Fighting a Toxic Culture

Fighting a toxic culture: In today's America, as in other countries like it, people of faith are facing a question of critical importance: How should they respond to a dominant secular culture that's not just hostile to their beliefs but hell bent on squashing them.

Russell Shaw says exactly what I wish I could say as well.  I wish I could memorize this article to articulate his thoughts when needed.  He's talking about our current culture, which seems to overrun Catholic principles.

He says that it started in the late 19th century, probably with the influx of immigrants, who were mainly Catholic.  The predominant Anglo-Saxon individual, strong cowboy mentality often clashed with the Catholic community, forgiveness and peace attitude.  But immigrants try to fit in, don't they?  And so they do.

It's a battle that is really noticeable when the sacrament of marriage is attacked.  Nevermind the sanctity of the womb!

Russell Shaw says it so much better than I.  Read the article.

It's Never Over

Like a rock skipped over water, the rock has not disappeared off the face of the earth.  There were ripples created where the rock hit the water.  The ripples created ripples.  As for the rock itself, it settled down to the bottom--into the bottom.  Who knows what became of it then?  Was it used by a subterranean marine creature?  Did it gradually erode?  Gather sea moss?  Harbor tiny creatures?  The possibilities are endless.

These thoughts came to mind as I read Dr. Ryan Anderson's article on the Heritage Foundation page.  He wrote an organized, clear-cut argument against "physician-assisted suicide."  His reasons summarized into Key Points:

PAS takes advantage of people in their weakest state.

Leaves decision only to the very person who needs the support of family, friends, and trusted care-takers.

"Death with dignity"  is a lying euphemism.  There is no dignity to suicide.

"Aid in dying" is another lie. Physicians cure not kill.  "Aid in dying" corrupts the medical profession.

When someone is terminally ill, weak, and suffering, we should respond with appropriate medical palliative care and human love.  Insurance providers may not want to spend the money to help alleviate suffering and live.  Relatives may want an inheritance, sooner rather than later.  Maybe taking the time and care for the patient is inconvenient?  Perhaps some think that a particular life isn't worth living?

 We should respond to suffering with true compassion and solidarity. Doctors should help their patients to die a dignified death of natural causes, not assist in killing. Physicians are always to care, never to kill.

Dr. Anderson expresses his views more clearly than I.  But he speaks for me.

A Sign of My Faith

Since my RCIA class was finished early, I dropped by my Protestant friend, Steve's scripture class. They were faith sharing.  The passage was Matt. 20: 1-16, commonly known as the Laborers in the Vineyard.

If you're not using your eyes of faith, but only the eyes of the world, you would slap the owner of the vineyard with an unfair labor practices lawsuit.  But God sees differently and he loves everyone and gives generously.

The parable is meant to give hope.  The believer who professes belief, (like St. Dismas), in his last breath, has every right to be in heaven as the cradle believer.

I added my two cents to the class.  We ended in prayer and I made sure I made the sign of my faith--I blessed myself with the sign of the cross.

Favorite Poem Project

On this day in 1998, Robert Pinsky, the U.S. poet laureate launched an idea that captured the hearts and minds of all poetry lovers.  http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=107   Mass moments tells of various sundry people reading their favorite poems.  I'm going to suggest that my writing group do this.

Visit the project's website.

Bigger and Better

America has an article on the largest parish in the USA.      They are humongous!  But they seem to be handling it very well.

Does St. Matthew's have cushioned changing tables in the restroom?

http://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/04/05/lessons-evangelization-largest-parish-united-states 

The article leaves some questions.

Is this the only parish in the area?
Do the priests visit the sick or lay volunteers?
Do the priests drop into all the various activities for a few minutes?
Do the priests teach religious ed?  Adult formation?

This church, St. Matthew's, has big screens with the songs' lyrics displayed.  Does this result in more people singing?  Are their children Masses?  How many altar servers do they have?  How many priests have come from St. Matthew's?  How many religious vocations?

The parish sounds wonderful, but for the few unanswered questions.

The Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Las Lajas

Our Lady giving Dominic the Rosary and Jesus giving Francis the cord.

The Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Las Lajas: In 1754, an event took place in Colombia that continues to baffle geologists and other scientists. This event was the miraculous appearance of the image of Our Lady of Las Lajas (Our Lady of the Rocks).

I can't believe the whole world doesn't know about this.  Look at the basilica!!!  Please do yourself a favor and read the article.

Secret Christian

Today at Mass, the celebrant told an interesting story.  I can't verify it, though.  The gospel was the one about Lazarus coming out of the tomb.  The priest was talking about Martha's faith.  Jesus asked her, "Dost thou believe?"   Then the priest tied "faith" to people's beliefs about death.  Martha believed all shall be "resurrected, on the last day."  Well, it turns out, that many believe this, no matter what they say.

Father said that in 1982, Leonid Brezhnev died.  He was the leader of atheistic, communist, Russia.  At his funeral, full of military accolades, accouterments, etc., with his coffin surrounded by soldiers, Leonid's wife, Viktoria, trace the sign of the cross on his chest, just before the lid of the coffin was closed.

Remember, this an atheist, communist country.  She did this in public.  How's that for witnessing?