Pickin' n' Choose'n

Holy Family

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On Christmas a Mother carried out the Father's will
and gave the world a Son;
On Easter a Son carried out the Father's will
and gave the world a Mother.

Merry Christmas!
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Deliver us from the ACLU

The Humility of Christ / the Arrogance of Man

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Christmas pondering : If we can believe that God could and would humble himself to become a man, than why do some deny that He also becomes our daily bread in the Eucharist? For in my experience man is far more closely related to baked wheat, than he is to a deity (O:

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The Case for Girls

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The current issue of Fast Company has an interesting article which, unintentionally or not, helps to demonstrate just how anti-women "consumer eugenics" is.

"It may not be surprising that there's a lingering preference for baby boys over baby girls worldwide. What's alarming, however, is that this global inclination is manifesting more strongly than ever. Historically, when nature is allowed to determine sex all on its own, about 105 boys are born for every 100 girls (and because women live longer, the ratio of people on the planet evens out over time, even tilting slightly toward females). But the balance of nature has shifted in Asia, thanks to wider availability of affordable ultrasound equipment, which detects gender as early as 15 weeks, and widespread abortion. In China, after 30-plus years of the country's One Child Policy, the ratio of boys to girls is a highly unnatural 120:100 (it's even reached 150:100 in one province). In India, 109 boys are born for every 100 girls. Demographers calculate that roughly 160 million Asian females have gone what they euphemistically categorize as "missing." There's growing evidence that this pattern of sex selection is being followed in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and similar trends seem likely in Africa and the Middle East. "
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Know them by their fruits indeed

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As our economy dies along with our morality, it is good to see that another way Protestantism has helped in this is to re-read Pope Paul VI's encyclical "Humanae Vitae"

"Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection."

Sadly, almost ever Protestant denomination followed the Anglican lead in the notion that somehow artificial birth control is a right, instead of a direct middle finger to God's will (pun intended). Just as early in the 20th Century they turned their back on Christ's forbidding of divorce, they also rejected God's desire for human procreation (and the signs are clear that most sects will also accept Homosexuality and Abortion within the next 25 years).

Only one Church follows faithfully (and with real authority) Christ's teaching today, as it did yesterday, as it will tomorrow.
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Alexander Solzhenitsyn on the Culture of Death

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"that the spirit that unites communism
and decadent materialism in the West
is this secular fundamentalist materialism,
this atheism at the root of politics
and the root of society
and how that leads ultimately
to a culture of death."

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/alexander-solzhenitsyn-on-the-culture-of-death/#ixzz1gFLVsqqr
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St Irenaeus on Eve and Mary

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John Michael Talbot had this posted over at his page, and thought it more than worthy of re-posting.

A treatise against the heresies, by St Irenaeus

Eve and Mary

The Lord, coming into his own creation in visible form, was sustained by his own creation which he himself sustains in being. His obedience on the tree of the cross reversed the disobedience at the tree in Eden; the good news of the truth announced by an angel to Mary, a virgin subject to a husband, undid the evil lie that seduced Eve, ...a virgin espoused to a husband.

As Eve was seduced by the word of an angel and so fled from God after disobeying his word, Mary in her turn was given the good news by the word of an angel, and bore God in obedience to his word. As Eve was seduced into disobedience to God, so Mary was persuaded into obedience to God; thus the Virgin Mary became the advocate of the virgin Eve.

Christ gathered all things into one, by gathering them into himself. He declared war against our enemy, crushed him who at the beginning had taken us captive in Adam, and trampled on his head, in accordance with God’s words to the serpent in Genesis: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall lie in wait for your head, and you shall lie in wait for his heel.

The one lying in wait for the serpent’s head is the one who was born in the likeness of Adam from the woman, the Virgin. This is the seed spoken of by Paul in the letter to the Galatians: The law of works was in force until the seed should come to whom the- promise was made.

He shows this even more clearly in the same letter when he says: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman. The enemy would not have been defeated fairly if his vanquisher had not been born of a woman, because it was through a woman that he had gained mastery over man in the beginning, and set himself up as man’s adversary.

That is why the Lord proclaims himself the Son of Man, the one who renews in himself that first man from whom the race born of woman was formed; as by a man’s defeat our race fell into the bondage of death, so by a man’s victory we were to rise again to life.
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Q&A

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Humanity : If you are a loving God than why is there War and Disease?

God: I keep sending you Peacemakers and Doctors and Scientists,

but you keep aborting them !
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Howdy Neighbor

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One of the saddest things about anti-Catholics
is that you too often find them
next to you at Mass
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Path of Most Resistance

"All human nature
vigorously resists grace

because grace changes us
and the change is painful."
Flannery O'Connor
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Re-Gifting

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I truly believe that other than the Protestant Reformation, one of the enemy's greatest successes is that foolish belief that many Catholics walk around with . . .that ridiculous idea that the Church's teachings are somehow a burden.

As an ex-"everybody is their own pope" Evangelical, one of the things that has given me the most peace is the knowledge that the Church not only WILL teach Truth, but that it Can't teach error. The wonderful charism that God has given to the Pope and the Magisterium is a not a mere protection for us, but a wonderful merciful gift from a loving Father.

We can rest in the knowledge that just as the Bible is infallible, so are the men who wrote and teach it. This Truth is not a burden but pure freedom, and a gift we all should feel free to re-gift to all.
...

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Is it really any wonder
why many Americans get more excited about Black Friday
than they do Good Friday,
when the only Icons they see in their Mega-churches
are of Sony or Magnavox?

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Dynamic Duo?

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If God, the Father, truly wished us
to have the "Jesus alone" view
of many of our Protestant brethren,
than wouldn't we have a Blessed Duo,
instead of a Most Holy Trinity? (O:

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Butterfly

The Simple Truth the Reformers Lost

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"Since Christ Himself has said, "This is My Body"
who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body?"
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

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All Saints in Heaven Only

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"But he who endures to the end shall be saved"
Matthew 24:13

"Not everyone who says to me,
'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only he who does the will of my Father
who is in heaven."
Matthew 7:21
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Eternal Gaze

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Life

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About Truth and Love

Truth or Trend

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"Heaven is the place for those
who seek truth at any cost,
and than find Christ

Hell is for those
desiring status and popularity ,
and who only find
there own tail
and circle through eternity
chasing it"
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But God said to him,
"You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared,
to whom will they belong?"
Thus will it be for the one
who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God."
Luke 12:20-21
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The Other Side of the Coin

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Today's Gospel reading was Matthew 22:15-21, with the often quoted "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's", which is generally brought up in discussion of taxes or state laws. What we usually forget to focus on is the "and to God what belongs to God".

Q: What does belong to God?
A: Everything you have and are belongs to Him, with the exception being your sin (that's all man made).

Every time I go out to dinner instead of opening that can of soup, I have in fact denied another their soup, as my money is God's money and should be used for His children.

If I live in a 3 bedroom status symbol, but am only one or two persons, I have denied others the roof and a bed God's money could have been used to build.

If I drive a $50, 000 (or more) metal cage to impress my friends and neighbors, I deny others transportation God's money could have purchased if I would have just bought a well made Honda or Toyota.

If I am too busy too volunteer or help out my neighbors, I have again squander the gift of time which He alone created and gave me.

If I am stuck in repeated sins, I end up using the confessional as a grace ATM, when instead of living holy and adding to the deposit of grace.

If I babble on this blog instead of praying for you few who read my ramblings, I . . .o.k., will go pray now.

Give unto to God what is God's . . . and you are God's!

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The Fruit of Silence . . .

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"The fruit of silence
is prayer,

the fruit of prayer
is faith,

the fruit of faith
is love,

the fruit of love
is service,

the fruit of service
is peace".

Blessed Mother Teresa


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C'mon get . . .

Looking for an orphanage
I'm looking for a bridge I can't burn down
I don't believe the emptiness
I'm looking for the kingdom coming down
Everything is meaningless
I want more than simple cash can buy
Happy is a yuppie word
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Sign for the Times

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Putting it in Perspective

Johnny Cash Walking Stick Blues

I am embarrassed to say that it took me several months before I started using my cane in public, and even longer before I started telling folks the reason. I had even switched from daily mass to only Sunday mass, and even missed a few of those when I had a bad fall or two the week prior.

Now that I am out of the closet about my illness I have been so richly blessed with the chance to have others tell me about their experiences, as well as the illnesses that they too hide from most of the public. Also I get allow folks to feel a sense of service and charity for easy things like letting me pass in a line, or picking up my keys or walking stick (or whatever else I drop . . . and I drop everything). Every time I fall to the ground I can lift up my sufferings for another, and every time I suffer one of the many embarrassments associated with ALS is another chance to suffer in exchange for grace to be given to another.

Yep, I'll never be a husband or Priest, never be a dad or a Father, nor will I have to worry about retirement or social security. I can instead be thankful for the knowledge that so many folks ignore, that a successful career doesn't matter to God unless those successes are given up to Him, that a big house is vile in a world while others are homeless, and that serving others even in our own sufferings is the only true joy.
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He calms the storms

.O.K., my handwriting ain't so great, but this was the only piece of Foam Board I had available.
Lots of folks took pics as they walked by, including two of the Dominican Sisters who live in town, but hopefully more were comforted by my little reminder of the One who calms the storms.

When I went to take it down afterward my neighbor said "don't who dare take that down, you need to keep reminding folks who to thank for us all coming through safely!"

yeah, I ain't in D.C. anymore (O:
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"but She is still our Mother"

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Scriptural Rosary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. (Luke 1:28)
...Blessed art thou among women (Luke 1:41-42, Luke 1:48),
Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus (Luke 1:42)
...Holy Mary, Mother of God (Luke 1:43)
Pray for us sinners, (1 Tim 2:1-4)
now and at the hour of our death. Amen (Luke 2:35, John 2:3-5)

Our Foolish Lack of Heart

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Many folks use Church scandals as an excuse for ignoring the inconvenient truth of the Church's teachings, and many respond that this is "throwing the baby out with the bathwater". I say it is actually even worse, as it seems our country only throws out the baby(s) yet keeps the filthy bath water (not that they would use it to bath, as bathing is intolerant, as it presupposes a person might get dirty, and who are we to judge).
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On the road again

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Complaining that the Church
is too "strict"
is like complaining your GPS's directions
are too "direct"

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The Anti-birthday

Gotta wonder if the Anti-birthday President will raise a glass of Dom today for 50 Millions plus innocents who he has helped to deny the chance to ever do the same.
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Luther on Luther

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"When the devil wants to cause offense
against the true doctrine and faith,
he does not do so through insignificant people,
who do not rate highly with the world,
but through those who are the very best,
the wisest, the holiest,
and the most learned."
Martin Luther
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Klavan on the "logic" of Abortion

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"And if we as a free people decide that unborn children
are children indeed,
there is no moral alternative:
we must not only end abortion
but put our full efforts into supporting humane
and broadly available methods
of welcoming the unwanted."

On Liberty and Abortion - Andrew Klavan

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Consider the Source

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Expecting to understand the Catholic Church
by reading "The Da Vinci Code"
is like trying to learn about Judaism
by reading "Mein Kampf"
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Pride before a Fall

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This re-working of the Mark Stivers' cartoon was inspired by the eye-rolling I get from non-Catholics when I make the dreaded
"the Church teaches . . . ." statement.

FILE UNDER : The Reformers New Clothes (O:
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File Under : Channeling Chesterton

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If you want Politicians to vote Pro-life,
just change the voting age to
"Moment of Conception"

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Truth over Fiction

A lil' taste of Eternity

Protest-ant

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"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.
They have eyes to see but do not see
and ears to hear but do not hear,
for they are a rebellious people"
Ezekiel 12:2

We can sadly too often Sub "Protestant" for "Rebellious" to understand why many of our separated brethren will not listen to
"sound doctrine"
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Myth No Conception

Up a Creek without a Flying Boat

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Breaking News: After years of closed minded mechanics and intolerant engineers labeling my car an "automobile"; the North Beach City council - soon up for re-election - have voted to have my CRV re-listed as a Flying Aquatic Supercar.

While there have been celebrations all night following the voting, I have yet to find anyone who cares to join me on my maiden voyage off Fairhaven Cliffs.
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Drawn to Unity

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"It broke my heart that Christians were so divided and superficial. I stumbled onto a few things—Thomas Merton and then St. Francis of Assisi. I got into radical gospel living, mystical prayer, contemplative life, and they were all Catholic."

John Michael Talbot in Mass Appeal in Christianity Today

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in all fairness, we'll give ya all of our CINOs
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Welcome St. Luke's

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Episcopal Parish Community in Maryland to Join Catholic Church

After a period of deep discernment, the rector and parishioners of St. Luke’s Episcopal parish in Bladensburg, Maryland have decided to seek entry into the Roman Catholic Church through a new structure approved by Pope Benedict XVI called an ordinariate. Saint Luke’s is the first church in the Washington metropolitan area to take this step. read the rest here

Who Would You Follow?

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“Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has;
it never comes to the aid of spiritual things,
but - more frequently than not - struggles against the divine Word,
treating with contempt all that emanates from God”
Martin Luther

"Faith and reason are like two wings
on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth;
and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—
in a word, to know himself
—so that, by knowing and loving God,
men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves"
Blessed John Paul II
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Thank you Martin Luther

Catholic + Picture Framer =

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How to End the Protestant Heresies

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Me thinks the best way to get a Protestant
to accept one of their teachings as heresy
is to just tell'em it's Catholic (O:

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I See Love

My Answer to Church Scandals

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If a mathematician
commits a heinous act,
does 2 + 2
no longer equal 4?
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In Recovery

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Yesterday I heard the tired ol' bromide " I'm a recovering Catholic" by a shop owner as I wandered through their shop.

"oh, I did it the other way, I'm a convert" I spoke up

"Convert from what" she asked, and I explained that for most of my adult life I was an atheist, than Evangelical, and now a very happy Catholic.

I than boldy mentioned that her statement had an touch of spite in it, as well as being in my view kind of illogical, as to me "saying you are a recovering Catholic makes as much sense as an alcoholic saying they are recovering from sobriety, or a lunatic saying they are recovering from sanity"

But than I said, one thing is for sure "we are all sin addicts, none of which who have finished the 12 steps of recovery"
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Love's Cost

I generally don't like electronic media during any events in a Catholic church (I am still recovering from my time as a Protestant where big screen TVs and rockstars on stage replaced a crucifix or statue of the Mother of God. . .but were somehow not idolatrous), so I am somewhat surprised by my reaction to a slideshow which used images from The Passion of Christ during Stations of the Cross on Friday.

This image of my Lord scourged helped me to remember how much I am loved (and how I am to love), and that each lash or cut or gash could easily be named for each and every time my sin did (and sadly, still does) wield that whip.

Jesus have Mercy on us all,
and thank you!
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Dr. Peter Kreeft : Rationality of Belief in God

Of God and Monks

Coming to theaters in the DC area starting March 11, just in time for lent . . .um, if ya gave up "movies", just go on a Sunday (o;



If ya can't wait 'til next week to get yer Monk fix, go rent "In Great Silence"


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Through the Heart

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"Going against Church teaching yet still callin' yerself a Catholic
is like sittin' down for a Steak at Ruth's Chris
and still callin' yerself a Vegetarian"
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Last Lecture or First Homily

Seminarian Philip Johnson from Deacon Watkins on Vimeo.

Like everyone, I was suckered into watching "The Last Lecture", but unlike most folks it made me sad in a different way. It was full of the Oprah-esqe type of "live life to the fullest" kind of bumper sticker philosophy that I had already heard a bazillion times, but yet the "why" seemed to be somewhat absent and although it of course pulled at the heartstrings of this ol' sap, it left me feeling it lacked truth somehow.

The young seminarian in this video understands both the "why" of his/our life, as well as , at least as much as anyone can, the purpose in his suffering. Diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor while in the seminary, he speaks of finally knowing his vocation and his hope to one day, God willing, becoming a priest. After you watch, please add this young man to your prayers, with the hope that he will be able to be the celebrant at Mass at least once, before he joins in the great mass in heaven.

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No Sola Silly

The media was a buzzin' about the new "Confession" app available for the iphone, which is really more an "Examination of Conscience" tool. From what I've read, it was mainly designed to help poorly catechized Catholics get back into the pre-Vatican II habit of regular confession.

While the hype is somewhat annoying, though not as bad as it could be, I for one am happy for anything that helps my brothers and sisters take advantage of Christ's gift of this sacrament. So many "Catholics" I have met rarely if ever go for reconciliation, but yet still receive communion (another sin in itself). I have met daily communicants who are also on the daily "pill", and others weekly members who are shacked up . . .this is the state of our family's ignorance, and if this app can help, I say I'll pay the $2 for ya.

Regular reception of God's mercy is also the way we become merciful.

This is is also a great opportunity for us all to help educate our non-Catholic brethren, as it never fails to start a nice dialogue when I exclaim how much "I love confession!". There is too also a chance for us to remind the Bible-worshipers that the idea of "confession by i-phone" is just as silly as that wacky concept that Christ would, during a time when 90% of the world was illiterate (and would remain so for the next millenium), leave sole authority for His church to a book (something, the average Joe wouldn't be able to afford until the invention of the printing press some1500 years away).
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Touched by an . . .

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One of the common problems with my condition is that my legs occasionally decide it's their coffee break, and I take a lil' stumble. The other morning as I made my way down the spiral staircase to make my whole body some java, the legs decide they wanted to go back to sleep . . .and so D'art fall down and go boom! (which woke me up considerably, so that no coffee was needed this particular morning).

When I realized I wasn't dead, I gave God , and the angel he has assigned to me, a "thank you". I did cut several of my fingers rather badly, as well as busted up my knee and ankle, so I've been mending them this week. . . and yes, no medical insurance does in fact suck eggs!

But anyway, I am not writing to whine, but to share to the blogsphere (because I'm actually a lil' timid about sharing this next bit of info any other way) something else that came from this this event. After my shower yesterday I happened to spot some other bruises, but this time under my arm and in an area that wasn't touched by the fall. As I looked closer at the cluster of five blueish-purple marks, I realized that they were arranged with four above one, looking very much like the marks I once had when I was 8, after my dad yanked me from the path of an oncoming car.

Yes, these discolorations very much resembled a hand print, and all I could think was that my poor guardian angel must have been holding on pretty hard that morning, and I wondered how bad it might have been if he wasn't there.

Anyway, you are free to believe as you like, just as I am free to again thank and praise God for His constant presence in the life of someone as thoroughly unworthy of it as me.
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Ave Maria

Words of a truly Rich man

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"See, I believe that if you were chosen, that if you were elected. I believe if God has anything for you, it's not just to make you happy. God did not choose you and call you out of this world just to make you high.
And God didn't choose you and God didn't call you out of this world just so you that could be pious.
Because there are enough pious people and enough happy people in the world.
What God called you for, and what God called you to is to make a difference in the world.

You know, there are a lot of people who have never heard the gospel of Christ. Somehow, I have a little bit of trouble when I see people spend fifteen, sixteen bucks a hit to hear some flashy Christian group say 'Jesus is Lord' to the tune of fifteen bucks a person when there are people who live not far from here who can't even afford to buy a Bible. And somehow, it seems a little bit weird that we should have more ministers in this country and fewer people, when in the world where there are so many people who would give anything to have a minister, they can't find them, because they're not there, because they're in our country.

I don't believe that God chose you and blessed you so that you could heap those blessings up upon yourself.
I believe God chose you and you and you and every one of you others, because He wants to make a difference in this world.
And you know what?

What I think is scary about God is He didn't come up with any 'plan B.'

That He left the church here, and the church is the only group of people and the church is the only institution in the world that can bring about a change. This government cannot do it, so stop depending on the government. Educational systems cannot do it, so stop trusting educational systems. The church was chosen by God to make a difference.

And you know what, people? You ain't going to make a difference by building more bombs. And you ain't going to make a difference by putting on more makeup and showing up on more television shows. And you're not going to make a difference by having the loudest P/A or the biggest crowd at your concerts.
You're gonna make a difference when you lay down your life, and in complete submission to God, choose to die with Him in service to other people.
And I had this great realization one night, and that's when I wrote this song." Rich Mullins

And as I lay me down one evening,
I thought of Jesus on the hill
And how for men He was weeping,
When it was Him they were going to kill
And I know it would have saved them
Had they only just allowed
None are stronger than the humble
And few are weaker than the proud

And then my thoughts, they turned to David,
And how he watched his father's flocks
How the music that he was playing
Could calm the demons in a mighty man's heart
And when the prophet came round looking for a king,
He sought young David out,
'Cause none are stronger than the humble
And few are weaker than the proud

And I know that you know about Moses,
And how he left the Pharoah's courts
When he saw the injustice
Done to the people, the people of the Lord
And though his fears drove him to hiding,
The Lord his heart with courage soon endowed
'Cause none are stronger than the humble
And few are weaker than the proud

And none are stronger than the humble
And few are weaker than the proud
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Rich Mullins' "Creed"

New video featuring Third Day and Brandon Heath (who has a new disc out) covering Rich Mullins' classic tune "Creed"

And I believe what I believe
Is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God
and not
The invention of any man
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Does Richard Dawkins Exist?

why yes, my neighbors do know I'm . . .

CATHOLIC
(O;
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The Harmonious Reason of Aquinas

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"How can we live in harmony?
First we need to know
we are all madly in love
with the same God."

"There is but one Church
in which men find salvation,
just as outside the ark of Noah
it was not possible
for anyone to be saved. "
St. Thomas Aquinas


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Morning has Broken

As the ice melts from the slight warmth of the morning sun, so too I pray that the warmth from the Risen Son I receive in the Eucharist this day, might melt some of the ice around my frozen heart and stone cold soul.
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How things have Changed

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"Is birth control abortion? Definitely not. An abortion kills the life of a baby after it has begun. It is dangerous to your life and health. It may make you sterile so that when you want a child you cannot have it. "

Is Birth Control Abortion, Planned Parenthood pamphlet, Aug. 1963
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The Blogger as Artist as Photographer

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Just taking a pic of a frame I designed
(it's actually two frames . . . two frames in one)

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Moral Relativism = Protestant Dogma?

I must admit that Derek Webb was once one of my favorite song writers, as well as a truth seeker who I hoped (hope) might one day discover the authentic Christianity of our Holy Catholic Church. Lately though it seems his new religion is that of arrogance and pretense.

This "controversial" video (the controversy being he says a PG rated potty word in it, which his Christian record label objected to) has him in full self righteous/self pity expounding the moral relativistic bromides of tolerance for the homosexual lifestyle (sadly, his tolerance doesn't extend to anyone who disagrees with him, as he accuses them of "hate") and that we should be just worried about the poor and starving first, not considering that if he looked through Christ's eyes he might be able to see the emaciated souls dying of the spiritual anorexia of a lifestyle of sin.

Now, Derek is still a Protestant, and of course hasn't considered that the "sola scriptura" bible-worship in the land of a million popes means that each person is free to interpret the Bible as the spirit (or low blood sugar) leads, and in turn that Fred Phelps is as much a child of Martin Luther's pride as he is.

The odd thing is that I think Mr. Webb and I are coming from the same place. With me the thirst for Jesus (and frustration over the superficiality of big screen Evangelicalism) lead me to seek the Truth which lead me to the Church Christ gave us. Sadly Derek is still part of the never-ending Protestant reformation that is built on sinking sand, and continues to pull others, whatever their sexual orientation, down into it.

Granted, in this Disney version of Christianity, you are "once saved, always saved", so Webb is blissfully ignorant that he is actually calling for us to willfully "love our brothers and sisters" right into hell.

He, as a Protestant, has also most likely never been taught the Christian virtues of humility or obedience, as all the so called controversy over this song, was really about a guy (or musician) disobeying his boss (or record label) . . .and I can't help but wonder if he ever even pondered how many starving mouths coulda been fed with the all money that was instead used with legal fees over this little boy's need to say "s@#t"?
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Rrrr-i-i-i-g-h-tt

with roses

.“Every day unbelievers and sinners cry.
‘Let us crown ourselves with roses.’
But our cry should be,
“Let us crown ourselves with roses
of the Most Holy Rosary’”
St. Louis De Montfort
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Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

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"Almighty and eternal God, behold, I approach the Sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ...as one who is sick to the physician of life...unclean to the fountain of mercy... blind to the light of eternal brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Therefore I beseech Thee, of Thine infinite goodness, to heal my sickness, wash away my filth, enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords with such reverence and humility...contrition and devotion...purity and faith...purpose and intention, as may conduce to the salvation of my soul."

St. Thomas Aquinas

Tom O'Toole has a nice article on this prayer, at his blog Fighting Irish Thomas
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Klan Parenthood

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“The great irony is that abortion has done
what the Klan only dreamed of.”
Dr. Alveda King
niece of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr

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The In Crowd

"A crowd, including priests and nuns, sings in the rain at a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. outside of Brown Chapel. The church served as the headquarters for civil rights activists during marches from Selma to Montgomery". photo by Flip Schulke
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Creed : AD 325

Mary, Mother of God

"Woman, behold your son"
"Son, behold your Mother"

For those who actually wonder about all the churches and all the denominations, and if maybe Christ only meant for there to be One true church, the words above are one of those helpful lil' clues.

The fact that most non-Catholics ignore Mary is very telling, and should be obvious to anyone that a church that denies Her place in salvation history is not a church seeking to honor Christ, but one (consciously or not) that is molding Christianity into it's own image.

Actually, to follow the Protestant Jesus, who for no apparent reason (as per their theology), made His mother watch Him suffer and die a horrible death, is kinda nuts. If she was to play no part other than birth chamber, a loving God would have sent her to heaven much earlier, as He did with St. Joseph.

Either She was to play a larger part, as Catholics are taught (and most early reformers believed), or we are serving a very cruel savior indeed!
. . . .thankfully, that is not the case.

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman"
Genesis 3:15

So, if the woman referenced in Genesis is our Lady, who other than our Lord does Satan fear and hate more? . . . and if your church denies our Mother, who are they really serving?

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Dawn of a New Year