Lift your mind to God today in several moments that you do not ordinarily do so. As you're doing the worst task of the day, thank and praise Him. As you are enjoying the extraordinary beauty of the full moon in the morning, thank and praise Him. As you are shivering and contemplating spring, thank and praise Him. As you are starting the car, thank and praise Him.
A short and simple prayer will do--"I love you Lord, my strength."
Or a longer more traditional one, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
Or one of your own derived from the scripture.
Or one of your own derived from your heart.
Let your heart and mind reach out and touch Him, if only for a moment, a reminder that He is right there next to you, above you and below you, in front of you and behind you--within you.
Praise the Lord and thank Him in the traffic snarl you hate, in the broken appliances, dirty diapers, and tasks of ordinary life.
You'd be surprised at how much better your day goes when you go through it with your closest most intimate friend, ally, and comforter.
In the realm of entirely TMI:
Friday Five
1. What's the most daring thing you've ever done?
Walking across a quarter mile railway trestle three-hundred feet above the ground with no real reason for doing so. (Daring or STUPID)
2. What one thing would you like to try that your mother/friend/significant other would never approve of?
Surf Waimea
3. On a scale of 1-10, what's your risk factor? (1=never take risks, 10=it's a lifestyle)
3
4. What's the best thing that's ever happened to you as a result of being bold/risky?
My present employment.
5. ... and what's the worst?
Broken knee stitches in face, broken teeth--all from a tragic fall down some stairs.
I understand that there is some sort of competition out there for blog awards. Read about it at Summa Mamas. And it inspired me to award a few of my own to celebrate the truly important things in life:
Most Musical--No question here Mixolydian Mode. Daily we are treated to a new tune and to interesting connections to the music world throughout blogdom. My sincere thanks.
Most Eclectic--Avant Garde Division--Also no real competition here. Anyone who can talk about the semiotics of prosciutto while listening to Karlheinz Stockhausen must take the cake--Erik's Rants and Recipes
Most Eclectic--Somewhat Closer to the Known Universe of the Rest of Us Division--This one is tough but the prize goes to Video Meliora. From its title, to its cruises, to its library, to the odd snippets of poetry, plays, stories, and other indefinable things, Video Meliora is one of the few blogs by a lone soul that comes anywhere near producing enough to keep me happy.
That's all for today, I'm exhausted with handcarving the unique soap-sculpture awards that shall honor my shower for as long they don't melt. Congratulations to the winners--to those not selected, please, no crying in your beer--there's always next year, or perhaps next week.
This message from Gordon--the need is urgent indeed, please pray:
Here again is the message on Kayla K, a cousin of one of our Admin Assistants.She is 7 months pregnant and the doctors have found that the
baby's stomach is in his chest cavity. His heart is fine at this point but
his lungs are not developing. They are starting her on steroids to
develop them. As soon as they are developed enough for survival, they are
going to perform an emergency C-Section and take the baby straight into
surgery to try to put everything where it belongs. They say he has a
50-50 chance.This is her fifth pregnancy. Her first was a miscarriage, the
second was a stillbirth, the third was an empty sac, and the fourth she
finally had a healthy daughter. Now this......The Admin Assistant is leaving everything in God's hands and she
says that the family needs a miracle and she only knows One that is in
that business. Please put this in our Carmelite prayer chain.
I will thank you Lord, among the peoples,
among the nations I will praise you
for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies.
(psalm 57)
For safe travel for Gregg and his wife as they travel to the funeral of a beloved relative.
For the safe and healthy birth of Tom's (of Goodform) fifth child to happen in the near future.
For Dylan's return to health and return to us.
For Karen Marie Knapp as she continues to combat her condition.
For my friend and colleague Beth V. who is presently in the hospital with an extreme case of vertigo
For some recent concerns of my own
For Gordon as he searches for a house for his family
For Christine and Gordon, who are presently separated by a great distance. For Christine as she prepares the house for sail, that it may go smoothly with her and the sale proceed as quickly as may be necessary.
For all who are suffering from marital problems, most particularly those in our own families or communities, that the Lord may intervene and remind them that a marriage is of three persons.
For Franklin's mom who has long been dependent upon Bill (his dad) for day to day support and now is really feeling the crisis
For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility
For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.
For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery
For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.
For families that desire more children
For the conversion or return of spouses and loved ones to the Catholic Church, most particularly for Amanda's husband
For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.
For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.
Special Prayer Projects:
(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.
I paraphrase her mother:
"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.
(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.
(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.
(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.
Full Disclosure: I started out violet with some answers that probably weren't right on. I turned green by answering things that were just patently untrue and I ended up (with the most truthful answers I could find):
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I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death. (Phillippians 3:8-9a, 10)
And in this is nearly all the doctrine of the great Carmelite mystics. "I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus," that is, nothing in the world is as worthy of our attention as Jesus Christ--thus every moment spent outside of Jesus Christ is a loss--even if it is a participation in very good things.
"For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and consider them so much rubbish. . ." Because of His preeminent place in the universe everything else is tarnished and weary. Paul at one time was a wealthy citizen of Jerusalem, well known, apparently well connected. But when he became a Christian he lost all of this. And the loss was as nothing--as a mere casting off of outer soiled rags. In fact, other translations have much stronger words than merely rubbish. But Paul is not proposing here some sort of dualism. Everything is brought into focus by the central point of attention--Christ Jesus.
". . .that I may gain Christ and be found in him to know him and the power of his resurrection . . ." There is purpose here in casting off outer things. We do not rid ourselves of them because they are evil. We rid ourselves of them because they are less worthy of our attention. They are distraction on the path to unity with God. Through casting off these lesser goods we make more room for Jesus Christ--we are "found in him" or claim our true identity as a child of God. This is our ultimate and most important identity. In finding Him, we come to know the power of His resurrection--that is the redemptive, saving power of Grace. But more importantly, we come to know it in a way that cannot be merely intellectual. This is heart-knowledge. We know Jesus Christ intimately as indwelling and ever present with us. We commune with Him and we share every aspect of our life with Him.
". . .and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death." And a bit of speculation here--perhaps Paul is obliquely referring to a "dark night." Paul certainly shared Christ's sufferings on a material plane, but if all of this is as dross and as rubbish then it would hardly matter if he knew the constant presence of Christ. The only suffering that would matter is that feeling of abandonment, that moment on the cross when Jesus cried out "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani." That is the true suffering. Feeling abandoned at the shallow surface of emotion, but knowing in the depths of the heart God is there with us and He suffers again in our suffering. One metaphor often used for the dark night is that of the surgeon performing an operation to remove all that withholds us from communion with God. But this is the Divine surgeon, all that we feel, He feels. He felt it at that moment on the Cross and He feels it throughout eternity. And yet, nevertheless, the step is necessary if we are to have health and to be restored to life in Him. We suffer it either in this realm or in the world to come as we undergo purgation that will ultimately allow us to enter into the heavenly abode.
Thank you all for your prayers for Linda. She is recovering well and feeling better than she has in a long time. There's still a bit of healing to do, so please keep praying, but everything is fine thus far.
And an interim report on the healing of Chris Keith (one of our long-term prayer projects) along with a special plea. I quote from a letter from her mother-in-law.
Just had the opportunity to read your very kind prayer request for our daughter in law Chris. She has begun chemo specifically to shrink (and in my prayer vision - eliminate) any lesions on her liver, in the lymph system or anywhere.
All things considered, her attitude remains positive and her faith in Our Lord's healing abilities to be as present today as it is reported in our Holy Scripture.
We claim that fact as well.Chris turned 37 yrs. old Christmas Day in the hospital, recovering from surgery that removed the original cancer site.
Through this shocking series of events (it began Dec. 9th), ALL of us are asking everyone we know to either sign up for colonoscopys or lean on their doctors to at least have the occult blood tests.
In Chris' case, there were absolutely NO physical symptoms of any kind to alert anyone until her liver hemorrhaged and she was taken to the ER with a red blood cell count of 5 and immediately had to receive two units of blood before anything else was done.
I'm not trying to promote fear of any kind, but I know that folks (including me) would rather do almost anything rather than sign up for a colonoscopy - our message is: don't delay - stand on the rock and take care of yourself.
Certainly if anyone IS experiencing any digestive issues, I encourage them - at whatever age - to push their docs to do this life saving screening.The day before Chris was diagnosed through liver biopsy, our religious order lost the 26 yr. sister of two of our members with the same diagnosis. She had all the resources available to her that one could have and her doctors kept following the 'suggested protocol' and kept treating her for work related stress.
I share these two stories of the extremely young affected by this terrible disease, because both these young women, being faithful and effective children of God, would want their sufferings to be used to save others, if possible.
Thank you Steven, and all of your brothers and sisters who are helping us in this fight to save Chris to be the mother to our 3yr and 6 yr old that she brought into this world. It's a great comfort to know that we have your help.
Please continue your prayers for Chris, and if you wish to leave messages of encouragement, simply write to me, or comment here in the comments box. Our strength is in the Lord and in prayer and it is by our love that we are known. And it is a sign of great love to pour out prayers for those around us who need them.
As for me, I trust in your merciful love.
Let my heart rejoice in your saving help;
Let me sing to the Lord for his goodness to me. (Psalm 13)
For the safe and healthy birth of Tom's (of Goodform) fifth child to happen in the near future.
For my friend and colleague Beth V. who is presently in the hospital with an extreme case of vertigo
For some recent concerns of my own
For Gordon as he searches for a house for his family
For Christine and Gordon, who are presently separated by a great distance. For Christine as she prepares the house for sail, that it may go smoothly with her and the sale proceed as quickly as may be necessary.
For all who are suffering from marital problems, most particularly those in our own families or communities, that the Lord may intervene and remind them that a marriage is of three persons.
For Dylan's return to health and return to us.
For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.
For Franklin's mom who has long been dependent upon Bill (his dad) for day to day support and now is really feeling the crisis
For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility
For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.
For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery
For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.
For families that desire more children
For the conversion or return of spouses and loved ones to the Catholic Church, most particularly for Amanda's husband
For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.
For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.
Special Prayer Projects:
(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.
I paraphrase her mother:
"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.
(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.
(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.
(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.
Short of removal of a regime, what does one do about things like this:
North Korean Concentration Camps
I am an ardent pacifist (by a very liberal definition of the word); however, how can this be countenanced? How do we redress the wrong already done? And how will we know if it continues or if it is done? In other words, when does our concern for others trump other considerations? When are human rights important enough?
I'm not suggesting that war is the answering, but I do think we should do better on coming up with the answers in a more expeditious fashion.
Link via Goodform. Thanks Tom.
T.S. O'Rama has posted a reather interesting list from Jonas Goldberg of 20th century Herods. And while I have very little problem with most of the people of the list, I must take exception to the phenomenologists (and thus to some extent the "personalists" who derive from them) and the "Husserlites."
As a Carmelite, it should be very obvious why I should do so, but perhaps not so clear to those unfamiliar witht he background of St. Teresa Bendicta of the Cross, a phenomenologist and perhaps the chief Husserlite who became a Carmelite Nun largely because of her work in philosophy and phenomenology (let's not forget perhaps a touch of Grace--or more than a touch).
So pace Mr. Goldberg. While I concur wholeheartedly with several entries on your list, unlike postmodernism, phenomenology has given rise to some good things--John Paul II, St. Teresa Benedicta, Theology of the Body, etc.
Perhaps one of the more disturbing threads of conversation I heard at the Carmelite Congress was one dealing with canonization. After an excellent presentation focused on Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, one person asked whether his cause had been advanced. The reply came that , no, not enough was really known of him for this to be a viable cause. A little later the same question arose. And yet a third time the presenter was asked about canonization.
The matter of canonization is not about getting as many of "your Saints" in heaven as possible. The teaching of Brother Lawrence is no less efficacious for him not being raised to the honors of the altar. What he has to say about living your life is no less meaningful because the Church has not canonized him. And yet there is this nearly obsessive bent many people have with making and recognizing Saints.
There are innumberable saints the Church has not recognized. Most of the saints whom we implore to intercede for us have no names on Church calendars. They are our ancestors, our departed loved ones, our friends, and a huge nameless mass that raises our concerns to God each day. We may ask a certain intercessor to advance our cause to the Most High, but for each one we ask, thousands more implore--all those who have given their heaven over to us in prayer. I imagine sometimes that all of my forbears who entered heaven raise their voices as one when there is a need. Our needs are known and the Saints and the saints intercede for us constantly at God's table. The clamor of our most minor need raises a noise of joy so great that we would be unable to bear it if we could hear it. The chorus of imploring, rejoicing, honoring, praising voices raised constantly in our behalf is part of the great joy of heaven.
So, let's not be troubled by who is and who is not recognized as a great saint worthy of veneration. By all means, let us pray for those to whom we have a special attachment--in my case Louis and Zélie Martin, parents of St. Thérèse. But let us all recognize that there is a great deal to be gained from the works that lesser saints have left us and from the prayers of all the saints in heaven. Think of it this way--just as we pray for all the poor souls in purgatory, raising our voices to God in their favor, so the saints in heaven, while praying also for the poor souls in purgatory, also pray for us still on Earth that we might avoid prolonged time in purgation and make our way speedily to the embrace of the Father.
It is right and good to ask God for all the things we truly need. It is perhaps less good to ask for the things we want, but so long as those things are the goods of the spiritual realm, it is still right and proper. It is of questionable worth to ask for things we do not need but merely want with no real notion of what we would do with them once we had them. But even this is worthwhile because it exposes us to our own depths. These are mere vocal prayers. And yet we are enjoined to ask for what we need each day and to turn to the Lord to supply those needs. From this prayer, properly said, a more exteneded conversation with the Lord can occur.
St. Teresa defined mental prayer,
Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us (Life 8, 5).
Mental prayer is an intimate sharing between friends. Such a sharing is not really possible if we are keeping things back. If we have a person with whom we want to be friends, we find that the roadblocks to friendship can be many. But the greatest of these are things about ourselves that we do not want known. The more we keep back the harder it is to share with a friend because we always fear revealing something that would damage the relationship.
However, God knows all. There is nothing we could possibly keep back even if we wanted to. The important point is that while God knows all, He wants us to share it. Often there is great power and tremendous release in simply saying what we know to be true. That is in acknowledging our weaknesses, we open the door to further intimacy. Thus the practice of confession is both about getting our sins out in the open and opening the door to greater intimacy.
Back to the original point--praying for what we want. When we do this, however frivilous the thing we want, we are at least being honest and opening the conversation. Now, if we become obsessed with what we want and continue like a small child to insist upon it in ever detail. conversation may not continue. If however, we are really ready to talk and listen and we say what it is we want, then even those material desires become the ground for intimate conversation and ultimately for conversion. So long as we are not flippant and we are really speaking our heart's desire, we open the gate for the Lord to enter.
Mental prayer is that extended conversation that comes from well-said vocal prayer. If we pray with sincerity and with earnestness, allowing God to peer into us, we start the conversation. Once it has begun, it can continue throughout the day or throughout a lifetime.
I will bless the Lord at all times
his praise ever on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall makes its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad. (Psalm 34: 2-3)
For my friend and colleague Beth V. who is presently in the hospital with an extreme case of vertigo
For Christine and Gordon, who are presently separated by a great distance. For Christine as she prepares the house for sail, that it may go smoothly with her and the sale proceed as quickly as may be necessary.
For all who are suffering from marital problems, most particularly those in our own families or communities, that the Lord may intervene and remind them that a marriage is of three persons.
For Dylan's return to health and return to us.
For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.
For Shirley: The hospital has thrown her out and she has no consistent nursing care for a very serious head injury.
For the local Carmelite Chapters that the visit from the provincial during the next two weeks is fruitful and helpful to their growth and development.
For Franklin's mom who has long been dependent upon Bill (his dad) for day to day support and now is really feeling the crisis
For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility
For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.
For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery
For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.
For families that desire more children
For the conversion or return of spouses and loved ones to the Catholic Church, most particularly for Amanda's husband
For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.
For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.
Special Prayer Projects:
(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.
I paraphrase her mother:
"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.
(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.
(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.
(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.
Mr. Bogner has just finished St. Teresa of Avila's The Interior Castles and so I took it upon myself to rudely go over to his place and push him about a little. It's what I do best.
There is absolutely no point at all in reading great spiritual books if you think the point is to have read them. That is not the point at all. Everyone in the world could read The Interior Castles and it wouldn't make a bit of difference if their only purpose was to have invested a bit of time in a good bit of spiritual reading. Now there is the possibility that reading a good spiritual book is something akin to prayer and getting at God obliquely, but more often than not it is very precisely a way of avoiding deep prayer and yet feeling good about what we are doing.
The rule in my community is that there is no point in reading simply to say you have read. If what you read does not change your life (particularly if it is a great work of spirituality) it was slightly less a waste of time than reading Agatha Christie, slightly more profitable. But ultimately your time would have been better spent cleaning the bathroom really well (or doing something else that truly reflects your vocation as parent, spouse, etc.).
The point of any great spiritual reading is to change your life. If you get through a great work of guidance and spirituality and are not asking yourself "How do I get there?" for some time afterward, you have missed the point. Great spiritual reading should be done in much the same way lectio is done. Read a little bit. Figure out what is being said literally, and then pray over what you have read to figure out how it applies to the here and now. Then ask God for the grace to implement whatever practical application you have derived from the reading. Reading any great spiritual work in such a way could take months, or perhaps even years. And that is perfectly all right, what else were you going to do with the time? Some do better with continuous rereading, rather than a single slow reading. But whatever you do, the great treasures of spirituality are not to be taken as any other book.
The same is true of the great works of theology. Although there are probably portions of the Summa that are of lesser relevance to the world today, the vast majority of this compendium is not so much to be studied for its own sake. Rather, the real treasure in the Summa are its insights into the nature of God, which, when properly prayed over tend to lead one to long for God and to seek ways to be closer to Him.
So those who are being called to read a book--do so. And as Harold Bloom likes to say, "Let the book read you as well." That is, open yourself to the insights and to the disciplines that are being fostered and ask God continually for the grace to implement them in your life. Put yourself under the microscope and examine in detail where you are failing and ask God to heal those broken places. Look carefully and see your strengths and thank God for them humbly because they are not your own, but gift--given to be properly used for the Glory of God.
Spiritual reading is unlike any other sort of reading. You are not reading for information so much as you are reading for formation--formation of a right spirit and a mind directed to God. This does not happen with the usual way we tend to read things. Let the great works percolate in, let the books fill you with their wisdom, let the Holy Spirit speak. Then unite will to faith and ask for the grace to perservere in the practice of the presence of God as you have learned from the great spiritual masters.
I have noted that some, perhaps a great many, Catholic bloggers support unreservedly an open interpretation of the second amendment right to bear arms. I am in substantial disagreement with these bloggers on their interpretation of that amendment. But that isn't really the point of what I have to say here.
This is one of those areas in which Catholics may freely discourse and agree or disagree on the matter. My opinion on the matter is formed by voluminous reading and personal proclivity. The opinions of others may be formed both culturally and by different readings and proclivities. In neither case does the Church have much of substance to say on the issue of gun control. And so long as one bears in mind any such guidance, conscience is king in this matter as in many others.
We can civilly disagree on welfare and how it is to be distributed, on economic systems, on political duty, even on some matters of how the Church is presently configured (a married priesthood, for example--which, by the way, doesn't really bother me one way or another--I'm fine with the present discipline. So long as it were changed in some reasonable way, I would be fine with another discipline.)
There is a wide range of issues on which Catholics in good conscience are free to disagree. Life is not one of them. And that is why I am glad that there is so much discussion continuing on the matter. It is why I am delighted that JCecil3, a self-proclaimed Progressive Catholic, has categorically stated his opposition not just to abortion but to the presence of the abortion plank in the democratic platform. All of these things are good--the sign of thriving conscience and conviction and lively engagement with our present political system. Long may it reign.
So my thanks to the great many Catholics out there making cogent, reasoned arguments against the abortion plank of the democratic party. Perhaps it will help raise awareness in some arenas. And for those who unreservedly support democratic candidates, please be a little more reserved. Support who conscience tells you to support, but reprimand, scold, and otherwise discipline the unruly minds that lead the party down the path to hell. You can support the good unreservedly, but not to speak out against this greatest of crimes against humanity does no service to your party nor to your country nor to God Himself. The blood of these children is upon those of us who do not seek to stop the shedding of it. And unlike the Precious Blood this blood will not redeem and raise up.
As the bookgroups move on and as I finish one thing and another the list of books naturally changes:
My Only Friend is Darkness Barbara Dent
A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist Abbot Vonier
Cannery Row John Steinbeck (Bookgroup 1)
The Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis (Bookgroup 2)
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen (only about halfway through the "assigned reading" for the week--hope to catch up)
Utopia Lincoln Child
Quattrocento James McKean
Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling (Not with me here so the author slips my mind)
Many of these are shorter works so they are likely to change sooner. For example, I have no doubt that I will finish Screwtape in a matter of a couple days.
Oh, I'm also reading The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren for a home fellowship I attend on Monday Nights. It was recently given a great deal more credence (to me) because the priest I mention below read an excerpt of it at Mass. I must say, however, that it is relatively poorly written (and much of a kind with many of these evangelical/fundamentalist kinds of "self-help" books). Moreover it is peppered with distasteful doctrine and fundamentalist assurances so that its practicality for a believing Catholic is somewhat limited. I don't know that I would recommend it to all--I'm having a very difficult time with it.
This weekend we had a visit from our Provincial Visitator, Sister Libby Dahlstrom. She visits about once a year usually in January or February. Wonderful lady with a wonderful message from our Provincial Delegate about how to run our meetings and the true focus of Carmelite Spirituality.
As part of the meeting we gather for Mass before hand. This mass was something special--there were two priests I had never seen before celebrating. They looked vaguely familiar, but it was only after one of them launched into his homily that I realized why. These two priests were part of the Grey Friars here attending on Father Groeschel. It was a blessing to see them and to hear about how Fr. Groeschel was doing (recovering well and picking up speed.)
This young priest had been ordained only about nine months ago and he was accompanied by another young priest or deacon. There may be a vocation crisis, but when I see the strength of some orders and some places, I tend to doubt it.
Prayers:
For Christine and Gordon, who are presently separated by a great distance. For Christine as she prepares the house for sail, that it may go smoothly with her and the sale proceed as quickly as may be necessary.
For all who are suffering from marital problems, most particularly those in our own families or communities, that the Lord may intervene and remind them that a marriage is of three persons.
For Dylan's return to health and return to us.
For Shirley: The hospital has thrown her out and she has no consistent nursing care for a very serious head injury.
For the local Carmelite Chapters that the visit from the provincial during the next two weeks is fruitful and helpful to their growth and development.
For Franklin's mom who has long been dependent upon Bill (his dad) for day to day support and now is really feeling the crisis
For M'Lynn in her present domestic crisis, that all works out both in Court and in the new job possibility
For mothers and families that struggle with autism and autistic related disabilities: particularly for M'Lynn, Melissa, Christine, and Betty.
For Father Benedict Groeschel, for complete recovery
For Athan, an 18 month old child in North Carolina who suffers from a digestive disorder that doctors determine its nature and help to remedy it; for peace and comfort for Athan's family.
For families that desire more children
For the conversion or return of spouses and loved ones to the Catholic Church, most particularly for Amanda's husband
For Audrey, who is battling anorexia, and to her family which is suffering through very difficult times.
For T.S. O'Rama's Grandmother who is experiencing a very difficult change in living arrangements
For Jeanetta's friend Mike who is battling non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
For Karen Marie Knapp as she recovers from her recent hospitalization.
For the men and women of the American Armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families, may the Good Lord provide sustenance, support, compassion, and love that these separated families might continue to grow in strength and love.
Special Prayer Projects:
(1) Chris Keith, the young lady whose biopsy went poorly got the results of that biopsy--carcinoma of the liver. The cancer is metastatic from colon cancer. Surgery has taken place to treat the colon cancer.
I paraphrase her mother:
"We [members of the family] are standing on the Rock and are rock solid. We are all okay and we are looking for a few prayer warriors to help us in this battle." Because this mother means so much to me for the great good she has done for my friends, I plan to stand with her and her family in this battle, and I invite you all to join me. Expect to hear about this on and off over the next few months.
(2) For Katherine's Mom as she undergoes chemotherapy--that the treatment is successful and her mother comes through this ordeal with a deeper sense of God's abiding love for her.
(3) For Katherine and Franklin, Janet and Louis, Bill Doran, and for all who are seeking employment and suffering through difficult times as they wait.
(4)Healthy Pregnancies and good and safe deliveries: From Davey's Mom: I am with child once again and could use prayers for a healthy pregnancy. For Suki, for a healthy pregancy and a safe delivery. For Ashli and her child that doctors may find a way to help her carry her young one to term.