The Call

 

If you visit the Franciscan Monastery in DC you can find original paintings by Charles Bosserson Chambers on the walls.

Mary had a baby

Mother of the Good Shepherd

The Crucifixion

The Trinity

The Good Shepherd's Mama

Holy Family

Our Lady, Queen of Heaven

Fr. Andrew Greeley

Fr. Andrew Greeley has died. Was he telling the truth when he wrote the following in his book, "Furthermore! Memories of a Parish Priest,"?

"...But even in Chicago, the ring of predators about whom I wrote in the paperback edition of 'Confessions' remains untouched. There is no evidence against them because no one has complained about them and none of their fellow priests have denounced them. Those who have been removed are for the most part lone offenders who lacked the skill to cover their tracks. The ring is much more clever. Perhaps they always will be. But should they slip, should they get caught, the previous scandals will seem trivial...."

Not funny at all....

Remember that whole Fortnight of Freedom thing? Well guess what?  According to the New York Times newspaper  "The Archdiocese of New York has previously acknowledged that some local Catholic institutions offer health insurance plans that include contraceptive drugs to comply with state law; now, it is also acknowledging that the archdiocese’s own money is used to pay for a union health plan that covers contraception and even abortion for workers at its affiliated nursing homes and clinics."

St. John Fisher, pray for us.

Virgen Blanca

I think this has to be one of my all time favorite statues of Our Lord and Our Lady. I smile everytime I see it.

Virgin and Child

 

When the world seems insane and drunk on filth turn to the All Pure. Reflect on what is beautiful, goodness and of God.

 

Bye bye Boy Scouts

Allowing gay scouts is not enough. The enemies of the Boy Scouts are relentless. They want gay scout masters and eventually that is what they will have.   So, what is a parent to do?  The On My Honor group is working on an alternative. There is a really fantastic group called the Explorers, that deserves attention. There are the Knights of Columbus Squires  the Blue Knights, this group, Fraternus, or if there aren't any near you there is the old fashioned way: do it yourself.

You don't have to Bear Grylls to take your kid to the park. Get sensible shoes, binoculars, read up before you go and stay on the trail. You'll be fine. You can also go to your priest and ask if an announcement can be placed in the parish newsletter about the possibility of starting up a group.

The Trinity

random thoughts

*John Zmirak is funny when he wants to be.


*There are a number of bloggers posting thoughts on American Catholicism and why it's in such a bad state. None of them has quite come out and said it: the Faith that is presented in most parishes today isn't worth dying for and it certainly isn't worth living for. Having handed us nothing, it's not surprising that people wander off for the emotionalism of the 3000 sects of Protestantism, or the laziness of  going to church two or three times a year.
I was a grown woman before I realized that it was a sin to miss Sunday Mass and I went to a good Catholic elementary school. When the old  nuns died and retired the lay teachers and the hip young nuns took over and I spent a lot of time drawing rainbows during religion class. And then there was the religious instruction in high school. Oh boy. I remember poor Brother Ray and Sr. Joanie nd Gracie. They all meant well and tried so hard to be relevant and hip. If the Harlem Shake had existed back then I can imagine they would have tried to do something "cute" like this:





I stopped going to Mass on a weekly basis after Confirmation. So did most of my classmates. I don't recall any adult Catholic telling me that coming to Mass when I felt like it and taking Communion was wrong. Things in the 80s were very nice and non confrontational. Beyond the basic prayers I had to learn my Faith as an adult, on my own by pouring through the lending library of the Catholic Information Center in DC.


*There are people who say that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. We do not.  Please note. This is a very graphic link so do not click if you are sensitive.


*Cardinal Dolan is not coming to the rescue and Cardinal Mahoney isn't going anywhere.

a holy hour prayer

ACT OF REPARATION

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, we prostrate before Thy throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to Thee!

The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus!

The more impiety endeavors to extinguish our hopes of immortality, the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, sole hope of mankind!

The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, the more we shall love Thee, O infinitely amiable Heart of Jesus!

The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore It, O Divine Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more we shall delight to observe them, O most holy Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most liberal Heart of Jesus!

The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavor to practice them, O Heart, model of every virtue!

The more the devil labors to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!

The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Holy Church is despised, the more we shall endeavor to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more will we honor him as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus!

O Sacred Heart, through Thy powerful grace, may we become Thy apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and be Thy crown in the kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

Our Lady of Good Help

The Our Lady of Good Help shrine is  particularly important because it is the only fully approved apparition site in the United States.  So it's a bit sad to see the  new statue that has been installed at the shrine. The artists meant well  but....

 it looks kind of plastic and cheap. The diocese should've gone to the wax museum in Natural Bridge, Virginia or Gettysburg and they would've gotten a much more life-life portrayal.


Here is the old statue

Here is the even older statue that Sr. Adele, who described what she saw when she was visited by Our Lady,  actually liked.

 

Sr. Theresa Margaret, a Carmelite

Ascension Thursday

We had a high solemn 7 PM Mass at St. Rita's with two priests, a third priest in the confessional, a deacon, seminarian, five altar boys, and a guest choir. I was impressed by the size of the crowd and the number of small children. I love a low Mass but at the high Mass you can pick up how to pronounce ecclesiastical Latin fairly easily. Our pastor Fr. Hawk-- we used to have the nickname Fr. Eagle for him but one day it occurred to me that he looks more like a Sharp Sinned Hawk than a Bald Eagle so Fr. Hawk he became--- was the main celebrant  gave one of his usual though provoking homilies.

An Ethiopian Madona

There is a an Ethiopian Orthodox church near me and they have an outdoor shrine with Our Lady. Drive by any time of day or night and you'll see Ethiopians stoppinbg by to say a quick prayer, leave flowers or just pause for a mintue of peace. Their devoion is really impressive.

Gardening Nuns

random thoughts

*Someone ought to tell the DOD  that this is not Christianity's first rodeo.  This trial balloon seems to have been shot down but don't be surprised if it comes up again in a more clever way.

 

 

 *George Neumayr wrote an essay for Crisis Magazine that was scrubbed from the site. It's been republished in a few places including Real Clear Religion. I'm surprised at Crisis.

 

*Thank you, Holy Father. I hope Cardinal O'Brien doens't end up laughing into his sleeve with a luxury retirement but this is a start.

*When we go to my uncle's nursing home on Saturdays instread of our usual Sundays we got to Mass at a nearby church. I wore one of my veils. An old woman said to me, "I haven't seen one of those in years." She hugged me and kissed me.  If you are lady who veils in the presence of the Lord don't be afraid. Some women will be nasty to you, particularly old unhabited nuns and women who are exposing too much flesh because they neurotically think your coverage is a rebuke to them  but other people will be pleased and most people  won't care one way or another.

The newest item of  my veil collection came from Silver Hill Traditions.

 

 

 

* This is a sweet, positive idea.

* Have you ever noticed that those simple living books, and blogs require you to  buy fourteen things to make a quart of washing powder? Let me tell you what real Plain people do. When I'm in Lancaster, I see the Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren ladies goign to Walmart and buying Tide.


*Back in the 90s the sports media was looking for a great white hope. Some player who would the second coming of Larry Bird. It was ridiculous. They overpraised even marginal players to the point where the audience began laughing and it stopped.  The media has been looking for a gay player in the major sports and now they've annointed a scrub who rode the pine in one of the NBA's worst teams as a hero, the new Jackie Robinson. That's pathetic and an insult to Jackie, by the way. He was an awesome player and keeping him out of the league was foolish. After people saw him play they realized that. If you want to see real heroism read about these little nuns.

Nun embroidering

Don't accept the codswallop!

St. Francis was not an effete flower child who went skipping around Italy with a blue bird on his shoulder and a St. Bernard at his knee...

St. Joseph was not aimlessly wandering around Bethlehem. He  went there to pay his taxes....

St. Catherine of Sienna was not a feminst...


St. Therese did not drift around her convent looking dreamy. She was actually a warrior who offered her incredible suffering for the salvation of souls, specially those of priests...

And no, Brooklyn Diocese, Our Lord did not have an overly precious hair cut and skinny girl jeans.

 

 

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, meet Archbishop Fulton Sheen who once said, “The only way to win audiences is to tell people about the life and death of Christ. Every other approach is a waste.”

Before Mass

 

This painting reminds me of the altar boys at St. Rita's before Mass, except our kids wear black and white.

a prayer for the dead

Almighty God, Father of goodness and love,
have mercy on the poor suffering souls, and grant Thine
aid:

To my dear parents and ancestors;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To my brothers and sisters and other near relatives;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To my benefactors, spiritual and temporal;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To my former friends and subjects;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To all for whom love or  duty bids me pray;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who have suffered disadvantage or harm through me;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who have offended me;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To all those who are especially beloved by Thee;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those whose release is at hand;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who desire most to be united with Thee;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who endure the greatest suffering;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those whose release is most remote;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who are least remembered;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who are most deserving
on account of their services to the Church;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the rich, who now are the most destitute;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the mighty, who now are as lowly servants;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.
To the blind, who now see their folly;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the frivolous, who spent their  time in idleness;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the poor, who did not seek the treasures of Heaven;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the tepid,
who devoted little time to prayer;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the indolent,
who were negligent in performing good works;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those of little faith,
who neglected the frequent reception of the Sacraments;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the habitual sinners,
who owe their salvation to a miracle  of grace;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To parents who failed to watch over their children;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To superiors who were not solicitous
for the salvation of those entrusted to them;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the souls of those who strove
for hardly anything but riches and pleasures;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the worldly-minded,
who failed to use their wealth
and talents in the service of God;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who witnessed the death of others,
but would not think of their own;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who did not provide for the great journey beyond,
and the days of tribulation;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those whose judgment is so severe
because of the great things entrusted to them;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the popes, rulers, kings and princes;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the bishops and their counselors;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To my teachers and spiritual advisors;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the deceased priests of this diocese;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To all the priests and religious of the whole
Church;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To the defenders of the Holy Faith;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who died on the battlefield;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who are buried in the sea;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who died of stroke or heart attack;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who died without the last rites of the Church;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To those who shall die within the next twenty-four hours;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To my own poor soul when I shall have to appear
before Thy judgment seat;
Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

V. O Lord, grant eternal rest to all the souls of the
faithful departed,
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.

V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.

random thoughts

*Isn't it telling that none of the groups that claim to care so much about poor women apparently gave a hoot about what was going on at the Gosnell abortuary? He treated his black patients with contempt, ran a highly unsanitary operation and had high school aged "interns" helping with the abortions.   There's an old saying: Everybody pees in the pool but not from the diving board. Gosnell was up on the diving board, doing his business for years. Surely somebody complained and yet no governmental authority intervened.


*This week Rocky and I saw two wonderful things: There was a wedding right before the Thursday night TLM at our parish. It was just the bride, groom, their child and her parents. They looked so happy. The second cool thing, was the sight of a young man sprinting through the church parking lot to get to Mass. He was moving all out like a stag and when we got in and sat down we saw that he was the sacristan.



*I can't believe it. Cardinal Wuerl is actually standing up for one of his priests.



*Unless it's for evangelizing, like what Archbishop Sheen did or a gentle passing along of the events in their parishes, I'm beginning to wonder if priests should blog regularly.



*So the Boston bombers are Chechens. This is bad, bad, very bad. I thought their beef was with Russia.


*You know why certain bishops don't like bloggers? It's for the same reason that coyotes, foxes  and raccoons don't like dogs.



*April has been an unhappy month. My father's death anniversary is April 15th. His youngest sister is recovering slowly from the effects of her botched colonoscopy and two other aunts have died, one on Thursday. Lord have mercy. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

In the Upper Room

Madonna and Child

Teaching myself Latin

I bought this book, a nice, straightforward pronunciation guide. Then I started looking at online Latin classes and  tried this one. The teacher uses a cheerful, upbeat approach that gave me confidence very quickly.  This site is a lot of fun and made me smile. Sancta Missa is a goldmine resource. A lot of people really love Linney's Latin and I plan to give it a try some time this year. 

Church Latin is different from Classic Latin in the way that the English of Chaucer is different from the English of Charles Dickens. I'm not particularly interested in Classical Latin. I really just want to be able to confidently, as second nature,  understand big chunks of the missal without a translation and say the Gloria or the Confietor out loud without making anybody snigger.  If Classical Latin is your thing this site, Latin for Mountain Men looks fascinating.

This is beautiful

 I don't know what order she belongs to or what country she is in but this nun and her devotion is simply beautiful.

HT to the Renew My Heart blog

St. Philomena

Afte the Blessed Virgin, St. Philomena, the Wonderworker was St. John Vianney's favorite saint.  This is my favorite image of her.

random thoughts

*Rocky and I went to the Thursday night TLM at St. Rita's and got to witness two weddings! The first was before Mass and the second happened immediately after. There was no music, or flowers beyond what was already in the church. You can have a lovely, holy wedding without spending a fortune.



*You know why the media is not doing wall to wall, endless coverage of the Gosnell trial? Because pro-abortion people really don't care how the baby is killed, only that it is done. The murder could be the day after conception or it could be frank and grinning infanticide. They don't even care if a few women die in the process. All that matters is that more tiny bodies are flung into their dark god's maw.


*Don't spend so much time analyzing every little thing the  pope does. We are not Soviets cringing in fear because the Big Man didn't offer anyone sugar with their tea at the meeting and the last time he did that every other man sitting at the table ended up in the gulag.  Go to Mass, pray,  use Our Lady's psalter, stay calm and wait. Whatever is going to happen will happen whether we are freaked out or not and freaked out people do stupid things.



*Welfare is a great desroyer of character, personal dignityand families. Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty probalby ruined more lives than a real war would've been.



* I had a weird experience the other day with a member of the clergy----NOT anyone in my diocese---- whom I hope just has an unusual sense of humor. St. John Vianney, pray for us. St. John Chrysostrom, pray for us. St. Pio, pray for us. 

Christus venit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat!

 

Is there any sorrow like my sorrow?

“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow...." Lamentations

Good Friday

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me,

so far from my cries of anguish?

 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

by night, but I find no rest.

 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;

you are the one Israel praises.

 In you our ancestors put their trust;

they trusted and you delivered them.

 To you they cried out and were saved;

in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

 All who see me mock me;

they hurl insults, shaking their heads.

 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,

“let the Lord rescue him.

Let him deliver him,

since he delights in him.”

Yet you brought me out of the womb;

you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.

 From birth I was cast on you;

from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

 Do not be far from me,

for trouble is near

and there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me;

strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

 Roaring lions that tear their prey

open their mouths wide against me.

 I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax;

it has melted within me.

 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs surround me,

a pack of villains encircles me;

they pierce[e] my hands and my feet.

 All my bones are on display;

people stare and gloat over me.

 They divide my clothes among them

and cast lots for my garment.

But you, Lord, do not be far from me.

You are my strength; come quickly to help me.

 Deliver me from the sword,

my precious life from the power of the dogs.

 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;

save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

 I will declare your name to my people;

in the assembly I will praise you.

 You who fear the Lord, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

 For he has not despised or scorned

the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

but has listened to his cry for help.

 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;

before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.

 The poor will eat and be satisfied;

those who seek the Lord will praise him—

may your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,

 for dominion belongs to the Lord

and he rules over the nations.

 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—

those who cannot keep themselves alive.

 Posterity will serve him;

future generations will be told about the Lord.

 They will proclaim his righteousness,

declaring to a people yet unborn:

He has done it!

    

Agony in the Garden

Gethsemane by Adam Abram

The most unsusual Agony painting I've ever seen. This one, by Fra Angelico shows Our Lord, the sleeping Apostles and Our Lady and Mary Magdalene.

The Agony in the Garden by Hoffman

My grandmother had a print of this painting in her back bedroom. Staring up at it is one of  my earlierst memories.

 

Holy Thursday

The Last Supper by James Tissot

The temple will be destroyed--- Holy Wenesday

by James Tissot



 

Tuesday of Holy Week

Woe to you hypocrites by James Tissot

Holy Monday

After the events of the day Our Lord left Jerusalem and returned to Bethany for the evening.

Man of Sorrows

by Colijin de  Coter

being conformed to the world-- let's have a rebellion

When I was in college I listened to the wrong women, and became conformed to the world.  Thank God I was too shy and had the remnants of too much sense to follow the cool kids as much as I wanted to.  Thank God I started going back to Mass. A lot women can't say that. They got messed up and are still miserable but don't even know why.

A few weeks ago there was a cheerleader/dance team convenetion in DC. Rocky, my mother and I were driving past the convention center on the way back from visiting my uncle in his nursing home. We saw a teenaged girl in a leotard and a jacket walking with her group back to their hotel. All the other girls pouring out of the convention cetner were wearing their team sweats, or their own clothes. This one kid was showing her  thighs and exposed lower portion of her buttocks on the street in 20 degree weather. She had to be cold, her skin was pasty white with blood red blotches. It was more importatnt to this poor kid to show her semi naked self than to the be warm or even comfortable and none of the adults with her seemed to be the least bit perturbed. Later that week we saw a prostitute working near Massachusetts Avenue. The prostitute was more covered than the middle to upper class (cheerleading and dance cost a LOT of money) teen. We live in a culture gone mad.

Another example of this was a young woman we saw in Costco. She was wearing jeans so tight that from a distance it looked like she was naked and painted  blue from the waist down. She immediately reminded me of the display female babboons put on when they are in heat. Women and girls are told by our society that we are supposed to make a crude show of ourselves but be outraged should any man respond to it in kind.  How schizophrenic is that? No, I'm not suggesting that we dress like Saudi women or the sour faced modernist pantsuit nuns but why does a girl have to be nearly naked in public in order to be  hip and "free?"  And why do we listen to the freaks who preach this? Love of public nudity is a sign of insanity, and/or the diabolical. We are in the world but it's dangerous to be of it. I'd rather be called a frump than be a "hot" mess of a spiritually deluded fool.

Angus Dei

Maternity

A prayer

Mater Dolorosa

The Meek Christ

This is one of the most amazing statues of Our Lord, I've ever seen. I don't know who the artist is or when it was done but it's on display during a Spanish Holy Week procession. It shows Him stripped (a humiliation for any normal person but particularly so for such modest people as the ancient Jews), and about to be scourged. He looks calm, resolute. He has set His holy face like flint. He could stop this at any second. One word, one thought would send His persecutors to Hell or even, if you can imagine completely into non existence. He is willingly going submit to one of the most fearsome tortures ever devised by man and He is meeting it head on. He is meek but no sniveling weakling,  He is in control. His power is held in check only because He wishes it so.

This is beautiful

Today's Gospel---caught but bring me to Jesus

One of the best reflections I've ever read on today's Gospel came from a Protestant woman who was giving her testimony about her old life before she found God. She said that although the woman taken in adultery didn't know it at the time being dragged out of her house and exposed to the whole world was the best day of her life. She was caught but the proud Pharisees made a mistake. They took her to Jesus. The Protestant woman said hitting rock bottom...having everyone know about what you've been doing is nothing if it brings you to the Lord. And the woman in the Gospel did not run away or deny everything. She waited, perhaps in a daze or perhaps in calm for Jesus to judge her and when He said "Go and sin no more." She was completely changed.

random thoughts

Look at Christ. Keep looking at Christ.Keep your eyes on Christ and remember, He's already walked a more lonesome valley than we ever could.

 

*A lot of people are pretty heated right now and need to calm the heck down down. Flipping out does not help.




*I just finished reading all five volumes of The Rite of Sodomy by Randy Engel. It's like being plunged in ice water. Although Miss(?) Engel is a very good writer I can't call it an enjoyable read but I'm glad I did.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

Hello Pope Francis!

What does it mean for the future? I haven't the foggiest, glimmerings of an idea and neither do any of the "experts". This is the pope that God has given us. Pray for him.

Paging St. Paul.....

And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error.

And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient .....Paul to the Romans.

 

 

A priest removed a photo of Pope Benedict the XVI, in order to please his homosexual parishioners. When I first read about this I glanced at a headline on an RSS feed and thought it was a joke and read no further. Later I came across the story again and realized that it's a joke alright but not a funny one. HT, A Shephered's Voice.

Behold the Man

The Crucifixion by Bartłomiej Strobel

Judas has a lot of sons

 

 

Judas has a lot of sons and it's easy for people to get discouraged and cynical but remember, Judas destroyed himself. His evil, his faithlessness, his smiling treahery availed him nothing. 

A Withered Rose by St. Therese

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus, when Thou didst leave Thy Mother’s fond embrace, Let go her hand; And first, on our hard earth, Thy little foot didst place, And trembling stand; Within Thy pathway, then fresh rose-leaves would I spread, — Their Maker’s dower, — That so Thy tiny feet might very softly tread Upon a flower.

These scattered rose-leaves form true image of a soul, O Child most dear! That longs to immolate itself, complete and whole, Each moment here. On Thy blest altars, Lord, fresh roses fain would shine, Radiant, near Thee; They gladly give themselves. Another dream is mine, — To fade for Thee!

How gaily decks Thy feasts, dear Child, a rose new­blown, Fragrant and fair! But withered roses are forgot, — the wild winds’ own, — Cast anywhere. Their scattered leaves seek now no earthly joy or pelf; For self, no gain. Ah, little Jesus! so, I give Thee all! Of self, Let naught remain.

These roses trampled lie beneath the passer’s tread, Unmarked, unknown. I comprehend their lot; — these leaves, though pale and dead, Are still Thine own. For Thee they die; as I my time, my life, my all Have spent for Thee. Men think a fading rose am I, whose leaves must fall At death’s decree.*

For Thee I die, for Thee, Jesus, Thou Fairest Fair! — Joy beyond telling! — Thus, fading, would I prove my love beyond compare, All bliss excelling. Beneath Thy feet, Thy way to smooth, through life’s long night, My heart would lie; And softening Thy hard path up Calvary’s awful height, I thus would die.

May, 1897

(*St. Therese was dying when she wrote this. Her earthly life ended in September 1897)­

Lent competition

Every year someone has to criticize everyone else for not doing enough for Lent. Usually they do it by comparing and contrasting the rest of us with their own righteous selves. I just read a post on another blog in which the author knocked people who enjoy a delicious meatless meal on Fridays and noted that his Friday meals are simple: soup and a  cheese sandwich typically and apparently not all that tasty. I was supposed to be edified but instead I thought, “Well, aren’t you a little snob.”

We don’t eat meat on Fridays throughout the year but I’m not proud of it and I don’t use my penance to put anybody else down. Some Fridays we have pasta, some Fridays it’s a grilled cheese sandwich and some Fridays it’s a big ole shrimp dinner. Rocky works very hard for nine or more hours a day, six days a week. A cold cup of lentils served in a cracked cup isn't enough to keep him fueled for the day.

 

Don’t judge other people because you think their penance isn’t big enough. The woman eating a lobster roll might also be spending her Lent by sleeping on the floor or taking ice cold baths or she might even stay up all night praying for….you. The man eating a flounder with macaroni and cheese, cornbread  and a beer might be a fireman who will be carrying 190 pounds of unconscious person out of a two story building tomorrow. You just don’t know and besides I’m sure that there is someone out there who can look at Mr. Smug blogger and his sandwich and mutter “Humph! I only have water and two saltines on Fridays, you slacker!"

Cardinal O'Brien

There were some very nice people who said that Cardinal O'Brien was innocent and that it was awfully suspicious that accusations against him were just now coming to light. Well, he has admitted the whole thing.  Sometimes when the whispering won't stop it's because the story is true.  Thank God this has come to light. Now may the other Cardinals and Bishops who have done the same thing and continue to do the same be exposed as well.