Dust Evelyn Waugh

The Loved One Evelyn Waugh

Bleak House Charles Dickens

Awakening Your Soul to the Presence of God Fr. Kiliam J. Healy OCD

Mystic Sweet Communion--Jane Kirkpatrick--HIGHLY recommended--a history of Fort Lauderdale at the turn of the century. Everything I love about Christian writing stripped of everything I hate. No heavy-handedness, no preaching, no bashing.

The Art of Praying--Romano Guardini

The Sorrows of Christ--St. Thomas More

On the Passion of Christ According to the Four Evangelists--Thomas á Kempis

Spiritual Theology--Jordan Aumann--My thanks to Mr. White for reminding me of it, and Tom for some advice concerning it.

The Ascent of Mount Carmel--St. John of the Cross

The Codex--Douglas Preston--on a sort of hiatus until after Lent.

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Sophia Press publishes some very interesting reprints of books from the past. Much of the time I am annoyed by their tendency to abridge, edit, or alter any such text. However, the work is often worth reading. So is the case with the book quoted below:

from Awakening Your Soul to the Presence of God
Fr. Kilian J. Healy OCD

It is quite possible to come to a profound love of God, but it will not be something that comes to us like a flash of lightning. Ordinarily, it will grow with time. For it is a love of friendship--wishing good to another. It grows in proportion as love for self decreases. Self-love decreases only after a difficult battle, but it is a battle that each and every one of us must fight. We have no alternative, for Christ has said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul." Since God does not command the impossible we can fall out of love with ourselves and in love with God. It is never too late to start.

Fr. Kilian's book seems to be a gloss on Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection's Practice of the Presence of God with some hints about how to do it. The back cover blurb promises "simple practical ways to think of God continuously, to converse with Him intimately, and to please Him at all times." I'll let you know.

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What You Read Here

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It's important to post a reminder from time to time about the nature of this blog. There is very little here that is original. What you read about me and my family are the only things I have to contribute. Everything else is from the treasury of the Church, the wisdom of the saints. I provide glosses on these great treasures. These glosses serve to comment on and unite disparate works, but they are merely glosses--nothing new, nothing astounding, sometimes not even particularly helpful--they share one person's thoughts and experiences as commentary on the wisdom passed down to us.

I truly appreciate the gracious audience that stops by to read these reflections, but I don't want to mislead--almost everything here is the fruit of a different orchard--one that I hope to join, God willing, but one that seems a distant goal right now.

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Prayer Requests 3/22/04

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Blessed be God the Father
for His gift of this sacrifice of praise.
In the spirit of this lenten season,
let us pray:
Instruct us, Lord, in the ways of Your kingdom. (From morning prayer).

Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

SPECIAL URGENT REQUEST

Chris Keith, for whom we have been praying for some time had some tests recently which revealed that the growths on her liver have increased in size. If you did not pray for Chris at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, pray now and back-date it. God honors all of our prayers in eternity.

Praise
Amanda reports that God has recently richly blessed her book design business. Keep praying.

Christine and Gordon have a contract on their home here in Florida and a accepted bid in on a home in Louisiana, please pray that everything goes smoothly from here on out.

Prayer Requests


For Johnnette Benkovic and family--whose son was recently killed in truck accident. May God grant them peace and serenity in the face of this tragedy. And for the soul of Simon Benkovic, that he may be enjoying the splendor of the beatific vision. (Request by RC of Catholic Light)

Please pray for Peyton, a classmate of Samuel. She had a seizure last night and went to the emergency room (met mom and dad at the Doctor's the morning)

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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benedict
You are the Cross of St. Benedict: This cross is
inscribed with several prayers for holiness and
peace including, -May the holy cross be my
light! May the dragon never be my guide- and
-Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your
vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the
poison yourself!-


What Kind of Cross are You?
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To Be a Carmelite

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from the writings of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity as found here

So, on the mountain of Carmel, in silence, in solitude, in a prayer which is unceasing, for nothing can interrupt it, the Carmelite already lives as though in heaven: for God alone! The same God who will one day be her beatitude and will fulfill her desires in glory, is already giving Himself to her here on earth. He never leaves her, He dwells in the depths of her being, and more wonderful still, He and she are but one. And so she is hungry for silence and prayer that she may always listen to Him and penetrate more deeply into His infinite Being. She identifies herself with Him whom she loves, she finds Him everywhere. She sees Him shining through everything. She belongs to Him alone, and trusts completely in His loving and faithful providence. Is that not heaven on earth?

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from The Merchant of Venus
William Shakespeare

Tell me where is fancy bred,
Or in the heart or in the head?
How begot, how nourished?
Reply, reply.
It is engender’d in the eyes,
With gazing fed; and fancy dies
In the cradle, where it lies.
Let us all ring fancy’s knell;
I’ll begin it – Ding, dong, bell.

Ding, dong, bell.

I stumbled onto this blog this morning, and I was painfully reminded of a moment in the past that I have thought, at last, to share to help those who are discerning a vocation.

Shortly after I became Catholic, or it could have been in the course of planning to become Catholic the timeline is a bit fuzzy, I conceived the idea of becoming a Trappist Monk. I was inspired by Thomas Merton's work and by a poet friend who had recently become a Franciscan.

This desire for silence and retirement grew and grew within me. At the time I neither understood vocation nor did I have anyone to help me in the discernment process. There were a great many pressures in my life and contemplative silence was very appealing.

Ultimately, as noted by the fact that I have a wife and a child, I decided not to pursue this daydream. And every once in a while I wonder whether I took the right path. That is not to say that I am in the least unhappy in my present life. But sometimes things are seen in just the right slant of light and I have a sharp, sudden, poignant pain--a powerful reminder of what I gave up to pursue my present path. Once again, I reiterate, this is a good life, a life God has graced and blessed, but one cannot help but wonder.

What ultimately decided me in my path? Remember I was either becoming Catholic or just new to the faith. I had no one to help me decide. I was young and feeling pressure from every side. When I thought about retiring to a monastery, there was peace and calm and perfect happiness. Eventually I convinced myself that I had invented this monastery to give myself peace and calm--that no monastery would really be any such thing. This was the equivalent of imagining Caribbean blue water and waves on the shore. It was a momentary calming thing. I decided that the monastery did not represent fleeing into the arms of God, but fleeing away from the world. These are two very different motives for entering a monastery. One is noble and correct, the other perhaps less so. But now, in looking back, I wonder whether the less noble motive wasn't a stronger motivator. That is, still being formed, perhaps God spoke to me in a way that I could understand. His hand may have been extended offering peace in which I would eventually grow to love him.

Those are past regrets. They occasionally re-emerge to remind me of what is now no longer possible. This is my "road less travelled." And practically the only one I ever wonder about. I don't know if my decision at the time was right. However, what I can say definitively is that God honored that decision--He didn't make the rest of my life a living Hell for not hearing His call (if that is what it was). He continued to guide me and be with me and lead me to my present place---a very different place from the monastery.

This is not to say that one should take lightly any of these decisions, but that one should not walk the path alone. Look for a good guide, a good spiritual director who will help you discern vocation. Particularly is you are young and considering vocation, don't think you can or should do it all yourself. Find someone to help you discern the path

People who are Catholic from birth may have an easier time with this than I did, I don't know. But whoever you are, however you are raised, find help and defining your calling. It never hurts to test the spirits and to see which way you are being led. And know that whatever you choose, God will be with you. It isn't one strike and you're out. In fact, it may not even be a strike at all. Outside of sin and defiance, I have come to believe that God's plan and purpose for your life is infinitely adjustable; He only asks that when making the decision you consult Him. Often we sweat bullets over which is the "right path" to take, and sometimes I think there are a great many "right paths." So long as God is first in our lives, He can use all of our decisions to His greater glory. So always pray and discern and listen. Then, if you don't feel or hear any strong persuasion one way or the other, make your choice and wait to see God's working in your life.

Oh, and as to the epigraph. I am not in the monastery. But the call to interior silence is every bit as great as it was. And the call comes now not from the outside, from my thoughts and my stress, but from the inside, from a heart longing to love and to please God. May the heart longing to please God always be your guide into His paths.

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Prayer Reminder

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Please remember to pray at 4:00 EST today for Chris Keith. The family is counting on the support of many pray-ers. Thank you.

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Guess the Dictator

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Father Jim of Dappled Things found this truly remarkable quiz I did defeat it, but now it can figure out Gilgamesh as well as all the other odd people I chose. Enjoy.

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Art Movement

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A good second best to the Surrealists



which art movement are you?
this quiz was made by Caitlin
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Prayer Requests 3/19/04

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Thus I will bless you throughout my life,
and raise my hands in prayer to your name;
my soul will be filled as if by rich food,
and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice.
I will remember you as I lie in bed,
I will think of you in the morning,
for you have been my helper,
and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. (psalm 63)


Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

SPECIAL URGENT REQUEST

Chris Keith, for whom we have been praying for some time had some tests recently which revealed that the growths on her liver have increased in size. There will be an evaluation to consider further treatment. But of more immediate note, there will be a healing service for her tomorrow at 4:00. Her mother-in-law has requested the assistance of our prayers tomorrow at 4:00 pm. (EST) Please make a sacrificial gift of prayer to assist in this necessity. Invoke the help of your favorite cause. Please be a blessing to everyone who gathers for this prayer service.

Praise
Christine and Gordon have a contract on their home here in Florida and a accepted bid in on a home in Louisiana, please pray that everything goes smoothly from here on out.

Davey's Mom tells us that newborn C. went from danger of imminent death to brain-damaged. Let us continue to pray for this child that the damage be as little as possible and that the child be a source of strength, hope, and joy to the family.

Prayer Requests


A very important request from a St. Blogs parishioner--"I found out recently that my friend's sister is pregnant for the fourth time. Her other three children have autism, and I know it would make her very, very happy to have a normal child." Please pray for this poor woman that she might have the joy of a healthy pregnancy and a happy, healthy delivery and new infant. Our Lady of La Leche, pray for us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. St. Gerard Majella, Pray for Us.

Please pray for Peyton, a classmate of Samuel. She had a seizure last night and went to the emergency room (met mom and dad at the Doctor's the morning)

For the people who died in the terrorist attack in Spain, for their families and friends, for all of the wounded and their families and friends, for the people of Madrid who are haunted by this horrendous act, for all of the people of Spain, and for those who would perpetrate such evil that God transform their hearts and minds into those of people befitting the title "Children of God."


For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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No matter HOW you answer, you may as well just fess up.

With Peony Moss, we make up the dual font of Modern American Poetry, but why couldn't I be Keats, or Crashaw, or Vaughn. (Possibly because those weren't choices). Oh well, better than Sylvia Plath, at least.

Dickinson
You are Emily Dickinson! Not all that much is
known about Emily Dickinson, probably because
she holed herself up in her room and wrote
poetry. She didn't have very many connections
with the world outside her house, and her
poetry is very introspective and
compartmentalized. You need to get out more.


Which famous poet are you? (pictures and many outcomes)
brought to you by Quizilla

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from The Passion of Christ According to the Four Evangelists
Thomas á Kempis

Peter did not fall into the deep pit of despair as did the unfortunate Judas, but he trusted in your continuing abundant mercy, which he had often experienced. Thus shedding sorrowful tears, he hastened to do penance, the saving rememdy for sin, and found the gate leading to infinite mercy wide open to him.

And Judas did not seek out this remedy. Surely Judas's crime was by far the greater, and yet the same gate of mercy swung wide for him. He was one of those Jesus trusted with the precious gift of His message, so surely he was assured a place among them even after his dastardly act. But Judas's public repudiation put him squarely in the eye of the world. He judged himself by the eyes looking in upon him (much as those unfortunates in Sartre's world of Huis Clos) and despaired because he could not rejoin the company. He so thoroughly believed the lies of the world that he condemned himself.

And yet it is my prayer that the love of Jesus redeemed him nevertheless. Jesus knew to the core the weakness of this vessel, and Judas fulfilled His every expectation. I pray that Judas had the grace of final repentance and has his seat among the twelve. (Though Dante would tell me otherwise.)

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I have found that there are generally two types of practical books about prayer (here I am not refering to advanced treatises like van Balthasar's theology of prayer). One is an insipid string of clichés;s about "who, what, when, where, how, and why," that fails to stimulate a spirit of prayer and most often fails to provoke anything other than yawns. The other type is a book so thoroughly practical, so dense with helpful advice and with insights that it is virtually impossible to finish because its main effect is to make you abandon the book and start praying--truly an effective work on prayer.

It is into this latter category that I classify Romano Guardini's wonderful The Art of Prayer. It is one of those books that rather than underlining, one would do better to use a black magic marker to delete the one or two sentences per chapter that you wouldn't read again, except that would deprive you of their help when you next came back to it.

This makes it most difficult to choose what to share, what stirkes one, and what might be most helpful. But I will endeavor to share a bit of what the book has given me:

from The Art of Prayer
Romano Guardini

It is a great mystery that man, whose life springs from God, should have such difficulty in communing with Him; that indeed he should experience disinclination to do so and should sieze on any pretext to evade Him. If man merely followed his natural feelings he would soon have no desire to pray. It would, however, be highly dangerous to conclude that this is his proper condition and that he had better accept it, rather than try to change it. . . . Are a sick man's feelings a reliable standrad of truth? Common sense tells us that his feelings may well be unrealiable and he should therefore, guided by superior knowledge--for instance, the judgment of an experienced doctor--establish a regime and persevere in it. In this manner and with time, his feelings may be restored to health. Only then will they be reliable. We are like the sick man; we are sick in our relationship to God and to the world. We cannot therefore make our natural feelings the true standard for our religious attitude, but must follow enlightened opinion in order to put ourselves and our feelings right. The supposed truthfulness which consists in doing what inclination demands is frequently an evasion of truth. In the practice of prayer therefore, we must also endeavor to seek what is right and to do it loyally and, if need be, against our inclinations.

Even those of us inclined to prayer spend much of our time being disinclined. It is grace and the Holy Spirit that lead us "with leashes of love" to the royal throneroom. Prayer is very, very hard to start, and extremely easy to abandon. Satan has used our own natures and allowed them to accumulate the spiritual equivalents of inertia and friction any motion is difficult to begin and requires a constant effort to maintain.

As a result those of us inclined to pray spend a great deal of time reading books about prayer, books about God, books about how to stop reading books about prayer and start doing, and using all manner of clever dodges for avoiding prayer and calling it preparing for prayer.

Or maybe not. Perhaps I'm the only person caught in such a cycle, though from speaking to others, I suspect not.

Routine is helpful. This is why, a while back, I spent some time encouraging the daily practice of the liturgy of the hours. There was a notably dampening response to that suggestion--intimating that it was too difficult, too time consuming, not necessary for sanctity or furthering prayer life. And yet I note that when I am faithful to the Liturgy of the Hours all other prayer flows more easily (not to say spontaneously), and when I break that routine, I shatter the rest of my prayer life as well.

A fixed time and a set place are a good beginning to a constant prayer life. When vocal prayer becomes habit, when its lines and contours are known and well worn, then it can begin to deepen and take root in the soul. St. Teresa of Avila advises us that a well-formed vocal prayer is already a mental prayer.

This is one of the reasons that the Rosary is so effective a mechanism for encouraging the contemplative life. The words of the prayers form a known and set rhythm and it is on this undulating tide that the meditations on the mysteries take place. The words form the backdrop and the prayer can center on the mysteries. So too with the Jesus Prayer or with the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The words are less important that the meditation that goes with them. When this meditation continues for a long enough period than mere images are no longer necessary and we enter into the realm of contemplative prayer. I suspect few of us get there because we will not settle into a routine.

We've been told (incorrectly) that prayer should be spontaneous and not in fixed modes. The devotions the Church used to encourage are less welcome among some modern clerics. And while spontaneous prayer is good and a wonderful way to "practice the presence" it is a serious mistake to abandon or repudiate time-honored methods of prayer.

Good, solid prayer takes root in well-worked soil. And well worked-soil comes about only through constant application and routine. The great old devotions and prayers of the Church are exquisite ground for beginning a prayer life than can lead directly to union with God. In addition, these well traveled routes have been followed by all the great Saints upon whose intercession we can rely for help as we set out to join God.

The Ascent of Mount Carmel to union with God in prayer is not a solitary road. Along it we have the help of the ages--well-worn, comfortable prayers, and clouds of witnesses, legions of Saints who have pledged their lives and their heavens to assisting those of us too weak to stand on our own. The Ascent is always done in a community of prayer and we all can make the Ascent if we set our minds on doing so and rely upon grace and the prayer of the Communion of Saints to make it happen.

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Prayer Requests 3/18/04

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Seek the Lord, while he may be found,
cll him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Praise
Christine and Gordon have a contract on their home here in Florida and a accepted bid in on a home in Louisiana, please pray that everything goes smoothly from here on out.

Davey's Mom tells us that newborn C. went from danger of imminent death to brain-damaged. Let us continue to pray for this child that the damage be as little as possible and that the child be a source of strength, hope, and joy to the family.

Prayer Requests


A very important request from a St. Blogs parishioner--"I found out recently that my friend's sister is pregnant for the fourth time. Her other three children have autism, and I know it would make her very, very happy to have a normal child." Please pray for this poor woman that she might have the joy of a healthy pregnancy and a happy, healthy delivery and new infant. Our Lady of La Leche, pray for us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. St. Gerard Majella, Pray for Us.

Please pray for Peyton, a classmate of Samuel. She had a seizure last night and went to the emergency room (met mom and dad at the Doctor's the morning)

For the people who died in the terrorist attack in Spain, for their families and friends, for all of the wounded and their families and friends, for the people of Madrid who are haunted by this horrendous act, for all of the people of Spain, and for those who would perpetrate such evil that God transform their hearts and minds into those of people befitting the title "Children of God."


For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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What Is It About Poets

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That they can't seem to keep that same name more than a week at a time. First Dylan, now Thomas. But Thomas doesn't just change the name, he also has to move to an entirely new place each time--sheesh! Well, wherever he is, it is always interesting reading so take the time to greet him in his new abode.

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from an article by Elizabeth Anne VanderPutten

More information and a picture of the staircase seehere

The Miraculous Staircase

According to the story, the Sisters, seeking an answer to their architectural design dilemma, made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.

Legend says on the ninth and final day of a novena, a man showed up at the chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months later the elegant circular staircase was completed and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. Some believe that he was St. Joseph himself.

Whoever the carpenter was, the staircase is a wonder. Some of the design considerations are said to still perplex experts today.

Built without nails (only wooden pegs) the staircase has two 360 degree turns with no visible means of support -- a kind of double helix design in the Old West -- and with no railing. It was not until 1887 -- ten years after the staircase was completed -- that an artisan named Phillip August Hesch added the railing.

There are also design questions about the number of stair risers compared to the height of the choir loft and about the types of wood and other materials used in the stairway's construction -- some of which appear not to have been available from any known local source.

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with St. Katharine Drexel. I'm reading only the briefest of books and now I'm dying to read the writing of the saint herself. There is so much noble, wonderful, magnificent, strong, frail, in the work that she did. There is such inherent courage. God truly formed her in a way that would make it possible for her to stand up to Southerners who did not want a school for blacks near them. Can you imagine standing up to an imperious Philadelphia Matriarch? What wonders God performs with His broken people.

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Challenging Stories

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The empiricist in me always finds stories like this enormously interesting and very challenging. They help me to grow through trust.

from Meet Katharine Drexel
Mary van Balen Holt

Mother M. Mercedes once told an interesting story of their arrival for the ceremony. She said Mother Katharine had been delayed and had taken a later train to Richmond than intended. It pulled in under a dark night sky.

Mother Katharine was willing to remain at the station and wait for morning Mass and a chance to buy breakfast before traveling on to Rock Castle. but the station closed after their train arrived. Forced to stand outside, trying to decide what to do, they were met by an older black gentleman with a horse-drawn carriage. He told them they were expected to spend the night at the Franciscan convent of St. Joseph in town.

Surprised, but appreciative, the two sisters climbed into his carriage. Once at the convent, he carried their bags to the door and left. They rang many times before rousing anyone.

As it turned out, no one had been expecting them, nor had the Franciscans sent the older gentleman to meet the travelers at the station. Mother Katharine commented that he must have been St. Joseph, who did not want them out alone so late at night.

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Loving God

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The enormous appetite of Love demands all--not merely the mind, nor the body alone, nor the soul--but all that we are, all that we have, all that we do, all that we touch. Love is unsatisfied by half measures. Jesus sings:

"All or nothing at all,
half a love never appealed to me."

Jesus "spits out of his mouth" the church at Laodicea because it is not ardent. It neither loves nor hates, but it rests in the lukewarm waters of its bath and is complacent. Burning love forces the lover into action. Ardent love cannot rest on its laurels. When Jesus says, "If you love Me, you will heed my commands. . ." it isn't merely an injunction. He is telling us how we can recognize the fruits of our love for Him. True love cannot be still until the heart of the Loved One is Satisfied.

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"Understand then, that the Lord, your God, is God indeed, the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant to the thousandth generation toward those who love Him and keep His commandments." (Deuteronomy 8-9)

"What we have here is a failure to communicate." Cool Hand Luke

Another flare-up of the perennial DaVinci Code virus elsewhere in St. Blogs provoked the thoughts that follow. I have noted a strong tendency to rush toward the apologetic books when this particular virus raises its ugly head. And that is well and good to help people combat the misinformation.

But it led me to the question--why should this be necessary? If someone accused your mother of being a slut would you run for the dictionary, to show that by definition she is not? Or would you simply let love take the lead. This is not to fault those who wish to address and correct the errors that are introduced here. It is to fault whatever mechanism gives rise to so weak a love of Jesus that some are inclined to take seriously any calumny uttered against Him.

It seems to me that much of our apologetics stays in our heads and never percolates down to the heart where it can foster true and lasting love. The only true defense against such idiocy is Jesus Himself. If we truly love Him, then nothing said against Him can convince us of anything other than the truth. The purpose of apologetics is to convince, but after conviction, something must help the truth bloom into love.

Where do we fail as Catholics to foster the love that should be the strongest line of defense against this horror? Obviously, those of us in St. Blogs seem to have no real problem with this; however, it appears that a great many outside the community have a faith that falters when assaulted with clever half-truths and glamorous lies. As I said before, if someone calls your mother a slut, the heart rushes in to battle what we know to be a lie. Where is the heart rushing in to battle the lies uttered against Jesus? What is wrong with our system that we should be so weak?

Yesterday I quoted a passage that said, "The family is the first 'sacrament.'" The more I read of the life of St. Katharine Drexel or St. Thérèse of Lisieux, I realize that their early advantage in life that led to lives of heroic sanctity was a devoted, loving family that focused attention on God as loving Father. The heart of love is fostered in the home. Children learn to love Jesus if they see that there is an obvious, passionate love of Jesus in the hearts of their parents.

All of us know that children will learn more from what we do than from what we say. We cannot instruct a child on the dangers of smoking while puffing on a cigar. We can't tell them the dangers of alcohol consumption while we blithely imbibe. They learn more from example than from speech. We can spend all day every day talking about Jesus and teaching the facts of Church History, Christology, Theology, and any number of other disciplines; however, if our children never witness us turning to God with our problems, if we do not take the time to sit down and pray with our children, they will not know Love. And "if I speak with tongues of angels and have not love, I am as a clanging cymbal," my words are meaningless. If I teach the most vaunted truths, and talk all the time of mystical theology, but I never once retire to pray, I have taught nothing worthwhile. Some of the information may stick in the head, but the heart is unmoved.

This, I think, is the position of most people whose faith is assaulted by such nonsense as The DaVinci Code. They may well know the facts they were taught in CCD, through sermons, or at home. However, the head has never transferred the facts to the heart where they feed love. And this often comes about because there is no strong devotion in the home. Parents do not instruct their children to pray first about any problem before trying to act upon it. They do not teach their children to rush into the Arms of Love. If we are armed merely with the technical facts of hypostatic union and transubstantiation, we will be like deer in the headlights when someone approaches with another intellectual construct--say consubstantiation or "the Church suppressed the fact that Mary Magdalene was married to Jesus." Complete balderdash, utter nonsense, and completely believable to one whose heart is not fortified by love of Christ and of His Earthly body, the Church.

Our intellects can be persuaded of any number of idiotic and patently untrue theories. This is what the "fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil" is all about. Knowledge is based on a series of facts chained together in arrays that make some sort of reasonable intellectual construct. But these constructs are subject to attack on any number of grounds. The principles that form them may prove untrue or unstable, the configuration of facts can be changed to create a new, equally likely construct.

Intellect must be fortified by love. Knowledge must be strengthened by prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and most importantly self-giving. And all of these are fostered not by the institutions we erect to teach and lead, but in the home, in the heart of the family. So, save your children this heartache and pain now, while you may, teach them to pray because Love of God is born in talking and listening to Him, not merely in the facts about Him.

When we hear of those challenged by the DaVinci code or by any number of other heresies, let us rush to their aid armed with facts. Let us show them the untruth of what they see. But let's start our assault with a prayer, either together, or before we ever meet with the one who needs help. Let us surround the intellectual battle with an unpierceable mantle of profound love and self-giving to Jesus the Lord. And when the facts have been arrayed, let us stand ready to lead the one attacked into prayer and into love of Jesus Christ. If we love Him, we cannot believe the preposterous things said of Him and of His church on Earth. Start the battle with prayer, continue the battle under the cloud of the Almighty (just as He shielded the Israelites) and end the battle with prayer. Our final goal should be to move the heart as much or more than we move the mind.

Love then is our strongest defense. Absolute abandonment to God protects us, mind and body, heart and soul from all the nonsense uttered by the greatest intellects on Earth. The proper response to an atheistic neo-Freudian is not a refutation of Freudian theory, but "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. . ." The proper response to The DaVinci Code is a presentation of facts followed by , "For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

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Prayer Requests 3/17/04

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(from morning prayer, for our Irish friends)

Mine is the sunlight!
Mine is the morning
Born of the one light
Eden saw play!
Praise with elation
Praise every morning
God's re-creation
Of the new day!


Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Special Urgent Need

For the people who died in the terrorist attack in Spain, for their families and friends, for all of the wounded and their families and friends, for the people of Madrid who are haunted by this horrendous act, for all of the people of Spain, and for those who would perpetrate such evil that God transform their hearts and minds into those of people befitting the title "Children of God."

Praise
Christine and Gordon have a contract on their home here in Florida and a bid in on a home in Louisiana, please pray that both of these remain solid and that the preparation for the move goes smoothly.

M'Lynn reports that the court case is dismissed and her little one is reacting well to her medication. Keep praying, mothers like M'Lynn need all the reinforcements we can give them to bolster patience, courage, and a maternal heart.

It appears that Gregory Nemiroff is out of the hospital and doing well. Pleae pray for his continued recovery.

Prayer Requests


A very important request from a St. Blogs parishioner--"I found out recently that my friend's sister is pregnant for the fourth time. Her other three children have autism, and I know it would make her very, very happy to have a normal child." Please pray for this poor woman that she might have the joy of a healthy pregnancy and a happy, healthy delivery and new infant. Our Lady of La Leche, pray for us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. St. Gerard Majella, Pray for Us.

Please pray for Peyton, a classmate of Samuel. She had a seizure last night and went to the emergency room (met mom and dad at the Doctor's the morning)

A request from Davey's Mom:"Please pray for S. and her newborn baby C., both had problems after the birth and C. is brain damaged."

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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I Suppose I Shouldn't Be. . .

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but I am amused.

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from Meet Katharine Drexel
Mary van Balen Holt

Family is the first "sacrament." In it one experiences God through flesh-and-blood faces, arms, and hearts. When a mother holds a crying infant close, the child experiences God's loving embrace. When a father reassures a young one who is afraid of a storm, the child knows the safety of God's love. Such experiences give human beings some way to understand the love of God with us.

We are blessed and cursed by family. No matter how good the family, there are always small things that are "wrong" or do not serve us well in later life. Our job as parents is to make certain that on the whole the memory and reality of family that our children carry forth into the world is a good one. If we really want to stop the contraceptive mentality short in its tracks, our only real mechanism is the experience we give our children in family. If it is hard, harsh, and dreadful, if each additional child is seen only as a burden in the carrying and in the reality, if we do not teach love as the funadmental ground of reality, we only increase the risk that our own children will buy into the mentality of the society that surrounds them. If, on the whole, the family experience is one of love and mutual support, an expanding circle of ever more life and love of God, how can our children desire anything other than this profound experience for themselves in later life?

Family is where we learn of God's love. Many of us have our doubts about God's love that stem from these family experiences. We have wounds and hurts that cripple us in our relationship with God because of mistakes our parents made. We need more than anything to forgive our parents and use the experience to NOT be to our children what our parents were to us. Everyone does as much as they can do. Every parent tries to be a good parent. Some meet the needs of their children, others do not. As parents, it's time to give up our woundedness and not pass it on to our children. It's time to live love and teach our children to live it as well.

I know you parishioners of St. Blog's already do this. If you are like me you spend time wondering what life altering defect you afflict on your child that you don't even see. Better not even to worry about it, but take your nearest little one into your arms--yes, even if a teenager and reluctant--and let them know that they are loved, and that your love is a sign of the richer, fuller, more expansive love that God has for them.

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Prayer Requests 3/16/04

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Will you not restore again our life
that your people may rejoice in you?
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.

Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

Special Urgent Need

For the people who died in the terrorist attack in Spain, for their families and friends, for all of the wounded and their families and friends, for the people of Madrid who are haunted by this horrendous act, for all of the people of Spain, and for those who would perpetrate such evil that God transform their hearts and minds into those of people befitting the title "Children of God."

Praise
Christine and Gordon have a contract on their home here in Florida and a bid in on a home in Louisiana, please pray that both of these remain solid and that the preparation for the move goes smoothly.

M'Lynn reports that the court case is dismissed and her little one is reacting well to her medication. Keep praying, mothers like M'Lynn need all the reinforcements we can give them to bolster patience, courage, and a maternal heart.

It appears that Gregory Nemiroff is out of the hospital and doing well. Pleae pray for his continued recovery.

Prayer Requests


A very important request from a St. Blogs parishioner--"I found out recently that my friend's sister is pregnant for the fourth time. Her other three children have autism, and I know it would make her very, very happy to have a normal child." Please pray for this poor woman that she might have the joy of a healthy pregnancy and a happy, healthy delivery and new infant. Our Lady of La Leche, pray for us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. St. Gerard Majella, Pray for Us.

Please pray for Peyton, a classmate of Samuel. She had a seizure last night and went to the emergency room (met mom and dad at the Doctor's the morning)

A request from Davey's Mom:"Please pray for S. and her newborn baby C., both had problems after the birth and C. is brain damaged."

For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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Orson Scott Card on The Passion

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I love much of Card's work (Lost Boys being one notable exception). Here's a nice review I picked up on from several places--Curt Jester (?) and Summa Mamas. Enjoy.

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Thoroughly Modern Mary

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I am such an enemy of the big M that I refuse even to acknowledge his presence in anything other than this blurb; however, this delightful blog by a liberated and "with-it" female religious should prove both controversial and entertaining. Constructed by a man who appears to have infinitely expanding space/time chambers to write the night away. Well done and insightful.

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I'll make a nice pairing with Fr. Jim of Dappled Things

  • My #1 result for the SelectSmart.com selector, What Civil War General are you like?, is Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson (Confederate): Eccentric Virginian, he was Lee's best general until he was accidently shot by his own men.

    I'd rather be Lee, for whom I have tremendous respect. But this isn't a terrible second. (Thank goodness I wasn't Sherman--I'd have to go out and buy a new personality.)

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    St Blogs Parish Hall

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    For those who have not already heard elsewhere, Mary Herboth of Every-New has set up a St. Blogs Parish Hall--a place for discussion and conversation. Please visit.

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    Truth in Prayer

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    from The Art of Praying
    Romano Guardini

    No hard-and-fast rules can be laid down for this; we shall discuss it more fully later. But whatever routine one may adopt, one should carry it out honestly and conscientiously. In matters of prayer we are only too apt to deceive ourselves because, generally speaking, man does not enjoy praying. He easily experiences boredom, embarrassment, unwillingness, or even hostility. Everything else appears to him more attractive and more important. He persuades himself that he has not got the time, that there are other more urgent things to do; but no sooner has he given up prayer than he applies himself to the most trivial tasks. We should stop lying to God. Better to say openly, "I do not wish to pray," than to make such excuses. Better not to resort to specious justifications such as, for instance, tiredness, but to declare, "I do not feel like praying." This may sound less decorous, but at least it is the truth which leaves the way open, whereas self-deception does not.

    A word to the wise is enough. Y'all know who you are, so just stop it. :-) And, of course, I'm a big one to be talking. But it is nice to have someone point out to you a few home truths.

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    Reading List

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    Mystic Sweet Communion--Jane Kirkpatrick--HIGHLY recommended--a history of Fort Lauderdale at the turn of the century. Everything I love about Christian writing stripped of everything I hate. No heavy-handedness, no preaching, no bashing.

    Meet Katharine Drexel--Mary van Balen Holt--A most remarkable woman raised in a most remarkable family.

    The Art of Praying--Romano Guardini

    The Sorrows of Christ--St. Thomas More

    On the Passion of Christ According to the Four Evangelists--Thomas á Kempis

    Spiritual Theology--Jordan Aumann--My thanks to Mr. White for reminding me of it, and Tom for some advice concerning it.

    The Ascent of Mount Carmel--St. John of the Cross

    The Codex--Douglas Preston--on a sort of hiatus until after Lent.

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    Prayer Requests 3/15/04

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    O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer,
    give ear, O God of Jacob.
    Turn your eyes, O God, our shield,
    look on the face of your anointed. (Psalm 84)

    Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

    Special Urgent Need

    For the people who died in the terrorist attack in Spain, for their families and friends, for all of the wounded and their families and friends, for the people of Madrid who are haunted by this horrendous act, for all of the people of Spain, and for those who would perpetrate such evil that God transform their hearts and minds into those of people befitting the title "Children of God."

    Praise
    M'Lynn reports that the court case is dismissed and her little one is reacting well to her medication. Keep praying, mothers like M'Lynn need all the reinforcements we can give them to bolster patience, courage, and a maternal heart.

    It appears that Gregory Nemiroff is out of the hospital and doing well. Pleae pray for his continued recovery.

    Prayer Requests


    Special Request from a parishioner:"Today is the 16th birthday of our oldest daughter, Maria Gabriella, if you would please remember Gaby in your prayers today, I'd be most grateful. I pray that Mary to whom she has been dedicated since her earliest days continues to watch over and guide her."

    A very important request from a St. Blogs parishioner--"I found out recently that my friend's sister is pregnant for the fourth time. Her other three children have autism, and I know it would make her very, very happy to have a normal child." Please pray for this poor woman that she might have the joy of a healthy pregnancy and a happy, healthy delivery and new infant. Our Lady of La Leche, pray for us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. St. Gerard Majella, Pray for Us.

    Please pray for Peyton, a classmate of Samuel. She had a seizure last night and went to the emergency room (met mom and dad at the Doctor's the morning)

    A request from Davey's Mom:"Please pray for S. and her newborn baby C., both had problems after the birth and C. is brain damaged."

    For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

    From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

    For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

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

    For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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    Ascent of Mount Carmel X

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    The Ascent of Mount Carmel X--Book II, Chapters 9-12

    Read pages177-189 in The Ascent of Mount Carmel

    Chapter 9
    1-5 Pick one of the "proofs" John has suggested for faith being the proximate and proportionate means for the intellect to approach divine union and read it carefully. Listen to what John says about it. Come ready to share what you have heard in prayer.

    Chapter 10

    2. In what ways can the intellect get ideas? How do these two differ?

    3. Into what categories is supernatural knowledge divided? How do they differ?

    4. What are the five types of spiritual knowledge? (Two major subdivisions, one with four means of revelation, the other with only one.)

    Chapter 11

    1. What does John say the first book of the Ascent of Mount Carmel is about? How is supernatural knowledge delivered to the exterior senses?

    2. What important warning does John give about these apprehensions?

    3. What is the main danger of cherishing and thinking about these apprehensions?

    4. As these apprehensions become more exterior what happens to their utility for the soul?

    5. What happens to the person who esteems these apprehensions? Read and note the last sentence of this section very carefully. It is one of the most important points St. John and St. Teresa have to make about supernatural visitations.

    6. If we are to ignore them, why does God give visions and locutions? What happens to the person who receives them upon receiving them?

    7. What are six possible negative effects of desiring further visions and locutions?

    8. What is one danger of not rejecting these apprehensions?

    9. What will happen to the person who deals with these apprehensions as St. John suggests?

    10. John uses the image of the Beast of the Apocalypse with seven heads and ten horns. Look at the scripture reference and see how John uses it to describe what happens in the mansions.

    11-13 These sections are a recap and a summary of what went before. What is St. John's continually repeated strong advice for us in the face of supernatural apprehensions?

    Chapter 12

    1. What apprehensions are imparted to the interior senses?

    2. What must we do to the interior senses once we have become sufficiently advanced in the prayer life? (Please note that imaginative apprehensions are often useful in the early stages of prayer, so one must carefully gauge where one is (preferably with the help of a spiritual director) before one makes the decision to abandon these.)

    3-4 What are imagination and phantasy? Why is it necessary at some point to abandon them?

    5. How can these apprehensions get in the way of union with God?

    6-8 What is the best advice for one looking to advance in the spiritual life? Why is this so important? What might happen if the advice is ignored? What might happen if the advice is employed too early in one's prayer life?

    Please feel free to use these notes as a study guide or to lead others in reading The Ascent of Mount Carmel. I don't pretend that they are any more than one person's imperfect reflections on a great work, but they at least give a starting point for reflection. They just skim the surface, but, properly employed, I pray they might lead on to greater understanding.

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    from Prescription Against Heretics
    Tertullian

    Chapter I.-Introductory. Heresies Must Exist, and Even Abound; They are a Probation to Faith.
    [1] The character of the times in which we live is such as to call forth from us even this admonition, that we ought not to be astonished at the heresies (which abound)2 neither ought their existence to surprise us, for it was foretold that they should come to pass;3 nor the fact that they subvert the faith of some, for their final cause is, by affording a trial to faith, to give it also the opportunity of being "approved."4 [2] Groundless, therefore, and inconsiderate is the offence of the many5 who are scandalized by the very fact that heresies prevail to such a degree. How great (might their offence have been) if they had not existed.6 [3] When it has been determined that a thing must by all means be, it receives the (final) cause for which it has its being. This secures the power through which it exists, in such a way that it is impossible for it not to have existence.

    Interesting and arresting words for our time. Rather like--"There will always be wars and rumors of war." So too, "Heretics will always be among you--they try the word and find error so that those who stay loyal to the path can know the truth."

    Don't know about the reasoning, but at least an interesting document from the Tertullian project.

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    from The Anatomy of Melancholy
    Democritus Junior (Robert Burton)

    A third argument may be derived from the precedent, [436]all men are
    carried away with passion, discontent, lust, pleasures, &c., they generally
    hate those virtues they should love, and love such vices they should hate.
    Therefore more than melancholy, quite mad, brute beasts, and void of
    reason, so Chrysostom contends; "or rather dead and buried alive," as [437] Philo Judeus concludes it for a certainty, "of all such that are carried
    away with passions, or labour of any disease of the mind. Where is fear and
    sorrow," there [438]Lactantius stiffly maintains, "wisdom cannot dwell,"

    ------"qui cupiet, metuet quoque porro,
    Qui metuens vivit, liber mihi non erit unquam."[439]

    Seneca and the rest of the stoics are of opinion, that where is any the
    least perturbation, wisdom may not be found. "What more ridiculous," as
    [440]Lactantius urges, than to hear how Xerxes whipped the Hellespont,
    threatened the Mountain Athos, and the like. To speak _ad rem_, who is free
    from passion? [441]_Mortalis nemo est quem non attingat dolor, morbusve_, as [442]Tully determines out of an old poem, no mortal men can avoid sorrow
    and sickness, and sorrow is an inseparable companion from melancholy.
    [443]Chrysostom pleads farther yet, that they are more than mad.

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    Prayer Requests 3/13/04

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    Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

    Special Urgent Need

    For the people who died in the terrorist attack in Spain, for their families and friends, for all of the wounded and their families and friends, for the people of Madrid who are haunted by this horrendous act, for all of the people of Spain, and for those who would perpetrate such evil that God transform their hearts and minds into those of people befitting the title "Children of God."

    Praise
    M'Lynn reports that the court case is dismissed and her little one is reacting well to her medication. Keep praying, mothers like M'Lynn need all the reinforcements we can give them to bolster patience, courage, and a maternal heart.

    Samuel appears finally to have recovered from his tummy bug.

    It appears that Gregory Nemiroff is out of the hospital and doing well. Pleae pray for his continued recovery.

    Karen Marie Knapp has returned to us. Pray for her continued recovery.

    Prayer Requests


    Please pray for Peyton, a classmate of Samuel. She had a seizure last night and went to the emergency room (met mom and dad at the Doctor's the morning)

    Please pray for Samuel who now has an ear infection and asthmatic symptoms. It hasn't been a good couple of weeks for the little guy.

    For Terry of Summa Mamas, who appear to be contracting "something icky"

    A request from Davey's Mom:"Please pray for S. and her newborn baby C., both had problems after the birth and C. is brain damaged and "unlikely to live." S. has three older children."


    Please continue to pray for Samuel he seems to be much, much better, but still not quite himself.

    For Pansy Moss and her new addition.

    For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

    From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

    For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

    For Kathy in her trials

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For some recent concerns of my own

    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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    Moving Days

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    Please welcome Father Keyes to his new home at St Blogs.

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    On Not Talking Politics

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    The dreadfully maladjusted T.S. O'Rama finds something risible about a thread going on at Disputations which is striving to knock Haloscan out of orbit without hacking. It is somewhat immodest of me to post this as I am involved in the discussion (at enormous length), but immodesty is the word of the day, and T.S. gave me a laugh. Thank you for noting our attempt at the longest non-political non-vituperative blog-exchange. Please mention us to Guiness next time you meet him.

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    On the Desertion of Christ

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    from On the Passion of Christ According to the Four Evangelists
    Thomas á Kempis

    May Saint Peter's fall and the apostles' flight serve me as a warning against sin rather than be obstacle in my path. Let their return to repentence instill in me the great hope that I too may seek mercy after my own failings; for there is no one so holy that does not sometimes fall into venial sin. If it should happen that I am deserted by friends and acquaintances or am looked upon, by those whom I love, as a stranger and as one who is worthless, then grant me, as a special remedy, to recall your complete desertion and abandonment, that I may readily forego all human consolation, and in some small measure be conformed to you as you undergo your trials.

    Gentle Jesus, forgive me for having so often offended you, for so easily turning to vanities, and for not setting my heart on that which I have proposed to do. How often I look back on the amount of time I spent on so many things, all far from important, while I paid no attention to your Passion. You have preceded me along the narrow road, and with eyes dry I pass by as if your sorrows have no effect on me. Remember my foolish heart and instill in it a loving remembrance of your Passion.


    It is entirely too easy to forget what Christ has done for us, even as we remember it. We are too easily distracted by the pretty baubles of God's good world, and too easily drawn away by our own trials.

    We abandon Jesus for any reason or for no reason at all. We leave at the slightest provocation. We become wrapped up in ourselves and our trials and we forget Him, though we have promised to stay close to Him. We hunker down for Lent and spend perhaps an extra few minutes a week during which we cast Him a passing thought. Is this how we treat "My Life and my All?"

    Unfortunately we do so. But, so then did the disciples when he needed someone most of all. Thomas encourages us to take a lesson and hope from this and to allow our wayward selves to tap into God's grace, as did the apostles. Yes, we will stray away, but let us always return to the straight and narrow path trodden out first by Christ and then by His legion of Saints throughout the ages. Let us give ourselves unreservedly to His Glory that it permeate the entire world. Let us make Love live in the hearts and minds of all who surround us through His grace. Let us rely upon grace and carry His light into the world.

    Though we stumble and fall, He is there to pick us up as we were not in His dolorous way.

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    He Is My Heaven

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    He Is My Heaven
    Jennifer Moorcroft

    Run out, or over to ICS Publications right now and get this book! I have been blessed more and more by the publications of the Institute--first with Barbara Dent's My Only Friend Is Darkness and now with this wonderful, short, clear biography of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity.

    The outlines of Blessed Elizabeth's life are already well-known to many. Her remarkable similarity to and enormously strong differences from her near-contemporary St. Thérèse well-known. Moreover, to fill you in on the details in large part takes away from the surprises and interest of the biography.

    I suppose I should say that I am not generally a fan of biographies. And hagiographies bore me nearly to tears. There are remarkable exceptions. Chesterton's concise and moving biographies (more appreciations) of St. Thomas and St. Francis, and others that my feeble mind cannot properly cite at the moment. This book falls into the category of exceptions.

    It is brief, but complete. What is particularly nice is that there are extensive excerpts from the writings of Blessed Elizabeth. She didn't leave us with a full-fledged autobiograph á la St. Thérèse, but an extensive batch of letters helps give all the details of her thought and much infomration about her interior life and formation. Moreover the writing is, while not top-notch, certainly workmanlike and serviceable. I was profoundly moved, over and over again as I read about Blessed Elizabeth's life and her painful death (at the age of 26. I must say that it has crossed my mind more than once that being a Carmelite is not conducive to long life--I suppose living in the living flame may tend to burn one out very quickly.)

    But do yourself a favor and find out more about this remarkable woman and saint. You can start by knocking on the door of Christine whose site is named for one of Blessed Elizabeth's famous phrases, and Revolution of Love, the authors of which seem to have a special devotion to Blessed Elizabeth.

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    Grace--An Unexpected Gift

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    One of the delights of serving the St. Blogs community is that from time to time, I get very special little gifts. In this case, I was given permission to share the gift with the community and it is truly tremendous. Please express your appreciation to this truly talented poet in the comments box below. And my most Sincere thanks to Father Woolley.

                          Cor Unum

            O lover, pierced with sorrow, crowned with shame,
            deign here to be consoled, adored, caressed.
            Hide here thy face, a living signet pressed
            to willing wax; and I'll, soft, whispering, claim
            thee, veiled, my cherished own.  Here slake thy flam-
            ing thirst, thy wounded head here, cradled, rest,
            safe on the flowery meadows of my breast.
            Listen -- my heart beats nothing but thy name.

            Here, in this ardent ground, flower forth thy mys-
            teries of crown, cross, chalice, thou blest mart-
            yrs' prince, and fire-wine-apple-incense kiss-
            es shower on brow, throat, breast till thou, I part-
            less die, rest, rise and dowered with boundless bliss
            blooms, springs in both our breasts one rose, one heart.

    Father Deacon John Woolley

    There is much too much magnificent about this poem to even begin to delineate. The language is rich (much like my beloved Seventheenth Century--about which you have been spared in recent months), antique, and yet not incomprehensible, but somehow more tangible that much of our modern jabber. There is an intense enjambment (flow from one line to the next without stopping) that creates a dynamic tension of the poem. And what can one say as to the sentiment ultimately expressed. I do not know Father personally, but this certainly sounds like the fruit of spending much time with the Lord.

    At any rate, my most sincere thanks, and my prayers that whatever gave rise to this magnificent poem continues to grow and bring the author ever closer to the God so supremely invoked here.

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    Prayer Requests 3/12/04

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    You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be made clean; you will wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
    You will make me hear the sound of joy and gladness; the bones you have crushed will rejoice.
    Turn your face away from my sins and wipe out all my transgressions;
    create a pure heart in me, God, put a steadfast spirit into me.
    (Psalm 51)

    Please make a special effort to remember all of the intentions of the St. Blogs community that I cannot gather together here, or that have not been expressed in writing, but rest in the hearts of the writers.

    Special Urgent Need

    For the people who died in the terrorist attack in Spain, for their families and friends, for all of the wounded and their families and friends, for the people of Madrid who are haunted by this horrendous act, for all of the people of Spain, and for those who would perpetrate such evil that God transform their hearts and minds into those of people befitting the title "Children of God."

    Praise

    It appears that Gregory Nemiroff is out of the hospital and doing well. Pleae pray for his continued recovery.

    Karen Marie Knapp has returned to us. Pray for her continued recovery.

    Prayer Requests

    A request from Davey's Mom:"Please pray for S. and her newborn baby C., both had problems after the birth and C. is brain damaged and "unlikely to live." S. has three older children."


    Please continue to pray for Samuel he seems to be much, much better, but still not quite himself.

    For Pansy Moss and her new addition.

    For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

    From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

    For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

    For Kathy in her trials

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For some recent concerns of my own

    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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    You know, it's odd. There are days when I really need to "hear" a human voice through the comments box. God makes certain that those days comments are particularly sparse. Yesterday was one of them. I longed to hear someone say something, that something written actually meant something to them. Nothing. So I went over to Disputations and kicked up a fuss that must be spinning the HaloScan dials non-stop. It helped me to take my mind off (momentarily) the nearly constant gnawing fear and worry over Samuel.

    But God does this for a reason. I'm supposed to be listening and dependent upon Him. As much as I love you all and appreciate your wonderful prayers and great comments, that isn't what should be barring the gates of worry and fear. What should be my defense is the certain and unshakeable knowledge that God really loves me. He loves me more than words can say, so He took action--He died and redeemed me. He is my rock, my foundation, my fortress, my God in whom I trust. He should be my first line of defense.

    But the worry is the cross of the day--it extends into tomorrow and beyond, but I merely need to bring myself back and remember--one step at a time toward His open arms. What happens tomorrow, happens tomorrow. Right now, I need to trust and love Him. I need Him far more than I need blog comments. But that doesn't stop me from longing for a word. And it is that longing, that attachment that I need to learn to curtail by flinging myself into Him open arms and burying myself with Him to rise with Him.

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    Urgent Prayer Need

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    Reiterating Peony's request below and giving it is full importance:

    Please remember the victims of the terrorist attack in Madrid (170 dead, 600 wounded).


    And the families affected. Pray particularly for the safety of St. Blogs member Jesus and his entire family and circle of friends.

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    Suffering for Christ

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    I don't know about you, but this is an aspect of Saints' lives that always bewildered me. God made life beautiful, wonderful, and glorious. Why would we want to go through it suffering for His sake? Wouldn't it be better to glory in it for His sake? To appreciate the good, and treasure it for all that it is, the gift God saw fit to bestow upon us? Yes, I know that we will return home to the Father, and we should look forward to that wonderful day, but should we discourteously dismiss the wonderful gifts that He has given us so that we can suffer more? Is that the way we treat the gifts of our human parents? Box them up and ship them off so that we can do without?

    Last night in my reading, I stumbled across this reminder, which I recall from reading St. Thérèse, but needed to hear again.

    from He Is My Heaven
    Jennifer Moorcroft

    It is well worth quoting this remarkable letter [249] in full, if only because of the superb advice it contains. But it also reveals so beautifully Elizabeth's spiritual outlook. It is full of common sense, taking full account of our human weakness and yet at the same time piointng to the heights of holiness. It is completely without self-pity; far from asking "why me?" her utter assurance that she and others are totally loved by God enables her to see purpose and meaning in suffering. But there is no hint of suffering for suffering's sake. Her conversation with Mother Germaine shows the same commonsense approach; if it cannot be avoided, and we have a duty to look after ourselves, then we must use it for his glory. The whole letter is permeated with Scripture, which she mediatated upon and lived. Above all, this was no theory, but only wat she experienced for herself.

    As the Buddha pointed out (incorrectly) "All life is suffering." Well, ALL life is not suffering, but even the very best earthly life comes with its share of sorrow, disappointment, and pain. When these cannot be avoided, as Blessed Elizabeth and a great many other Saints teach, they should be embraced and offered up to God. What a great common-sense approach to things.

    We will suffer. That is a given. There isn't a single human being who has ever lived that has not suffered. However, we suffer even more when we try to avoid the reality of suffering and spend our time complaining about it and trying to find extraordinary means of fleeing it (drugs, alcohol-abuse, etc.). If there will be suffering, then it seems better to accept this as part of what has come from God to us--a kind of bitter-sweet gift, and offer it back to Him as a share in His own suffering from us.

    So when we read about suffering in the Saints, keep this in mind. Most were probably not masochists, but recognized the wonders and the beauties of life. But they also recognized that suffering is the human lot. If it is to happen to us anyway (even after we have taken pains to avoid it) than the best we can do is to offer it back to Jesus after we have cherished it. Rhonda Chervin has a book that examines this called A Kiss from the Cross. One important point to remember is that we needn't go out of our way to make ourselves suffer--this I suppose would be a sin against God's goodness. We have enough suffering in life that we needn't make more for ourselves or for others.

    God loves us. Suffering is a fact of our mortal bodies and a consequence of the fall. By accepting that lot and offering it back in some sense we help to redress the upset in balance that resulted from the fall.

    And small acts of mortification, small deprivations of God's goods also help us to acknowledge that God is more important to us that these lovely baubles that surround us. Giving up what is good and right for a time, as we do in Lent, we experience some part of that "suffering." If we are "using" it wisely, we are allowing it to change our hearts and our lives so that they are more closely aligned with God's Heart and His vision for our lives.

    Suffering is not purposeless, it reminds us of the transcience of the present world, and it acts like a cattle prod to keep our feet moving on the path toward holiness.

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    Please continue to pray for Samuel, a relapse/continuation found him in the Doctor's Office yesterday receiving IV fluids. He took it like a trooper but it nearly killed mom and dad.

    Praise

    Karen Marie Knapp has returned to us, at least for a time. Pray for her continued recovery.

    Prayer Requests


    For Pansy Moss and her new addition.

    For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

    From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

    Gregory Nemiroff had been released but has subsequently returned to the hospital, please continue and redouble your prayers for this boy and for his family.

    For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

    For Kathy in her trials

    For Christine and family as she journeys to Gordon to look at houses

    For Barbara B.'s mother, Jeanette R.'s mother, Peggy S-H's father-in-law, and Phyllis T.'s father, for the repose of their souls and swift entrance into the Father's loving embrace.

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For some recent concerns of my own

    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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    This was a particularly difficult quiz because so many of the answers were so appealing. Thanks to the blogmeister at Transcendence. Now, to be Shakespearean--"Would that it were true."

    Congratulations, you're a Seraph! A member of the
    highest, or first, choir of angels, you are
    purity personified- a being of radiant light
    and love so powerful that even other angels
    find it difficult to look at you. You stand at
    the throne of God, where your primary purpose
    is to love Him and express that love through
    song.


    What Order of Angel Are You?
    brought to you by Quizilla

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    T.S. O'Rama directs us to this review of Mitch Albom's bestseller. And while the review is quite accurate and reasonable in both tone and critique, I have to say that I liked the book anyway.

    Why might that be? Well, first I didn't take Albom's notion of heaven too seriously. The novel is obviously a parable about "the good [that is ] oft interred with their bones." It's a schmaltzy, touching rehash of It's a Wonderful Life that basically says we're all important to someone. Sometimes we're important in ways that we cannot know while alive.

    What has this to do with Heaven? Well, I think that Albom's "Heaven" is actually the vestibule-heaven comes later. While in the antechamber of heaven this is what goes on in Mitch Albom's vision. We receive a notion of our interconnectedness.

    I guess I'll say that I never really saw this as heaven, nor do I think that this is the fullness of Albom's vision of heaven. Albom was writing to make a point that should be reiterated every now and again. "No man is a island. . ." etc.

    The second reason I liked this so much is that the vision of Heaven offered was at least different from that repugnant self-manufactured paradise of murderers found in Sebold's The Lovely Bones. If the reviewer really wants to be worried about images of spirituality and heaven, here is a good place to direct his attention. Sebold's main character spends her time "making her own heaven." From this heavenly abode she is able to look down upon Earth (and tends to do so obsessively, taking in all the gory details.) Also from this abode, she is conveniently able to commit murder--which is doubly bad because she does not choose to do so until much greater mayhem has occurred.

    I read the two relatively close together in time, and so Albom's book, which is obviously metaphorical comes off far better.

    By this I mean to say that Albom's book is a engaging piece of fluff, a reminder that we are all important in ways we cannot imagine. This is, in part, because we all serve in God's plan of salvation for the human race.

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    Prayer Requests 3/10/94

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    Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
    He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David,
    as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages:
    to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers. . . (Luke 1)

    Praise

    Samuel finally seems to be on the mend, and Mom apparently didn't have too bad a bout with the bug. Thanks for all your prayers, please continue them.

    Karen Marie Knapp has returned to us, at least for a time. Pray for her continued recovery.

    Prayer Requests


    For Pansy Moss and her new addition.

    For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

    From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

    Gregory Nemiroff had been released but has subsequently returned to the hospital, please continue and redouble your prayers for this boy and for his family.

    For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

    For Kathy in her trials

    For Christine and family as she journeys to Gordon to look at houses

    For Barbara B.'s mother, Jeanette R.'s mother, Peggy S-H's father-in-law, and Phyllis T.'s father, for the repose of their souls and swift entrance into the Father's loving embrace.

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For some recent concerns of my own

    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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    New Blog-Fidelis

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    Please join me in welcoming Fidelis a group blog stationed at Cybercatholics.com.

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    Sorry, I'm on a Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity kick, and if you would get the book from ICS and read it, you'd see why. In the meantime, let me tell you the immediate cause of my enthusiasm:

    from He Is My Heaven
    Jennifer Moorcraft

    "Pray that I might have his passion for God and for souls," asked Elizabeth, "for a Carmelite must be an apostle." The Carmelite prays and strives for the closest possible union with God, not simply for her own holiness and salvation; she is aware that the more she is living in Christ, the more powerful she is in her prayer for others. Just as evil can pollute and corrupt, even more so goodness and holiness can transform.

    Oh, how powerful over souls is the apostle who remains always at the Spring of living waters; then he can overflow without his soul ever becoming empty, since he lives in communion with the Infinite!. . .Let us be wholly His, Monsieur l'Abbé, let us be flooded with His divine essence, that He may be the Life of our life, the Soul of our soul, and we may consciously remain night and day under His divine action. (L 124)
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    On Abbot Vonier and other things

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    As Tom promised a little while ago, he has begun to comment on Abbot Vonier, and I recommend his comments to your attention. (You may need to scroll down as direct linking seems to be on the fritz right now--it's the post with A Key in the title).

    Then make a point of reading all the posts above the one indicated and remembering to thank God in prayer that we have such a one in the community of St. Blogs. Tom is an immeasurable treasure (don't tell him I told you) and we are indeed fortunate that he is generous enough to share his gifts with us. Last Lent, I think he went on a blogging break and I just about went insane--a good thing Dylan was around at the time.

    And speaking of Dylan--make certain you all are mentioning him every single day. We got Karen back through prayer, and now I want Dylan back, and if I don't get what I want, I will, like the Carmelite I am, sit down and pray about it some more. May not change God's mind, but it sure makes me feel a lot better.

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    A Review of St. Blogs

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    A very fine, it seems quite fair analysis of the St. Blogs community. (via Sursum Corda) While the person writing seems to intimate that traditionalism is largely a "negative response" to a perceived problem, much of what she has to say about the community is both fair and clear-sighted. It's refreshing to have an outside viewpoint. And equally refreshing is to find someone who ventured so far and wide within the community. She doesn't refer to everyone by name, but it is evident that she has seen a fair share of what we do here, and perhaps we would do well to consider her point about St. Blogs as evangelism.

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    Y'all just must spend some time with her. See this quote:

    from He Is My Heaven
    Jennifer Moorcroft

    May Christ bring us into those depths, those abysses where one lives only by Him. Would you like to be united to your little sister in order to become wholly loving, wholly listening, wholly adoring?

    To love, to love all the time, to live by love, that is, to be surrendered. (L125)

    It really is only one step, but the really hard part is the preliminaries where God prepares you for the step. Our prayer is to Love God and to be Love for God here in the world. As St. Teresa of Avila can be paraphrased, "In the end it is not how much we know, it is how much we love that we shall be judged by." And by "how much," I take St. Teresa to mean both in quantitative (how often it is expressed) and qualitative (the actions by which it is expressed) mode. Some express their love in song and prayer and silence, others express it through strong refutation of error, counsel, and preaching, still others through hospitality. There is no end to the expression of love of God, and it is absolutely necessary for each of us to pursue through grace that end of loving in the particular way that God desires for us. For if we choose to love as we choose, then we do not really love at all.

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    The Animal Within You

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    Via Transcendence--this enormously important personality test.

    I came out a Beaver. Don't know what it means, but they are cute, generally pleasant, and very very mysterious, so I guess it's better than a Wolverine.

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    One Necessary Prayer

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    Okay, don't be too hasty in reading that title and jumping to a conclusion. I didn't say "the only" nor do I mean to imply that this is necesarily the very best; however, I do think it is much more necessary than many people seem to think. My nomination for one important prayer that everyone should say hundreds, if not thousands of times a day: "Thy will Lord, not mine."

    Why? Well consider this:

    1 Corinthians 13: 4-8


    Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

    Now look at the checklist:
    patient
    kind
    not jealous
    not pompous
    not self-seeking
    not quick-tempered
    not brooding over injurices,
    not rejoicing in wrongdoing
    rejoicing in truth
    bears all things
    believes all things
    hopes all things
    endures all things
    never fails.

    Well our prayer pretty much fits the bill-in every particular. In order to pray it and mean it, the attitudes exemplified in this paean to love must be present. And even if we pray it, not really meaning it, but hoping that it may become the truth, then we plant the seed through our prayer, and through grace it will blossom.

    To live the Christian live, we need to live God's real life in us. To do this we need to be obedient to His perfect will. And finally to do this, we must Love Him. So constant reminder and pleading for God's will is an inducement to a true love of God. True love of God is the only way to live life. Constant communion and communication with Him is the only desirable goal. To be constantly in His presence is to taste Heaven on Earth.

    So one necessary prayer to encourage the humility and patience necessary for growth in the Lord: "Thy will Lord, not mine."

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    from He Is My Heaven: The Life of Elizabeth of the Trinity
    Jennifer Moorcroft

    Let us live with God as with a friend, let us make our faith a living faith in order to be in communion with Him through everything, for that is what makes saints. We possess our Heaven within us, since He who satisfies the hunger of the glorified in the light of vision gives Himself to us in faith and mystery, it is the Same One! It seems to me that I have found my Heaven on earth, since Heaven is God, and God is [in] my soul. The day I unsterstood that everything became clear to me.

    For Elizabeth, this was not just a lovely spiritual idea, once she understood it, she lived it with unrelenting persistance, as she said herself, it was how saints were made. It was a way that was typical for her, since there was no dividing line between her spiritual life and her everyday life. In her letter to Guite [stevenote: Elizabeth's sister] Elizabeth went on to reassure her family, who were worried by the thought of the hard Lenten observance in Carmel: "Lent isn't tiring me; I don't even notice it, and then I have a good little Mother who watches over me with a quite maternal heart" (L 109).

    And so we have a synthesis of Carmelite teaching. Live with God as with a friend in constant conversation, listening more than speaking; and make your faith a living faith. Perhaps this might be said to BE faith alive. That is when people look at your life they see the fire burning there, the faith that is the love of God shining forth. This should show forth not from what you say, nor even necessarily from what you do, but in how you go about it.

    I think of it as the spiritual equivalent for Faith of what Audrey Hepburn was for sophistication, class, and beauty. She didn't need to preach classiness or sophistication--it was simply who she was. And reports have it that part of that may have been because of her faith. But when people look at us, as we conduct ourselves even virtually, they should see the constant striving to make real the presence of God within and among us. They should see living faith. And this only becomes possible when the most important thing in the world is a passionate, all-consuming love of God and desire for His will alone.

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    Prayer Requests 3/9/04

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    For some reason, this did not take this morning. (Later, I see what happened, I accidentally edited yesterday's entry and saved that.) Please forgive me. Please continue prayers for Samuel who was not doing as well as I would like and add Linda to your prayers, she appears to be coming down with the virus.

    Praise

    Karen Marie Knapp has returned to us, at least for a time. Pray for her continued recovery.

    Prayer Requests


    For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

    From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

    Gregory Nemiroff had been released but has subsequently returned to the hospital, please continue and redouble your prayers for this boy and for his family.

    For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

    For Kathy in her trials

    For Christine and family as she journeys to Gordon to look at houses

    For Barbara B.'s mother, Jeanette R.'s mother, Peggy S-H's father-in-law, and Phyllis T.'s father, for the repose of their souls and swift entrance into the Father's loving embrace.

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For some recent concerns of my own

    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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    Praise God!

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    This just in from Smockmomma:

    Kirsten, "SpecialK" of the Summa Mamas, delivered her fourth child, Sophia Claire, this morning. There were no complications and Mommy and Baby are both doing well.

    And a name like "Luminous Wisdom" bodes well for the young 'un. Praise God for His endless mercies.

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    The "Palm" Rosary

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    For those of you using a palm, you should run, not walk over to THIS Freeware Palm page to get 'The Virtual Rosary." The original versions were very nice, but what makes this exceptional is that you can choose language--Latin, English, French, German, Spanish, Tagalog, Dutch and a few others--as well as what kinds of verses you want included for meditation and reflection--"Verses of Virtue", "Scriptural Rosary," Scripture, Mudjegorje (sorry, I always mess up that spelling). Anyway, it's free and it's fantastic. The new version includes the luminous mysteries and some verses to be mediation starters. I have found this a tremendously helpful devotional aid and recommend it highly. Now, I just hope the person who did the Stations of the Cross updates it for hi-rez palms.

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    Science Fiction and Relgion

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    Prayer Requests 3/8/04

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    Sorry for the lateness of this today, expect light blogging

    Praise

    Karen Marie Knapp has returned to us, at least for a time. Pray for her continued recovery.

    Prayer Requests


    For Father Joe who has left the active ministry of Priesthood after a number of difficult experiences, for discernment, strength, and a renewal of heart, mind, and spirit

    For Samuel, who has a tummy bug, and for his parents who have had no sleep.

    From Therese a request for Mark Cotter,SF0, 50, just diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He has 2 children still in school.

    Gregory Nemiroff had been released but has subsequently returned to the hospital, please continue and redouble your prayers for this boy and for his family.

    For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

    For Kathy in her trials

    For Christine and family as she journeys to Gordon to look at houses

    For Barbara B.'s mother, Jeanette R.'s mother, Peggy S-H's father-in-law, and Phyllis T.'s father, for the repose of their souls and swift entrance into the Father's loving embrace.

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For Karen Marie Knapp as she continues to combat her condition.

    For some recent concerns of my own

    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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    The Passion Redux

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    It appears I was somewhat wrong about the movie. While it had no immediate effect or resonance, I found that at Mass today, it seemed to have imparted to me some greater sense of Christ's humanity. Somehow the events of the Movie made Jesus more of a person to me--it reified His humanity in ways that have not been possible for me before. So at Mass, I was doubly joyful in the Love of the Great God and the Love of the Great, Good Man. I can't explain it, but God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. Thank you Jesus.

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    First, I wanted everyone to know that the group today invoked our Lady of La Leche and Good Parturition on behalf of all those who are pregnant and who desire to be. Most particularly I was thinking of JCecil3, Ashli, Davey's Mom, and others of St. Blogs. Rest assured, you are prayed for and cared for.

    Second, to Tom of Disputations. You have the heart-felt thanks of an entire Carmelite community. After a brief description of our little interchange (in a larger discussion of Carmelite Spirituality) every person there ferevently thanked God for all the Dominicans and then fervently thanked God for not calling us there. I assured them that the Dominicans very likely felt the same. And so to all my brothers and sisters in lay religious orders, I do thank God for you every day, for the diversity and wonder of His love.

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    Yes, I saw it.

    And I hadn't planned to blog on it. But I feel that I must to help those who are in the same place I am.

    I deeply admire Mr. Gibson's devotion and his dedication to bringing this moving icon to life. I think it may serve as a devotional aid to a great many people. He may have blessed millions with his work.

    However, I saw the film and was largely unmoved. I can't explain why (except perhaps I didn't associate the person on the screen with the Jesus I know and love.) I had no time to adjust to this person as Jesus, so this never meant for me what it meant for many others.

    I was moved three times in the film--the scene where Mary runs to Jesus when He falls, the scene where she kisses Him, and the scenes of Simon the Cyrene.

    Now to certain points with which I am in agreement--(1) the violence in the film was not "over the top" brutality, I rather think that it was a good representation of what the whole event might have been like; (2) I cannot see the supposed anti-semitism of the film. There was one particularly bad group of people who were Jewish, the rest of the lot didn't seem at all bad. Even some of the Romans seemed okay.

    I know this film was a wonderful devotional exercise for Mr. Gibson. I am certain that it will lift many hearts to God. It lifted my own because I saw how much those who knew Him loved Him. But the depiction of His death did not inspire me to new heights of devotion. But I came out with the strong reassurance that God loves me.

    Two points that I must share in the interest of full disclosure: When the devil and its baby-thing were wandering around the scourging scene I had to clap both hands over my mouth to avoid disturbing others with my laughter--it was so gothicky/bad-horror movie stuff. So too with the scene with Gesmas. And that swelling, manipulative, historical-movie/Ben-Hurry soundtrack was a real turn-off. I wonder what the film might have been like without it. It might be interesting to see.

    But I don't write this to discourage anyone from going. I think everyone benefits from the experience of one man's intense and loving devotion. Everyone will take from it something different. I took from it God's tear, the rending of his own garments reflecting that of Caiaphas earlier. It was a lovely and powerful image.

    So, go and see it. And do not be ashamed if it doesn't completely rock your devotional world. It is, after all, only a movie. And God's love for us and personal communication with us is far more powerful and more real than anything that might play out on a screen. God loves you--intensely, passionately, overwhelmingly. He sheds the same tear over one lost soul as He shed over His own dear Son.

    God loves us into Eternity. And this may be one instrument by which He shows you His love.

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    Please visit Nathan at The Tower the newest stblogs.org resident.

    Also, Revolution of Love has joined us.

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    More Reflections on the Passion

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    from On the Passion of Christ According to the Four Evangelists
    "On the shameful arrest and leading away of the Lord Jesus"
    Thomas á Kempis

    Lord Jesus Christ, Hope of the saints and Tower of strength in every tribulation, I bless and thank you for undergoing so violent an arrest by hateful enemies, for the arrogant laying of sacrilegious hangs on you by those sent to arrest you, and for the brutal looks and menacing shouts of those carrying arms against you. I bless and thank you for your harsh and cruel binding, for your rough and ruthless detention, for your painful pummeling, and for your being so abruptly dragged away. Amid all this tumult, while you were being rushed to your death by mean-spirited and worthless villains, your dear disciples, who had deserted you, looked upon you from a distance with great sorrow.

    (book available from Ignatius press)

    I was particularly affected by the last line, for I am among those disciples who look upon Him from a distance with great sorrow. I set myself at a distance through my own faults, choices, and sinfulness. And yet, the look that crosses that great distance from the eyes of the Savior himself is not one of condemnation, not one that says, "See what you did to me." Rather it is a look of love that says, "See what I can do for you. Come with me."

    And so in Lent we journey with Him. But afterwards, too seldom do we bring to mind the great love that redeems us. Too infrequently do we pause to consider what God has wrought in so marvelous and completely loving a savior. At a word the entire realm of heaven could have rushed down to crush the oppressors. But God stayed His hand, accepting in His human body the pains and suffering we inflict on ourselves and each other in our sinfulness.

    Praise the look of love that does not condemn, but speaks new life, "See what I can do for you."

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    Prayer Requests 3/5/04

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    Do not cast me away from your presence,
    nor deprive me of your Holy Spirit.
    Give me again the joy of your help;
    with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
    that I may teach transgressors your ways
    and sinners may return to you. (psalm 51)

    Prayer Requests

    Gregory Nemiroff had been released but has subsequently returned to the hospital, please continue and redouble your prayers for this boy and for his family.

    For all those in the process of discerning vocations to the religious life, for guidance, prudence and good counsel

    For Kathy in her trials

    For Christine and family as she journeys to Gordon to look at houses

    For Barbara B.'s mother, Jeanette R.'s mother, Peggy S-H's father-in-law, and Phyllis T.'s father, for the repose of their souls and swift entrance into the Father's loving embrace.

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For Karen Marie Knapp as she continues to combat her condition.

    For some recent concerns of my own

    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery

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    Found This Chez Alicia

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    and given some prior recommendations I had received thought it supremely coincidental or perhaps providential


    You're Costa Rica!
    You're about as peaceful as anyone on the planet, a real dyed-in-the-wool pacifist.  And why not?  No one really poses much of a threat to you and everything seems to work out, no matter how much violence and insanity rages all around you.  So you relax and appreciate nature and culture while the rest of the world carries on their petty disagreements.  If only everyone could follow your example...
    Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid

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    I don't know if Tom made this up (I suspect so.) But it is a wonderful distillation of our conversation in fact, I'm going to ask permission to reprint it here so it sticks around in my archives. Thanks Tom.

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    "Remember Thou Art Dust"

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    The memento mori, the reminder of our own mortality, the whisper in the ear of the Roman Conquerer during a Triumphal Procession--"Remember thou art mortal," is a long, useful reminder of our limited span, the fact that everyone "struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more."

    But we must also remember our ultimate value. If we are dust, we are gold dust, or more-infinitely precious to God. So precious that He who was One for whom we are not worthy to untie sandals came and served and died and rose.

    "Remember thou art dust. . ." and remember too that you are "The apple of My [God's] eye. Remember the balance between the two. You are not worthy to be loved, but Love Himself raises you to worthiness. God loves us and so makes us worthy of love. In fact, God loved us to death and to new life.

    Remember thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return--only this ragged body. Remember thou art dust and by the power of His Gracious Love and through his all pervading Grace to Glory thou shalt return.

    Praise God for His endless love that both reminds us of our end and our worth without Him, and raises us to be worthy of Him. God loves us so much.

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    Morning Prayer Quotation

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    from Morning Prayer, Thursday first week of Lent

    Father,
    without you we can do nothing.
    By your Spirit help us to know what is right
    and to be eager in doing your will.

    We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
    who lives and reigns with ou and the Holy Spirit,
    one God, for ever and ever.

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    Prayer Requests 3/4/04

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    Hear us whenever we call upon you,
    because you have set us apart
    among all the peoples of the earth of your inheritance ( 1 Kings 8:53)

    Prayer Requests


    For Gregory Nemiroff who underwent surgery because of an artifical shunt malfunction and is presently recovering.
    --As I had thought, given the condition, this is a child--only 11 years old--please redouble your efforts and offerings for his safe return to his family. Pick your favorite cause for canonization and ask for intercession--Louis and Zélie, who knew the joy and pain of being parent, please obtain from God through the hands of the blessed Virgin the restoration of this child to the bosom of his family. Amen.

    For Kathy in her trials

    For Barbara B.'s mother, Jeanette R.'s mother, Peggy S-H's father-in-law, and Phyllis T.'s father, for the repose of their souls and swift entrance into the Father's loving embrace. (A small sacrifice on this day for these souls would be greatly appreciated.) And for their families, for comfort, peace, and sure knowledge of God's abiding love.

    For JCecil3 and wife that her pregnancy be safe and uneventful and her delivery without difficulties

    For Neil, his salvation. Kris S., her salvation from involvement with death metal, for Derrick, that he may find his way to the Lord, and for all who are involved with darkness in any way that the Lord will help them see light

    For a dear friend wrestling with an agonizing decision

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    To dispell the power of fear with the great and tender love of God in the lives of at least two of my dear friends.

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For Karen Marie Knapp as she continues to combat her condition.

    For some recent concerns of my own


    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For all those living under the curse of generational sins, that they may have protection and the inheritance of the past may be made void in their lives.

    For Suzy who had to quit her job in order to get leave to go on a mission to Africa--for the success of her mission and a swift return to work in a place less arbitrary when she returns home.


    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 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

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    The Lord, your God, has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth to be a people peculiarly his own. It was because the Lord loved you and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn to your fathers, that he brought you out with his strong hand from the place of slavery, and ransomed you from the hand of Pharoah, king of Egypt. Understand then, that the Lord, your God, is God indeed, the faithful God who keeps his merciful convenant to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7: 6, 8-9)

    From morning prayer and especially dedicated this morning to M.

    It is because the Lord loves us that he leads us out of slavery to ourselves if we allow Him to. We are like small children lost among the racks of all the adult coats in a department store, wandering, crying, looking for mommy or daddy. God comes to us and takes us by the hand and leads us out. He finds us in the secret places we hide and He offers to carry us. God loves us with an everlasting love, a love that cannot be denied, but which can be refused. He will not insist, but He will continue to try.

    God loves us. He leads us out of every kind of slavery. He opens the doors to our prisons. He embraces us as a loving Father and He waits on us as the Father of the prodigal son. What stops us from turning to Him? Why would we refuse His compassionate love? Pride--sheer stubborn human cussedness that cannot admit we cannot do anything by our own power.

    God showers us with graces simply to keep us alive from moment to moment. How much more He would give us if only we would open our hearts and reach out to Him, not in fear of retribution but in heart-felt love. Follow the little way of St. Thérèse and take the elevator to the top--the elevator of His arms.

    God loves you, each of you, as though you were an only child. Stop acting like an only child and presuming on that indulgent love. Return to Him with your whole heart. This season, give Him the only gift that matters--yourself.

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    Prayer Requests 3/3/04

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    Let your every creature serve you,
    for you spoke, and they were made,
    you sent forth your spriit, and they were created;
    no one can resist your word. (Judith 16)

    Prayer Requests


    For Gregory Nemiroff who underwent surgery because of an artifical shunt malfunction and is presently recovering.
    --As I had thought, given the condition, this is a child--only 11 years old--please redouble your efforts and offerings for his safe return to his family. Pick your favorite cause for canonization and ask for intercession--Louis and Zélie, who knew the joy and pain of being parent, please obtain from God through the hands of the blessed Virgin the restoration of this child to the bosom of his family. Amen.

    For Kathy in her trials

    For Barbara B.'s mother, Jeanette R.'s mother, Peggy S-H's father-in-law, and Phyllis T.'s father, for the repose of their souls and swift entrance into the Father's loving embrace. (A small sacrifice on this day for these souls would be greatly appreciated.) And for their families, for comfort, peace, and sure knowledge of God's abiding love.

    For JCecil3 and wife that her pregnancy be safe and uneventful and her delivery without difficulties

    For Neil, his salvation. Kris S., her salvation from involvement with death metal, for Derrick, that he may find his way to the Lord, and for all who are involved with darkness in any way that the Lord will help them see light

    For a dear friend wrestling with an agonizing decision

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    To dispell the power of fear with the great and tender love of God in the lives of at least two of my dear friends.

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For Karen Marie Knapp as she continues to combat her condition.

    For some recent concerns of my own


    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For all those living under the curse of generational sins, that they may have protection and the inheritance of the past may be made void in their lives.

    For Suzy who had to quit her job in order to get leave to go on a mission to Africa--for the success of her mission and a swift return to work in a place less arbitrary when she returns home.


    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 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

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    Emergency Prayer Request

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    From an e-mail correspondent--

    Could you include Gregory Nemiroff in your prayer requests? He was rushed into the hospital this morning due to an artifical shunt malfunction and is undergoing emergency brain surgery as I write this. Thanks.

    Please pray.

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    Here. Most amusing. But please do keep the original lyrics as well--and say a little prayer for me. Thanks.

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    On Lectio and Openness

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    A great many people "spend time in the word" every day. But much of the time they spend there seems to be spent fending off any meaning of the word that might have an impact on their lives. People fear the demands of the gospel. They often fear the cost of discipleship.

    In the first few chapters of The Imitation of Christ Thomas á Kempis warns us of this tendency.

    Here for example is an excerpt from Chapter 2:

    from The Imitation of Christ Thomas á Kempis

    EVERY man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars. He who knows himself well becomes mean in his own eyes and is not happy when praised by men.

    If I knew all things in the world and had not charity, what would it profit me before God Who will judge me by my deeds?

    Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise.

    Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God.

    The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. Hence, do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance. Why prefer yourself to anyone else when many are more learned, more cultured than you?

    Many who approach the Bible study it. Study is good and necessary. But if the end result of study is merely that one knows more, it is futile. Study must end in loving more. Study must end in opening oneself to the Word and making oneself vulnerable and useful to God.

    This goes for all spiritual reading. If we read only to have read, or if we read in order to understand God, and we do not allow the reading to affect how we live, we have read in vain. There is no purpose in reading merely for more information. We have enough information. People who were illiterate throughout the history of Christianity, those who had no learning whatsoever, had sufficient information. Where we are deficient, universally, is in our willingness to serve the Word, to live the Word as it has been spoken to our hearts.

    So, during Lent, spend time in God's word and pray that God enlighten not merely the understanding, but the entire intellect and the will and the heart, that what we read there really changes our lives in fundamental ways. Pray that this season opens us up to the working of the Holy Spirit so that the journey begun here does not end in Easter, but in Eternity, starting here on Earth and moving through all time.

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    On the Prayer Requests

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    Please remember that the prayer requests extend to another page (click the link at the bottom). I prepare the requests each day before morning prayer, so every one of them is prayed for in the intentions of morning prayer. I try to review them every evening before evening or night prayer, so I try to include these intentions twice each day in the course of the Liturgy of the Hours. I don't ask anyone else to do so, but I do want everyone who is on the list to know and rest assured that everything here is prayed for at least once a day and normally twice a day. (Even on the weekends, when I do not post, I remember the intentions here and of the St. Blogs Community). Just keeping you up-to-date on the commitment to prayer. (Also, I am certain that there are members of the community who do not comment but remember these and all the other intentions unwritten and unspoken each day in their prayers.)

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    Prayer Requests 3/2/04

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    Exalt him before every living being
    because he is the Lord our God,
    our Father and God forever. (Tobit 13)


    Prayers


    For Kathy in her trials

    For Barbara B.'s mother, Jeanette R.'s mother, Peggy S-H's father-in-law, and Phyllis T.'s father, for the repose of their souls and swift entrance into the Father's loving embrace. (A small sacrifice on this day for these souls would be greatly appreciated.) And for their families, for comfort, peace, and sure knowledge of God's abiding love.

    For JCecil3 and wife that her pregnancy be safe and uneventful and her delivery without difficulties

    For Neil, his salvation. Kris S., her salvation from involvement with death metal, for Derrick, that he may find his way to the Lord, and for all who are involved with darkness in any way that the Lord will help them see light

    For a dear friend wrestling with an agonizing decision

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    To dispell the power of fear with the great and tender love of God in the lives of at least two of my dear friends.

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For Karen Marie Knapp as she continues to combat her condition.

    For some recent concerns of my own


    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For all those living under the curse of generational sins, that they may have protection and the inheritance of the past may be made void in their lives.

    For Suzy who had to quit her job in order to get leave to go on a mission to Africa--for the success of her mission and a swift return to work in a place less arbitrary when she returns home.


    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 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

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    Can be found at Father Francis Peffley's Web Site
    . Recommended.

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    Apologies

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    Something I wrote earlier today inadvertantly escaped the draft bin and showed up on the site. If it caused scandal or offense, I apologize deeply. It was certainly not ready for prime-time and needs to be relegated to the dust-bin, I think. If you didn't see it, so much the better. Let's just say that if offended about six of the seventeen found in this list. Pray God to grant me better discernment and more careful keyboarding.

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    from On the Passion of Christ: According to the Four Evangelists
    Thomas á Kempis

    Also grant me the grace courageously to overcome my defiant flesh for the benefit of my soul, to cast out all carnal fear, to pray more frequently and attentitvely, to enjoy your assistance, to leave every outcome in your hands, to renounce my will thoroughly, and to be ready to suffer whatever comes.

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    Prayer Requests 3/1/04

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    Blessed may you be, O Lord,
    god of Israel our father,
    from eternity to eternity. (1 Chronicles 29:10)

    Intercession from Morning Prayer--
    Forgive our sins agains the unity of your family
    --make us one in heart and spirit

    Prayers


    For JCecil3 and wife that her pregnancy be safe and uneventful and her delivery without difficulties

    For Neil, his salvation. Kris S., her salvation from involvement with death metal, for Derrick, that he may find his way to the Lord, and for all who are involved with darkness in any way that the Lord will help them see light

    For a dear friend wrestling with an agonizing decision

    For our children, that they grow up in security, comfort, and the certain knowledge that they are loved and that they be released from any bonds of darkness, fear, anger, or sadness that bind and threaten them

    To dispell the power of fear with the great and tender love of God in the lives of at least two of my dear friends.

    For Christine and Gordon, whose deal on the house fell through, that something else show up quickly.

    For Baby Aaron, for continued health and rapid growth to appropriate maturity, for his parents and his family.

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

    For Karen Marie Knapp as she continues to combat her condition.

    For some recent concerns of my own


    For Amanda and the success of her book-designing business

    T.S. O'Rama requests prayers for:
    -a brother-in-law experiencing marital difficulties
    -for Akim

    For all those living under the curse of generational sins, that they may have protection and the inheritance of the past may be made void in their lives.

    For Suzy who had to quit her job in order to get leave to go on a mission to Africa--for the success of her mission and a swift return to work in a place less arbitrary when she returns home.


    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 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

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    About this Archive

    This page is a archive of recent entries written by Steven Riddle in March 2004.

    Steven Riddle: February 2004 is the previous archive.

    Steven Riddle: April 2004 is the next archive.

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