YAHWAH

The Readings for this Sunday are suppose to be scary.  They wake you up.  They give you a good shake.

Isaiah 11: 1-10, Psalm 72, Romans 15:4-9, Matt 3:1-12.

I'm not going to tell you my spin on these readings, because I didn't get very far in my reflection.  All I thought about was YHWH.  Someone once told me that the name of God was so sacred, and so awesome, that it couldn't be said.  That's why Jews don't.  And the name YAHWAH refers to God because it's a word that is said without closing your mouth.

Go ahead, say it.  See.  Your mouth doesn't close.  

Leaving Home and Becoming Christian

This man went to his rabbi and cried, "I'm very troubled.  My son went away and he came back a Christian." The rabbi commiserated with the man, and said, "I empathize.  My son, too, left home and came back a Christian."

They decided to pray about it.  In prayer, God spoke to them, "You know, it's funny you say that..."

God Speed and Welcome Home Bishop Burnham

Bishop Andrew Burnham, Bishop of Ebbsfleet

Ordinarite Portal is a web site dedicated to the forthcoming Ordinariate in the UK.  This morning, I read a good post about Bishop Burnham.  It was moving.  After giving his sermon, (and it was good and touching) (read it here) his  last sermon--his last at St. John the Evangelist's.  When finished, Bishop Burnham laid his mitre and crozier at the feet of the Blessed Mother.

Good place for all of us to lay our burdens.

Please say a few prayers for the good Bishop on his way to Rome, and include his family who also travel with him.

Related articles

• Britain could have an ordinariate by new year (catholicherald.co.uk)
• Anglican bishop lays his mitre and crozier at the feet of Our Lady as he leaves for Rome (blogs.telegraph.co.uk)
• Ordinariate Particulars to be Unveiled Today (biblicalpaths.wordpress.com)

Holy Communion

by Sr. Mary Fisher, OP

It lies nestled in my hand,
This white Host,
For precious seconds as we measure time.
During that infinitesimal moment,
Gazing at It, I firmly believe
Christ, whole and entire--
Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity--
Rests on my palm, and
I am Mary, Virgin-Mother,
Caressing her Newborn;
A sinner, clutching His robe;
Martha, preparing a meal,
Magdalene, bathing His dusty feet,
Veronica, wiping His dear,weary face.
I am myself, weak, needy, yearning
For union with Him.
"Come, Beloved, come!"
And kissing the Host, I receive Him.

from Justitia, Poetry from the Second Annual OPrize for Poetry

Caught'cha

And here we were casting aspersions on the neighborhood kids, for smashing our pumpkins.

The Word Becoming Digital

Saint Dominic would have used You Tube, the internet, facebook, twitter, and have carried a blackberry.  The modern methods of communication are made for preaching.  In this video, Father Robert Barron explains how an atheist navigated his way from a You Tube video on Bob Dylan, to Father Barron, to investigating the Catholic Faith.  They're modern tools to communicate.

Sure, it's not perfect; it's made by man, Silly.  But, still......

Giving Thanks

While on vacation a couple of months ago, I visited Berkeley Plantation, in Virginia.  The tour guide happened to tell us that this plantation was the place where the first real Thanksgiving took place.

What?

Having come from Massachusetts, where every school child goes on a field trip to Plymouth Rock and Plymouth Plantation, I thought the the tour guide was committing blasphemy.

Berkeley Plantation's claim to being the First Thanksgiving seems silly.  The claim lies in the fact that when the settlers first landed, they prayed.
   Oh for gosh sakes!  That's a universal common reaction!!!!!  After 4 months on a teeny wooden ship, the second I spotted land, I would have prayed "Oh thank God!!!!!!!!", never mind when my foot touched solid ground.  Then, I would have KISSED the ground, a la Pope John Paul II.

However, that being said, the story did pique my interest.  If Berkeley's claim to the First Thanksgiving was the mere fact of historical dates (Berkeley 1619 and the Pilgrim's touched Plymouth Rock in 1620) then I'm sure the Spanish must have had a Mass of Thanksgiving someplace, somewhere, along their meanderings.  So maybe the First Thanksgiving belongs not to the English, but to Spanish. Not only that, but maybe the First Thanksgiving belongs to the Catholics, not the English Protestants!  Ha!  Take that, anti-Catholic slanted, English Protestant slanted, American history books!

My hunch proved right on!!!!!!!!!!!

St. Augustine, Florida was settled before the English even bought their tickets.  And of course their priest celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving.

And even before that, the Spanish in New Mexico and Texas celebrated lots of Masses of Thanksgiving.

Also, we're not even considering the Native Indians thanks to the Great Spirit, we know as God.

Even so, with all that taken into consideration, I still contend that the First Thanksgiving, where people sat down together with invited guests, and ate TURKEY (among some other gross stuff), and with the expressed purpose to give thanks to Him, Who is the source of the blessings, was at Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts.

The Pilgrims were impressed with the idea of sitting down at a special designated feast to honor God, (while they were cooling their heels, awaiting passage to come over here), in Leiden, Holland.  See this site.
That's where they may have been inspired.

Another interesting story is told by Father Gordon McRae on his blog, Within These Stonewalls.  Squanto (Who graces the shield of  the state of Massachusetts) plays a prominent role.

Whatever!

Deo Gratias!!!!!!!!!!      And that's what's important!

Related articles

• The pilgrims, Thanksgiving and beer - San Jose Mercury News (news.google.com)
• "The Catholic Origins of Thanksgiving!" and related posts (cantuar.blogspot.com)

Lugged

One of my "cloistered brothers" got lugged and thrown in the hole.  I'm asking your prayers that he stay strong and emerge intact, and even stronger spiritually and physically.
       He's there because he blew the whistle on a Sex for Information Ring run by some bum correctional officers.  The official reason being given is that my brother is there for protection during investigations.
       Solitary Watch, an organization that publicizes confinement in solitary, has noted the situation.  Solitary Watch is a good source of information for those of us interested in rehabilitation and humane treatment of prisoners.  Read about them here. 
    
The situation is a sad commentary.  Prayers are requested for my cloistered brother, and also that some positive changes may be made in the prison system.
Remember what I posted last Sunday.  The only person ever promised that he was going to heaven when he died, was the condemned prisoner, crucified next to Jesus.

Prayer Vigil for All Nascent Human Life

Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate a "Vigil for All Nascent Human Life" at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome at first Vespers of the First Sunday of Advent, This Saturday, November 27, 2010.  The Holy Father has requested that all Diocesan Bishops to preside at similar celebrations as the Church enters into a new liturgical year.

Accordingly, Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, OFM, Cap. will pray Vespers, the Rosary, and Benediction, on Saturday, November 27, 2010, at 4:00 PM, in Holy Cross Cathedral.

All are welcome to join in sacred prayer for the dignity of human life at the beginning of the cherished season of Advent.  Following the vigil, a 5:30 PM Mass for the First Sunday of Advent, will be celebrated by Rev. Peter Grover, OMV.

Children's Book Review--Care for Creation

Care for Creation by Christy Baldwin, is my November Book Review.  This children’s book, published by Tribute Books, gives a Christian perspective on our environment.  The illustrations, by Shelly Draven, compliment the author’s message positively. 

Each page gives an environmental message, and then, underneath, it gives a scriptural reference.  For example, accompanying a picture of our planet taken from space is the message:

We are called to care for God’s creation.

He wants us to love the land…

And underneath we are referred to Genesis 1:1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

I can see this book used for several age groups.  The pre-school groups can look at the beautiful pictures.  The early grades can read the book because the words and font are simple.  Then up to middle school kids, the scripture can be a teaching tool.  I’m also thinking of parents taking the opportunity to teach children how to look up the scripture references.  Look at the book’s web-site to get an idea.

Care for Creation may be purchased on-line here, or purchased at your local book store. 

Santa Claus would be happy to deliver it because of its timely subject.

Iraqi Catholics

By now you know about the Church Bombing in Baghdad.  Dan from the blog, America Needs Fatima,  is calling for world wide prayer.  On November 23, 2010 everyone is asked to pray a Rosary for the persecuted Catholics in Iraq.

Calling all prayer warriors.

Remember the 15 promises.

Media Madness

This morning my alarm clock radio woke me up with the news reporting that the Pope says it's "OK" to use condoms.
 That woke me up!
And I woke up disgusted, and grumbling to my self.  My husband knows enough to stay under the radar, but the poor cat got thrown out in the cold without her breakfast.  I was in no mood for her demands.

You and I know the Pope said no such thing.  He has never, is not, and will never, "OK" condoms.  Condoms promote promiscuity which in turn lead to a multiple of physical, emotional, mental, and societal problems.  One of which is Aids.

What is going on here is a publicity promotion.

This week, Peter Seewald's book, Light of the World was released.  The style of the book is an interview the Pope gave to Seewald, who is a journalist.
   
Are you getting the picture?

"There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants.  But it is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection. That can really lie only in a humanization of sexuality.

Are you saying, then, that the Catholic Church is actually not opposed in principle to the use of condoms?

She of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but, in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality."

Leave it to the media to screw it up.  What the Pope is saying is that male prostitutes (he's giving an example) may be using a condom to protect themselves and others from disease.  IOW, sexual pleasure is not the highest value; not harming another is the concern.  In this way, the prostitute is making a moral decision.  B16 is not talking about the morality of the condom's use, but to the psychological state of the prostitute.  Perhaps, he hopes it is so.  If the male prostitute is using the condom to not spread disease, then we pray he may realize that promiscuity is inherently wrong since his type of sexual activity is not in accord with the way God intended sexual activity to be used.


I'm sick of the media.  As I've blogged before on July 30, and September 23, 25, 30, of this year, the media will say anything to sell its product.  My first inclination is to throw my apron off and retreat to the Cape and vegetate.  But on second thought, as attractive as that may be, I feel called to do battle.  I may still head down to the Cape, but not to retreat.  I'm fighting the modern, cultural spin, to what is the Truth.  I'll do my part to expose the misconstruction and throw light on what is true.  

I'll hang in there for the duration.

Related articles

• Pope Says Condom Use Okay For Male Prostitutes (alan.com)
• Pope: Condoms Can Be Justified In Some Cases (huffingtonpost.com)
• Pope Benedict on the use of condoms: book excerpt - BBC News (news.google.com)
• Condoms may be 'first step' in moralisation of sexuality, says Pope (catholicherald.co.uk)
• Pope Benedict on condoms in "Light of the World" (deaconforlife.blogspot.com)
• The Pope And The Male HIV-Positive Prostitute (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)

Revisiting

On September 27, 2010, I asked for help for the Anglican priests swimming the Tiber to the Catholic Church.  Now with more coming, I'm asking for more.  Don't forget; these priests have families that are coming with them.  They are not choosing the Catholic Church because the pay is better.  They are sacrificing for what they believe deep in their minds and rights.

The Saint Barnabas Society helps priests and their families.  At Christmas time the Society regularly gives financial help, as well as gifts.  We need to support their efforts for all the good work they do for the Anglican/Catholic Community.

Donate here.

The St. Barnabas Society began over a hundred years ago, for the purpose of welcoming and helping clergy and religious, who were entering the Catholic Church and needed help integrating into the Catholic Community.

What would Jesus do?
TThe St Barnabas Society continues the work, begun over a century ago, of welcoming and helping clergy and religious of other churches. It cooperates with the Bishops and Parish Priests to provide support until the individuals have been integrated into the Catholic community and established in a new life.
PlPlease consider giving to the Society that does so much to help families and individuals out. They are so generous and we need this society to flourish during this time. At this time of the year, the Society regularly gives gifts to families to help with added Christmas expenses as well. We need to support this society as it does a tremendous job and is a very worthy cause that deserves full support from the Catholic/Anglican communities.eaPlease consider giving to the Society that does so much to help families and individuals out. They are so generous and we need this society to flourish during this time. At this time of the year, the Society regularly gives gifts to families to help with added Christmas expenses as well. We need to support this society as it does a tremendous job and is a very worthy cause that deserves full support from the Catholic/Anglican communities.se consider giving to the Society that does so much to help families and individuals out. They are so generous and we need this society to flourish during this time. At this time of the year, the Society regularly gives gifts to families to help with added Christmas expenses as well. We need to support this society as it does a tremendous job and is a very worthy cause that deserves full support from the Catholic/Anglican communities.Please consider giving to the Society that does so much to help families and individuals out. They are so generous and we need this society to flourish during this time. At this time of the year, the Society regularly gives gifts to families to help with added Christmas expenses as well. We need to support this society as it does a tremendous job and is a very worthy cause that deserves full support from the Catholic/Anglican communities.

Related articles

• 50 Anglican priests 'to defect to Catholic church' (independent.co.uk)
• The Ordinariate: Catholic bishops' statement (blogs.telegraph.co.uk)
• Catholic Church opens to Anglicans in January (reuters.com)
• Catholics: 50 Church of England Priests May Join (abcnews.go.com)
• "Catholic Church launches ordinariate for Anglicans in January" and related posts (blogs.reuters.com)
• Catholics: 50 Church of England priests may join (sfgate.com)
• Catholics: 50 Church of England priests may join (foxnews.com)
• More Anglican Clergy to go to the Catholic Church (biblicalpaths.wordpress.com)
• "The Ordinariate will help reconnect the English Church to its medieval roots" and related posts (catholicherald.co.uk)
• Anglican Bishops Fly Away Home (gkupsidedown.blogspot.com)
• Here come more Anglicans (beliefnet.com)

Sinners

This Sunday's Gospel Reading is one of my favorites.  Luke 23:35-43  This is the story of the man being crucified next to Jesus on the cross.  The good one.  The one that reprimand those who mocked Jesus.  The good thief said,
  
"Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?  And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal."  Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  Jesus replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

I repeat; "today you will be with me in Paradise."  IOW, the only person EVER guaranteed to go to heaven was A CONDEMNED CRIMINAL.

Don't you just love it?  We Latasties do.  Every saint has a past.  And ever sinner has a future.

New Roman Missal Translation Leaked

I love the internet.  While surfing, I read that Father Z, during lunch with his Hermeneuticalness, came across a site (Wikisource) where much of the new Roman Missal is leaked displayed. 

 “Areas of Difficulty” looks very interesting.  The person who wrote it, may not be the same  who "leaked" it,  but has obviously had the texts of both the “white book” approved by the Holy See’s CDW and then the revisions to the same that have come.

Father Z finds it interesting that this happens at the time the bishops of the USA and of England and Wales are having their respective meetings.

So do I.

Having read through “Areas of Difficulties” I can say that I agree in large part with the author’s concerns.

Related articles

• Third Edition of the Roman Missal Text (New) Online (biblicalpaths.wordpress.com)

The Devil and Saint Dominic

St Dominic and the Devil by Pietro della Vecchia

DDon't you just love legends?  I mean stories.  St. Dominic stories abound.  Of course they would.  Since Dominic hardly left any writings, or poems, or music--just his life.  What we know about him has been passed down like the children's game of telephone.  But part of it is true.  Let's look at one of my favorite stories about St. Dominic.

It is said that Dominic battled the devil often.  Sometimes, the devil would disguise himself, i.e., as an animal, a woman or a man.  One time the devil disguised himself as a monkey.  He was trying to distract Dominic from scripture reading.  St. Dominic wasn't afraid of the devil's nonsense.  Dominic grabbed him and ordered him, in the name of Christ, to hold a candle so he could continue to read.

Then Dominic continued his studies.  When the candle burned down to a stub, and was burning the monkey's hands, St. Dominic dismissed him.

So what's true?  

Well, the fact that we're often distracted in prayer, or study, or anything to do with God -- the devil hates that. When that happens we need to continue and refocus.  And we have nothing to fear.  Banish that devil and his monkey business.

This story is a parable teaching perseverance. Don't you just love legends?

 h/t: Godzdogs.op.org 

h

Adopting a Priest

Image via Wikipedia

Keeping a priest can be expensive.  I use to take out a priest to dinner every week.  That got to be very expensive for me.  I was glad when he was posted somewhere else.

I use to have a spiritual director who wouldn't take any money from me.  So I'd take him out to dinner once a month.  That was good and some of my best spiritual direction.

Last year, I adopted Father Jojo Vattakeril, MCBS during the Year for Priests.  He was from India and had been a priest since 2004.  He is still in my prayers.

Now, the Serra Club of Boston, is promoting Adopting a Priest or a Seminarian.  I'm glad to see this.  A few years ago, my parish priest invited a few parishioners to go to a Serra meeting at Saint John's Seminary.  It was a disaster.  The building was locked up.  Father was embarrassed.  He didn't know what to do.  We drove around and eventually he found someone who said he'd get someone to unlock a door for us.  I think about two other parishes were there.  We weren't many at all.  It was like they weren't expecting us.

Father kept apologizing.  But it wasn't his fault.  He gave us a tour of the building.  Eventually, an apologetic lady came and said that the priest in charge of vocations wasn't there.  It was his mother's birthday.  So she set up a video for us to watch.

What a specious excuse that was!!!  Your mother has the same birth date, every year!!!  Why didn't he change the date of our meeting?

While we watched the video, which was about Father Junipero Serra and the Serra Club, the nice lady made coffee.  Then we went home.  The video whetted my appetite to join the Serra Club, but there didn't seem to be one in Massachusetts.  I think  the contact address was in Attleboro but no one ever responded to my inquires.  I even wrote to the National President of the Serra Club, who was a Lay Dominican, like myself, and he never answered.

OK.  I can take a hint.  God wasn't leading me in that direction.

That's why I'm happy to see the Serra Club in the Archdiocese of Boston.  And I'm also happy to have the opportunity to adopt a priest from my diocese.  You can too.  Go to this link.

Alleluia at Macy's

Don't you just love it? !!!!!

Must've been a wonderful sale.

Humanizing Communication

Image via Wikipedia

Christianity is needed to "humanize communication," says Pope Benedict XVI.  This comment is from an audience B16 had with participants in the Pontifical Council for Culture's four-day conference on the topic, "Culture of Communications and New Languages,"  reads an article in CNA.

That includes blogging.

The discussions included the effects of the internet, the social venues, news, learning, and even the way people communicate through food.  (Didn't your mother tell you the way to a man's heart is his stomach?  How's that for communication?)

In this audience, B16 said that "...communication touches crucial world cultures, and for believers, it means getting closer to God, Who, in His wisdom, is making Himself manifest in this new way.  The Pope spoke of "profound cultural transformation" taking place due to the great changes in modern communication.  The Church has to adapt to be a player in the modern world.

The Church wishes to enter into dialogue with all people in the world, he said. But, to reach people today, especially young people, it must "tune in" to the same frequency.

"Today not few young people, stunned by the infinite possibilities offered by information networks or by other technologies, establish forms of communication that do not contribute to growth in humanity, but risk rather to increase the sense of solitude and confusion," the pontiff warned.

He explained that education is needed to promote a "humanizing communication."

IOW,  bring Christianity into the communication.  We must write with our religious mindset and remind people  of God's presence.  Our values are needed.  Reaching out and pulling in should make community, not "solitude and confusion."  Our love will warm those searching.

Related articles

• Internet users risk 'solitude and disorientation' - pope (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
• The Pope: The Internet has Numbed Young People (zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com)
• Christian tradition can purify new forms of communication, Pope explains (catholicnewsagency.com)
• The Pope is right about the internet (telegraph.co.uk)

O Beloved

The Coptic Hymn, "O Beloved," for all Christians in Iraq.

I was at the point of death,
   my soul was nearing the depths of the nether world;
I turned every way,
   but there was no one to help me,
 I looked for one to sustain me,
   but could find no one.
But then I remembered the mercies of the Lord,
   His kindness through ages past.
I called out: O Lord, you are my father...
                    Sirach 51:6-8a, 10-12a

10 Most Powerful People

I was reading Forbes, 10 most powerful people.  I found the picks interesting:

1. Hu Jintao, President, People's Republic of China, 
2. Barack Obama, President, United States ofAmerica, 
3. Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, King, Saudi Arabia, 
4. Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister, Russia, 
5. Pope Benedict XVI, Pope, Roman Catholic Church, 
6. Angela Merkel, Chancellor, Germany, 
7. David Cameron, Prime Minister, United Kingdom, 
8. Ben Bernanke, Chairman, Federal Reserve, 
9. Sonia Gandhi, President, Indian National Congress, 
10. Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 

What do you think they were looking at?  The most people one influences?  Money?  Political power?  Financial Power?

I was going to make my own list of powerful people in my world, but the categories are too numerous. There's an organizational hierarchy in the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic.  I have those that have the power over me at work.  What about those that influence me at church?  Mmmm, maybe I should have a sub-category for spiritual influence, because my Spiritual Director influences me greatly.  What about T.O.P.S.-- there is a leader?  Then there's family.  You would think that my husband would be the head of the family.  But then our first grandchild has come along.  Now there's influence.

Related articles

• Forbes' Most Powerful List (socyberty.com)

Show Support for Iraqi Christians

As Catholics, we believe that we belong to a Communion of Saints.  We believe in the Gospel's promise.  We profess that all the ties of friendship span to our enemies.  We believe in loving our enemies.  It's hard.  The cross is hard.

Yet, this is what the Iraqi Christians are about.  Our brothers and sisters in Christ, in Iraq, are hurting and need our prayers.  Maria Teresa Landi, a member of the Communion and Liberation Movement has come up with an idea which will show our Iraqi brothers and sisters that we are with them, that they are in our prayers, thoughts, and hearts.  We are invited to send emails of support for the Iraqi Catholics, to the Papal Nuncio at the United Nations.  The Nuncio at the UN has offered his diplomatic pouch (direct mail).  He will print out our emails and send them to the Nunciature in Iraq.

Please address your emails to the families to:

His Beatitude Emmanuel Delli, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Bagdad

and send them to tonuncio@gmail.com

h/t Why I Am Catholic

Verbum Domini

POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
VERBUM DOMINI
OF THE HOLY FATHER
BENEDICT XVI 
TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY,
CONSECRATED PERSONS AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON THE WORD OF GOD
IN THE LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH

“THE WORD OF THE LORD abides for ever. This word is the Gospel which was preached to you” (1 Pet 1:25; cf. Is 40:8). With this assertion from the First Letter of Saint Peter, which takes up the words of the Prophet Isaiah, we find ourselves before the mystery of God, who has made himself known through the gift of his word. This word, which abides for ever, entered into time. God spoke his eternal Word humanly; his Word “became flesh” (Jn 1:14). This is the good news. This is the proclamation which has come down the centuries to us today. The Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, meeting in the Vatican from 5-26 October 2008, had as its theme: The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church. It was a profound experience of encounter with Christ, the Word of the Father, who is present where two or three are gathered in his name (cf. Mt 18:20). With this Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation I readily respond to the request of the Synod Fathers to make known to the whole People of God the rich fruits which emerged from the synodal sessions and the recommendations which resulted from our common endeavour. Consequently, I intend to revisit the work of the Synod in the light of its documents: the Lineamenta, theInstrumentum Laboris, the Relationes ante and post disceptationem, the texts of the interventions, both those delivered on the Synod floor and those presented in written form, the reports of the smaller discussion groups, the Final Message to the People of God and, above all, a number of specific proposals (Propositiones) which the Fathers considered especially significant. In this way I wish to point out certain fundamental approaches to a rediscovery of God’s word in the life of the Church as a wellspring of constant renewal. At the same time I express my hope that the word will be ever more fully at the heart of every ecclesial activity.....

Continued 

New Papal Document

The Holy Father just issued a new papal document on Sacred Scripture, Verbum Domini.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20100930_verbum-domini_en.pdf

Bronze Medal

The winner of Third Prize in the OPrize for Poetry Contest, this year is Father Gerald Lessard, O.P.

The Dark Ages

Since Christ a thousand vacillating years
Had passed like tides of holy blood and wine.
When harsh barbari hordes ignited fears,
Shrewd abbots, then, to save their culture fine,
Assigned their monks to build thick walls of stone,
Confining friendly liberated men.
Since Christ now two millennia have shown
That still despoilers ravage cloisters when
Accusers sack the poor defiled in courts,
When plaintiffs plunder without mercy all
Religious brethren forced inside their forts
To build and bear a legal lithic wall,
A protocol protecting innocents
From devastating costly settlements.

Blessed in Confession

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is always a blessing.  But this past weekend, I was especially blessed by going to Confession.  I was at a meeting at St. Pat's.

I've been to this particular Church numerous times because they have Eucharistic Adoration, 24/7.  I've also been to Confession there because I like the Jesuit Confessor.  Since I was at St. Pat's for my meeting, and it ended just as Confessions were being heard, I thought I'd take the opportunity to receive this Sacrament.

I try to be last, so that I'd get a little more spiritual advice than usual.  I just tell Father that I'm the last one and we can talk for a little while longer.  That's also why I prefer to go to Confession face to face.

So, there I am walking into the room and I walk around the screen to sit down in front of Father, when I am taken aback.  Father was startled also.  We knew each other.  Father even called me by name.  (And actually, if I knew Father David Goodrow was the Confessor, I wouldn't have gone to him--I'd rather go to someone I don't know.)  But it was OK.  It was better than OK.  Because Father knew me, we could dialogue without too much explanation because he know whereof and whatof, I spoke.

Good is good.  He meets my needs. (Philippians 4: 19)

Want A Patron Saint for 2011?

Angela is doing it again.  She will pick a patron saint for you.  Two years ago, I got the Archangel Raphael and was greatly blessed.  Last year, it was St. Nicholas, and ran smack into him by accident at the Russian Museum of Icons.  
  I can't wait to see who gets me this year.
  Why don't you pop over to Where Angels Blog and ask for a patron saint.  Hurry, you only have to the end of November.

Waking the Dead

It is commonly said, that everyone hates change.  If so, what about the dead?  Do you think they like to be disturbed?

What brought these question on?  The recent transfer of the remains of Father Marie Jean Joseph Lataste, O.P. to a new chapel, gave rise to these questions.  You see, the remains of Fr. Lataste were in the chapel where the Dominican Sisters of Bethany pray, in Monferrand, France, and the people on pilgrimage to pray at the tomb of Father Lataste were getting to be a nuisance, to nuns trying to contemplate.    So a new chapel was built to house the remains of Father Lataste.

My "cloistered brothers," sent cards and notebooks of prayers, to be buried with Father Lataste.  All of us Latastes were emotionally involved with the idea of seeing and touching the remains.  And to have a part of us buried with him is felt poignantly.

One of the Dominican Sisters of Bethany from Turin chronicled the event.  She concluded her letter with the following description, which nicely expresses the mood of this sacred important moment.

Pendant ce long moment de travail, l’atmosphère était à la fois joyeuse et respectueuse. Comme l’a dit frère Jean Marie, nous ne célébrons pas l’enterrement d’un cadavre, mais la reconnaissance d’une vie donnée à la prédication de la miséricorde et de la toute puissance de Dieu.

Quand tout a été accompli, nous avons accompagné en procession l’ossuaire porté par les frères Jean Marie et Marc à la chapelle du Père Lataste en chantant O spem miram. La tombe a été bénie et l’ossuaire descendu dans la nouvelle tombe. Une enveloppe de nos frères de Norfolk a été déposée dans la tombe. Les sœurs de Venlo ont aussi déposé des photos des sœurs mortes et la liste des vivantes. 

Tout étant terminé, nous avons chanté tous ensemble le SALVE REGINA qui voulait exprimer notre joie et notre reconnaissance. 


In this particular case, I think everyone is happier.  The nuns have their quiet, and the pilgrims can go pay their homage to Father Lataste.  I'm sure Father Lataste would agree that this is a better arrangement.

Fish Story

Brother Diotrophes: After a 3 hour fight, I finally landed this humongous fish!

Brother Jehoshaphat: I saw the picture of your fish. It was barely 6 inches long.

Brother Diotrophes: Well, after 3 hours of fighting, a fish can lose a lot of weight.

Our Lady of the Spud

What do you think?  Our Lady of the Spud?  Our Lady of the Potato?

Hubby is going to get tee shirts made up and sell tickets to see this potato--the "fruit" of our labor.  Do you think I can auction it off on eBay?

We dug it up out of our garden.  We were surprised by our little potato crop.  Actually we forgot that we planted them.  They must have thrived on our neglect.

Well, whatever you think, we think we have been blessed.

Holy Mother

St. Martin de Porres

How could anyone not like St. Martin de Porres?  What's there not to like?  He's the St. Francis Assisi of the Dominican Family.  He loves animals, cures, helps people, and exemplifies the virtue of humility.

There's a few stories that add to Martin's fame.  One of my favorites is the story about the rats.  It seems that the priory was overrun with rats.  The prior told Martin to set out poison to get rid of them.  Martin, of course, obeyed.  But he went outside and talked to the rats.  He told them about the poison and told them to stop annoying the prior and he would feed them every day, in the barn.  Both ends of the bargain were kept up.

To you Saint Martin de Porres we prayerfully lift up our hearts filled with serene confidence and devotion. Mindful of your unbounded and helpful charity to all levels of society and also of your meekness and humility of heart, we offer our petitions to you. Pour out upon our families the precious gifts of your solicitous and generous intercession; show to the people of every race and every color the paths of unity and of justice; implore from our Father in heaven the coming of his kingdom, so that through mutual benevolence in God men may increase the fruits of grace and merit the rewards of eternal life. Amen.


h/t for the prayer from Father Philip Powell, O.P.

Be Ready to Give an Account for your Choice.

I beg you to rear and nurture your children in the fear of God.  Be concerned not only for their physical needs but for the good of their souls as well.  Know that on the last day God will demand an account of them from you.    ~St. Catherine of Siena~

h/t for pic from Foreign Embassy

Martyrs This Very Day

10 hostages and approximately 7 Iraqi security are among the dead.   According to Sky News The priest was the first to go when the gunmen stormed the church.  The gunmen immediately ran up to the priest and shot him first.  It seems that the gunmen were planning to hold everyone hostage until 2 women were released.  The gunmen believed the women were being held in Egypt against their will and forced to marry priests.  They also demanded the release of  jailed al Quada militants.

Iraqi security wasted no time in coming in and freeing the hostages.  About 100 people were attending evening Mass at Our Lady of Salvation Church when this happened.

Related articles

• Iraq hostage drama ends in bloodshed (bbc.co.uk)
• Qaeda claims capture of Iraq Christians, warns Egypt - SITE (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
• Dozens Killed In Siege At Baghdad Church (news.sky.com)
• "Gunmen take hostages in Baghdad church" and related posts (anglican-mainstream.net)