Here's one thing you can't pin on the bishops.

This blogger blames part of the Church's current crisis on bishops who back in the 40s and 50s didn't preach breastfeeding to the people. I think that's a bit much. Oh heck, I actually think it's ridiculous.

How many straight and sober men in 1948, would've willingly lectured women from the ambo or at the dinner table about breastfeeding? And what effect would it have had, anyway? My mother was delighted with baby formula. If any man had told her to go back to breastfeeding she would've smacked him upside the head with one of my baby bottles and then told him to go jump into a lake.

Christopher Hitchens

Fr. Rutler rocks!

You what's wrong with Christopher Hitchens? I mean besides his drinking? I suspect that when he was a little boy somebody let him down. Maybe his parents didn't love him enough. Maybe he didn't get the pony he prayed for. Maybe the first girl he got a crush on broke his heart. At any rate he's mad with God and is having a tantrum in public. Sometimes the tantrum is pathetic. Sometimes it's just ridiculous but it's always ugly as you'll see after reading this exchange between poor Hitchens and the awesome Fr. Rutler, who thinks Hitchens will one day either pull out of his pity party and become Catholic or die a madman. My bet is on madman right now but miracles happen. Look at Ratisbone and St. Augustine.

The Mass that will not die.

On Sunday night Rocky and I attended a lecture on the Tridentine Mass. It was glorious. We all met in the church (the Blessed Sacrament had been removed and is every time a lecture takes place in the church) and Fr. proceeded to walk us all through the Tridentine Mass. It was crowded and you could've heard a pin drop. Every eye was on Fr. as he spoke and many of us were taking notes. The parish has bought a bunch of copies of the Ecclesia Dei mini missal for us. There were handouts and a list of books to read on the Tridentine.
I was so excited to see so many young people there. If anybody tells you that the desire for the Tridentine is just nostalgia tell them to get a clue. Most of the people in church that night were, like me, born after Vatican II and have never known anything but the Novus Ordo.

Fr. was so happy. You could see that he was thrilled to be talking about this subject and he's chomping at the bit to celebrate the Tridentine.

I laughed out loud when I saw this.

It's from http://athanasiuscm.blogspot.com/

Fr. Scalia explains it all

Fr. Paul Scalia, the PV at my parish explains Catholicism in 800 words or less here.

John Kerry bows out

John Kerry was supposed to give a lecture at Catholic University. That's right, I wrote Catholic University, the school where Archbishop Fulton Sheen once taught.

This weekend there was a second collection at Mass for CU. Rocky and I declined to give this year and so did many of the people sitting in front of us. Well it looks like Kerry will not be speaking due to a "scheduling conflict". Whatever. At any rate CU probably lost a lot of money this weekend. I hope they learn something from it. Don't spit in the face of the Faithful and then ask us to give you money.

Even lone wolves get the blues

I've always been something of a lone wolf. My husband, Rocky sometimes refers to me as his shy woodland creature. Last weekend there was an announcement that our parish is going to start a women's group. It's going to be for married women who are mothers. That upset me. The parish already has a mother's group and I felt stung to the core of my soul that I can't join because I've never had a successful pregnancy. I brooded and wrote a letter to the head of the group. She wrote back and said I can join and if there's anyone else in my situation in the parish they can join too.

Now I'm not so sure I want to join. I resented feeling cut out of the heard but on some level I'd rather run free byself. My moods are like quicksilver sometimes but I'm glad I wrote that letter.

Casualties of war

One of the sadest things about the aftermath of Vatican II is how many Catholics just said "I don't understand what's happening here so to hell with it. I'm leaving." These people wandered off into the New Age mess, cults, Protestantism, and schism. Others stayed in the Church, but endured such misery that they now no longer trust anything their bishop or even the Holy Father says. These people may or may not put a dollar in the collection basket and they attend Mass but they're so burned out and disgusted that their joy and peace is gone.

One of these people writes a blog that I can hardly bear to read. It's so pain and suspicion filled. This poor soul sees evil under every rock and has gotten to the point where she hates going to Mass. Pray for the casualties of the Spiritual war.

My answer to Kathy Griffin

May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most mysterious and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified, in heaven, on earth and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the most holy Sacrament of the altar.

Amen

Saint Gwen?

Gwen Coniker, the co-foundress of Catholic Family Land has a cause for cannonization. Mrs. Coniker has been described as a housewife but that's not really acurate. Mrs. Coniker was an ordinary housewife the way Blessed Teresa was an ordinary nun or the way Fr. Capadanno was an ordinary priest. The lady was a champion mother and organizer. It will be interesting to see how her cause works out.

Never, no more

One of Rocky's favorite Patsy Cline songs is "Never, No More." That's the line that popped into my head when I read that DC Archbishop Wuerl is planning on closing 8 city schools in DC. One of them is my old school.

I will never give to any of Archbishop Wuerl's annual appeals again. Ever. That's it. I'm done. From now on, my charitable giving will go directly to the school, order or Catholic insitution and not through the archbishop's office.

Springtime? Yeah, right.

Fra Domenico asks,"Is it Springtime yet?," in this sensible post. The answer sadly is no. We're still in Winter. There are signs of thaw in various places but most of the church is still like pre-Aslan Narnia. It's always Winter and never Christmas.

Father Corapi .....um.... Facts

Father Corapi is awesome....

Father Corapi does not know where you live, but he knows where you will die (in order to administer Viaticum...duh).

Every time Father Corapi says Mass, an angel gets its wings.

Father Corapi and God once shared a high-five. The wind that was created caused Hurricane Katrina.

Father Corapi, when he was in the military, once shot down an enemy plane by pointing his finger and shouting, "Bang!"

They say lightning never strikes the same place twice. Neither does Father Corapi. He doesn't have to."

Abortion clinics, pornography stores...I would move my artillery into place and light 'em up! I would totally liquidate them...speaking metaphorically, of course"

The Soldier's Creed states, "surrender is not an option...except when Father Corapi is in town."

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The only thing fear has to fear is Father Corapi.

Regardless of race, gender, location, or education level... at one point in your life you have underestimated Father Corapi. You will live just long enough to regret this.

"I am ready and willing to destroy my enemies in close and mortal combat."

Father Corapi's statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary wears combat boots.

Father Corapi's Rosary is made of spent .54 caliber bullet shells. No, really.

When Satan goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet to make sure Father Corapi isn't there.

An apple a day does not keep Father Corapi away. Only going to Mass and confession every day keeps Father Corapi away... sometimes.

Ask a rude question --- get a straight answer

Well enough people were grouchy enough to ask and amazingly enough we got an answer. According to his parish priest Luciano Pavoratti came back to the Church before his death. Thanks be to God.

Do not forget--- watch this video

9/11

And
death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.
And death shall have no dominion.
Under the windings of the sea
They lying long shall not die windily;
Twisting on racks when sinews give way,
Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;
Faith in their hands shall snap in two,
And the unicorn evils run them through;
Split all ends up they shan't crack;
And death shall have no dominion.
And death shall have no dominion.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashores;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Though they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.

Giving scandal

Okay, somebody's got to ask. How come Luciano Pavarotti got a big Catholic funeral? He was an open adulterer who left his wife after 30 plus years of marriage to marry his girlfriend. I love Pavarotti and hope he repented while he had time but.... didn't it occur to Archbishop Benito Cocchi that this was not a good example to give to people. No wonder young Italians don't bother to go to Mass anymore. You have to say what you mean and mean what you say even with beloved celebrities.


Again, may God have mercy on the maestro's soul.

Give Fr. a break

On another blog, sorry I can't remeber which-- someone remarked that it's a shame that parishes were closed on Labor Day and glumly noted that the priesthood has become too much like a regular job. Well, in defense of priests everywhere I have to say that it's not Father's fault. Unless he's a tough old dude who's been there for 20 years or a bright, young fearless lad most parishes are run by grisled, bitter lesbians or grouchy church ladies in polyesther stretch pants. They run the office. They decide if your issue is worth calling Father. They make bad enemies. They write long letters to the bishop and get answered. They would be as fierce as harpies if Fr. dared to suggest that they work on a holiday. It's a rare man who wants to face down angry women.


My parish is blessed with high testosterone and no nonsense young priests so the church was open on Labor Day and Mass went on as usual but again, my pastor is a saint and the parochial vicar is as brave as Aragorn. How many parishes have that?

catholic lady frumpiness----

Kathy Shaidle at Relasped Catholic is a heck of a writer and I check her blog everyday. However, she's not sweetness and light. In fact, I get the impression that Kathy is extremely pissed right now because her boyfriend's annulment proceedings are taking so long. She does not like Jamaicans much and loathes Muslims. She's also quite disgusted with young Catholic women who go around looking like potato sacks.

I abominate deliberate ugliness so I completely reject this trend. There is no virtue is looking so unnattractive that your husband has to put on a brave face in order to perform his marital duties but Kathy is so harsh in her condemnation that I think she might drive some of her readers in the opposite direction.

the tricky thing about blogging

is that sooner or later you will offend someone. Normally I don't give a hoot but when it's people I like I cringe a little. Ah well... .these things must happen when you shout your opinion into the blogosphere.

Mahoney strikes again...

In order to pay for the pedophile suits these little old nuns are going to be cast out of their convent.

Lovely. Just frigging lovely. But come on, we knew this is how it was going to go down, didn't we?

My God, does Cardinal Mahoney have any shame at all? Why doesn't he sell his own home instead? It would fetch a bigger price than the modest home the sisters live in.

The above image is a millstone. I think it's appropriate.

Hooray!

Football is back! Tell Beckham to go pose nude in a gay magazine. Cue Hank Williams Jr. Fire up the grill. Yes, Bocephus I am ready for some football!

Did the Catholic Library Association sell out?

In 2006 the CLA asked for affiliate membership with the American Library Association, the biggest librarian association in the US. They were turned down essentially for being Catholic. In 2007 they got affiliate status. Cathy, at Recovering Disodent wonders what the CLA had to do to get that membership. As a Catholic librarian I wonder too. See Cathy's remarks here.

Farewell to the greatest

Luciano Pavoratti, the greatest tenor of our times has passed away. His private life was not lovely but his voice was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard in my life. One of the most beautiful things that ever graced the earth.


May God have mercy on his soul.

The bishop means well but....

Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo has instituted a new marriage prep program for his diocese. Engaged couples have to endure a course based on Theology of the Body and NFP. Bless his heart but I strongly suspect that this will simply lead to Catholic couples going to Vegas or Hawaii, getting married civily and then coming back to church to have their marriage validated. Who really wants to spend 4 to 6 months meeting in the church hall and listening to Fr. drone on about sex that you can't have yet?

Plus, NFP is contraception. Yes, I know there are no chemicals involved but it's supposed to be an emergency measure for short term use, not a lifestyle. And ultimately, by charting periods and testing mucas and avoiding sex during your fertile period you are, no matter how you sugar coat it, deliberately choosing to have sex ONLY when you are least likely to get preggers. That's contraception at heart, if not in mechanics.



Oh, one more thing. Despite the required marriage prep classes Catholic get divorced at the same rate as heretics and the unchurched.