Another gem from Cream City Catholic

A fantastic post at Cream City Catholic:

"...Cardinal Burke, the Church’s chief canon lawyer, arguing from Saint Paul, Canon Law and tradition, argues in favor of denying the Sacrament to public officials who are known to be complicit in grave sin. The integrity of the Sacrament should be protected from sacrilege, and the individual himself should be prevented from having that mortal blight on his soul. For his part, Cardinal Wuerl, apparently more concerned with being nice and liked by everyone (in other words “pastoral”) strongly disagrees with Burke, positing that Communion should not be withheld from politicians involved in scandal. It’s just mean, you see. All arewelcome at the table of plenty. To clue in those in the dark, “pastoral” is one of the many bastardized words in our vocabulary. There is nothing wrong with being truly pastoral, but now, “pastoral” is simply code among many bishops for neversaying or doing anything that might upset some easily offended special interest group living in Swaziland. If the interest group is left-of-center, that means never, ever offending it. If it’s a traditional group, then it’s open season. Fire away.
And if Burke’s departure wasn’t bad enough, also dropped from the Congregation was Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, another stellar protege of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The decision to deep-six two outstanding prelates and genuine liturgists in favor of someone like Cardinal Wuerl is a hard one-two punch to the gut. I pride myself on being able to read silver linings in bad news, but this development is bleak, all around. And I’m far from the only one expressing dismay.
There’s no other way to interpret this move, folks. I don’t know who was responsible for advising the Holy Father on this one, but it’s a huge mistake, in my opinion. Cardinal Burke represents a vision of the Church which has inspired large swaths of young men to enter seminaries and traditional religious orders. Liberals hate him, and even mild mannered conservatives find him unpalatable because he is unambiguous and fearless. Jealousy no doubt plays a role too...."

Read the rest, its good stuff

My nomination for best tweet of the year!

now some may say thats uncharitable and oversimplification but... this isnt your blog so get over yourself!

Shot to mame

One of the Best Exsultate Jubilate performances

The Devil - The Venerable Fulton Sheen

+JMJ+

Against the Napolitano Heresy (The Super Dogma of Bonitas Capitalismus)

Most people by now have either read or heard about the Holy Fathers latest Apostolic Exhortation. To no ones surprise its long and encompasses a wide range of topics, one of which is a few short notes on economics, including how Capitalism that is unrestrained is very problematic.  Thus began the fire storm.  From Limbaugh to Novak to Judge Andrew Napolitano people have been writing often times scathing critiques on what the Holy Father said.  Many claim him to be outright or tettering on the edge of Marxism.

One of my Favorite quotes comes from Judge Napolitano  who identifies as a libertarian and a “Pre-Vatican II Catholic” (not SSPX, just as arrogant though):

“What shall we do about the pope and economics?” Napolitano asked in conclusion. “We should pray for his faith and understanding and for a return to orthodoxy. That means the Holy Mother Church under the Vicar of Christ — saving souls, not pocketbooks.”

Now think for a second what is wrong with this thinking.  Never mind that the conservative/libertarian mind is unable to see that there are other options then Economic Marxism and Laize Faire Free Markets, but he does the same foolish thing to the Holy Father that he would rail against had a liberal said something similar.  What does he mean that we need to pray for the Popes return to Orthodoxy?  This is a sidestep.  There is nothing unorthodox about what he  said.  Others like Chesterton, Belloc, the new distributists and Leo XIII who got the ball rolling said the same thing, yet to question Capitalism is unconscionable!  It is to say that to say any thing critical of Capitalism necessarily puts you against science and in front of a lay run inquisition.  Pray tell the last time Napolitano or even for that matter a Pope in the last 50 years has spoke about the evil of Usary which is a common byproduct of capitalism regulated and unregulated?

The truth is that when Peter talks about economics he is not over stepping his boundaries because they indeed are tinted with  moral issues that are exploited for gain, then will later be justified by an ends, thereby doing the same thing Saul Alinsky did and that the conservative/libertarians rail against at all times of the day.

Its pure B.S!  And for a so called “Pre-Vatican II Cathlic” to be so incompetent with regards to the obvious moral issue inherent only makes me question his real motives…perhaps love of the world?

…just sayin

Going into the Weekend

Here is a thought...

Barring the possibility that Benedict is the Pope in White, he will die and be entombed after a pontifical requiem mass.  Considering how he wanted the next Pope to be enthrowned with a solemn display of cardinals individually showing obedience, yet this was changed, in so called humility, wouldnt it be great if the last thing he asked for was a Pontifical Requiem in the EF?  And presided over by, or at least assisted by Pope Francis?  Pipe dream I know

But since its the weekend I will leave you with some giddy music...

The weekend is coming! Must breath!

+JMJ+

Thanksgiving and the hodgepodge that follows

First a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

I came across a great quote by Chesterton a while back on the holiday and it follows:

 “In America they have a feast to celebrate the arrival of the pilgrams. Here in England we should have a feast to celebrate their departure” – GK Chesterton
 

Considering how the puritans thought celebrating Christmas was wrong and continued working on such feast

A protestant on Christmas

days…catch that Scroog was actually common, especially in America until Teddy Roosevelt (a crappy progressive imho) called for it to be a day of rest from work.  That protestant work ethic at it again…what a joke.  Some like Glenn Beck actually are disappointed that we don’t work on Thanksgiving, I am personally happy to have off, and if someone tried to make me work on a Christmas day I would have to consider whether such a person was worth working for to begin with.  I actually wish we had siestas like the historically Catholic countries but the protestant work ethic holds money and power at its head seeking more, and hoarding as quick as possible, how I wish I lived in a Catholic confessional state… BTW I wouldn’t mind finding myself before an inquisitional court.

Oh and before I go I just wanted to recommend, as Vatican II did the idea of nobel simplicity to you, perhaps less choices though, too much variety here, hes making the poor feel bad…

h/t Rorate otherwise they will whine about it

A note to the lukewarm

“All the evils of the world are due to lukewarm Catholics” – St. Pope Pius V

“All the strength of Satan’s reign is due to easygoing weakness of Catholics” – St. Pope Pius X

If he knocks how will you answer?

“Without this awareness of the before and after of which Paul speaks to us, our Christianity does not help anyone! More to this: it takes us on the road of hypocrisy. ‘I call myself a Christian, but live like a pagan!’ Sometimes we say ‘Christians at half-speed’, who do not take this seriously. We are holy, justified, sanctified by the blood of Christ: Take this sanctification and carry it forward! Though people do not take it seriously! Lukewarm Christians: ‘But, yes, yes , but, no, no’. Neither here nor there - as our mothers said, ‘rosewater Christians’ - no! A little touch here and there, of Christian paint, a little ‘paint catechesis’ - but inside there is no true conversion, there is no such conviction as that of St.Paul: ‘Everything I gave up and I consider garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.’” – Pope Francis

So too I also found a tremendous sermon by St. John Vianney here.

The point?

Get off your lazy butt and call others home to Christ! (obvious).  

Fr. Pablo Straub on Fatherhood and Manhood

Its hard to understate the role Father Straub had in my life.  I think its been a little over a month since he passed away, but his words still haunt me, in a good way.

There was one sermon he delivered that still sticks in my craw.  The focus of the homily is on manhood and fatherhood.  I would say more but it is better for you to hear him deliver it then me paraphrase.  So that your intellect may be brought closer to God I now give you my favorite sermon that I still listen to once a month for good measure:

http://airmaria.com/?sn=081011&vp=2104&prefx=hmly&plyrnb=1&ttl=Homily

The video doesn't work on blogger so just click the link

source

+Rev. Fr. Pablo Straub, 1932-2013+

Buckley the Catholic

The late, GREAT, William Buckley who founded National Review was also a fervent Catholic. 

On marriage and divorce: “I see the Church as echoing the word of the Lord on marriage.”

Source

On contraception: “My own incomplete understanding of the natural law balks at the central affirmation of Humanae Vitae, even as I’d of course counsel dutiful compliance with it.”

On fidelity in general: “Which side to observe? But the answer, for a Catholic, has got to be: the position taken by the Pope, as spokesman for the magisterium.”

On a special note, Mr. Buckley was also a traditionalist and even invited the late Michael Davies onto his Firing Line show to discuss Catholic orthodoxy with a USCCB representative priest from New York once.  Its available for purchase or rent here.  I think its $5 to buy and $1 to rent, it was good either way and shows how tense things were at the beginning of Blessed JPII’s pontificate

Source

+Pray for Journalists and Teachers alike+

How journalists make news

Like kissing your sister

few good things out of the game yesterday like:

source

 and Matt Flynn didnt look bad...not great either for that matter

its still like kissing your sister though

ewww....

Protesters of a Different Fold?

A lot of news has come out on the actions by some in the SSPX fold having disrupted a Jewish-Catholic get together, liturgy type of monstrosity that took place last week in the Popes former cathedral as a Cardinal. 

Now, this has been occurring since the current Holy Father took hold of the Buenos Aires Cathedral so this is not a new event.  The SSPX faithful entered the Cathedral and began yellingly (I know its not a word) praying the Rosary (if that’s possible).  The event has been condemned by the Jewish councils and Catholics alike even supposedly the Pope himself, although this is disputed.  Even the people over at Fisheaters were a little frustrated by the action taken in protest, though they really objected to the way the Rosary was prayed, not that confrontation occurred. 

As to my opinion on the matter I am just a little tired of the perceivable indifferentism that occurs in such “liturgies” or whatever you wish to call them.  I know the goal is to promote Catholic and Jewish relations and beg forgiveness for actions taken in the past by Christians against the Jewish people.  That’s all well and good, and where unjust persecution and  discrimination (notice I said unjust) takes place it should be corrected.  Yet when we invite Jews or Mohammadans or even heretical groups like Anglicans or Lutherans to participate in a “liturgical” gathering that mixes the Catholic faith with other non-Catholic rites or teachings we blur lines and create confusion that poisons the faith of so many, and always (I say this from experience, contradict me if you will) leads to indifferentism.

I personally agree that the event needed to be protested, but how do you go about doing so?  It is common to find in the Milwaukee area parishes (or more recently recasted as Faith Communities) “liturgies” involving protestants like Good Friday services where the Parish priest invites protestant leaders (I cant bring myself to call them pastors, the blind lead the blind) to speak.  Now don’t worry the tabernacles are usually off somewhere else, nowhere to be found of course.  But still they get up there and preach to a primarily Catholic audience seeking comfort on Good Friday. The result?  People in the pews believe it doesn’t matter where the message comes from, and therefore go wherever the message is more attractive.  Disagree?  That’s fine but back it up.

I do wish the SSPX parishioners would have remained outside the Cathedral and prayed the Rosary in a reverent manner befitting the Queenship of Our Lady.  Now I know they will reference Christ overturning the tables in the Temple, but please, as these people entered the Cathedral you could have been reciting the Rosary and made it clear the necessity of Jesus for those Jews coming to the event in banners or some other action. 

Just my thoughts… I could be wrong…most likely am…aww screw it!

Well that could have gone better!

+Pray for the Lukewarm+

The Narrators

In almost any book there are certain key characters, a setting that accounts for where the story takes place, a plot to the action inherent and if we are lucky a conclusion.  What is often assumed in any story, and therefore often forgone, is how the stories narrator plays a colossal role in how the story is perceived. 

The world is a giant tale with plots a plenty, and perspectives amassing since its very commencement.  We need not be so naive when viewing situations near and dear to us, most specifically with regards to the present pontificate.

To be sure, there are many things that the Holy Father has said that make me pull out my hair and want to yell at the top of my lungs, “YOU ARE NOT HELPING!”  This is my cry baby side because I don’t like to do extra work when I already have enough things on my plate. Yet, there are many good and perfectly orthodox things that the Holy Father has put out which are fantastic and need be applauded.

So what do both of these things have in common then?  They are both narratives, one propagated the other ignored, not even challenged.  The narrarator then?  The media, dissenting catholics and the forces of confusion, all play a role in how the Church and therefore Her earthly head the Pope are seen by the public. 

I bring this up because many Trads are perfectly happy going after Peter whenever he speaks foolishly and therefore such things find their way elsewhere and confusion ensues (perhaps justly, we deserve what we get) .  Yet when he speaks rightly we are too often silent.  Look even Paul VI said good things and wrote wonderful works that Trads both lay and clerical condemn as not Catholic enough. 

Michael Matt of the Remnant spoke on this very issue in his most recent Remnant Underground video which can be seen below.  Enjoy!

Might I Recommend Gold?

Russian lawmaker wants to outlaw U.S. dollar, calls it a Ponzi scheme

Now consider quantitative easing, one, two and three

Quess what your dollar is now worth and will be worth because of QE 1, 2, 3

source

Then consider the debt which the US owes

Consider how China is setting up side deals with other countries to ween themselves off the dependence of the dollar and how their generals are now, at the present moment developing plans for nuclear strikes on the US

I know our Lord tells us not to hoard things and I would not hoard Gold, but neither do I think its a bad thing to protect ones self and family from ruin when the dollar goes under.  Pray it doesnt happen

Church Teaching on Limbo

Up until about this morning I was of the understanding that Limbo was merely a midevil theological inquirie.  This video, I pray will help you to understand what the church teaches at its highest level on the subject.

Not that Limbo

Aquinas on Captains

source

I the HIGHEST aim of a 

captain were to preserve 

HIS ship, he would keep it in 

port forever. 



-St. Thomas Aquinas

The Nature of Love

www.hildebrandlegacy.org

It is not enough to stress that love is a value-response and thus is essentially different from all responses motivated by the merely subjectively satisfying. It has also to be stressed that love is grounded in a value so closely united with the person as such, that is, this individual and unique person taken as subject, stands before me as valuable, precious, lovable, and is full thematic for me. The value basis of love is such that it elevates and ennobles the person as person and completely excludes any possibility of looking upon the beloved person as a means for my happiness and delight.

-Dietrich von Hildebrand, The Nature of Love

+JMJ+

The Blade sharpens the Blade

Good Day!

While at work I had the following debate playing in the background.  I found myself constantly wishing to correct the foolishness that abounds within, but the more I thought of it the more I realized it was more about me wanting to correct the other because of my pride in my own knowledge and not really because I want the incorrect words changed for the sake of their souls.  Its a good talk


The Great Resurrection Debate: William Lane Craig vs. John Shelby Spong

Still learning humility

+Pray for Syria and Egypt+

+Pray for the Holy Souls+

+Pray for Peter+

A picture is worth a thousand words

h/t Huff Post Religion, St. Peters List

We would look rather stupid if we were the only ones here.

A common error

I know I am not the only one that has ever heard the saying:

“We would look rather stupid if we were the only ones here.”

While the saying might hold true in the free market where ideas are infinite and people worship at the thrown of the almighty dollar, it does not hold true for all things.  As you can guess I speak here of being Catholic and attending to the obligations presented there within.

Generally people will use this when something happens within the church that causes scandal or really challenges them on the way they are living or how they will be living in the future.  The person will cite the problem then say, “Don’t these so called “holy men” get it that if they keep this garbage up they will look really stupid if no one is here?”

Lets grant the possibility (lets call it a guarantee because really who are we kidding ourselves with CCD classes making macaroni crosses) that they are ignorant of the necessity of the priesthood and the indefectibility of Holy Mother Church.  Now you could say that they are speaking specifically about leaving one parish (or if you are uncomfortable with such pre-conciliar terms insert “Faith Community”) for another for whatever reason, but usually they are speaking about an outright leaving, commonly referred to as apostacy.

Let’s get one thing straight if someone is indifferent on the matter of being Catholic they need to receive a rebuke and be instructed on the matter way before something happens and they fall right into their own erroneious thoughts.

Even if it was just the priest by himself it would not matter.  This is because he is not dependent on You or I to offer the sacrifice of the Mass.  One of the biggest culprits of this matter is how after the council the altar was wrechovated or replaced so as to make mass facing the people the norm.  It because a people centered service and thus the perception that it's a show necessitating spectators.

Pope Benedict, while still a Cardinal spoke on this in his excellent book The Spirit of the liturgy, which I recommend to any lover of the sacred liturgy (hint all Catholics). 

So ask your priest where his focus is when celebrating the Mass, is it an offereing to the Father or to the people, or has he created a hybrid of the two?  Either way don’t let this foolish saying go unchallenged.

+JMJ+

+Pray for Peter+

+Pray for the Middle East+

God uses the lowly to proclaim his Kingship

I think it was a couple weeks ago that the US House stenographer took the liberties to approach the live microphone and go on a rant about the US constitution and the countries founding.

source

She mentioned that God couldn’t bless this country because the country from her founding rejected God and that her masonic leanings were also at fault for our current predicament.

A couple others took up this matter focusing on the masonic aspect or the apparent nuttiness but it seems like the purpose is forgone in the aftermath. 

Im specifically thinking how the lady later said it was done by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  It seems conceivable that it was so.  What if it was a warning akin to that of Jonah

to Nineveh?

All I know is that the evils that this nation allows and even promotes deserve divine retribution, and we can be sure such punishment with be swift and just.

The solution is simple Christ must reign both in our private lives and in our public ones as well.  They want peace but they reject the prince of peace?  What do they expect?

To that end I came across a fantastic video to close out the week with speaking of the Kingship of Christ.

Enjoy!

Click Here the video doesnt appear in blogger format

Trent the Pastoral

The heirarchy has many responsibilities, but its primary one is to see to it that souls are adequately shepherded back to heaven.  To this end the Council of Trent stated the following:

source

"Bishops and other Ordinaries should remember that they are shepherds and not slave drivers, and that they must so rule over their subjects as not a domineer over them but to love them as sons and brothers; they should endeavor by exhortation and admonition to deter them from wrong doing lest they be obliged to administer due punishment after faults have been committed. Yet if through human frailty their subjects do wrong they must observe the precept of the Apostles, and reprove, entreat, rebuke them in all patience and doctrine; for sympathy is often more effective for correction than severity, exhortation better than threats of punishment, kindness better than insistence on authority. If in view of the seriousness of a crime there be need of punishment, then they must combine authority with leniency, judgement with mercy, severity with moderation, to the end that discipline, so salutary and essential to public order, be maintained without asperity, and that those who have been punished may amend their ways, or, if they refuse to do so, that others may be deterred from wrongdoing by salutary example of their punishment."

just thought it was interesting when I came across this part of the council

2214 §2 (1917 Code)
Citation from I Am With you Always by Michael Davies

Halloween Special: Tell Tale Heart

Considering that we are not Puritans and are not afraid of the macobe (thanks Terry), I thought it timely to make known a fantastic recording of the Edger Allan Poe Poem the Tell Tale Heart which is done in an gripping manner by radio host Glenn Beck.  He plays it once a year on Halloween.  Heres the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32rwI3eM5h8

Happy Halloween!

(Oh and just in case you were going to plead ignorance tomorrow is a Holy day of obligation...)

Talking about the liturgy at Marquette

When I was at an early mass the other day I noticed this flyer on the confessional doors:

Some might be thinking, "But its a Jesuit speaking on the liturgy and it is about Vatican II."

I know, I know, I had a similar feeling initially just looking at it, but reading closer there seems to be some good things.

First, the decreed on the liturgy from the council is quite beautiful and only contains a few confusing things, but overall its a wonderful document!

Second the talk is being given by a member of the revising commitee that worked to bring the translation in line with the Latin 1970 missal.  He also defended the new translation among his critical peers.

Now I dont have any real plans of going, but it looks like a positive experience as compared to the one at my former parish as per Terrance.

+JMJ+

Cardinal Pell on Fellay and the Council

I've seen Cardinal Pell's third party response to Bp. Fellay of the SSPX and I think he is just doing his job as one of the leaders of the Church in supporting the Holy Father.

The interesting aspect of the interview was the following to me:

Q.  So people like Fellay have completely misread Pope Francis?

A.  Yes, it is a gigantic misreading!  In actual fact, the Lefebvrists – many of them – have misread the situation for decades.   It was to Benedict’s great credit that he tried to reconcile with them, but they didn’t respond. Now the Church today accepts the Second Vatican Council. You don’t have to accept every jot and tittle of it, but it is part of Church’s life now, there’s no way around that. 

A couple notes,

He states that many of them (in the SSPX, using the term Lefebvrists is going overboard when they never accepted it to begin with) have misread the situation.  Well like Fr. Z said this is being vague... might we say ambiguous so as to not really touch on the issues that are contended.  Like I have said before there is a great resistance by many in the heirarchy to see to it that the SSPX is never accredited with providing direction for the church moving forward.  They may say dumb things but I know of bishops in good standing that have said worse and led the many into greater scandal then even Williamson.

The bolded part of the statement is also important because it states the obvious that novelties are still contested legitamatly by many in good standing with the Church, but there is such a reluctance to really look at the fruits of the council and address the problems not just of interpretation but of what was written in and of itself.  It should be noted its not a liberal problem but also a conservative one with the likes of George Weigle pandering to the "Evangelical Catholic" crowd determined to promote the ecumanism of indifference at nearly any cost (my observation...restrictions apply).

He might have well ended with something like:

"Must protect the legacy of the concilliar church and her pontiffs, must...Must...MUST!!!!  Will anyone take him up on the offer to really address the tittles of contension...we'll see.

source

What to Read?

source

Four years ago this would have been the last thing I would have ever written on because quite frankly books are boring…its like reading a pamphlet on pulling tonsils.  I think I can remember a handful of books that I enjoyed reading from the K-12 grades, some important like To Kill a Mocking Bird to something plain foolish as Goosebumps.  It’s the same thing with magazines, too few of them interested me.  I loved ESPN the Magazine because it was drowning in amazing pictures.  Other kids in middle school or high school would talk about having a stash of playboys or other pornographic mags.  To this day I thank the Lord that when I inquired to have my friends give me one they always declined.  Someone was watching over me…Thank you Guardian Angel!

I wanted to take a moment and provide a list of the books I am currently reading and recommend them to you for your own learning and enjoyment.

1.       I Am with You Always by Michael Davies, Neumann Press 1997
This book is primarily concerned with providing an apologetic against the scourge that is Sedevananctism.  Since I delve into areas where many criticize the post conciliar church I have been confronted constantly by sedevacantists (who deny that the Popes since either Pius XII or John XXIII are valid) calling me a heretic for holding that the seat was not vacant since the council.  If you enjoy apologetics and are interested in the topic of the indefectibility of the Church this short, 100 page book is for you!  Price: $12 on Amazon

2.       Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
This Book takes an in depth look at the Salve Regina touching on issues like Mary as Mediatrix of all graces and even the assumption before it was solemnly proclaimed by Pius XII. This is a phenomenal work and I try to read a chapter every Sunday and focus on it for the week.  You will not be disappointed if you pick this title up. 

3.       Apologia Pro Marcel Lefebvre by Michael Davies
This 3 volume work is a defense of Monsignor Marcel Lefebvre, the controversial Archbishop who established and sustained the Priestly Society of Saint Pope Pius X (SSPX).  I myself am not an advocate for the society itself, especially in the way it is presently constituted, but it is interesting to get an impartial look at this controversial figure in the Churches history and examine his group and their purpose moving forward.  You can find this online for free at the SSPX Asia website.  Be critical in what is said as Mr. Davies is, Stay with Peter but be honest with actions as well.

Prof. Von Hildebrand (source)

4.       The Nature of Love by Dietrich von Hildebrand, St. Augustine’s Press 2009
This was considered Professor Hildebrand’s greatest work on what True Love really is.  Prof. Von Hildebrand was proclaimed by Ven. Pope Pius XII as the, count it, The Doctor of the Church for the 20^th Century (JPII the “great” advocates will disagree but being stuck in the muds of Assisi don’t help their cause…im just kidding).  This is a really deep and scholarly book and I am only attacking this a few pages at a time and most often I have to go back and reread because its so dense. Yet this is a fantastic work and foundational in a world that calls things that are disordered love.

5.       Aquinas (Beginners Guides) by Edward Feser
A fantastic beginners book for Thomas Aquinas.  The book covers the life of St. Thomas his metaphysics, natural theology, psychology and ethics.  Other than Dr. Taylor Marshalls book which is free at his website I would recommend this work to people that really want a deep but not too scholarly look at the Doctor of Doctors for Holy Mother Church.  A fantastic read!

I will finish by recommending The Outline of Sanity magazine put out by the American Chesterton Society.  I think you can tell whats its about.  I think a years subscription is around $50, but its worth it especially if you’re a self proclaimed Chestertonian…like me…self proclaimed.

Alight that’s enough….time for cookies… or not

C is for Cookie!

North American Martyrs

Teaching Modesty

Most of us only think about modesty in terms of clothing, to few understand that it effects the whole of our lives.  Especially the Holy Mass

they only want us for our Pimp Juice

Blessed Raphael the Holy Archangel

From my ’62 missal reads the following:

Benedict XV (1914-1922) extended to the Universal Church the Feast of the Holy Archangel St. Raphael, who is known to us from the inspired words of the Book of Tobias as the angelical physician of the soul and body.

Catholic Online gives us the following information on St. Raphael:

St. Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord. He was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah. At the time, Tobit was blind and Tobiah's betrothed, Sarah, had had seven bridegrooms perish on the night of their weddings. Raphael accompanied Tobiah into Media disguised as a man named Azariah. Raphael helped him through his difficulties and taught him how to safely enter marriage with Sarah. Tobiah said that Raphael caused him to have his wife and that he gave joy to Sarah's parents for driving out the evil spirit in her. He also gave Raphael credit for his father's seeing the light of heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession. Besides Raphael, Michael and Gabriel are the only Archangels mentioned by name in the bible. Raphael's name means "God heals." This identity came about because of the biblical story which claims that he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch.  Raphael is also identified as the angel who moved the waters of the healing sheep pool. He is also the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers. His feast day is celebrated on September 29th.

Even before I started taking the faith seriously I loved reading scripture.  Unfortunately I was given an NIV version Bible at my Catholic parish so I was missing the seven deuterocanonical books from the Old testament.  You can imagine the joy I felt when I learned there were seven more books to read!  Yippie I was excited.

Also Anne Catherine Emmerick brings up the Book of Tobias as related below:

[On the feast of the Archangel Michael in September 1821, Catherine Emmerich recounted, amongst other fragments of a vision of the holy angels, the following fragment of the story of Tobias, whom she had seen with the Archangel Raphael as his guide.]

I saw many things from the life of Tobias, which is an allegory of the history of the coming of salvation in Israel; not an imaginative allegory, but one which actually happened and was lived. It was shown to me that Sarah, the wife of the young Tobias, was a prototype of St. Anne. I will relate as much as I can remember of the many things that happened, but shall not be able to reproduce them in their right order. The elder Tobias was an emblem of the God-fearing branch of the Jewish race, those who were hoping for the Messiah. The swallow, the messenger of spring, indicated the near approach of salvation. The blindness of old Tobias signified that he was to beget no more children, and was to devote himself entirely to prayer and meditation; it signified also the faithful, though dim, longing and waiting for the light of salvation and the uncertainty as to whence it was to come. Tobias' quarrelsome wife represented the empty and harassing forms into which the Pharisees had converted the Law. The kid which she had brought home in lieu of wages had, as Tobias warned her, really been stolen, and had for that reason been handed on to her in return for very little. Tobias knew the people concerned and all about it, but his wife only mocked him. This mockery also indicated the contempt of the Pharisees and formalists for the devout Jews and Essenes and the relationship between the two groups, but I cannot now remember how this was.

The Archangel Raphael was not telling an untruth when he said that he was Azarias, the son of Ananias, for the general meaning of these words is: The help of the Lord out of the cloud of the Lord'. [40] This angel, the companion of young Tobias, represented God's watchfulness over the Blessed Virgin's descent through her ancestors and His preservation and guidance of the Blessing through the generations which preceded her conception. In the prayer of the Elder Tobias, and of Sarah, the daughter of Raguel (I saw both these prayers being brought by the angels at one and the same time before the Throne of God and there granted), I recognized the supplications of the God-fearing Israelites and of the Daughters of Sion for the coming of salvation, as well as the simultaneous prayers of Joachim and Anna, separated from each other, for the promised offspring. The blindness of the elder Tobias and his wife's mockery of him also symbolized Joachim's childlessness and the rejection of his sacrifice at the Temple. The seven husbands of Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, who were destroyed by Satan, came to their end through sensuality; for Sarah had made a vow to give herself only to a chaste and God-fearing man. These seven men symbolized those whose entry into Jesus' ancestry according to the flesh would have hindered the coming of the Blessed Virgin, and thus the advent of salvation. There was also a reference to certain unblessed periods in the history of salvation and to the suitors whom Anna had to reject that she might be united to Joachim, the father of Mary. The maidservant's reviling of Sarah ( Tob. 3.7) symbolized the reviling by the heathen and by the godless and unbelieving among the Jews against the expectation of the Messiah, for whose coming all God-fearing Jews were, like Sarah, inspired to pray with ever-increasing fervor. It was also an image of the reviling of Anna by her maidservant, whereafter that holy mother prayed with such fervor that her prayer was granted. The fish which was about to swallow young Tobias symbolized the powers of darkness, heathendom, and sin striving against the coming of salvation, and also Anna's long barrenness. The killing of the fish, the removal of its heart, liver, and gall, and the burning of this by Tobias and Sarah to make smoke--all these symbolized the victory over the demon of fleshly lusts who had strangled Sarah's seven husbands, as well as the good works and continence of Joachim and Anna, by which they had obtained the blessing of holy fruitfulness. I also saw therein a deep significance relating to the Blessed Sacrament, but can no longer explain this. The gall of the fish, which restored the sight of Tobias' father, symbolized the bitterness of the suffering through which the chosen ones among the Jews came to know and share in salvation; it indicated also the entry of the light into the darkness brought about by Jesus' bitter sufferings from His birth onwards.

I received many explanations of this kind, and saw many details of the history of Tobias. I think the descendants of young Tobias were among the ancestors of Joachim and Anna. The elder Tobias had other children who were not godly. Sarah had three daughters and four sons. Her first child was a daughter. The elder Tobias lived to see his grandchildren.

Hope you have a great feast day!

+JMJ+

Athiests Heaven Bound?

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http://www.audiosancto.org/sermon/20131020-Can-Atheists-Be-Pleasing-to-God.html

A great Sermon

+Pray for Peter+

+Pray for Clarity+

Accompanying Fear

A believe it was the socialist Franklin Delano Roosevelt who said we have nothing to fear but fear itself.  This is fantastic rhetoric.  You even see commercials for google using the speech for its own ends.  But as something to live by its nothing but rat poison.

source

While I don’t live in fear of what is to come tomorrow I can understand how some are fearful especially if they have families.  St. Paul draws a similar thought when speaking of celibacy.  He notes that celibacy frees up a man to pursue God while the married man is conflicted with pleasing his wife and maintaining his household.   I am not saying that marriage is foolish, this is a false notion.  Rather it is the responsibility, to a greater degree, for the unwed are less bound to the fears that plague many of us. 

We are called to run the race, to climb the grand mountains and scale the cliffs in life with a healthy fear of the Lord. Christ calls us to take up the cross and follow him.  I don’t know about you but the idea of taking up a cross doesn’t seem like a survivable endeavor to me.  It’s a matter of risking it all in pursuit of the truth.  We are sheep and we can only serve one master, are we willing to risk it all or pursue the wide comfortable paths merely to survive?

I have many fears that too often hold me back from pursuing truth:

I don’t want to offend anyone

I don’t want to be a burden for anyone

Afraid to step on others shoes

Fear of creating unnecessary rupture

Afraid of stepping out of my lazy comfort zone

Want to be liked by others

All of these have one thing in common.  They are selfish pursuits or non-pursuits for that matter.  I like to fancy myself as orginal in many things because I don’t try to be original but just do things (like the Joker I guess).  Right now I have an incredible problem on my mind which I don’t know what to do with.  The problem is that I work two part time jobs and don’t get insurance through either of them unless I want to work another ten hours.  Now I know this sounds like whining but I am already working 60 hours a week and my mind is dry by the end of it and my body is sore.  The problem rests in how Barrycare has created the necessity for all insurers to provide plans that mandatorily provide contraceptive and abortive aspects.  This is direct material support of evil, but the insurers have no say in the matter.  And I being the end user have zero say as well.  Im told by my parents I need the health insurance just in case, well that’s great but what does it profit a man to live 20 more days yet lose his soul? I know that the Bishops think that pursuing this problem in a constitutional way but in all honesty if its just a matter of “religious freedom” as recognized by the bill of rights who’s to say that the government doesn’t just say well its inconvenient to provide the right to religious convictions?  Will the Bishops hold to their stance or crumble under the foot of Big Brother government and business?

I cant be the only one in this predicament.  I’m frustrated but I recognize that there might come a time to act in a risky manner not only forgoing coverage and risking bankruptcy but perhaps jail time in refusing to pay an unjust fine for a system based on deception and cruelty. 

I want to be like Peter initially when he gets out of the boat and walks on the water towards our Lord but the worries of the world suck me down drowning my mind in selfish concerns.  The fear of losing it all scares me.  I will say that a week ago I wouldn’t even allow myself to contemplate the matter, so I have moved on and challenged myself, but scaling this and any cliff that Christ grants us is terrifying.

Are we really willing to risk it all?

source

As the world strips us of our worldly dignity are willing to be fools for Christ?  Am I a Slave to the world or a Slave for Christ in his grand procession?  I need prayers for discernment. But enough about me, pray for the Syrian Church and the Coptics!