January 10, 2004
Special Praise Alert
Gordon has negotiated and signed a contract for a good job
The downside of this is that they will have to move from here--good friends that we have come to rely upon for many things. But Praise God in His mercy and in His wonderful plan and keep praying for the others on our list-
(1)Franklin and Katherine
(2) Louis, for a permanent Job
(3) Deb. T (Denise's Carmelite formation director)
(4) Bill Doran
And all of those in search of gainful employment in these trying times.
Another Deadly Accurate Quiz Result
Not! But they are fun and it is interesting to get a glimpse inside the mind of the quiz maker.
Poseidon
?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
Later My apologies, I failed to acknowledge Fr. Jim as the source whereat I found this quiz.
January 09, 2004
Probably A Little Idealized
Mr. Bogner pointed out that different results come with different numbers of questions. I don't choose to acknowledge my results on the 45 question version. When I do 18, I come up as Gandhi (another of Erik's favorite people). These are the results of the 9 question--highly satisfactory.
The 27 Question Test results in Albert Einstein, who is a hero of mine. Ditto 45 question test (this time.) My ideas saved/will destroy the world. Ha!
Appalling Catholic E-mails
I just received the most ghastly appalling e-mail and my outrage must be vented.
It starts with a prayer card showing St. Thérèse and an animation of a blossoming rose. It is followed with this:
REMEMBER to make a wish before you read the poem. That's all you have to do. There is nothing attached. This is a powerful novena. Just send this to four people and let me know what happens on the fourth day.
Do not break this, please. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of reward.
(Did you make a wish?) If you don't make a wish, it won't come true.
Last Chance to Make a Wish.
Make a wish and say a prayer? What is this sympathetic magic? I wish for a million dollars. Now I'll say the prayer and it will come to me.
I don't know if this has its origins in Catholic Circles or if it starts Catholic and is picked up by others, but it is an abuse of prayer and religious life akin to those that sparked reformation theology and it is a practice that should be soundly repudiated by every thinking Catholic as soon as they encounter it.
Prayer to and with the Saints is efficacious--it is not wish fulfillment or fantasy land. It also is not sympathetic magic. Ultimately one must be aligned with God's will and completely willing to do whatever God has in mind.
This kind of thing does us no service. And worse, it does God no service. How many who are not believers receive this, try it, and conclude that God is not listening, or worse does not exist?
Sorry I'm so het up about it, but it just acts in opposition to all we stand for and it needs to be acknowledged for what it is--wishful thinking not faith.
A Brief Exhortation to Prayer
We all "know" that prayer works wonders. That is, it sits up in the tops of our heads and exists as an intellectual reality. Often that reality does not begin to really touch our hearts because we make no efforts to have it do so.
The reason for posting praise reports is to concretely affirm and extol the virtues and the power of prayer. When you keep track of what it is you are praying for and you have a certain knowledge that good resulted from your prayer, that intellectual reality becomes a core reality. Prayer is a powerful tool and a wonderful privilege. I have been privileged to witness its efficacy time and again since starting this small list of requests. I thank everyone who has been praying, and I encourage you all to look at the praise reports and give thanks to God who grants our prayers as He sees fit.
Praise God on His Holy Throne amidest the Seraphim who attend Him in the presence of all the saints.
Thank you all so much! Your prayers have affected the lives of people you do not know and have helped to establish the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth.
Prayer Requests 1/9/04
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. (Daniel 3:52)
Praise:
Prayer Project Praise One of the unemployed for whom we were praying, Shirley, got a job! Louis got a temporary job and Gordon has a formal job offer! All praise and thanksgiving to our merciful Lord!
EMERGENCY PRAYER REQUEST: For wisdom, fortitude, and prudence as Gordon considers his job offer. (Please pray hard on this one as the choices are very difficult for him.)
Prayers:
For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.
For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.
For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.
Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.
For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements
For Robert Walsh and his family.
For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
For Dylan's return to health and return to us.
For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.
For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.
For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.
Special Prayer Projects:
(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.
I paraphrase her mother:
"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.
(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.
(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.
(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.
I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.
January 08, 2004
Books and Movies
See Don's wonderful post on why he might prefer that movie makers leave the books he loves alone. I disagree, but I understand the reasoning and appreciate it. Good reading, good thoughts.
A Perfection of Signification: More From Abbot Vonier
I have really been enjoying this book and learning a tremendous amount about theology of the Eucharist. At least it is a beginning. I know that I'll have to temper it with other things--but this acts as a kind of "outline" of the issues. If you haven't looked into such things in depth, you might find the book an interesting beginning. It isn't terribly difficult to read, but it goes slowly because each chapter is a stunning revelation.
from A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist
Abbot Vonier[long Latin quotation of St. Thomas Aquinas with accompanying translation omitted--but worthy of attention]
Every sacrament, then, has something to declare: it recalls the past, it is the voice of the present, it reveals the future. If the sacrament did not fulfill its function of sign proclaiming something which is not seen, it would not be a sacrament at all. It can embrace heaven and earth, time and eternity, because it is a sign; were it only a grace it would be no more that the gift of the present hour; but being a sign the whole history of the spiritual world is reflected in it: "For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until He come." What Saint Paul says of the Eucharist about its showing forth a past event is true in other ways of every other sacrament. (p. 14)
Abbot Vonier goes on to elucidate what exactly is revealed of the past, present, and future in the sign of the Eucharist. And he makes an exceedingly important point that the Eucharist is indeed a sign in the fullest sense of what a sign is because what it signifies, it brings about.
Wonderful, wonderful food for reflection. I have been blessed by reading just a little of this book. And glancing through the rest, it is exciting, challenging, interesting, and informative. I will continue to share on and off as I continue to read.
Prayer Requests 1/8/04
Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name. For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper. (Daniel 3:26-27)
Praise:
Thanksgiving and praise for Grace's successful surgery yesterday.
Prayer Project Praise One of the unemployed for whom we were praying, Shirley, got a job! All praise and thanksgiving to our merciful Lord!
Prayers:
For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.
For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.
For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.
Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.
For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements
For Robert Walsh and his family.
For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
For Dylan's return to health and return to us.
For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.
For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.
For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.
Special Prayer Projects:
(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.
I paraphrase her mother:
"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.
(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.
(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.
(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.
I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.
January 07, 2004
Help Me, I'm Having an Erik Keilholtz Moment
(Erik, please forgive me if I misspelled your name, I couldn't find it on your blog anywhere.)
My post about head-bobbing has gotten a number of comments, and I'm half horrified by the amazing number of different instructions it seems people in various parts of the country are receiving. Effectively this means that if I go to a different parish I have to try to figure out among all the various nonconformists, noncompliants, and just the terminally daydreaming what is the proper liturgical posture before receiving communion. It sounds as though some have profound bows, some have simple bowing of the head, some may have nothing at all. All, I assume, dicatated by the Bishop of the Diocese.
In a place like the nearby Shrine which is a ministry for tourists to the area that means I could see about forty different things going on at communion time. It's already bad enough with the congregation standing about half the time with "Let Us Pray," and sometimes getting up halfway through, and sometimes sitting through the whole thing.
This is exactly why I oppose democratic rule in the Church. Tell me the ONE appropriate thing to do--whatever it may be. Don't give me options, don't make it the bailiwick of the Bishop to decide among four or five possibilities or invent something new. Please. I don't want to be distracted with what I should be doing, I want to be focusing and centered on the Eucharistic sacrifice. I don't want to think about me--I want to be thinking about Jesus. The advantages of a very clear rubric are that I don't need to be thinking about the mechanics, I can be thinking about and receiving the Lord.
When I was young and we were going to receive someone of importance at our school or church, the adults would practice with us for days ahead of time so that when the dignitary came, we could do what we were supposed to without flaw and we could focus more on the dignitary than on ourselves. That's the point, it seems to me of rubrics. Lead me on, deeper into the embrace of the Lord. Don't make me try to figure our if I should genuflect, bow, nod, do the twist, or whatever is the movement of the week. And for heaven's sake, try to help everyone do the same thing. There will always be a few noncompliants--but catechesis from the pulpit helps tremendously.
The first time I heard about standing at "Let Us Pray" was when I was at "Our Lady of the Angels" (Father Jim's church). It was clearly explained from the pulpit--both the proper action and the reasoning behind it. Apparently they had had a series of these talks to help people adjust to the changes in the liturgy. As a result, most of my experiences at Our Lady of the Angel reflect a relative uniformity of practice (Yes--there are always some strays and unexpected events).
Erik--you can see I do have a touch of the Prussian.
An Icon, An Image, A Moment of Love
I think I shall start a new section in the side column because I never want to lose track of this post at Santificarnos. Thank you, Mr. Gil.
Lamentably Late to the Party Again
But you have to admire a blog whose slogan is a paraphrase of one of the great lines from a so-so Mel Brooks film--Otto-Da-Fe
An Excerpts from A Key. . .
from A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist
Abbot VonierThe urgent problem is, how am I to be llinked up effectively with that great mystery of Christ's death? When shall I know that Christ is not only the Redeemer, but also my Redeemer? Mere membership with the human race does not link me up with Christ, though it be true that Christ died for the whole race. This membership is indeed a condition, sine qua non , of my becoming one day a member of Christ; but a member of Christ I shall not become unless some new realities be brought into play. These new realities which are the link between me and Christ are faith and the sacraments. (p. 2)
One more passage to give a flavor of the power of the exposition and of the ideation--
Saint Thomas divides the life of mankind into four seasons--the state of innocence before the fall, the state of sin before Christ, the state of sin after Christ, and the state of bliss in heaven. No sacraments are necessary in the first and in the last state; sacraments are necessary to man in the two middle states. But it is in the "state of sin after Christ" that sacraments reach their perfection; the seven sacraments of the Christian dispensation are sacraments in the highest sense, because, besides signifying the grace which is the inheritance of faith, they also contain that grace and cause it.* (p. 10)*Nostra autem sacramenta gratiam continent, et causant." Summa III q. 61, a. 4, ad 2.
It is this sparkling clarity of thought and strongly rhythmic and orotund prose that is one of the chief delights of reading this book. Once again, I strongly urge everyone who is interested in this subject to consider supporting Zaccheus by purchasing the book.
Monochrome Me
Thank to Joel of Pax Nortona a monochrome self portrait (of me--not him!). Thanks to Mr Picassohead.
I especially like the Yves-Tanguy limbo-space in which to construct one's portrait.
Present Non-Comprehesive Reading List
For those who care (and I know I'm always interested in the readings of others):
Our Lady of the Forest David Guterson (a book-group read)
Death Comes for the Archbishop (The other book-group)
Shadows over Baker Street Hommage? Pastiche? I don't know, but it is pure fluff and I'm enjoying it (a lot).
A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist Abbot Vonier (see below)
Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger Ronald Sider
The Company of the Commited Elton Trueblood
The Politics of Jesus John Howard Yoder
Utopia Lincoln Child (more mindless fluff by part of the team that gave you The Relic and Cabinet of Curiosities)
Digital Fortress by the much reviled Dan Brown--sorry folks, I just like his (lack of) style and can't get all that worked up over the content of any of his work. A cursory glance at Angels and Demons (which I enjoyed tremendously even with its evil renegade--oops, better not say too much--almost a spoiler there--suffice to say that we have a magnetic bottle of antimatter in St. Peter's Square--the bottle is deteriorating.) reveals that Brown is not so much anti-Catholic as completely ignorant and led by his sources.
Born Again Chuck Colson
Just as I Am Billy Graham
Roman Triptych His Holiness John Paul II (Fourth time through this, and praised as poetry by no less that Czeslaw Milosz. I hadn't been overwhelmed by the Holy Father's Poetry before, although I found it pleasant and sometimes inspiring, but this book simply blows me away every time I open it--Thanks D.)
Okay, it's a checkered list and doesn't include everything. I'm still struggling through M. Garrigou-Lagrange and of course a host of others, but this should suffice to whet anyone's appetite for more. And perhaps I'll talk about them after I've read them. Though Lee Ann and T.S. are so much better at that than I am, perhaps I'll leave it to them.
Head Bobbing in the Holy Presence
While I attempt to conform to all reasonable requests of the GIRM, there are some aspects that I find just plain annoying. Todd mentions one of these. Below is my response to him (See January 6, 2004: Checking in on IGRM changes):
I find the head nodding rather distracting and insufficiently respectful--typical of a society that has forgotten common and uncommon courtesy. You are in the presence of Him to Whom you owe all that you are, all that you have, all that you will ever be, and so you nod your head and give the big thumbs up and a "Cool, Dude!"
I prefer the Byzantine and Eastern rite profound bow (however, I do not do this in Roman Rite Churches because it is out of place and contra received instruction). Mindfulness, to my perception is mindfulness also of the relative stature of the two participants in this communion. As one protestant is quoted to have commented, "If I believed as you did regarding the Eucharist, I would have to prostrate myself upon the floor in its presence."
A head bobbing to the King of the Universe is somehow lacking.
All of that said, do I do the little head-bobbing thing? Yes. Why? Because that is what obedience is about--not my preferences, not what I find to my taste, not what I think is the right way to go about things. I have lived long enough and have had sufficient experience to realize that I am wrong at least as often as I am right. Moreover, St. Teresa of Avila advises us on the subject of obedience to do all that your spiritual advisor tells you to do and to pray about it. If it is in God's plan for you to do something else, then God will move your advisor to change his command. Until then, it is binding. And so, as a faithful son of my mother the Church, I obey--but I don't particularly like it.
Later: I suppose one of the things I find distasteful regarding this discipline is that it seems once again to detract from a sense of reverent awe and respect. One more time we are making casual what should never be other that awesome and awe-inspiring. Regardless of the time that it takes, if we were doing this properly, it seems, we would all be kneeling at an altar rail. (And this from someone who is not particularly "traditionalist" in any of his views.) I just can't think of any other way to appear before the King of All.
Prayer Requests--7 January 2004
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
Praise:
Thanksgiving and praise for Grace's successful surgery yesterday.
Prayer Project Praise One of the unemployed for whom we were praying, Shirley, got a job! All praise and thanksgiving to our merciful Lord!
Prayers:
For Linda who will have to have some surgery to help correct the problem that has led to so much illness.
For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.
For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community, for rapid and complete recovery from her surgery of 6 January 2004.
Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.
For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements
For Robert Walsh and his family.
For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
For Dylan's return to health and return to us.
For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.
For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.
For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.
Special Prayer Projects:
SPECIAL SHORT TERM (I HOPE) PROJECT
Please pray for Linda's continued recovery and return to health and pray to ward off any possibility of relapse.
(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.
I paraphrase her mother:
"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.
(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.
(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.
(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.
I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.
Zaccheus Press--A New Book from a New Publisher
I arrived home yesterday to find waiting for a me a delightful surprise. I had just received a copy of a new book from an new Catholic Publisher--Zaccheus Press.
Being the inveterate reader I am, I couldn't wait to plunge into A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist by Abbot Vonier. Also being an editor, I couldn't resist taking in the overall package. And let me say I am extremely pleased.
Generally I've become used to preconciliar books being published in less-than-handsome volumes. For example nearly everything of St. Louis de Montfort and St Alphonsus di Liguori is published in editions that have 19th century typefaces--crowded, dark-looking, fragmented letters, relatively poor printing. Don't get me wrong--no matter what the typeface or printing quality these volumes are worth having. Sophia Press, on the other hand produces some very handsome, but often bowdlerized and reedited versions of classic works.
The editor of this work assures me that it is completely intact. It has not been abridged, although spellings have been changed to conform to modern American English usage and a few other things have been updated. The most distressing thing about Sophia Press materials is the insistence upon eliminating that most valuable tool for any study, apologetic, or reference usage--the index. Contra Sophia's policy, the editors at Zaccheus have done the laborious work of adding an index to Abbot Vonier's book.
I haven't read the entire work--it is slow going, requiring some careful reading and thoughtful consideration. Moreover, I am not competent to judge the contents of the work. However, it is sufficient to me to know that Avery Cardinal Dulles considers the work "essential," Peter Kreeft recommends it to our attention and Father Aidan Nichols, O.P. gives it a resoundingly solid introduction.
If you are interested in understanding Catholic Doctrine, I recommed that you look at this book. While densely packed and written, the prose is exemplary of the clarity that often accompanied the best work of the eary Twentieth Century--Fr. Knox, Fr. Benson, Hillaire Belloc, and C.S. Lewis.
Moreover, apart from any considerations of the merits of the individual work, the foundation of another press dedicated to publishing solid Catholic works and explications of Catholic thought must be greeted by at least a small welcoming cheer. And a book so handsomely produced as this--well-bound with good cover and solid introductory and concluding materials is a welcome addition to any library.
Check it out at their site. The price is reasonable and the book has been so far very enlightening and very interesting. In addition to being a guide to the understanding of Catholic thought concerning the eucharist it also makes for a very interesting introduction to a small portion of Thomistic thought. Well worth your time and attention. And the publisher is interested in feedback to help him continue to improve the books he is presenting. So buy, read, and comment in order to get the kind of Catholic Books you want to see in the future.
Later: (Note for Erik). Fr. Nichols refers to Abbot Vonier's work as a "semiotic" theology of the Eucharist. I thought you might find that interesting, seeing as he likely was ignorant of Saussure but contemporary. This work is slightly later than The Course which, if I recall is 1916, 1918.
January 06, 2004
Prayer Requests 6 January 2004--Epiphany
Give thanks to God, for He is good, His love endures forever.
Prayers:
For Grace Enriquez, director of my Carmelite community as she undergoes surgery today. For sucessful surgery and rapid recovery.
For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.
Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.
For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements
For Robert Walsh and his family.
For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.
For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.
For the men and women of the American Armed forces who will not be able to spend this holiday season with their families, that this may nevertheless be a season of "comfort and joy" beyond their greatest expectations.
Special Prayer Projects:
SPECIAL SHORT TERM (I HOPE) PROJECT
Please pray for Linda's continued recovery and return to health and pray to ward off any possibility of relapse.
(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.
I paraphrase her mother:
"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.
(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.
(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, Shirley, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.
(4) From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy.
I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.
Praise and Thanksgiving
First and foremost to God all praise and glory for the efficacy of prayer and the riches of His grace. Keep praying for Linda, but she was doing much better yestereve and I have high hopes for the continuation of her recovery from this bout of asthma.
And my most sincere appreciation and thanks to all of those who wrote to tell me that they were praying and for all of those who I know were praying but did not write. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It affected my ability to deal with the situation and hastened Linda's recovery. I am deeply grateful.
January 05, 2004
My Classic Movie
Well, what can one say? I'm an Oliver Stone vehicle--could be worse--I could have been The Doors.
Linda Redux
I'm sorry to impose on everyone again, but I would really be comforted to know that there was a lot of prayer going on for Linda. She's had a minor relapse, probably from trying to overdo things, and I'm more agitated than is helpful. So I suppose it is prayer for calm and the ability to handle whatever needs to be done and prayer for Linda's complete restoration to health.
Slowly Restoring the Blogroll
After the recent invasion of the Blogroll and its implications for my visitors, I removed it from my site. As a result, I have slowly managed to add back in the sites I visit on a more-or-less routine basis. I'm still missing a few I cherish and can't seem to find my way back to. If John Bell is still visiting, please leave me a link so I can find my way back. I also have one in Japan that I need to find and am uncertain how--although I think the link was on Mr. Bell's site.
Also if anyone else notices that their name is lacking on my list and it was there before, drop me a line and I'll be happy to add it back in.
Sorry for the inconvenience, but I appreciate all the help.
Thanks for the Information
To all who replied to the post and comments below on economic justice. I will try to find some of those resources and adjust my living style to better reify the gospel message and the Church's teaching on social and economic justice.
Prayer Requests 5 January 2004
Give thanks to God, for He is good, His love endures forever.
Prayers:
Continued prayers for Christine's father that he effect a complete recovery from his recent crisis.
For T.S. O'Ramas Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements
For Robert Walsh and his family.
For Linda who is experiencing a temporary set-back today.
For Teresita M. who will be having what she expects to be a difficult interview with her supervisor today
For Franklin's father, Bill, who is more seriously ill than had been previously thought. For his family that they are all able to cope with these circumstances.
For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.
For the men and women of the American Armed forces who will not be able to spend this holiday season with their families, that this may nevertheless be a season of "comfort and joy" beyond their greatest expectations.
Special Prayer Projects:
(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.
I paraphrase her mother:
"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.
(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.
(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Christine and Gordon, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.
(4) From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy.
I welcome the addition of other requests via the comment box. Thank you for keeping this poor Carmelite employed.
January 04, 2004
An Important Point to Ponder
If something is very inexpenisve, extremely cheap, a real bargain it is that way for one of two reasons:
(1) It's old and unwanted
(2) It's cheap because of the exploitation of the poor.
Either way, it's not much of a bargain. I'm trying to be more aware of what I buy and what it means in the global economy and in the economy of salvation. All of our choices have repercussions, sometimes we choose to close our eyes to them.
Answering Important Questions
T.S. O'Rama asks the important question, "Btw, who ISN'T embarrassed buying the Nat'l Enquirer?"
And I wade in and answer boldly, "I, for one, am not." I enjoy National Enquirer, Weekly World News, and other alternative visions of our present reality.
By the way, I also was a 46% snob. There are some things that simply aren't done. And then there's the rest. And what's wrong with imported brie, if you don't make a habit of it?