Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
random thoughts
*John Zmirak is funny when he wants to be.
*There are a number of bloggers posting thoughts on American Catholicism and why it's in such a bad state. None of them has quite come out and said it: the Faith that is presented in most parishes today isn't worth dying for and it certainly isn't worth living for. Having handed us nothing, it's not surprising that people wander off for the emotionalism of the 3000 sects of Protestantism, or the laziness of going to church two or three times a year.
I was a grown woman before I realized that it was a sin to miss Sunday Mass and I went to a good Catholic elementary school. When the old nuns died and retired the lay teachers and the hip young nuns took over and I spent a lot of time drawing rainbows during religion class. And then there was the religious instruction in high school. Oh boy. I remember poor Brother Ray and Sr. Joanie nd Gracie. They all meant well and tried so hard to be relevant and hip. If the Harlem Shake had existed back then I can imagine they would have tried to do something "cute" like this:
I stopped going to Mass on a weekly basis after Confirmation. So did most of my classmates. I don't recall any adult Catholic telling me that coming to Mass when I felt like it and taking Communion was wrong. Things in the 80s were very nice and non confrontational. Beyond the basic prayers I had to learn my Faith as an adult, on my own by pouring through the lending library of the Catholic Information Center in DC.
*There are people who say that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. We do not. Please note. This is a very graphic link so do not click if you are sensitive.
*Cardinal Dolan is not coming to the rescue and Cardinal Mahoney isn't going anywhere.
*There are a number of bloggers posting thoughts on American Catholicism and why it's in such a bad state. None of them has quite come out and said it: the Faith that is presented in most parishes today isn't worth dying for and it certainly isn't worth living for. Having handed us nothing, it's not surprising that people wander off for the emotionalism of the 3000 sects of Protestantism, or the laziness of going to church two or three times a year.
I was a grown woman before I realized that it was a sin to miss Sunday Mass and I went to a good Catholic elementary school. When the old nuns died and retired the lay teachers and the hip young nuns took over and I spent a lot of time drawing rainbows during religion class. And then there was the religious instruction in high school. Oh boy. I remember poor Brother Ray and Sr. Joanie nd Gracie. They all meant well and tried so hard to be relevant and hip. If the Harlem Shake had existed back then I can imagine they would have tried to do something "cute" like this:
I stopped going to Mass on a weekly basis after Confirmation. So did most of my classmates. I don't recall any adult Catholic telling me that coming to Mass when I felt like it and taking Communion was wrong. Things in the 80s were very nice and non confrontational. Beyond the basic prayers I had to learn my Faith as an adult, on my own by pouring through the lending library of the Catholic Information Center in DC.
*There are people who say that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. We do not. Please note. This is a very graphic link so do not click if you are sensitive.
*Cardinal Dolan is not coming to the rescue and Cardinal Mahoney isn't going anywhere.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
a holy hour prayer
ACT OF REPARATION
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, we prostrate before Thy throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to Thee!
The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus!
The more impiety endeavors to extinguish our hopes of immortality, the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, sole hope of mankind!
The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, the more we shall love Thee, O infinitely amiable Heart of Jesus!
The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore It, O Divine Heart of Jesus!
The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more we shall delight to observe them, O most holy Heart of Jesus!
The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most liberal Heart of Jesus!
The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavor to practice them, O Heart, model of every virtue!
The more the devil labors to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!
The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus!
The more Thy Holy Church is despised, the more we shall endeavor to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus!
The more Thy Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more will we honor him as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus!
O Sacred Heart, through Thy powerful grace, may we become Thy apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and be Thy crown in the kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, we prostrate before Thy throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to Thee!
The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus!
The more impiety endeavors to extinguish our hopes of immortality, the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, sole hope of mankind!
The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, the more we shall love Thee, O infinitely amiable Heart of Jesus!
The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore It, O Divine Heart of Jesus!
The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more we shall delight to observe them, O most holy Heart of Jesus!
The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most liberal Heart of Jesus!
The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavor to practice them, O Heart, model of every virtue!
The more the devil labors to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!
The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus!
The more Thy Holy Church is despised, the more we shall endeavor to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus!
The more Thy Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more will we honor him as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus!
O Sacred Heart, through Thy powerful grace, may we become Thy apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and be Thy crown in the kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Our Lady of Good Help
The Our Lady of Good Help shrine is particularly important because it is the only fully approved apparition site in the United States. So it's a bit sad to see the new statue that has been installed at the shrine. The artists meant well but....
it looks kind of plastic and cheap. The diocese should've gone to the wax museum in Natural Bridge, Virginia or Gettysburg and they would've gotten a much more life-life portrayal.
Here is the old statue
Here is the even older statue that Sr. Adele, who described what she saw when she was visited by Our Lady, actually liked.
Here is the old statue
Here is the even older statue that Sr. Adele, who described what she saw when she was visited by Our Lady, actually liked.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Uh, pardon me for asking but is this a good thing?
I was reading the latest issue of the DC Franciscan monastery's newsletter and saw an article on the new members of the honorary board and was I have to say that I was taken aback. Among the members are:
David Brown, vice-chairman, Saint Luke Institute
David Brown may be a great guy but he works for the St. Luke Institute. This hospital is controversial from the founder to the latest news St. Luke has such an interesting history that I'd leave a parish and go somewhere else if I knew for sure that a St. Luke former patient was on staff. Mary Anne, at the Les Femmes blog, who I greatly respect, has some stuff worth reading about this place.
Now I get that the people with honorary memberships won't be guiding the day to day activities of the monastery but in light of all the material that is readily availble on the itnernet, books and word of mouth, it seems to me that since Mt. St. Sepluchre Franciscan Monastery is one of the most precious holy sites in America nothing but the greatest care should be taken for its reputation and the judgement of those who assist the current gaurdian of the monastery should not be the least bit doubtful.
David Brown may be a great guy but he works for the St. Luke Institute. This hospital is controversial from the founder to the latest news St. Luke has such an interesting history that I'd leave a parish and go somewhere else if I knew for sure that a St. Luke former patient was on staff. Mary Anne, at the Les Femmes blog, who I greatly respect, has some stuff worth reading about this place.
Now I get that the people with honorary memberships won't be guiding the day to day activities of the monastery but in light of all the material that is readily availble on the itnernet, books and word of mouth, it seems to me that since Mt. St. Sepluchre Franciscan Monastery is one of the most precious holy sites in America nothing but the greatest care should be taken for its reputation and the judgement of those who assist the current gaurdian of the monastery should not be the least bit doubtful.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Ascension Thursday
We had a high solemn 7 PM Mass at St. Rita's with two priests, a third priest in the confessional, a deacon, seminarian, five altar boys, and a guest choir. I was impressed by the size of the crowd and the number of small children. I love a low Mass but at the high Mass you can pick up how to pronounce ecclesiastical Latin fairly easily. Our pastor Fr. Hawk-- we used to have the nickname Fr. Eagle for him but one day it occurred to me that he looks more like a Sharp Sinned Hawk than a Bald Eagle so Fr. Hawk he became--- was the main celebrant gave one of his usual though provoking homilies.
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