Sunday, September 29, 2013

Sunday muses...

In the BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN


Maybe real country music isnt your thing...tough, quit listening to the MTV manufactured garbage the radio plays and put on some Ole bluesy, yoldling fun!

+St. Michael, Archangel, Ora Pro Nobis!+

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Mikharkhangel.jpg


Friday, September 27, 2013

Part of my penance ...

As the ongoing fight to be a better man rages in me, I am beginning to understand how my love and commitment for the re-establishment of the traditions within the church must be tempered not with my own desires but the needs of the Church.  Perhaps the best way to put it is that I want to get my desires fulfilled in a way that is convenient to me.  I want tradition on my own terms much like the modernists want traditions on theirs.  Instead of wishing that the traditions first and foremost are restored to give due and rightful glory to God, I want them restored for my own selfish desires, specifically so I can say that I was a part of the restoration.
You see my problem now?  All my faults cant be traced to pride, and it has taken me until now to really start seeing this.  I cannot even begin to thank God for giving me this awareness, but here comes the hard part, the part where Christ looks at me and says “If you love me you will keep my commands”.  There is part of me that that feels like the rich young man who wants to run up to Jesus and present him with my so called holiness, yet upon presentation and my pride giving way Christ tells me to give up all that I have and follow him.  Am I truly willing to give it all up?  I must ask myself.  If I again and again tell myself that my sins are not worse then others I only kid myself.  For most of those that engage in modernism know no better, but I do.  Yet too often I am unwilling to change.  I need to be honest with myself, and I need prayers because my battles will not be won alone.

I also want to make you the reader aware of some sermons that really have got me thinking on this lately.  I know this will help you as it has helped me (especially for those that engage in traditionalism type topics):



Part I

Part III (out of order I know)
Part II

St. Vincent De Paul

His feast day, a great day as every feast day is!

An interesting note that he is an incorruptible:

http://www.churchnewssite.com/portal/?p=30491

Also interesting to note how the order that he helped establish for sisters, The Daughters of Charity seem to no longer take their visible sign as important anymore.  Now their head covering was odd, I grant you, but it was distinguishable and people knew their mission:


Pray for this order through the intercession of St. Vincent De Paul and support if possible!

The virtual council as Benedict put it




I'm still enamored by the statement Pope Emeritus Benedict made before abdicating from the thrown of Peter, where he drew on the Second Vatican Council and how it was hijacked by the media and people within the hierarchyThe virtual council as Benedict put it in cahoots with them.

Im happy to say that I uploaded a video on Youtube which was a talk given by the one and only Michael Davies  on this very topic years before our previous Holy Father brought this up.

Enjoy! (it is a little long by the way, but very interesting).  Please say an Ave for the repose of his soul,



Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Papa Ben is Back!

I guess Francis' encouragement to be expressive worked!  So thank you Papa Francis!

Benedict wrote to the same athiest journalist that Pope Francis did a while back that caused a stir but hit on some interesting topics including the journalists incomplete philopsophy.

Below are some interesting links on what the Pope Emeritus related to the journalist

My favorite quote is as follows: The pope ended his letter admitting he may have been harsh in some of his criticisms, but that "frankness is part of dialogue."

http://creamcitycatholic.com/2013/09/24/freedom-love-evil/

http://www.chnonline.org/news/nation-world/12527-pope-benedict-challenges-atheist-says-he-never-hid-abuse-cases.html

I did it, I got him to talk!
+ Roles into Westminster Sporting the Stole of Leo +

Monday, September 23, 2013

Masons, Masons everywhere and some minor goofin

 My brain hurts!  WHAAAAA!

So little apologetics to take care of since the interview, so much time.  Wait scratch that, reverse it. I guess Im with Terry on this one, his words though confusing on the surface for an uncatechised fellow do serve as a jumping off point for people that would never talk about the church outside of mockery.  But having said that I would caution in saying “And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.” So lets not become complacent in being happy that confusion reigns because though his words help some, it scandalizes others.
On a happy note ChurchMilitant put out a new FBI (formally CIA) episode on Freemasonry.  It’s a helpful introduction to what Freemasonry is and I recommend it for your viewing below.  I have also posted a video below from John Salza who goes into depth on Masonry and exposes it for what it is (indifferentism).




On a lighter note 

Maybe Francis Goal? J/K + 

What does it profit the Jews to have a non confrontational friend, yet lose their soul?

In the September 18th edition of the Vatican Insider there was published an article entitled: “Pope Francis and the Jews: the first six months”.  In this article we hear how the Jewish people just love Francis.  In an attempt to show you the reader how it is I think I want to take a look at this article and provide commentary as it comes to me: [My Comments]
Ever since the Second Vatican Council brought to the forefront of the Catholic conscience its ineradicable fraternal relationship with Judaism and the Jewish People [Lets assume they are ignorant of Trents recognition of the Jewish people, but didn’t just pander but called them to accept their messiah as well], each subsequent papacy has nourished this awareness with words and deeds.[Lets get this straight, it is only subsequent to the Papacy that we see the Jews as elders and worthy of dignity through words and actions?  Smells like Vatican II spirit.]

John XXIII was the driving force behind the creation of a Vatican II “document on the Jews” that evolved into much wider interreligious and ecumenic application, “Nostra Aetate”. [I know this is pulling threads but there is no ecumenism with the Jews, even with the protestants for that matter because they practice a different faith.  Its really only with the Orthodox and oriental Churches in which ecumenism exists.  The rest can be said to be interreligious dialogue.]

As Papal Nuncio in France, Bulgaria and Greece, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli had experienced the horrors of the Shoah and acted to save Jewish lives [An honorable thing, now will the Jews recognize this of Pius XII or continue their slander].  His historic encounter in 1960 with the Jewish historian and Holocaust survivor, Jules Isaac – who presented John XXIII with his manuscript on “The teaching of contempt: Christian roots of anti-Semitism” [wow, can you say the pot calling the kettle black.  Lets us a false understanding of the faith and apply it to persecutions, then lets make people feel bad that they make any links to the matter]– strongly reinforced the Pope’s determination to cancel the infamous accusation of “deicide” [Did or did the Jewish leaders at the time of Christ call for Christs death? The person that read this was obviously oblivious to the documents from Vatican II where the charge is actually issued] and by a new focus on the brotherly roots of the two religions, permanently change the course of Catholic-Jewish relations.  “Nostra Aetate” was the outcome and has become the premise for all subsequent steps towards reconciliation [Yet this presupposes that the Pope and the Church still seek for the Jews to recognize that their covenant is abrogated and that they must recognize Jesus as the Messiah and their God.  Yet when will this occur?  When was the last time you heard a pontiff or even a local ordinary, in charity, tell the Jewish people that they are called to conversion?].

Mutual respect for the other’s religious identity [Exxactly what do we respect about Talmudic Judism? That they have a lineage?] has – though sometimes with difficulties – been maintained as a cornerstone for this evolving history.  The Church’s attempts to convert Jews in past centuries, with repeated recourse to humiliation, brute force and persecution throughout Europe, were permanently overturned by this new document [Excuse my language for a moment. What the hell are they talking about? The church cant and did not attempt to convert people through humiliation, brute force or persecution.  To do so invalidates the very conversion.  If a person, lets say even a member of the clergy applied such tactics to induce conversion they did so on their own and they were ignorant of the faith to begin with.]

In barely a half year into his papacy, Pope Jorge Maria Bergoglio has already won the hearts and minds of many skeptical Jewish religious leaders.

Dr. Riccardo Di Segni, the Chief Rabbi of Rome known for his very cautious attitude toward interreligious dialogue and his insistence on mutually recognized limits, said, “This Pontiff does not cease to surprise.” He noted that while Francis’ words are not new but, rather, inherent to Christianity as confirmed by Vatican II [When you hear this you should immediately ask yourself did Vatican II change anything?  Did it even claim the authority to do so?  What is he really surprised at with this new approach?], “It is the force with which he expresses them and his capacity of communicating them that is astounding.”

He was referring to an article written by the Pope in which Francis declared that “since the Second Vatican Council we have rediscovered that the Jewish People are still for us the holy root that produced Jesus”[Again this just shows the deficiency by which the Holy Father received his training.  Anyone familiar with Church history would know this rediscovery is mockery to actual historical occurances].  He also stated that despite the horrors inflicted on the Jewish People by the Shoah, “God never abandoned his covenant with Israel [Which is a true to the extent that he held up his end but the Jewish people rejected their own covenant which was then abrogated as per Paul in Hebrews.  This isn’t a matter of trying to make the Jews feel good.  This is a matter of truth and actual church teaching.  Its like we have become obsessed with making everyone feel good where they are at that to even call them to a conversion is inconvenient and too hard to do.] , and notwithstanding their terrible suffering over the centuries, the Jewish People have kept their faith [What faith do they hold?  Is it a true faith?  Is it the same as what Christ himself fulfilled? This is what will drive a man mad.].  For this, we will never be sufficiently grateful to them as a Church, but also as human beings. In the persistence of their faith in the God of the Covenant, they summon all, including us as Christians, to recall the fact that we are awaiting the return of the Lord as pilgrims, and must therefore always remain open to Him and never retreat from what we have already achieved.” [But we are retreating from that what we received.  We are terrified from the hierarchy on down to proclaim anything but good about others and what they believe.]

During his first official meeting with Jewish leaders represented by a delegation of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC) last July, Francis said, “Because of our common roots, a true Christian cannot be anti-Semitic [Just restating Catholic teaching from the beginning…Pius XI also made this clear before WWII but do we hear about that?].” 

In keeping with his informal, iconoclastic style [Notice that the author sees no issue in writing about a pontiff pointing out that the Pope uses heretical styings.  Pray tell where are we headed when those in the Vatican Insider make iconoclasm a new treddy pick for the church?], the Pope walked in, unannounced, causing a stir among the delegates milling around the room.  Rabbi Noam Marans, the American Jewish Committee’s director for Interreligious Relations in the U.S., later summed up the general reaction. “Pope Francis is unassuming, unscripted, warm.  It is a religious experience to be in his presence”.  

INTERVIEW WITH RABBI DAVID ROSEN:   
An in-depth conversation with Rabbi David Rosen, AJC’s International Director of Interreligious Affairs, reveals the essential traits of Pope Francis that are winning worldwide Jewish support and hopes for what the future could bring.

“There has never been a Pope with as deep an understanding of Jews as Pope Francis” [A poor opinion based on what?  Personal feelings, his approach to the Jewish people?] states Rabbi Rosen candidly.  “Of course Pope John Paul II had a unique childhood experience of the Jewish community in Wadowice.  But by the time he was a priest, there was little living community left to talk of, so his engagement was not as a developed adult.

Francis, on the other hand, has not only nurtured lifelong friendships with the Jewish community in Buenos Aires, with whom he has had “a vibrant interaction”, says Rabbi Rosen, but has co-authored a book with an Argentinian rabbi, Abraham Skorka, “thus addressing issues face to face with Jewish self-understanding and experience.  This profoundly shapes his sensitivity and his commitment to the Jewish-Christian relationship.” [Maybe someone should ask the Holy Father in another wide ranging interview whether or not Jews are still called to conversion?]

Rabbi Rosen points to Pope Francis’ “remarkable capacity to communicate his profound humanity in simple and sincere gestures.

Comparing the communicative genius of Pope Wojtyla with that of Pope Bergoglio, Rosen says, “John Paul II was a master of dramatic gestures but these were often novel and challenging. Francis’ brilliance”, he continues,  “lies precisely in his simplicity – which paradoxically has a dramatic impact and has endeared him to the world.” [Remember they love the iconoclastic styles]
David Rosen notes that “the Jewish response has been remarkably warm.” 

“In substance”, says AJC’s Interreligious Director, “he is the self-same continuity of his predecessors.  However he has also built upon his predecessors in relation to the Jewish People.

“Benedict XVI was the first to invite Jews to attend his Papal installation and the Jewish presence at Francis’ inauguration was even more significant and extensive. [Did this invitation have a reason to it other than good will?]

“His public comments to the Jewish representatives at his inauguration, his letters to the Chief Rabbis of Rome and of Israel, his reference to Jewish historic commitment and triumph over persecution in his media interviews – all have deeply impressed Jews worldwide and in Israel that Pope Francis is a profoundly genuine friend of the Jewish People.

Asked what he sees as the main avenues for a revitalized cooperation between Jews and Catholics now and in the future, Rabbi Rosen observes that while the major theological issues of the past have been mainly addressed, and although the discussion can never be exhausted, the Jewish side is now focused on practical things to be accomplished together. [In other words more dialogue without a purpose.  If there is no call to conversion amongst all this good will what does it profit them?]

 “Above all there is an enormous educational challenge” says Rabbi Rosen.

 “While the teaching of the Magisterium towards Jews, Judaism, and Israel are overwhelmingly positive, there are many parts of the Catholic world where pre-Conciliar attitudes still prevail and where anti-Judaism if not anti-Semitism is still to be found [It should have been asked what exactly is meant by this? I myself stand firmly against the Jewish religion that is now held because it is a false religion.  I don’t hate the people that perpetuate the Talmudic rite, but neither do I say silent on the matter.  So too whenever a person holding this faith brings up anti-Semetism they must really be asked what they mean by this.  I wrote on this a few posts back to clear up the real issues.].  This is especially so in many parts of Latin America where, other than in the main cities of Argentina and Brazil, Jews often hardly feature at all on the ‘Catholic radar screen’. [Don’t even know what this means]

“Surely here a Latin American Pope can play a very special role and exert initiative.

“Remarkably, the teaching of Nostra Aetate and of the Magisterium following on therefrom are not an obligatory part of the syllabus for the formation of priests everywhere [Because to document is merely a pastoral letter on how some thought at the time it would be best to approach other religions.] Addressing this should be a minimal educational responsibility on the part of the Church to its own teachings – not to mention how Jesus and his contemporary Jewish brothers, followers and opponents are presented (or not presented) in sermons in many places especially at Easter time. The Church could do so much in educational terms. [AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! If your eyes don’t begin to bleed you have no soul!]

“There is of course a parallel challenge on the Jewish side, but it is not a symmetrical one and Jewish approach has and is changing in response.

 “However the onus is first and foremost on the Christian side. [To deny Christ?  To condemn people that didn’t follow the faith and were reprimanded already for it at the time they lived?  The onus is not on us, but on the Jewish people that deny Christ as their God out of ignorance.}

 “Perhaps this is substantially a consequence of historical power, but the Church is the one here with the most terrible tragic record.  It is a record that still has to be addressed.  In truth, it has already been addressed, but the problem is that not everyone in the Church knows this yet! [Strawman, and the Vatican Insider is happy to publish it.  Souls are perishing and the Jews are concerned with apologies for things that have been condemned? AHHHHHHHH!!!]


 “Beyond this specific responsibility, we have already begun to work and dialogue together on common challenges of our times – social, scientific, environmental, etc., above all, concerning the sanctity of human life and combating dehumanization in its various forms.  Here there is unlimited scope to do more and more together for the benefit of humankind as a whole.”[What does it profit a man to solve all the worlds whoas but lose his soul?]


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for Francis at every opporutunity.  Pray for Your own Priests!  But Trust in God!  And never lose faith in His Holy Spotless bride the Church!


+JMJ+

Friday, September 20, 2013

Bringing the Sword

I was just on the road doing the typical runabout for my job and during this time the part in the gospel where Christ leaves the last supper with the three came to me.  Specifically speaking, when Christ tells them to being with them a sword.  Peter shows them his, and Jesus tells him that will be enough. 
I must admit I am rather confused on this part of scripture.  Christ knew he was going to die, yet he tells them to be armed.  Now I’m no theologian and I have zero experience in any classroom with regards to the faith, but I’m just going to wing it because I like to think things through out loud, usually just among friends but hey don’t take me too seriously with what I write and correct me if you think I’m way off.  I accept criticism with gratitude!

So anyways Christ tells some of his followers to bring swords with them as he heads off to Gethsemane, to which Peter revels his sword, Christ approves and they leave.

My initial take on this action in revealing the sword that is called for by God we see a foreshadowing of the Church Militant, called to battle by God.  Christ’s order to bring the weapon contrasts with his “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart”.  Many people would say that this is a contradiction, how can one at the same time be meek and yet willingly violent?  Do you remember when Christ told his followers to turn the cheek when someone slaps them and let them slap the other.  Yet how many of us realize that when Christ stands before the Sanhedrin and is slapped his meekness remains as does his humility, but he questions the man who slapped him, questioning the motive and calling the person out for their action.  Here we see violence, perhaps not physically, but a verbal and mental violence where the person is confronted and attacked in his environment.  In his humility Christ demands the person to cease, forcing him out of the comfort of mockery into a moment of clarity where a path must be choosen, a dividing point like the edge of the blade.  In the garden when Peter reveals the sword it seems to me that a new division is underway.  That the Apostles don’t hesitate to bring forth a blade is also telling.  We are called the Church Militant for a reason, and its not so people can pose for pictures with the Knights of Columbus playing dress up when seeking fraternal.  Our weapons may not be physical but they are indeed real.  The Rosary is the greatest weapon our Lord has granted to us, and he tells us through is Blessed Mother to make this a daily devotion.  I cant tell you how important this is, JUST DO IT!

The sword is then revealed again when Christ is confronted by the Sanhedrin guard.  Here we see Peter in a moment of confusion pull the dagger and strike the servant of the high priest.  Jesus then repremends him telling him to put the sword back in the scabbard, that those who live by the sword with surely die by it.
Now if you are anything like me you are scratching your head….”But Jesus didn’t you have him bring the sword for a reason?  I don’t get it.  Is it but only a decoration?  Something to look fierce with?”
It seems to me that in this moment of savagery Our Lord is reminding Peter that different times call for different reactions.  For Christ knew that he was going to his death but he encouraged his followers to bring a sword.  In other words violence has its time and reason, and God is not against such action for the right reason.  Hence he involves the weapon in the matter.  So too in his providence he knew Peter would strike at the servant and would have to be reprimanded.  But think about that for a second.  Later Peter will deny our Lord, but here perhaps in a moment of confusion and self defense thinking of his own well being he moves to action.  Is his thinking about Christ here?  Im not sure.  It seems like his own desires are first and foremost in his mind when striking.  Just as when he was rebuked after Proclaiming Christ and being named the Rock.  In other words his mind is not on Christ, but on selfish desires. 

We are then struck with how God can take a moment of confusion and trial and turn it into something good.  He heals the servant of the High Priest who was against him more than likely.  So it was ordained from time immemorial that God would bring good out of such confusion and violence.  Think about the crusades here, but I wont delve into that today, perhaps another time.  Many of you know that this servant later left this band of henchmen and his own priest and took up fellowship with the Apostles.  So in a moment of disaster when chaos reigns Christ in his own action of calling for the sword to be brought influenced how this servant would later be brought to faith.
Now I know some might object that one cannot bring good by perpetrating evil, but that’s not what I am getting at.  The slicing of the servants ear was a turning point a literal severing of what was into what is to come, Christ entering into his life.


Well that’s my thoughts, what do you think?

Moneyball

Just wanted to say I watched Moneyball last night, and it was FANTASTIC!

I for one did not expect it at all because how good could a movie about a baseball GM actually be? 

So heres my list of favorite baseball movies to date:

1) The Sandlot

2) Field of Dreams

3)Rookie of the Year

4)Bad News Bears

5)Major League

5)Moneyball

6) Angels in the Outfield


You really can’t go wrong watching any of these movies and the numbering is just there for effect not for ranking.  So if you have a family its worth picking out one of these titles (maybe not Bad News Bears).  And if you are looking to put your kids to bed early show them Ken Burns Baseball…j/k that’s great too!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

On anti-Semitism

So I’m feeling better after getting that off my chest yesterday and going to confession. As a side note I just don’t get why protestants find it so hard to believe that Christ would give authority to people he wills in hearing others sins and forgiving them, but I digress.

Now since I'm turning a new leaf I want to hit on something that really grinds my gears because it doesn't help anything, which is the labeling of fellow Catholics as Anti-Semitic. Now maybe this is the first time you have come across this, but it seems this).  Yet far too often our own brothers and sisters in the faith are more than willing to jump down the throats of others without first seeking clarity from the person themselves.  Hence the topic.
to be an ongoing thing in the Catholic mediasphere (which I’m happy to say might be calming down with a few examples including

One of the vilest attacks that is perpetrated by fellow Catholics is in the labeling of people they disagree with as anti-Semites.  Now lets me clear there are people in the Catholic world that are indeed anti-Semitic, who hate the Jews, and such people should be instructed in the actual teachings of the faith and if they persist in their error they should be condemned.  Yet the people that get the label today don’t actually hold to the things that they are accused of, and those doing the labeling don’t actually take the time to confront the people they presume to hold such stances so as to actually cut through misunderstandings.   
First what is Antisemitism?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary (not a Catholic friendly source), this means hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic or racial group
It is always wrong to treat anyone of a different race as being inferior to others.  People do not choose their race, they have received it genetically and as such have no choice in the matter.  There is nothing wrong with being of a different race.  God made us all and what he created was good, our decsions on the other hand are another matter all together.
I disagree with the other two distinctions in differing degrees however.  First that people are evil because they discriminate against others because of ethnicity.  Now if it’s just a matter of disliking another group of people because they are from a different part of the world, or they have certain differences in their cultural heritage this is wrong.  Yet if a culture is found to be so perverted in its ways they should be discriminated against.  Think about the Aztecs or ancient Carthage where people were being sacrificed again and again feeding the culture that was there.  There ethnic identity, that is culture, was perverted and can be discriminated against because they violate the common good.  Now I wouldn't hold that the best way to go about discriminating is by killing and pillering, but that was a different age so I’m neither against their choices in how to apply their moral disdain.  But overall as long as a culture doesn't violate the good there shouldn't be discrimination.

I must disagree with the part of the definition that being an anti-Semite means discrimination based on the others religion.  Just taking a look at Catholic history we can see that the Church has approached other religions and their adherents in different ways, specifically how they are tolerated or not.  It should be noted that being less tolerant of people from a different faith doesn’t mean you hate them as a people, rather it means that you disagree with their beliefs and therefore don’t think they should have the ability to perpetuate the thoughts because error, in the eyes of a traditional Catholic, is just as evil as murder. 
Forcing the Jews to wear distinctive clothing during the middle ages, or even exiling them is not something that goes against the faith.  Such things serve their purpose and are a product of the times.  But discriminating against another “faith” is not wrong especially is we as Catholics are called to have our countries recognize Christ as king whether secular or not.  It is a fact of history that the Jewish leaders called for the death of Christ our Lord and Vatican II restates this, but we should not hold this against those who call themselves Jews to this day. 

You are not anti-Semitic in declaring that the Judaism of today is a man-made religion.  You are not an anti-Semite is disputing how many people died in the holocaust (whether it was 500 K-9 million this is a terrible tragedy and we must work with one another to see to it that it never ever happens again to anyone including the Jewish people.  You are not an anti-Semite for not being for the state of Israel.  You are not an anti-Semite for calling out the Jewish presence in different organizations. You are not anti-Semitic if you think praying with the Jews is unnecessary and even scandalice. You are not an anti-Semite if you go on Iranian TV to give interviews.  All these things are prudential judgments and not a matter of actually being against the Jewish people.

Now people, we are better than this, if someone hates the Jewish people because they are Jews they should be condemned as actually being anti-Semitic, but such condemnations should be carefully judged and every effort to contact and talk to the individual should be made in determining positions and logic. 

Bottom Line Pray… Pray…PRAY for the conversion of the Jews, the Mohammadans and all others to the one true faith.  And love them enough that they can see Christ in you!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Giving Scandal & Learning Humility

I have been troubled lately, and have been trying to learn humility in recognizing my wrongs.

I want to thank Terry for his recent thoughts on pride and on learning ones place through humility.

Today's Gospel in the ancient right was the parable where the King invites people to his sons wedding, but is shunned and his servants that are sent to bring the message are killed.  He later calls for people good and bad to be informed of his feast and to be invited.  At the feast the King then comes across someone not dressed properly for the wedding and casts him out of the feast to the darkness where there is wailing and mashing of teeth.

The more that I ask myself how I can change, the more I feel myself trying to remain complacent in my own pride.  I too often see my thinking as the most important thing.  I'm always quick to correct others, but that log is in my eye.  Looking at it just after Mass today I can again see myself as the man who is invited to the wedding feast but is dressed improperly, in other words my agenda is more important than the feast.

Im trying to find a way to be humble in my thoughts and deeds, while not going soft on truth.  And quite frankly it seems like an endless battle where I'm just trying to keep my head above water.

If I were asked after my conversion where I would be three years later I would have never thought I would be siding with the traditionalists.  I would much rather let things go on without injecting myself into it.  Im no scholor or theologian.  Im arrogant and self righteous...and I hate being called on the carpet for it.

I am the one wearing the clothing inappropriate for the wedding feast.  I cause scandal and drive others away.

I am taking a break not from writing or learning but from placing myself in any place of authority because my pride is far too troubling.

Please pray for me that I learn humility and do His will (which is love and mercy itself) and not my own (narcissism).

Having got that out of my system, I want to make you aware of some fantastic sermons I came across today.  I think you will find these to be fantastic and the way I'm pushing myself to be a better Catholic.

Have a Fantastic day!





And please say a prayer for this Priest

+JMJ+


Monday, September 16, 2013

On the Feast of Pope St. Cornelius and Cyprian, a look at the lectionary

On the Feast of Pope St. Cornelius and Cyprian

Today is a fantastic day for the Church who celebrates the feasts of two of Her early Martyrs, Cornelius and Cyprian.  I’m making a point in talking about this because it’s one of the few days where both calendars (1962 and present form) celebrate the same feast. 
I did also want to mention the readings from today’s lectionary, which though for the same feast, are wildly different than one another. As you can see:
Ordinary Form: Luke 7:1-10
When Jesus had finished all his words to the people,
he entered Capernaum.
A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,
and he was valuable to him.
When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,
asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying,
“He deserves to have you do this for him,
for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”
And Jesus went with them,
but when he was only a short distance from the house,
the centurion sent friends to tell him,
“Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.
For I too am a person subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, Go, and he goes;
and to another, Come here, and he comes;
and to my slave, Do this, and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him
and, turning, said to the crowd following him,
“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
When the messengers returned to the house,
they found the slave in good health.
Extraordinary Form: Luke 21:9-19
When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.


Considering that it’s a feast day for Martyrs the latter lectionary makes more sense. 
This seems to be a common issue with the lectionary since 1970 where in an effort to make more of the scriptures heard we down play the feast that is celebrated that day.  I for one don’t see the need to make more of the scripture heard, especially when doing so is really just reading the same event from a different account.  We lose the connection that the liturgy and the feast have with one another, and we also don’t learn the scriptures as well because we are on a three year cycle in the OF for readings, while on the other hand the EF boasts a one year cycle really hitting on key aspects of the faith.


Just an observation (Also why are some things like anything against homosexual behavior left out of the lectionary when we are supposed to learn more in the 3 year cycle?  Especially when they gerrymander readings in the OF?  Just saying)

The Fatima Question

Because I’m specifically on the fence on this matter, and I think most people are unaware of the issues surrounding Fatima I want to make videos more visible to people who might care.


The first two videos below are from noted Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Priest Fr. Andrew Apostoli:


The next two videos are from Christopher Ferrara (video link) and John Salza (video)



Trust Our Lady on this Matter, and dont veer from the Holy Fathers!  But be critical with what is actually said, and what is merely opinion.

Calling for a mutual non aggression pact

As much as progressives/liberals drive me mad, I think (and this is my own opinion) that the greatest damage is actually done by those that call themselves Conservatives.  GK Chesterton once stated:

"The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected. Even when the revolutionist might himself repent of his revolution, the traditionalist is already defending it as part of his tradition. Thus we have two great types--the advanced person who rushes us into ruin, and the retrospective person who admires the ruins. He admires them especially by moonlight, not to say moonshine."
We all know the madness that progressives wish to thrust upon us and can clearly point out the inherent problems with their thinking.  Yet too many are so willing to let the so called conservatives get away with taking a stance that is untrue and even damaging to the well being of others.  The greatest attestation to progressives that we can give is that they are very much against the truth.  Yet the conservatives who seemingly play on the right side of things are more than willing to forego their stated "principles" in favor of compromise.  Such people are neither hot or cold like their counterparts in progressive movement, but are lukewarm opting for a mutual non-aggression pact so as not to create tension.  And don't think this is limited to the secular world.  Take for instance the vice presidential debate from the 2012 elections where Joe Biden was called out for his visual support of abortionists.  Left untouched by the so called orthodox Catholic Media was how Congressman Paul Ryan was more than willing to compromise his "stated position" as being fully pro-life so as not to cause a notable difference between himself and Mitt Romney during the presidential run.  I can think of no one that called him out for being lukewarm on this matter, for seeking compromise with the practitioners of death out of convenience.  In fact the only one I remember saying anything about this was...well Voris...but thats obvious and hes obviously wrong because hes just a reactinary, anti-Vatican II, uncharitable bigot...Right?

But I want to now get into another so called conservative/libertarian that is often credited for being a standard bearer, and controversial at the same time.  Im speaking here of one of my favorite talkers Glenn Beck (and I actually do like his show, but some days he just makes me face palm), who today on his radio show was calling on all people of good will, especially Christians to come together and defend those in the Middle East who are under fire.  I can agree with him here, I too hope that people of good will can come together on this issue specifically and push for peace in the region.  Yet the ends don't justify the means, and in this case the way that he went about calling for this is a means that violates the truth so bad that it creates false groundwork where peace is supposed to be built on.

So what did he say, you might ask that has caused this dumber ox to write up a million word TPS report on the matter?  Simply this: He stated that people need to come together and not act as the early Christians who refused to help each other because they looked at each other as not being Christian and therefore forewent their responsibility to protect each other.  Now fore context sake Mr. Beck is an apostate Catholic, turned remarried Mormon...no gossip here its out there and its freely admitted.  First consider that this statement is being made by a Mormon who believes that the Church went wrong following the death of St. John, and that the Church (both East and West) was the result of Constantine's decree and therefore a man made institution built on worldly power despite the one they professed.  But moving past this, the Church did not look on the others, even the Monophysites (Coptic Orthodox) as being unworthy of help.  Mr. Beck so often will bring up topics like the Crusades or the Inquisition in passing to gin up feelings among non-Catholics to as to make a point.  As compotent as Mr. Beck might be on American ideals and history, he is not competent on Church history including relations among the major Sees, nor is he competent about the crusades or the inquisition.  He is the same on that will condemn the Crusades outright as being evil, while condemning the Earliest Christians for not fighting.  Well which way does he want it?  If he took off his Americanist glasses for but a moment and delved into the early church he would notice that the Roman Pontiff only took the step of allowing the crusade when getting the appeal from the semi-schismatic Greeks (at the time) calling for help.  So too the early church didnt battle for each other because physical violence wasn't necessary.  If his point is that we were not fighting for the rights of Arians, Pelegians or other heretics at the time he misunderstands rights and tolerance.  No one has a right to error, they might hold to it and do so against the very wishes of Christ, but its not inherent that they have a right to do so.  If someone cuts themselves off from the Church and refuses the Churches council, how can you help them?  The answer is that you cant.  Help is freely offered and freely received, if one of those things are violated we have disorder.

My point is that conservatives are just as guilty as progressives in putting forth deceit (known or not).  Truth does not belong to either party and the ends don't justify the means, and the Truth is worth fighting for because it is a person.

+HOLY MOTHER CHURCH IS THE TRUTH BECAUSE SHE IS HIS BODY+    

+JMJ+

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Sunday Funnies!

Considering its Sunday, the Packers won and we are not bombing Syria at this point...


+Thank You Our Lady of Peace+

I figured its one of those fun days...

Round One: US congressman is concerned that putting more troops on Guam will cause the island to capsize...

Round 2: Leakages: A fantastic pilot that no show will ever follow... (link to video)


Round 3: Going to the Movies with Jim Gaffigan (warning some vulgar language):


speaking of Gaffigan...time for a 


Hot Pocket


Peace out!