"Forth! Down fear of darkness! Arise! Arise, Riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered! A sword day... a red day... and the sun rises! Ride now... Ride now... Ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending! Death!"
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Mary Jo Kopechne died 40 years ago today
When Teddy Kennedy dies he'll probably be surrounded by family and friends. A priest, if not the cardinal will come to his bedside and give him Last Rites. Someone will croon French, (Rose Kennedy spoke fluent French and so did her son, JFK) or perhaps even Gaelic to him as he slips away. Later thousands will view the body in both Boston and DC and despite Church rules there will be eulogy after eulogy at the funeral. If the family asks for it, Danny Boy will be sung and the cardinal, his favorite priest and the Papal Nuncio will probably be co-celebrants. It will be one heck of a send off.
When I was a child Teddy ran a half hearted campaign for president. My father, a devoted Democrat said he'd vote for him but he'd never win. "Why", I asked. " A place called Chapaquidick," my father explained. A girl was killed accidentally in a car Ted was driving and although he'd always be king in Massachusetts, a dead girl was just too much for the rest of the country. My father said no more about the matter and I went back to playing with my Barbies.
When Teddy passes beyond the veil anyone who mentions Mary Jo's name will be sneered at as a meanie so I'll say it now and I'll say how sad it was that no-one was there to give the poor silly miss Last Rites or to hold her in their arms as she slipped away and no cardinal held her mother and father's hands at her funeral.
When I was a child Teddy ran a half hearted campaign for president. My father, a devoted Democrat said he'd vote for him but he'd never win. "Why", I asked. " A place called Chapaquidick," my father explained. A girl was killed accidentally in a car Ted was driving and although he'd always be king in Massachusetts, a dead girl was just too much for the rest of the country. My father said no more about the matter and I went back to playing with my Barbies.
When Teddy passes beyond the veil anyone who mentions Mary Jo's name will be sneered at as a meanie so I'll say it now and I'll say how sad it was that no-one was there to give the poor silly miss Last Rites or to hold her in their arms as she slipped away and no cardinal held her mother and father's hands at her funeral.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Some times I wonder
what has gotten into our bishops. They say we should welcome illegal immigrants with open arms because they are fellow Catholics and their faith is so much more strong and vibrant that ours. Because we Americans practice contraception we will be, the narrative goes, die out and the American church will joyously become Latinized as in Latin America. We should, we are told, embrace this and get with the program. The Whispers in the Loggia blog harps on this theme all the time.
Now, there is cause for concern about catechesis in America. Most Catholics don't seem to know or care about what the Church teaches. Many Catholics don't even go to Mass anymore except for Christmas, Easter and Ash Wenesday. But importing Latin American will not fill the pews or fix the problem. Do the bishops not read the newspaper or visit their own parishes? Gautemala, which like most of Latin America was once solidly Catholic; now it's half Catholic and half Evangelical. In Mexico, drug cartels have openly threatened priests and recently a priest and two seminarians were murdered there. All is not well.
The Charismatic movement seems to have gotten a toe hold in the Spanish speaking community here in Virginia and that is worrisome. Writhing on the floor to rock music doesn't have much to do with the faith of St. Juan Diego, St. Rose of Lima or the Holy Father. I know of a number of priests who find themselves in a dilemma. If they curb some excesses (I can't go into detail here because I don't want to get anyone in trouble) they'll be called a racist so they turn a blind eye and tell their American parishioners to hush the grumbling or to be patient.
Do the bishops not open their eyes when they travel? Little store front Spanish speaking only Protestant churches are everywhere. Not everyone from Latin America is a devout Catholic. That's a stereotype, baby. So far, I've seen two botanica (voodoo) shops in Alexandria and Arlington. The bishops are highly educated men, surely they know all this so why the constant happy talk?
Sure, welcome the legal immigrant who has skills that we can use and encourage him mightily. Welcome the legal immigrant to church and don't let him slip/or force him into a liturgical ghetto either. I realize how the liturgical ghetto thing happend. Catholics in Northern Virginia are not that friendly, period. If people are staring at Rocky and I when we show up for Mass what must it be like for someone from a different country?
But the current approach the bishops have taken isn't working and you don't need a degree in Theology to see it. The oxygen in the ivory tower must be too thin.
Now, there is cause for concern about catechesis in America. Most Catholics don't seem to know or care about what the Church teaches. Many Catholics don't even go to Mass anymore except for Christmas, Easter and Ash Wenesday. But importing Latin American will not fill the pews or fix the problem. Do the bishops not read the newspaper or visit their own parishes? Gautemala, which like most of Latin America was once solidly Catholic; now it's half Catholic and half Evangelical. In Mexico, drug cartels have openly threatened priests and recently a priest and two seminarians were murdered there. All is not well.
The Charismatic movement seems to have gotten a toe hold in the Spanish speaking community here in Virginia and that is worrisome. Writhing on the floor to rock music doesn't have much to do with the faith of St. Juan Diego, St. Rose of Lima or the Holy Father. I know of a number of priests who find themselves in a dilemma. If they curb some excesses (I can't go into detail here because I don't want to get anyone in trouble) they'll be called a racist so they turn a blind eye and tell their American parishioners to hush the grumbling or to be patient.
Do the bishops not open their eyes when they travel? Little store front Spanish speaking only Protestant churches are everywhere. Not everyone from Latin America is a devout Catholic. That's a stereotype, baby. So far, I've seen two botanica (voodoo) shops in Alexandria and Arlington. The bishops are highly educated men, surely they know all this so why the constant happy talk?
Sure, welcome the legal immigrant who has skills that we can use and encourage him mightily. Welcome the legal immigrant to church and don't let him slip/or force him into a liturgical ghetto either. I realize how the liturgical ghetto thing happend. Catholics in Northern Virginia are not that friendly, period. If people are staring at Rocky and I when we show up for Mass what must it be like for someone from a different country?
But the current approach the bishops have taken isn't working and you don't need a degree in Theology to see it. The oxygen in the ivory tower must be too thin.
Friday, July 10, 2009
For the King of Friday
Jesus, sold for thirty pieces of silver, *
Jesus, prostrate on the ground in prayer,
Jesus, strengthened by an angel,
Jesus, in Thine agony bathed in a bloody sweat,
Jesus, betrayed by Judas with a kiss,
Jesus, bound by the soldiers,
Jesus, forsaken by Thy disciples,
Jesus, brought before Annas and Caiphas,
Jesus, struck in the face by a servant,
Jesus, accused by false witnesses,
Jesus, declared guilty of death,
Jesus, spat upon,
Jesus, blindfolded,
Jesus, smitten on the cheek,
Jesus, thrice denied by Peter,
Jesus, despised and mocked by Herod,
Jesus, clothed in a white garment,
Jesus, rejected for Barabbas,
Jesus, torn with scourges,
Jesus, bruised for our sins,
Jesus, esteemed a leper,
Jesus, covered with a purple robe,
Jesus, crowned with thorns,
Jesus, struck with a reed upon the Head,
Jesus, demanded for crucifixion by the Jews,
Jesus, condemned to an ignominious death,
Jesus, given up to the will of Thine enemies,
Jesus, loaded with the heavy weight of the Cross,
Jesus, led like a sheep to the slaughter,
Jesus, stripped of Thy garments,
Jesus, reviled by the malefactors,
Jesus, promising Paradise to the penitent thief,
Jesus, commending St. John to Thy Mother as her son,
Jesus, declaring Thyself forsaken by Thy Father, Jesus, in Thy thirst given gall and vinegar to drink,
Jesus, testifying that all things written concerning Thee were accomplished,
Jesus, commending Thy spirit into the hands of Thy Father,
Jesus, obedient even to the death of the cross,
Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Jesus, made a propitiation for us,
Jesus, taken down from the cross,
Jesus, laid in the sepulcher,
Have mercy on us.
Friday, July 03, 2009
i noticed an odd thing this week
Many Catholic bloggers weighed in on Michael Jackson's death, to plop loose green shit on his corpse mostly but very few bloggers had anything to say about the Caritas scandal in Boston. Perhaps it's because taking a shot at Jackson was easy and seeming to pick on good ole Cardinal Sean seemed hard. But the Caritas scandal was not about picking on Cardinal Sean.
The cardinal, in order to keep his health care operation going was apparently going to accept the state's requirement that abortion services be provided to patients who requested them, even if it was "just" referring them to abortionists off site.
The entity that was going to handle this was CeltiCare. 49% of CeltiCare was owned by Caritas. Although the archdiocese denied it repeatedly, Caritas was essentially going to be involved in the abortion business.
Let that roll around in your head for a minute. Let it boggle your noggin. Now think about the early martyrs who died horribly rather than offer incense to Caesar. Think about Sts. Agatha, Lucy, Anastasia, Perpetua and Felicity. Think about the martyrs whose names are now known only to God who were told, "Look, you are young and handsome. Why give your life over a technicality? Just whisper to me that Caesar is lord and I'll let you go. Cooperate with the system and you will live." The Caritas deal was an insult to the memory of the martyrs. It was an insult to every pro life worker in Boston. It was an insult to every slaughtered in the womb, baby.
Well now, the deal is off. A few bloggers have mentioned the story in the last two days to congratulate the cardinal on doing the right thing but they fail to mention that it was a bunch of inelegant, unsophisticated Joe and Jane in the back pew lay people who kept asking annoying questions and kept publicizing the story who are to be congratulated. They are the reason Caritas won't be involved in abortions, not the cardinal. I say this, not to pick on the cardinal but to give credit where it is due. Jane and Joe in the back pew, you rock. If I drank beer, I'd raise a Dos Equs in your honor.
Now every blogger writes about what means the most to them. That's the beauty of the blog. Sometimes you get stories about the blogger's cat and sometimes you get stories about Catholics in Siberia. It just struck me as weird that the big time professional, serious issue, serious Catholic bloggers took time to mock Jackson, which should've been beneath them (see footnote) and had nothing to say about a stunning Catholic scandal, that could've had national implications because if Caritas had gotten away with this don't think it couldn't happen in your diocese.
And the most puzzling comments came from ultra serious people who claim to know nothing about pop music or the national zeitgeist. You know, the folks who swear they haven't' watched TV or seen a movie in years, sew their own deliberately ugly dresses, and who grow heirloom tomatoes and for fun reenact the Battle of Hastings in the back yard with their perfectly perfect kids. And speaking of the kids, each one was conceived after grimly praying Tobit's prayer, consulting the chart and stoicly going into the marital embrace.
To each his own but for someone like that to talk about pop music is kind of like an Old Order Mennonite telling young Elvis how to shake a leg or a Mormon telling Sonny Boy Williamson how to play the harmonica. All in all, I would've preferred to have read about their cat, Benedictus.
Foot note
(I once was in a car pool with a Jehovah's Witness. She was a bore but no hypocrite. When she turned on the car radio and heard Boys to Men singing a sweet love song she cried out, "The devil's music!," turned off the radio. She neither knew nor gave a damn who was on the music Top 40 list. Ole Bessie said pop music was beneath her and refused to talk about it. Anyone fool enough to mention Prince, Cameo or even Earth Wind and Fire to her would've gotten a basilisk stare and an offer to conduct a Bible study. As I said, ole Bessie was a crashing bore but she walked her talk)
The cardinal, in order to keep his health care operation going was apparently going to accept the state's requirement that abortion services be provided to patients who requested them, even if it was "just" referring them to abortionists off site.
The entity that was going to handle this was CeltiCare. 49% of CeltiCare was owned by Caritas. Although the archdiocese denied it repeatedly, Caritas was essentially going to be involved in the abortion business.
Let that roll around in your head for a minute. Let it boggle your noggin. Now think about the early martyrs who died horribly rather than offer incense to Caesar. Think about Sts. Agatha, Lucy, Anastasia, Perpetua and Felicity. Think about the martyrs whose names are now known only to God who were told, "Look, you are young and handsome. Why give your life over a technicality? Just whisper to me that Caesar is lord and I'll let you go. Cooperate with the system and you will live." The Caritas deal was an insult to the memory of the martyrs. It was an insult to every pro life worker in Boston. It was an insult to every slaughtered in the womb, baby.
Well now, the deal is off. A few bloggers have mentioned the story in the last two days to congratulate the cardinal on doing the right thing but they fail to mention that it was a bunch of inelegant, unsophisticated Joe and Jane in the back pew lay people who kept asking annoying questions and kept publicizing the story who are to be congratulated. They are the reason Caritas won't be involved in abortions, not the cardinal. I say this, not to pick on the cardinal but to give credit where it is due. Jane and Joe in the back pew, you rock. If I drank beer, I'd raise a Dos Equs in your honor.
Now every blogger writes about what means the most to them. That's the beauty of the blog. Sometimes you get stories about the blogger's cat and sometimes you get stories about Catholics in Siberia. It just struck me as weird that the big time professional, serious issue, serious Catholic bloggers took time to mock Jackson, which should've been beneath them (see footnote) and had nothing to say about a stunning Catholic scandal, that could've had national implications because if Caritas had gotten away with this don't think it couldn't happen in your diocese.
And the most puzzling comments came from ultra serious people who claim to know nothing about pop music or the national zeitgeist. You know, the folks who swear they haven't' watched TV or seen a movie in years, sew their own deliberately ugly dresses, and who grow heirloom tomatoes and for fun reenact the Battle of Hastings in the back yard with their perfectly perfect kids. And speaking of the kids, each one was conceived after grimly praying Tobit's prayer, consulting the chart and stoicly going into the marital embrace.
To each his own but for someone like that to talk about pop music is kind of like an Old Order Mennonite telling young Elvis how to shake a leg or a Mormon telling Sonny Boy Williamson how to play the harmonica. All in all, I would've preferred to have read about their cat, Benedictus.
Foot note
(I once was in a car pool with a Jehovah's Witness. She was a bore but no hypocrite. When she turned on the car radio and heard Boys to Men singing a sweet love song she cried out, "The devil's music!," turned off the radio. She neither knew nor gave a damn who was on the music Top 40 list. Ole Bessie said pop music was beneath her and refused to talk about it. Anyone fool enough to mention Prince, Cameo or even Earth Wind and Fire to her would've gotten a basilisk stare and an offer to conduct a Bible study. As I said, ole Bessie was a crashing bore but she walked her talk)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Hideous Mass
I just watched an incredibly hideous Mass on EWTN. It took place at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Melrose Park, IL. I was astonished at the ugliness of the church and the poor dress of the people. Every other woman was wearing the fat lady's cop out outfit: big flowered, sleeveless blouses and polyester shorts or shapeless skirt. The men, even the skinny guys had the fat guy's cop out outfit: the Hawaian or bowling shirt over sweat pants or the sansabelt pants. The poor Knights of Columbus who were present looked like they were doing a penance.
The music was appalling. At one point a man and woman got up and sang "The Prayer", a sticky sweet pop song by Josh Groban. Ewwww! Judging by the sour expressions on the faces of the people in the pews when the camera panned over them, a lot of people didn't like it. At one point the priest was providing commentary jokingly asked how long this was going to go on. The Mass was poorly filmed--- but I'll give them a break on this, maybe they are not used to broadcasting. This was all to dedicate a new statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The statue is gorgeous but looks strange in such an ugly, stuck in the 1970s place.
The music was appalling. At one point a man and woman got up and sang "The Prayer", a sticky sweet pop song by Josh Groban. Ewwww! Judging by the sour expressions on the faces of the people in the pews when the camera panned over them, a lot of people didn't like it. At one point the priest was providing commentary jokingly asked how long this was going to go on. The Mass was poorly filmed--- but I'll give them a break on this, maybe they are not used to broadcasting. This was all to dedicate a new statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The statue is gorgeous but looks strange in such an ugly, stuck in the 1970s place.
Yip, yip, yip! I gotta an award.
The rules are to say thanks to the presenter. That's easy.Thanks Joe! I hope you find the right seminary.
Second, I have to say ten honest things about myself. Hmmm.
- I don't give a damn about the Iranians. The lesser of two evils, (the Mousavi (sp.) guy was involved in the Lebanon bombing that killed over 200 of our Marines)) is still evil. If they are fighting each other hopefully they'll be too busy to use their nukes on Israel. The protestors may wear jeans but I'll bet you they'd spit on Jewish Levi Strauss if he came back to life and were to walk into one of their mosques.
- I loathe feminists.
- Unless there is no other Mass to go to within a 20 mile radius, if the cantor whips out a guitar and/drums I'm out of there.
- I think George Lucas completely botched Padme's death and her relationship with Anakin in Revenge of the Sith.
- Otis Redding makes me cry.
- I want a basso profundo to sing Dies Irae at my funeral.
- I don't like holding newborn babies. When they can hold their own heads up it's fine but I worry that I'm doing it wrong with the brand new ones.
- I love the smell of a river or creek.
- One of the happiest days of my life was when Rocky and I walked the sky trail to Belle Island in Richmond, VA.
- I love Bear Grylls. I could adopt him.
- Bonus. I really wish the Anchoress hadn't moved her blog to First Things.
- I pass this on to everyone who's in my links list.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Why Jesus did not establish a female priesthood...
Have you ever noticed that women preachers never talk about humility, service or obedience? They are however, very big on feelings, power, expressing themselves, rights, and "dignity".
An Episcopalian (Church of Anything Goes) priestess has publicly claimed that God rejoices in abortion.
Somewhere in a fetid corner of hell, Queens Jezebel and Athaliah are nodding in recognition of a sister in spirit.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Fr. Aragorn
Father Aragorn, our old parochial vicar will be saying a Solemn High Mass at Our Lady of Hope
in Potomac Falls, Virginia on July 1 at 7PM. I'm temted to go but the last time I visited OLoH I was not comfortable--- the church is gorgeous, the priest is very good but the people are coldfish, rich Northern Virginians with all that entails and I'm not sure I want to put up with that again. Potomac Falls is one of those stuffy, artificial places that I loathe. No history, no real center, just a bunch of mini mansions squating on the manicured hills.
On the other hand, it would be lovely to be at a Solemn High Mass and Fr. Aragorn's Latin is exquisite.
in Potomac Falls, Virginia on July 1 at 7PM. I'm temted to go but the last time I visited OLoH I was not comfortable--- the church is gorgeous, the priest is very good but the people are coldfish, rich Northern Virginians with all that entails and I'm not sure I want to put up with that again. Potomac Falls is one of those stuffy, artificial places that I loathe. No history, no real center, just a bunch of mini mansions squating on the manicured hills.
On the other hand, it would be lovely to be at a Solemn High Mass and Fr. Aragorn's Latin is exquisite.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
St. Vincent DePaul, Baltimore
Rocky and I spent a day in Baltimore and visited St. Leo's in Little Italy and thanks to the kind church housekeeper we took a quick tour of St. Vincent DePaul. St. Vincent is the oldest continuously used parish in the Baltimore diocese.
It is surrounded by hard core beggars, but don't let that frighten you. Nobody bothered us and two of them politely told us to go to the side door to gain entrance. They did not ask us for money. The church is beautiful. It's Federal style, all white wash, marble and light coming in from delicately colored stained glass. They are the only church in the diocese that has a 12:15 AM Mass. Boy would I have loved that back when I was single. My date and I could've gone out, had dinner, done our hour of fasting and still made Mass and slept in the next day.
It is surrounded by hard core beggars, but don't let that frighten you. Nobody bothered us and two of them politely told us to go to the side door to gain entrance. They did not ask us for money. The church is beautiful. It's Federal style, all white wash, marble and light coming in from delicately colored stained glass. They are the only church in the diocese that has a 12:15 AM Mass. Boy would I have loved that back when I was single. My date and I could've gone out, had dinner, done our hour of fasting and still made Mass and slept in the next day.
Father's Day
Father's Day is always bittersweet for me. I think of my own dad and I miss him. I think of Rocky never getting a hug from a grimy little boy of his own and I feel terrible for that. But then, I think of God, our Father and I think of all His son's, our priests. On this day and every day in this Year of Priests, thank your Father.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Fr. Cutie
Fr. Cutie "married" his girlfriend this week. The celebrant was a judge.
Clever. Wickedly clever.
The fact that it was a judge officiating and that no attempt to pretend that the marriage is sacramental will come in handy later if he changes his mind. As I said before, I wouldn't want to be in Mrs. Cutie's shoes.
Clever. Wickedly clever.
The fact that it was a judge officiating and that no attempt to pretend that the marriage is sacramental will come in handy later if he changes his mind. As I said before, I wouldn't want to be in Mrs. Cutie's shoes.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Run like hell....
....If your pastor stands up in the pulpit and says "We need a new Pentecost."
or "Vatican II unleashed a new Pentecost for the Church".
If Wanda Sue, the daughter of the church secretary suddenly appears in a leotard and begins leaping and twirling up the the center aisle. If it's a flesh colored leotard, run screaming.
If your pastor refuses to speak about abortion because he doesn't want to offend the openly and loudly pro abortion but quite wealthy parishioner who is paying for the church's new roof.
If the deacon stands up and does a Jay Leno imitation instead of giving a homily.
If your priest tells you in Confession that IVF is okay.
If you go to a parishioner party and see your pastor sitting in a hot tub with a woman-- oh hell, if you go to a church function and see Father sitting in a hot tub, period. And doesn't matter if he's wearing rash guards or Speedos.
If a lady in a polyester pantsuit-- the Mother Superior of an order than used to exist in your parish and who is visiting her old stomping grounds--- gives the homily.
If a priest tells you not to kneel at Mass-- ever.
or "Vatican II unleashed a new Pentecost for the Church".
If Wanda Sue, the daughter of the church secretary suddenly appears in a leotard and begins leaping and twirling up the the center aisle. If it's a flesh colored leotard, run screaming.
If your pastor refuses to speak about abortion because he doesn't want to offend the openly and loudly pro abortion but quite wealthy parishioner who is paying for the church's new roof.
If the deacon stands up and does a Jay Leno imitation instead of giving a homily.
If your priest tells you in Confession that IVF is okay.
If you go to a parishioner party and see your pastor sitting in a hot tub with a woman-- oh hell, if you go to a church function and see Father sitting in a hot tub, period. And doesn't matter if he's wearing rash guards or Speedos.
If a lady in a polyester pantsuit-- the Mother Superior of an order than used to exist in your parish and who is visiting her old stomping grounds--- gives the homily.
If a priest tells you not to kneel at Mass-- ever.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Strange days in Boston
It looks like the Boston archdiocese is going to be involved in the abortion business. http://votingcatholicin2008.blogspot.com/
This must be a kick in the gut to every man and woman who's ever prayed in front a Boston area abortion clinic and to everyone who works in a crisis pregnanc cener. They must feel so betrayed.
I am reminded of Our Lady's words in Akita:
"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against other bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres (other priests). Churches and altars will be sacked. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord."
"The demon will be especially implacable against the souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them."
This must be a kick in the gut to every man and woman who's ever prayed in front a Boston area abortion clinic and to everyone who works in a crisis pregnanc cener. They must feel so betrayed.
I am reminded of Our Lady's words in Akita:
"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against other bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres (other priests). Churches and altars will be sacked. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord."
"The demon will be especially implacable against the souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them."
Saturday, June 06, 2009
i found this disturbing
....If a man really thought that marriage meant half a dozen children or more, if he really thought that his wife wouldn't be able to work because she was pregnant every two years. If he really thought marriage meant supporting a dozen kids then maybe celibacy wouldn't seem so bad.
I read this on the Standing on My Head blog (don't think I'm going back either) and although I'm not entirely sure of why it did so, it really disturbed me. American Catholics from the Baby Boomers onward have been having sex with the mindlessness of animals but seem terrified of actually having a baby, the whole point of mating in the first place.
It seems so strange. Now granted, with my fertility issues I'm probably not the one to comment on this since I've not been able to carry a pregnancy past two months. Rocky doesn't need to "worry" about having a dozen kids out of me but when we married we did so assuming that kids would come along because that's the deal with with marriage.
Oh, and just becuase you have a bunch of kids doesn't mean that a woman can't work outside the home. My great grandmother had twelve and she was picking cotton in the South Carolina sun, cooking on a wood stove, raising chickens, goats, pigs, keeping a cow and sewing quilts for tourists in her spare time-- a hell of a tougher job than sitting in a nice air conditioned office all day.
I read this on the Standing on My Head blog (don't think I'm going back either) and although I'm not entirely sure of why it did so, it really disturbed me. American Catholics from the Baby Boomers onward have been having sex with the mindlessness of animals but seem terrified of actually having a baby, the whole point of mating in the first place.
It seems so strange. Now granted, with my fertility issues I'm probably not the one to comment on this since I've not been able to carry a pregnancy past two months. Rocky doesn't need to "worry" about having a dozen kids out of me but when we married we did so assuming that kids would come along because that's the deal with with marriage.
Oh, and just becuase you have a bunch of kids doesn't mean that a woman can't work outside the home. My great grandmother had twelve and she was picking cotton in the South Carolina sun, cooking on a wood stove, raising chickens, goats, pigs, keeping a cow and sewing quilts for tourists in her spare time-- a hell of a tougher job than sitting in a nice air conditioned office all day.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
What's up with that?
Why do so many Catholics go on and on about Francis Shaefer? He was some kind of Protestant.
Why is Cardinal Law safe in Rome instead facing his former flock in Boston?
Why do Catholics love Flannery O'Conner so much? Her stuff gave me nightmares as a kid.
Why do so many people who clearly don't love the Faith get themselves ordained or professed as nuns?
What is about working for one's parish that seems to turn so many middle aged women into power tripping hapries?
Why is Cardinal Law safe in Rome instead facing his former flock in Boston?
Why do Catholics love Flannery O'Conner so much? Her stuff gave me nightmares as a kid.
Why do so many people who clearly don't love the Faith get themselves ordained or professed as nuns?
What is about working for one's parish that seems to turn so many middle aged women into power tripping hapries?
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
more important than Tiller
Pray the rosary. I have a feeling that things are going to get very greasy in the next few months. Pro-lifers may be harrassed and insulted but babies are going to die.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Fr. Cutie
I once saw Fr. Cutie in person. It was after the Papal Mass in DC. Rocky and I were still in the stadium and walked right past him. I think he was doing a commentary on the Mass for a Spanish language channel. He is a good looking man---- movie star pretty and has JFKesquse charisma. His followers (that's a problem right there-- a priest shouldn't have followers) were mostly women, since it's chicks who babble on about love and marriage. Guys don't.
Surely someone in the diocese should've had enough sense to see that a mess could happen. If he had time to carry on a dalliance then he obviously had no oversight and had too much unaccounted for time surrounded by dreamy women with heaving bosoms and slobbery emotions.
Anyway, he and his woman have abandoned the Church for Episcopalianism, a religion that was started becuase Henry VIII was a heartless swine and Anne Boleyn was an ambitious woman. I wouldn't want to be the future Mrs. Cutie. There's a mark on her back. Every woman who's every looked too long at Fr. Cutie before thinks that she has a shot at him now. All is fair in love and war and sisterhood is crap, especially when a man is on the line. Afterall, if he could not be faithful to his vows to God and the Church why should anyone expect him to be faithful to one woman?
It's all too bad and too sad.
Surely someone in the diocese should've had enough sense to see that a mess could happen. If he had time to carry on a dalliance then he obviously had no oversight and had too much unaccounted for time surrounded by dreamy women with heaving bosoms and slobbery emotions.
Anyway, he and his woman have abandoned the Church for Episcopalianism, a religion that was started becuase Henry VIII was a heartless swine and Anne Boleyn was an ambitious woman. I wouldn't want to be the future Mrs. Cutie. There's a mark on her back. Every woman who's every looked too long at Fr. Cutie before thinks that she has a shot at him now. All is fair in love and war and sisterhood is crap, especially when a man is on the line. Afterall, if he could not be faithful to his vows to God and the Church why should anyone expect him to be faithful to one woman?
It's all too bad and too sad.
Christopher West
I read that Christohper West has suggested that married couples bless their genitals before doing the deed. Some fans of his on other blogs defended this and said they do just that. I began snickering then outright laughing because the genital blessing ritual reminded me of the this adults only, NSFW scene from of the most oddly revolting and stupid movies ever made by a great director, Eyes Wide Shut.
Monday, May 25, 2009
why do catholics so often bayonet their own troops?
Dawn Eden echoed this question which was originally posed by Mark Shea. My first impulse when I read it was to ask, "What do you mean our troops?" If a professional Catholic who presumes to speak for the Church spouts garbage, blasphemy, or acts a fool in public what's so bad about calling him or her on it? 
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Ascension Sunday
The Ascension Chapel at Our Lady of Walsingham. My all tme favorie Ascension imge. Mass was beautiful. The feast of St. Rita was earlier this week so the church was filled with red roses for St. Rita and pink and white roses for Mary. A joyful and glowing Fr. Gollum preached a remarkable homily. I wish I'd been taking notes because this was worth keeping and savoring.
After Mass a nice old couple renewed their wedding vows. They'd been married for 40 years.
After they were done I went to work. The crown of carnations on our Mary statue was crooked and that bugged me all during Mass so as soon as I could I straightened it. Fr. Theoden saw me and smiled sympathetically. 'Oh look, he must have thought, 'There's Dymphna being OCD again.'
Rocky, later pointed out to me that he'd watched my crown straightening attempt with nervousness. "You could've fallen. You barely reach Mary's head."
He's right, of course. The statue was too tall for me and I had to do a certain amount of climbing and stretching but I can't stand half assedness. I had to straighten out that crown.
Friday, May 22, 2009
My thorn crowned Captain
Woe, to me if I should prove to be a half hearted soldier in the service of my thorn crowned captain. ----St Fidelis.
Please pray for a poor messed up kid
Tony, (that's not his name) is 17. He was born out of wedlock. Instead of putting him up for adoption his mother decided to keep him and like a great many single mom's in this country, she did a lousy job. He's depressed, bi-polar and isn't good about taking his medicine. He doesn't like school and has managed to skip most of this year. Soon he'll be 18 with little chance of passing the GED test, no chance of going to college or to trade school and the world is not going to baby him like his mom did. He'll be legally a man with nothing going for him. I have no idea what's going to become of this poor kid.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Does the pro-life movement need a reboot?
Before anyone gets mad let me tell a little story.
Once upon a time when America was a very different place a black girl got tired of having to sit in the back of the bus and got tired of having to give her seat in the back to any white person who wanted it. One day she refused to give up her seat and was arrested. I am not talking about Rosa Parks. This young woman who took her stand before Rosa is largely unknown today because the civil rights movement leaders looked into her background and saw that she had a child out of wedlock and was pregnant again. She had guts but her home life was a mess and she wouldn't look good on TV and interviews were out of the question. A few months later Rosa Parks, a quiet, dignified and yes, articulate married woman decided to refuse to put up with the unjust bus situation. Rosa was an excellent spokesman for the movement. Middle class America saw her on TV wearing her Sunday hat and gloves and many felt shame. For the first time ordinary Americans began saying that hey, making black people move around on the bus at the whim of any white person was cruel and unAmerican.
Frederick Douglas was a cultured, elegant man who spoke better English than most of his listeners. Jackie Robinson's courageous and calm manner did more to desegregate this country than anybody else before MLK. Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige were both great baseball players but neither one would've been able to handle the abuse Jackie had to put up with. Gibson's mental problems would've made him crumble and Paige's temper would've made him beat somebody senseless.
I think that maybe the leaders of the pro-life movement need to think about presentation. First, everyone who speaks for the movement, every figure head must have a personal life that is above reproach. I mean your taxes must be paid, your teenagers must be well behaved in public and in private. You'd better not be having an affair or have been divorced and remarried and even the most rigourous investigator should'nt be able to find out anything bad about you that can be exploited. You also have to be able to speak well. If you can not present the pro-life case in an articulate fashion please don't get in front of a camera.
Once upon a time when America was a very different place a black girl got tired of having to sit in the back of the bus and got tired of having to give her seat in the back to any white person who wanted it. One day she refused to give up her seat and was arrested. I am not talking about Rosa Parks. This young woman who took her stand before Rosa is largely unknown today because the civil rights movement leaders looked into her background and saw that she had a child out of wedlock and was pregnant again. She had guts but her home life was a mess and she wouldn't look good on TV and interviews were out of the question. A few months later Rosa Parks, a quiet, dignified and yes, articulate married woman decided to refuse to put up with the unjust bus situation. Rosa was an excellent spokesman for the movement. Middle class America saw her on TV wearing her Sunday hat and gloves and many felt shame. For the first time ordinary Americans began saying that hey, making black people move around on the bus at the whim of any white person was cruel and unAmerican.
Frederick Douglas was a cultured, elegant man who spoke better English than most of his listeners. Jackie Robinson's courageous and calm manner did more to desegregate this country than anybody else before MLK. Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige were both great baseball players but neither one would've been able to handle the abuse Jackie had to put up with. Gibson's mental problems would've made him crumble and Paige's temper would've made him beat somebody senseless.
I think that maybe the leaders of the pro-life movement need to think about presentation. First, everyone who speaks for the movement, every figure head must have a personal life that is above reproach. I mean your taxes must be paid, your teenagers must be well behaved in public and in private. You'd better not be having an affair or have been divorced and remarried and even the most rigourous investigator should'nt be able to find out anything bad about you that can be exploited. You also have to be able to speak well. If you can not present the pro-life case in an articulate fashion please don't get in front of a camera.
Monday, May 18, 2009
A Soldier's Prayer...for all those who will not be slient
My shoulders ache beneath my pack
(Lie easier, Cross, upon His back).
I march with feet that burn and smart
(Tread, Holy Feet, upon my heart)
Men shout at me who may not speak
(They scourged Thy back and smote Thy cheek)
I may not lift a hand to clear
My eyes of salty drops that sear.
(Then shall my fickle soul forget
Thy agony of Bloody Sweat?)
My rifle hand is stiff and numb
(From Thy pierced palm red rivers come).
Lord, Thou didst suffer more for me
Than all the hosts of land and sea.
So let me render back again
This millionth of Thy gift.
Amen.
Joyce Kilmer
(Lie easier, Cross, upon His back).
I march with feet that burn and smart
(Tread, Holy Feet, upon my heart)
Men shout at me who may not speak
(They scourged Thy back and smote Thy cheek)
I may not lift a hand to clear
My eyes of salty drops that sear.
(Then shall my fickle soul forget
Thy agony of Bloody Sweat?)
My rifle hand is stiff and numb
(From Thy pierced palm red rivers come).
Lord, Thou didst suffer more for me
Than all the hosts of land and sea.
So let me render back again
This millionth of Thy gift.
Amen.
Joyce Kilmer
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Star Trek
Go. See. It.
My only quibble was that the girl who played Uhura was not up to the job. Oh and whatever you do, don't make the Vulcan mad.
My only quibble was that the girl who played Uhura was not up to the job. Oh and whatever you do, don't make the Vulcan mad.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thank God that's over
The Pope is back from his trip to the Holy Land. It was a grueling schedule for an 82 year man. I found it very distasteful how everyone seemed to want to use the Holy Father's presence to advance their own religious and political quarrels.
I hope he takes a long break after this.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The sex sermonist and poor old Brother Ray
Christopher West reminds me of Brother Ray, an old teacher of mine from high school. Brother Ray meant well. He was earnest, he tried to relate to us kids and he tried to be hip. I thought him to be ridiculous. Every time he tried to "rap" with us, I think, "Oh man, Brother Ray's talkin' about sex again. Gag me with a spoon why don'tcha?"
Poor Christopher West says that the editors of Nightline used dicey editing to make him look bad with his Hugh Hefner and JPII as his muses quote. But West bungled into it by bringing Hefner up in the first place. Every time Christians try to look sophisticated and clever and make friends with the world they make themsleves look stupid. It's like Christian pop music. It's dumb, second rate and embarrassing at best.
Hugh Hefner is no liberator who went wrong. He didn't want to save Americans from prudery, the dude wanted and still wants to degrade women. Period. And that's what he's done.
Prudence has been given a bad name. It was a societal protection for the young. Once upon a time in the prudish past if a man looked too long at a 15 year old girl his decent friends would reprove him. Others, not his friends would just think that boy aint right. I better not hang with him or he'll get me into a mess of trouble. Now everybody laughs and a few may remind him jokingly that 15 will get ya 20, but most just laugh. They'd kill him if he were to mess with their 15 year old but otherwise it's okay. Is that an improvement?
Once a young man knew that he had to treat the girl next door with respect or society would make him pay for it. Hugh Hefner has successfully taught that the girl next door is a just whore at heart-- no different that the creatures walking the street in the red light district and that she really wants to be used and discarded. When Jay-Z sang about not trusting or needing women for anything more than sex he was reflecting the zeitgeist that Hefner wrought.
And folks we are not bound to study TOB anymore than we're bound to study the rythm of our fertility stages. It's not a sacrament. It's not a law of the Church. It was a hobby of JPII. When the pope is talking about the deposit of the Faith I'm there. But when he's talking about cooking, fishing or sacred sex I can go work on my stamp collection with a clear concience. As much as I love John Paul II, if you ask me if I know what he really said about sex I will cheerfully respond, (depending on how old you are or what your state in life is) that yes, I do but I really don't give a rat's ass.
Poor Christopher West says that the editors of Nightline used dicey editing to make him look bad with his Hugh Hefner and JPII as his muses quote. But West bungled into it by bringing Hefner up in the first place. Every time Christians try to look sophisticated and clever and make friends with the world they make themsleves look stupid. It's like Christian pop music. It's dumb, second rate and embarrassing at best.
Hugh Hefner is no liberator who went wrong. He didn't want to save Americans from prudery, the dude wanted and still wants to degrade women. Period. And that's what he's done.
Prudence has been given a bad name. It was a societal protection for the young. Once upon a time in the prudish past if a man looked too long at a 15 year old girl his decent friends would reprove him. Others, not his friends would just think that boy aint right. I better not hang with him or he'll get me into a mess of trouble. Now everybody laughs and a few may remind him jokingly that 15 will get ya 20, but most just laugh. They'd kill him if he were to mess with their 15 year old but otherwise it's okay. Is that an improvement?
Once a young man knew that he had to treat the girl next door with respect or society would make him pay for it. Hugh Hefner has successfully taught that the girl next door is a just whore at heart-- no different that the creatures walking the street in the red light district and that she really wants to be used and discarded. When Jay-Z sang about not trusting or needing women for anything more than sex he was reflecting the zeitgeist that Hefner wrought.
And folks we are not bound to study TOB anymore than we're bound to study the rythm of our fertility stages. It's not a sacrament. It's not a law of the Church. It was a hobby of JPII. When the pope is talking about the deposit of the Faith I'm there. But when he's talking about cooking, fishing or sacred sex I can go work on my stamp collection with a clear concience. As much as I love John Paul II, if you ask me if I know what he really said about sex I will cheerfully respond, (depending on how old you are or what your state in life is) that yes, I do but I really don't give a rat's ass.
Monday, May 11, 2009
In your charity, please pray for Fr. Cutie, he got lost somewhere
You must never forget that priests are, and that they remain, men.
God does not perform a miracle to wrest them from the human state.
The priesthood does not of itself give a person the power to do everything or to excel in everything. It is important to remember this lest you fall into a very old error . . . that of dehumanizing the priesthood and consequently of setting the priest outside of ordinary life.
That does great harm for by thus isolating him, as unbelievers do, to the exclusive realm of ceremonies . . . he is deprived in good part of his reason for being. If men refuse to pass through him, he no longer can be, at least fully, their mediator. Cardinal Suhard --> -->
God does not perform a miracle to wrest them from the human state.
The priesthood does not of itself give a person the power to do everything or to excel in everything. It is important to remember this lest you fall into a very old error . . . that of dehumanizing the priesthood and consequently of setting the priest outside of ordinary life.
That does great harm for by thus isolating him, as unbelievers do, to the exclusive realm of ceremonies . . . he is deprived in good part of his reason for being. If men refuse to pass through him, he no longer can be, at least fully, their mediator. Cardinal Suhard --> -->
Saturday, May 09, 2009
gay marriage, welcome to the vomitorium
At first glance the whole subject seems too ridiculous to entertain. I don't think any of the gay men I know really want to be married. They want a gaudy spectacle of a wedding. They want attention but I doubt that they have any concept of what marriage is supposed to be. I say supposed to be because normal people have damaged the institution of marriage and damaged it severely. It's like taking a piece of fine linen and tearing it to shreds and then objecting when your kid puts his dirty hands on it.
Marriage was mocked and shredded long ago. And you know who did it? Your parents and their parents. When Elizabeth Taylor was going from man to man people still flocked to her movies. When Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner humiliated his wife in public, people idolized Frank and couldn't get enough of Ava. And don't forget your part: you love reading People and US magazine to see what Brad and Angie are up to, don't you?
We will never know for sure if Cardinal Cushing knew the extent of JFKs adultery but we do know years later when Jackie was about to marry the divorced Aristotle Onassis when people asked Cushing what he thought he stated that people should practice charity and leave Jackie alone. Later when Jackie died she was given a Catholic funeral, anyone who mentioned that at the time of her death she had been living with a married man was branded a gauche hater.
Decades earlier, Archbishop Sheen told Joe DiMaggio to his face that his "marriage" to Marilyn Monroe was wrong, but he was only the only churchman who did. It may not seem like much now but millions of Catholics and non Catholics were watching and listening and making conclusions.
Once, a divorce or open adultery was the end of a Protestant minister's career. No more. In the 1950s, the Reverend Adam Clayton Powell dumped his wife to marry his lover. Most people in the church were shocked but didn't stop attending Abyssinian Baptist Church. Joel Osteen's father was a divorced man but that didn't faze his congregants. He married again and built up a powerful ministry that spawned the career of Joel. Richard Roberts, son of Oral, divorced his wife and most people in the church didn't even flinch, at least not in public where it counted. Some people excuse the ministers by saying that it's hard being a preacher's wife (it is) or that the wife wasn't fit to be a preacher's wife and that the divorce was her fault. Other's use the King David excuse.
In the American Catholic church annulments are handed out like cookies at a girl scout meeting. People who've been married for decades with teen aged or adult children have gotten annulments. Are you telling me that ALL of these annulled marriages REALLY were invalid? Now, yes, of course, there are pitiful cases where an annulment is the only right thing to do : A woman who finds that she's married to a secretly gay man was lied to from the beginning. Her marriage was not valid. She did not have all the facts before the wedding. A man who finds that his wife has no intention of having children and didn't tell him was duped into a false marriage. I know of one woman who married a man who suffered from severe depression. His family was relieved when he married. Did anyone tell the wife about his condition? I don't know but if no-one did she has a right to an annulment one day. Those are sad cases but they aren't common. They aren't enough to fuel the annulment machine we seem to have today. And let's not forget the divorced and remarried Catholics who haven't gone the annulment route have been known to present themselves for Communion.
To a gay man, who is the victim of parents who probably didn't have the marriage they should've had or who fell prey to a horrible situation early in his development it must seem like rank hypocrisy that we who have played marriage so fast and loose should turn our noses up at him for trying to play house. I could argue with him pointing out that he's not right in the head (and he is not) but he could argue back that the society that produced him is sicker. I expect gay marriage to be the law of the land within five years. Of course, if it's true that as some economists are predicting, that the entire US economy is going to collapse, gay marriage will collapse with it. A rich fat man can afford to be decadent. He can afford to ignore gay marriage.As long as his wife's gay friends don't insinuate themselves into his children's lives, he'll shrug his shoulders about the whole thing. A man who's rioting in the streets for food or who hasn't worked in over a year will not look kindly on the frivolous or the ridiculous. After the binge comes the hangover. After the bacchanal somebody is left cleaning up the vomitorium.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Psst. Y'know this Swine Flu "pandemic" is just the media being a bunch of crazy Joe Bidens, right?
Don't fear the piggy wiggy. On a more serious note, thousands of Americans die of the regular, non hyped flu every year. That's why your grandma really ought to get her flu shot and why you need to see a doctor if it goes on for more than five days. I think the media is just trying to distract us from what's really going on. Statistically speaking swine flu has killed a handful of people. A tragedy for their families of course, but hardly a cause for widespread panic. Folks, when Mr. Pestilence gets on his horse to ride, he doesn't send a press release. People just start dying en masse.
who was that veiled woman?
A Catholic woman at work was mocking women who wear veils at Mass. I just changed the subject. Bless her heart, if she ever runs into me at Mass the shock might be too much. Hopefully I'll be wearing one with sequins or the hot pink one and she'll be so horrified that she'll look away and never recognize me.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
I confess
- Although I liked Fr. Neuhaus, First Things bored me and still does.
- I feel like I ought to like the What's Wrong With the World blog but it just reminds me too much of the cool kids in high school.
- I think Kathy Shaidle's quip about Rod Dreher is one of the funniest things I've ever read.
- I like Fr. Z of the WDTPRS blog but his commenters are so precious that they annoy me. On the WDTPRS blog a reader wrote in to complain that he/she went to a church that switched the Tridentine Mass with the Divine Mercy Mass. When TLM attendees showed up and found that their Mass was not going to happen they left. The reader was shocked. I feel some sympathy for these folks. They probably traveled some distance to get to a Mass that had been for all practical purposes canceled, and you know what? Not every Catholic is into the Divine Mercy devotion (I am) and as long as they kept their Sunday obligation they had a right to leave. For all this reader knows they could've caught a later Mass somewhere else. I've done that on occasion. Upon realizing that I didn't want to sit through the charismatic Mass or the Spanish Mass I've picked myself up and gone to another parish. On Sunday in my diocese if you are willing to drive you can go to Mass at six in the morning or 7 at night. I've even heard rumours about a wonky 10 PM Mass at Georgtown. Out of all the people who left one guy said he wouldn't be going to Mass at all since he'd missed his regular one. Why judge everybody by the actions of one man?
- The Catholic distributists are nice folks but dull, dull, dull.
- The Catholic let's-hide-from-the-world-and-raise-chickens crowd make me laugh---not with them but at them.
Sorry.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Today we visited St. Ignatius in Chapel Point Maryland. It is the oldest continously Jesuit run parish in the United States. We prayed in the beautiful little church, walked in the cemetary and the pries't cemetary and then looked at the litte house that was once a stop on the underground railroad. It was founded in 1641, by Fr. Andrew White who must've been an amazingly brave man. We then stopped by St. Thomas Manor and the shrine to Our Lady, the Stations of the Cross walk and the St. Kateri statue.
Next we went to Chapel Point park and headed down the road to Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Chaptico for Vigil Mass. The pastor, Fr. Baer is an energetic young man who gave a fine homily and was a good confessor. The parishioners were friendly. Mass was glorious. After that we had a terrific meal in Mechanicsville.
Next we went to Chapel Point park and headed down the road to Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Chaptico for Vigil Mass. The pastor, Fr. Baer is an energetic young man who gave a fine homily and was a good confessor. The parishioners were friendly. Mass was glorious. After that we had a terrific meal in Mechanicsville.
what not to say to an infertile woman
Whenever someone says to me,"You're so lucky you dont'/can't have children.They are so expensive/tiring/demanding....etc," I give them a Stepford wife vauge smile and change the subject. Usually I fantasize about saying, "Hey just 'cause you're a lousy parent and you're kids are brats, don't assume I'd be just as bad."............. and then sometimes I think about spitting.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
i'm so excited
I've been nominated for Best Batshit Crazy Catholic blog. Check out the story on the fabulous Crescant blog. Wheeeee!
one of the saddest stories i've ever read
I read a news story about the footprints left in floor a wooden floor by a Buddhist monk. He's been praying in that same spot for decades. How heartbreaking! This man's whole life has been dedicated to nothing.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
oh for pete's sake, bring on the schism
That was my reaction after reading this post on the truly awesome Lair of the Catholic Cavemen blog. I was born after Vatican II so I'm pretty tired of hearing about it. Please don't tell me how great VatII was, vocations are down, Catholics now act just like pagans and a lot of our nuns look like... well, I won't get into that.
Quit telling me that this is the new springtime, that's like urinating on my daffodils and insisting that it's really rain. It's clear that a significant portion of Catholics are stuck in the 1970s and they won't give it up. Instead of making us all suffer along with their antics I say bring on the open schism and leave the rest of us in peace. Mentally, they've already schismed. They're already Roman Protestants at heart. Why not just be honest about it?
Quit telling me that this is the new springtime, that's like urinating on my daffodils and insisting that it's really rain. It's clear that a significant portion of Catholics are stuck in the 1970s and they won't give it up. Instead of making us all suffer along with their antics I say bring on the open schism and leave the rest of us in peace. Mentally, they've already schismed. They're already Roman Protestants at heart. Why not just be honest about it?
Nasty little people
A number of Catholic bloggers, including one who really shocks me, seem to be almost orgasmicly smug over Mel Gibson's impending divorce. It was kind of like a Twilight Zone episode where kindly old Mr. Jones turns out to be a really nasty little person.
St. Francis Xavier & St. Ignatius
We went to the vigil Mass at St. Francis last night. The church is the oldest in the original 13 colonies. It felt wonderful to worship in such an old place, where the Faith began in America. The Pastor, Fr. Mattingly, is a delightful man and so was the kindly deacon. I haven't felt that welcomed in a church in my own diocese. It makes me ponder, once again, what the heck is wrong with Northern Virginia Catholics.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Eternal Rest......
Carrie Tomko, of the Still Running Off at the Keyboard blog died. May she find peace.
St. Mary's Maryland.
To celebrate Easter Rocky and I went to several St. Mary's County shrines and churches. We started with the Mother of Light shrine in Clements, and visited the St. Clement's Island museum. Next we went to St. Joseph in Morganza. It's such a beautiful church I was amazed. We saw St. Cecilia's, Holy Angels, St. Mary's and the St. Mary Youth Shrine. Glorious. And at the end of the day we stopped by St. Francis Xavier, the oldest parish in the 13 original colonies. It sits on a spit of land jutting out into the water. An osprey soared low overhead. We saw turkey vultures on the ground and red wing blackbirds, a great egret and some kind of Thrush. If you're ever in Southern Maryland you have to take the Catholic road trip. The history of our faith in America begins right there.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
i am astounded
God died for me. Purity came down from heaven. He saw the filth of my soul and wiped me clean with His own blood. In the garden of Gethsemane He suffered hematidrosis, He allowed the temple gaurds and the servants of the high priest to beat Him--- men dedicated to protecting the temple not realizing that the One who was greater than the temple was right there before them. He shed more blood when the Roman soldiers scourged Him. There are over 100 scourge marks shown on the Shroud of Turin. His head was crowned with a cap woven from thorns that led to horrifying neuraglia. His hair and bruised and swollen face must have been covered with blood. He bled in the streets of Jerusalem and finally on the cross. All this to save me.Think of of it. God came down from heaven to suffer and die. And how do I return this wonderous sacrifice, this tremendous love? With laziness, with cowardice, with indifference. Pardon me Lord.
My Jesus, my Lord, my King. I trust in You this Spy Wenesday night and always.
Oh Mary, my Lady, my queen, let me stay with you at the foot of the cross.
i need a nap.........
The good news is Rocky is doing great. He'll start physical therapy and should be back at work in a week. Thank you to everyone who prayed for him.I'm tired. Things at work have been miserable. I feel as flat as a badly cooked pancake or like the moon wishing for an eclipse so she can have a break. I really wish I could just stay home with Rocky this week.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Friday, April 03, 2009
Queen Athalaiah lives on
Queen Athalaiah was the daughter of Jezebel and like her infamous mother, she worshiped Baal. She is remembered in the bible as the queen who ruled Judea alone and who had her grandsons killed. In the name of power for herself she killed her male infant relatives. Interesting.
Anyone who tells you that the world would be a pink and candy coated place if only women ran things is either mentally dull or a feminist. Actually women are just as vicious, and can be crueler than the average guy could ever dram of being.
Women are capable of violence, and some of us, like Reverend Katherine Hancock Ragsdale are evil bitches who will encourage others to condone or commit murder.
The Sisterhood has it's rules. First, separate the woman from the man. Then get the woman to hate her children. Teach her whine and rail against the day to day grind of taking care of a house and kids. Encourage her to see them and the Man as burdens holding her back. Get her to contracept and even kill.... The spirit of Athalaiah lives on. Instead of a crown her "daughters" wear a nice suit and a pleasant smile. Sometimes they wear judges robes, and in the case of the Rev., sometimes they dress up in vestments.
This is what you voted for.
The President of the United States curtseys/bows before the King of Saudi Arabia. "What is thy bidding, my master?"
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Rocky and his knee
The surgery went perfectly. Fairfax Hospital's ambulatory surgery department is top notch. Everyone was so lovely to us. Rocky is a very active man and the forced inactivity in making him a little restless. Hopefully the recovery of his poor knee will go smooth and easy as chocolate pie.
Newt!
Newt Gingrinch converted and I've noticed a lot of Catholic bloggers are being very pissy about it, even bratty little Rod Dreher, who loudly left the Church a few years ago and who really ought to mind his own business has commented. I wish I could ask these people who the hell they think they are. Jesus came to call sinners. He did not found a country club for nice people.
Mary of Magdala was once, according to Catholic Traditon the biggest tramp in Palestine. Jesus spoke to her and she became a saint. Saul of Taursus had Christians killed. Pelagia of Antioch was an actress who sold herself to rich men as a concubine and was known for her lewd stage performances. She heard a bishop preach and completely changed her life. The former scarlet woman retired to the desert and became a hermit. Bartolo Longo was a Satanic priest before he was converted. St. Thomas Becket was living a rich young man at Court's life before he became a saint. Matt Talbot was a falling down, nasty drunk, St. Augustine took at mistress at 17(!), Margaret of Cortona lived openly in sin with a man for years.
I don't like Newt, but unless he messes up and starts acting like, oh say the "devout" Kennedys all I have to give him a chance.
Mary of Magdala was once, according to Catholic Traditon the biggest tramp in Palestine. Jesus spoke to her and she became a saint. Saul of Taursus had Christians killed. Pelagia of Antioch was an actress who sold herself to rich men as a concubine and was known for her lewd stage performances. She heard a bishop preach and completely changed her life. The former scarlet woman retired to the desert and became a hermit. Bartolo Longo was a Satanic priest before he was converted. St. Thomas Becket was living a rich young man at Court's life before he became a saint. Matt Talbot was a falling down, nasty drunk, St. Augustine took at mistress at 17(!), Margaret of Cortona lived openly in sin with a man for years.
I don't like Newt, but unless he messes up and starts acting like, oh say the "devout" Kennedys all I have to give him a chance.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
jealousy
I think most of what's wrong with America stems from plain old jealousy. We are like the Russian peasant who prayed not that he have a goat of his own but that his neighbor's goat should die. This whole two minute hate on the AIG executives is an example. Instead of worrying about what someone at AIG makes you ought to be upset about the national service bill that passed in the Senate. We're so busy hating on the accomplished, the smart and the people who did what was nessacary to get ahead that we're not even noticing what the hell is happening to our country.
arthritis
Rocky's right knee has hurt on and off for years. He just gutted it out until it felt better and life went on. Well, last Sunday, he could barley stand. I said "we're going to the hospital," and he said, "okay." Since he didn't pooh pooh me or downplay the pain I knew he must've felt terrible. The x-rays say arthritis. On top of that most of the cartilage in his knee is gone. When he stands and walk he has bone on bone contact. Some of the cartilage that is left has calcified and is like rocks wedged into his knee and he has a bone spur. On April 1, he has knee surgery. He'll never have a normal knee but with this surgery he should get years of use out of this knee before having a replacement somewhere down the road.
St. Alphonsus, patron of arthritis, pray for us.
St. Alphonsus, patron of arthritis, pray for us.
some Christians are so heavenly minded ....
that they are of no earthly use to anybody.
I was reminded of this saying while reading comments on the WDTPRS blog. I suspect that most of Fr. Z's readers have never been poor and don't really know what they're talking about.
I was reminded of this saying while reading comments on the WDTPRS blog. I suspect that most of Fr. Z's readers have never been poor and don't really know what they're talking about.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
condoms, death and the maiden
To all of you Catholics who dared to criticize the pope because of the Church's stance on condoms please picture the following scenario :
Your daughter, your only child announces that she's in white heat lust and is going to have sex with the man she's involved with. He has full blown AIDS and a couple of sores you really don't want to hear about but it's okay because they're going to use protection. The condom, a thin sheath of latex, will protect her, right? Right????
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
A palate cleanser
I saw this charming video of a trip to St. Therese's convent on Gloria TV and this wonderful photo on New Liturgical Movement.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Notre Dame---again
I'm not at all upset by the decision to invite Barak Obama to be the graduation speaker at Notre Dame. Before you cast me into the outer darkness, let me explain.
Notre Dame is Catholic in Name Only and has been for a long time. It's like the Episcopalians. It looks good on the surface. You see chapels, and statues and priests and even the occasional habited nun wandering around but the heart is not there at all. All of the big old Catholic schools are like that. If you want your kid to stay Catholic sending him to Notre Dame, Georgetown or Boston College probably won't help. You'd be much better off trying Christendom, Franciscan, Belmont Abbey, Thomas Aquinas or Univ. of Dallas. Heck, the flowering of genuine Catholic faith migt find better ground at Baylor or (ugh!)Bob Jones.
Notre Dame is so far gone that if St. Thomas Aquinas or St. Theresa Benedicta were to suddenly appear and teach a class for a semester both the students and the faculty would complain that they were to "rigid" which we all know means "too Catholic."
What's the answer? Stop sending your kids to Notre Dame. Stop having conferences there. Stop giving speeches there. Stop sending kids there on college field trips. Just stop feeding the monster. We pew potatoes have to take a stand. We dull, dumb, unsexy, unsophisticated folks can change things if we want to. The president of Notre Dame doesn't give a rat's ass about your cards, letters, or op/eds. He will ONLY notice the financial bottom line. So, it's time to go completely Klingon on their asses.
Notre Dame is Catholic in Name Only and has been for a long time. It's like the Episcopalians. It looks good on the surface. You see chapels, and statues and priests and even the occasional habited nun wandering around but the heart is not there at all. All of the big old Catholic schools are like that. If you want your kid to stay Catholic sending him to Notre Dame, Georgetown or Boston College probably won't help. You'd be much better off trying Christendom, Franciscan, Belmont Abbey, Thomas Aquinas or Univ. of Dallas. Heck, the flowering of genuine Catholic faith migt find better ground at Baylor or (ugh!)Bob Jones.
Notre Dame is so far gone that if St. Thomas Aquinas or St. Theresa Benedicta were to suddenly appear and teach a class for a semester both the students and the faculty would complain that they were to "rigid" which we all know means "too Catholic."
What's the answer? Stop sending your kids to Notre Dame. Stop having conferences there. Stop giving speeches there. Stop sending kids there on college field trips. Just stop feeding the monster. We pew potatoes have to take a stand. We dull, dumb, unsexy, unsophisticated folks can change things if we want to. The president of Notre Dame doesn't give a rat's ass about your cards, letters, or op/eds. He will ONLY notice the financial bottom line. So, it's time to go completely Klingon on their asses.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Priests come from families
So let's pray for vocations and remember, there is no secret Vatican nursery. If you want plenty of these:
We need plenty of these:
We need plenty of these:
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Pope Benedict in Cameroon
I used to wear my hair like the First Lady of Cameroon back in high school. I miss the 80's, I really do.
The Pope's visit to Africa and the Western media
On the WDTPS blog, Father asks the question as to why the media is ignoring the Pope's trip to Africa. Well, I think I can answer that. One, becuase they hate Benedict. And that's okay. When the main stream media of America, lionizes a churchman, you can be sure that something is wrong. If they hate him, he must be following the road of Christ.
Second, because they don't give a genuine damn about Africans. And that's okay too in a round about way. When the West tries to fix Africa or black people anywhere it usually makes things worse, much worse. I ask for Africans and black Americans the same thing Frederick Douglas asked. Stop treating people of color like victims, children or as if our collective IQs are all somewhere around 64. Frederick says it better than I:
" Everybody has asked the question..., "What shall we do with the Negro?" I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! Your doing with us has already played the mischief with us. Do nothing with us! If the apples will not remain on the tree of their own strength, if they are wormeaten at the core, if they are early ripe and disposed to fall, let them fall! I am not for tying or fastening them on the tree in any way, except by nature's plan, and if they will not stay there, let them fall. And if the Negro cannot stand on his own legs, let him fall also. All I ask is, give him a chance to stand on his own legs! Let him alone! If you see him on his way to school, let him alone, don't disturb him! If you see him going to the dinner table at a hotel, let him go! If you see him going to the ballot- box, let him alone, don't disturb him! [Applause.] If you see him going into a work-shop, just let him alone,--your interference is doing him a positive injury."
Our Ladyof Africa, pray for us.
Second, because they don't give a genuine damn about Africans. And that's okay too in a round about way. When the West tries to fix Africa or black people anywhere it usually makes things worse, much worse. I ask for Africans and black Americans the same thing Frederick Douglas asked. Stop treating people of color like victims, children or as if our collective IQs are all somewhere around 64. Frederick says it better than I:
" Everybody has asked the question..., "What shall we do with the Negro?" I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! Your doing with us has already played the mischief with us. Do nothing with us! If the apples will not remain on the tree of their own strength, if they are wormeaten at the core, if they are early ripe and disposed to fall, let them fall! I am not for tying or fastening them on the tree in any way, except by nature's plan, and if they will not stay there, let them fall. And if the Negro cannot stand on his own legs, let him fall also. All I ask is, give him a chance to stand on his own legs! Let him alone! If you see him on his way to school, let him alone, don't disturb him! If you see him going to the dinner table at a hotel, let him go! If you see him going to the ballot- box, let him alone, don't disturb him! [Applause.] If you see him going into a work-shop, just let him alone,--your interference is doing him a positive injury."
Our Ladyof Africa, pray for us.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Beautiful photo of Papa in Africa
I was reading the American Papist blog and found this lovely, lovely shot.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Sr. Joseph
Tonight Rocky and I went to Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria to see Sr. Jospeh Andrew of the Domican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eurcharist speak during the parish mission. She's fantastic, just a darling woman. While she talked the whole room was hushed.
so how's your Lent going?
I decided to only read religious works during Lent. So far I've been delighted with This is the Faith, by Fr.Rippey, The 33 Doctors of the Church, and now I'm reading Imitation of Mary by Thomas a Kempis and How Christ Said the First Mass by Fr. Meagher. Fr. Meagher mentions off hand that Jesus was a Nazarite. I hadn't heard that before. Some people claim that He was an Essene. Perhaps I'll ask Fr. Theoden or Fr. Gollum.
I saw on the Deacon's Bench blog, that Elizabeth Scalia, The Anchoress made a TV appearance. She wrote on her blog that she feared she was too fat but I think she looks great. She's very cozy and cuddly like a mama should look. And if you read her blog you already know that she's smart as all get out so I was interested in hearing what she had to say.
At Mass last night Fr. and I had a small mishap with the Host. He overestimated the distance between us and I found myself choking. Being me, as I walked back to my pew I wondered if this was a sign. Was the Lord displeased? Did I need to go to confession? I prayed and when I was calm I was able to discretely dislodge the Host from where It was stuck in my throat and swallowed. I felt a bit silly----some of the most offbeat things happen to me---, and relieved and very thankful. I've had my fill of passing out in public.
I saw on the Deacon's Bench blog, that Elizabeth Scalia, The Anchoress made a TV appearance. She wrote on her blog that she feared she was too fat but I think she looks great. She's very cozy and cuddly like a mama should look. And if you read her blog you already know that she's smart as all get out so I was interested in hearing what she had to say.
At Mass last night Fr. and I had a small mishap with the Host. He overestimated the distance between us and I found myself choking. Being me, as I walked back to my pew I wondered if this was a sign. Was the Lord displeased? Did I need to go to confession? I prayed and when I was calm I was able to discretely dislodge the Host from where It was stuck in my throat and swallowed. I felt a bit silly----some of the most offbeat things happen to me---, and relieved and very thankful. I've had my fill of passing out in public.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
I wasn't expecting Connecticut
As you've all probably read by now, there was an attempted legislative attack on the Church in Connecticut.
Satan never sleeps. He's been fighting the Church from the begining. He tried to shake the Faith with the persecutions and martyrdom of the Apostles and then the early saints. He belched up the Arians and all the later heresies. Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, the Taliban, the Lord's Resistance Army and the other little antichrists are his work.
I know all this but still this little piece of nastiness surprised me. The bill has been dropped but the war is not over. Not by a long shot. The slow, rough beast is still slouching towards Bethlehem. One day a remnant of Catholics will be forced into new catacombs. But in the end, Our Lord will come and the smaller, purer Church will triumph.
I'm reminded of Hellaire Belloc's famous quote:
... we laugh. But as we laugh we are watched by large and awful faces from beyond: and on these faces there is no smile.
Satan never sleeps. He's been fighting the Church from the begining. He tried to shake the Faith with the persecutions and martyrdom of the Apostles and then the early saints. He belched up the Arians and all the later heresies. Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, the Taliban, the Lord's Resistance Army and the other little antichrists are his work.
I know all this but still this little piece of nastiness surprised me. The bill has been dropped but the war is not over. Not by a long shot. The slow, rough beast is still slouching towards Bethlehem. One day a remnant of Catholics will be forced into new catacombs. But in the end, Our Lord will come and the smaller, purer Church will triumph.
I'm reminded of Hellaire Belloc's famous quote:
... we laugh. But as we laugh we are watched by large and awful faces from beyond: and on these faces there is no smile.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
This thing that can not live, yet never dies
I was watching college basketball cause it's March and saw Blake Griffin, a delightful boy who plays for Oklahoma. He was born in 1989. While reading that bit of trivia it dawned on me that he's old enough to be my son. Rocky and I could have a big boy like that........ I felt sick for a minute and then it passed. A few years ago I would've been horribly depressed for a week or more. That's progress I guess.
I have a baby shower to go next Thursday. I usually
avoid these things but the mother is a friend and it would
be awkward if I don't show.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Sr. Sandra's in a snit.
Seriously, when an order no longer functions to the glory of God it is useless. It should be reformed, supressed or allowed to go into that good night. Sr. Sandra M. Schneiders IHM, is upset because there is going to be an apostolic visit of American orders.
I don't know how many vocations the IHM nuns get these days but I'll bet it's nothing to write home about. A few years ago a nun who was dressed in a nice suit with tasteful jewelry came to my parish and spoke after Mass. She mentioned that vocations had dwindled and asked for donations. Rocky was inclined to reach into his wallet. I refused and was so adamant that he decided to leave well enough alone. A year later a little nun from the Philippines spoke at my parish and asked for help for her orphanage. She was wearing her habit and was delightful. We gave and so did many of the people at Mass. I support nuns who look like they've rejected the world the flesh and the devil, act like nuns, and would never advocate rudeness and childish behavior towareds visitors from the Vatican.
Sr. Sandra sounds like she wouldn't get on with nuns like these:
And I think I'm safe in guessing that she wouldn't even begin to understand nuns like this or this and certainly not this.
Let the apostolic visitors come. I'm sure they're smart people and they won't be able to miss who has vocations and who's drying up in sour feminist spite. Young ladies like the ones shown below aren't flocking to hang out with Sr. Sandra.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
happy anniversary, dear
Like Anakin and Pademe, we got married 21 years ago without parents or most of our friends knowing anything about it. Unlike the Skywalkers, Rocky hasn't forced choked me lately and I haven't gotten mad at him for killing padawans.
things that make you go huh?
- Tom Brady, (the Patriots quarterback) married the bra and panty model, Giselle (eh, find your own pictures) in a Catholic church. What do you think will last longer, his career or the marriage? And do you think they had to sit through pre-Cana classes?
- Have you ever gone to church and found rocks in the holy water font during Lent. Where the heck did that come from?
- Isn't it odd that more people seem to be upset by the idea of Fr. Marciel having sinful, yet natural sex with a female than were bothered by the gay rumors?
- I've noticed that more and more elderly people at Mass leave right after Communion. They do it because they don't like being pushed and jostled after Mass. What happened to Catholics? Why are we rushing/fleeing from Mass like the legion of demons going after the pigs? Where did our manners go?
- Do you ever get the feeling that this economic crisis is somehow not completely real? The prez says we're all doomed but he's flying to Chi-town to have dinner. Mrs. Obama is redecorating the White House despite the fact that it was already done a few years ago and still looks fine. Supposedly we're all just half a step from selling apples on the street and prostituting our daughthers for food but the stores all look pretty full to me. People seem to be going about their business and the restaurants are full on Friday night. So what's up?
- Does it seem like anti-Catholicism is more open these days? On Friday I sat behind a loud mouthed dude on the bus who mocked Catholic dogma. Everybody on the bus had to hear him. His friend looked ashamed but didn't tell Mr. Loud Mouth to shut up. I've never run into this before. Yes, I've heard nasty little comments and jokes in private but never out in the open like this.
- How can anyone claim that the Church is anti woman? Our parishes are run by fierce women. The sacristan is usually female. The cantor is a woman. Half of the time the organist is female. The choir is mostly female. The eucharistic ministers are mostly female. The church secretary is female and she's a tougher gatekeeper than the three headed dog of Hades. Rocky once tried to make an appointment to go to confession. The secretary grilled him on why he wanted to talk to the priest. Finally he snapped (it takes a LOT to make Rocky mad) that he was a sinner and need to be absolved and unless she could do that herself she should write his name down in the Father's schedule. She grudgingly put him down on the schedule.
- Have you ever noticed that most professional Catholics---lay people who make their living off of books and speeches about their version of Catholicism are like the Protestant pop singers who weren't sexy or talented enough to make it in secular music?
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Bishop Williamson again
The bishop has left Argentina and landed in England. The English press has not been kind but what else would one expect? There is some talk that Bishop Williamson is planning to give a conference/talk for traditionalist Catholics. I hope this is just a rumor but I'm starting to wonder if the bishop isn't on board with the reunion thing and is deliberately causing trouble.
Papa's looking good
Fr. Gollum reminds me of the pope. There is no physical resemblence but Fr. G. almost visibly shines with goodness. His eyes are the eyes of an innocent kid and he'll probably be like that in 50 years. The pope is 81 but his eyes look the same as when he was a fresh faced innocent minor seminarian. It's extraordinary really.In the St. Alphonsus Ligouri's stations of the cross the saint talks about how the soul which was once beautiful becomes hideously disfigured by sin. On the other hand there are souls that despite everything keep on glowing bright and beautiful.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
a blessed lent to you
I love Ash Wednesday. It's wonderful after Mass to suddenly realize who's Catholic, especially when it's a person who I never even suspected to be remotely Christian. I'm also interested in the reactions I get. I went to the 8 AM Mass at St. Matthews, (young Fr. Frodo gives an excellent homily and has a lovely singing voice) and then went to work.
A couple of co-workers launched into some mildly offensive Catholic jokes. I wasn't upset I just wondered if their lives were so wicked that the mere sight of ashes on my forehead was enough to turn them into min Bill Mahers.
A couple of co-workers launched into some mildly offensive Catholic jokes. I wasn't upset I just wondered if their lives were so wicked that the mere sight of ashes on my forehead was enough to turn them into min Bill Mahers.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
please say a prayer
Please pray for my mother in law. Big Mama is going through a bout of lousy health right now and please prayer for blogger, Carrie Tomko. She's just been given devastating news. There have been many times when I've read Carrie's blog and went "Oh for God's sake, Carrie, how can you say such things!," but that doesn't matter now. A sister in Christ is suffering.
St. Benedict and St. Peregrine, be with them.
St. Benedict and St. Peregrine, be with them.
Friday, February 20, 2009
I went to a bar to see a married priest
This week Rocky and I went to the DC Theology on Tap night. It was held at James Hoban's Irish restaurant and the speaker was a married priest. I enjoyed my bangers and mash (a soft, very mild sausage with mashed potatoes made with beer) and my iced tea. Rocky had a burger and fries. The service was quick and efficient but management demanded a credit card before our meals arrived. I suspect they've been stiffed by large dinning groups before but I really didn't like having our card in the waitress's pocket all evening.
Fr. Scott Hurd seems like a very nice man and is an amusing speaker but the whole talk made me feel as if I'd rolled in kudzu--just a little bit uncomfortable. He was an Episcopalian priest (hence the wife and kids) and converted after a few years of pastoring a small church in Texas. It was not deemed necessary for him to attend a Catholic seminary after his Episcopalian training. There are a handful of married priests in the DC diocese and we may get a few more in coming years.
A large subclass of married priests is a can of worms that we don't need to open. I guarantee you that one day some married priest will get a divorce, fall in love with another woman and will demand the "right" to marry again. More likely than not a group of lay fools will rally behind him.
As I said before, Fr. Scott struck me as being a very nice gentleman and I'm not picking at him---God bless him and keep him, his wife, and the little ones too, but I find myself very, very wary.
Fr. Scott Hurd seems like a very nice man and is an amusing speaker but the whole talk made me feel as if I'd rolled in kudzu--just a little bit uncomfortable. He was an Episcopalian priest (hence the wife and kids) and converted after a few years of pastoring a small church in Texas. It was not deemed necessary for him to attend a Catholic seminary after his Episcopalian training. There are a handful of married priests in the DC diocese and we may get a few more in coming years.
Fr. Scott's story of the long and winding road that led him to the Church is interesting and he is in a unique situation but I don't see it as an answer to the vocations crisis. A married priest can not give his full attention to the vocation, something that Fr. Scott was gracious enough to acknowledge. As St. Paul said, a married man must be concerned with the world and pleasing his wife. If he fails in this, there will be trouble. That trouble could spill over into parish life.
A large subclass of married priests is a can of worms that we don't need to open. I guarantee you that one day some married priest will get a divorce, fall in love with another woman and will demand the "right" to marry again. More likely than not a group of lay fools will rally behind him.
As I said before, Fr. Scott struck me as being a very nice gentleman and I'm not picking at him---God bless him and keep him, his wife, and the little ones too, but I find myself very, very wary.
the mouth that roared leads to a hand that is slapped
Archbishop Williamson's big mouth has led to Argentina ordering him out of the country. He had a right to say a foolish thing and everybody else has a right to react. I just hope he doesn't end up in the US or the Vatican.
Monday, February 16, 2009
sometimes you just want to open up a can of whup ass
God bless the lone priest in deepest darkest dreary San Francisco who spoke up about these blasphemous candles.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
St. Bede's and Bruton Parish Church
Last week this time Rod and I were in Williamsburg. We went to St. Bede's for Mass and it's a puzzling place. When we first arrived I was struck by how odd it looks. They have a large lobby with a sofa and chairs and tables. It's tasteful but reminded me of the visitor center at the Mormon temple in Maryland. The sacristy, parish office, parochial vicar and pastor's offices are just off the main lobby. We walked around a bit and then went into the actual church. It's one of those church in the round designs from the '70s and the decor is very plain. White walls and no stained glass. They have a large crucifix that makes Jesus look like a short body builder and a disturbing statue of Mary and baby Jesus. For some reason Mary has a weirdly thick neck, huge hands and a honker of a nose and baby Jesus looks deformed. There must be a reason for that or maybe the artist came cheap.
The Blessed Sacrament is kept in a separate chapel. Few people visited while we were there and even fewer genuflected as they passed by.
Before Mass the cantor came out and made us all practice the alleluliah. Either she does this all the time or the singing was really off the week before. A couple of times Rocky asked me if I wanted to go. There's a Catholic church in Yorktown and if we really hurried we could've made it. I decided not to risk it so we stayed. I'm glad we did becuase the priest said a completely non-wonky Mass and gave a sterling homily. He seems like a good guy but it looks like he has a lot of work to do with taming his parish. There must have been about 40 eucharistic ministers. When they were standing around the priest all I could see was a glimpse of green.
St. Bede's gets a lot of tourists so no-one stares at strangers and nobody seemed freaked out by the sight of black people, which is always a plus. That and the brave young parochial vicar are the best things I can say about it. Next time we're in Williamsburg I think we'll go to the Catholic chapel at William and Mary Univeristy or to either of the churches in New Kent or Yorktown.
The next day Rod and I were in the historic area of Williamsburg and visited Bruton church. George Washington and Jefferson went to church there among other notables. It's a beautiful old church. The sad thing, and I do mean sad was that this Episcopalian church looked more Catholic than St. Bede's.
The Blessed Sacrament is kept in a separate chapel. Few people visited while we were there and even fewer genuflected as they passed by.
Before Mass the cantor came out and made us all practice the alleluliah. Either she does this all the time or the singing was really off the week before. A couple of times Rocky asked me if I wanted to go. There's a Catholic church in Yorktown and if we really hurried we could've made it. I decided not to risk it so we stayed. I'm glad we did becuase the priest said a completely non-wonky Mass and gave a sterling homily. He seems like a good guy but it looks like he has a lot of work to do with taming his parish. There must have been about 40 eucharistic ministers. When they were standing around the priest all I could see was a glimpse of green.
St. Bede's gets a lot of tourists so no-one stares at strangers and nobody seemed freaked out by the sight of black people, which is always a plus. That and the brave young parochial vicar are the best things I can say about it. Next time we're in Williamsburg I think we'll go to the Catholic chapel at William and Mary Univeristy or to either of the churches in New Kent or Yorktown.
The next day Rod and I were in the historic area of Williamsburg and visited Bruton church. George Washington and Jefferson went to church there among other notables. It's a beautiful old church. The sad thing, and I do mean sad was that this Episcopalian church looked more Catholic than St. Bede's.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
a baby is dead
You've probably read about the Florida so-called "botched" abortion story. An 18 year old went to the abortion abattoir to have her unborn baby killed. Instead she had a live birth and a worker at the clinic put the baby the trash and left her to die. The police are involved now. The doctor's license to kill has been revoked. The natural mother is suing the doctor and the clinic. I hope she doesn't get a dime.
When I read stories like this I'm not shocked anymore. Horrors occur in abortion clinics every day. That's the point. A baby is murdered horribly, a doctor makes money and the mother goes home and tries to forget the "mistake". What the hell happened to America? We are no better than the worshipers of Moloch or the Germans of WWII who knew doggone well what was happening to the Jews but shrugged their shoulders and muttered that there was nothing they could do and perhaps it was for the best anyway.
When I read stories like this I'm not shocked anymore. Horrors occur in abortion clinics every day. That's the point. A baby is murdered horribly, a doctor makes money and the mother goes home and tries to forget the "mistake". What the hell happened to America? We are no better than the worshipers of Moloch or the Germans of WWII who knew doggone well what was happening to the Jews but shrugged their shoulders and muttered that there was nothing they could do and perhaps it was for the best anyway.
birthday weekend
For my birthday Rocky and I went to Williamsburg. We stayed in a lovely B&B in Charles City, VA. It's called Orange Hill and we liked it so much I'm gooing back next year. I am now the same age my father was when he passed away. That feels strange, first because I never thought I'd live this long. Probably becasue of the shock of my father's passing ( I was a shy sensitive girl before he died but after he died I was a shy, sensitive, horribly anxious and depressed girl) and probably because his oldest sister died in her 20s, his youngest sister almost died at 30 , his middle sister has been suffering for years and his niece died at 13.
There's a scene in the movie Camille where the hero shows her a painting of his mother and tells her that his parents have been married for 30 years. Camille sighs and says no-one will love her in 30 years because she couldn't live that long anyway. I felt that scene intensely.
I feel a new closeness to my father, an understanding. He was my dad of course but now I have a glimpse into what may have been on his mind that last year. We're both 42. Amazing. Simply amazing.
Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord, my God. Let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
There's a scene in the movie Camille where the hero shows her a painting of his mother and tells her that his parents have been married for 30 years. Camille sighs and says no-one will love her in 30 years because she couldn't live that long anyway. I felt that scene intensely.
I feel a new closeness to my father, an understanding. He was my dad of course but now I have a glimpse into what may have been on his mind that last year. We're both 42. Amazing. Simply amazing.
Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord, my God. Let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
Friday, February 06, 2009
sad
Amy Welborn's husband died. They were the parents of two very small boys.
Oh man thou knowest not the day, nor the hour..........
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