Sober Inebriation

The thoughts of a former President on Ron Paul's Foreign Policy

2012-01-17T16:07:00.002-05:00

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And now, friends and countrymen, if the wise and learned philosophers of the elder world, the first observers of nutation and aberration, the discoverers of maddening ether and invisible planets, the inventors of Congreve rockets and Shrapnel shells, should find their hearts disposed to enquire what has America done for the benefit of mankind? Let our answer be this: America, with the same voice which spoke herself into existence as a nation, proclaimed to mankind the inextinguishable rights of human nature, and the only lawful foundations of government. America, in the assembly of nations, since her admission among them, has invariably, though often fruitlessly, held forth to them the hand of honest friendship, of equal freedom, of generous reciprocity. She has uniformly spoken among them, though often to heedless and often to disdainful ears, the language of equal liberty, of equal justice, and of equal rights. She has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations while asserting and maintaining her own. She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the heart. She has seen that probably for centuries to come, all the contests of that Aceldama the European world, will be contests of inveterate power, and emerging right. Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example. She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force.... She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit....

[America's] glory is not dominion, but liberty. Her march is the march of the mind. She has a spear and a shield: but the motto upon her shield is, Freedom, Independence, Peace. This has been her Declaration: this has been, as far as her necessary intercourse with the rest of mankind would permit, her practice.

- John Quincy Adams 6th President of the U.S.

H/T: The Daily Paul

Ron Paul on Pope John Paul II

2012-01-08T17:48:00.001-05:00

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“I would encourage those who wish to honor his (John Paul II) memory to reflect on his teachings regarding war and the sanctity of life, and consider the inconsistencies in claiming to be pro-life but supporting the senseless killing of innocent people that inevitably accompanies militarism, or in claiming to be pro-peace and pro-compassion but supporting the legal killing of the unborn.” (Congressman Ron Paul)

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A New Generation of Catechists

2011-12-03T11:03:00.002-05:00

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A Great resource for all who teach the faith in parishes, schools, and homes.

Go support: Catechetical Foundations

Liturgical Life At Wyoming Catholic College

2011-09-04T20:13:00.002-05:00

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The following article speaks for itself. If you are looking for an incredible and faithful Catholic College Education you can't go wrong with Wyoming Catholic College.

H/T: article found at NLM
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A Rich Liturgical Life at Wyoming Catholic College

by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski
Professor of Theology and Philosophy
Wyoming Catholic College

Pope Benedict XVI is leading the Church out of a forty-year captivity marked by a “hermeneutic of rupture and discontinuity” into a new era in which Vatican II can be seen for what it truly is: one among many Councils, in continuity with them, and not opposed to all that had come before.

This is true in a special way of the Sacred Liturgy. Too often in recent decades the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been celebrated in a way that is quite different from, and even opposed to, the way it had been celebrated since time immemorial. The Pope is calling us back to a celebration in keeping with the dignity and mystery of the Eucharistic mystery. He is gently but firmly calling the Church back to continuity with her own Tradition. This is the deepest reason for his motu proprio liberating the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite: he wishes to see the two uses or forms exercising a mutual influence, such that lost continuity can be regained over time. It is a long term strategy with many immediate practical consequences. The “reform of the reform” has indeed begun, and the question that each knowledgeable Catholic must ask himself is this: Am I with the Pope and the real Vatican II, or am I de facto against the Pope because I wish to perpetuate a supposed “spirit of Vatican II”?

All over the world, parishes, chapels, and religious communities are adding the Extraordinary Form to their roster of Masses. The Pope’s example is beginning to have effects on the way Mass in the Ordinary Form is celebrated outside of the Vatican, especially in cities and in cathedrals. Plainchant and polyphony, ornate vessels and vestments, the Latin language, incense, and other such once familiar features of liturgy are returning in a way that could never have been foreseen even ten years ago. The seminaries and religious orders that are swelling most rapidly are those that have heartily embraced the Pope’s reforms.

Catholic institutions of higher learning cannot remain unaffected by the momentous shift taking place in the life of the Church. Rather than keeping students in thrall to the outmoded mentality of the past few decades, a truly Catholic college will set them confidently along the path of the hermeneutic of continuity, following in the footsteps of the Vicar of Christ.

For those who are hoping to hear good news in this regard, Wyoming Catholic College is truly a cause for rejoicing. This college is radical in its educational philosophy and curriculum, because we go back to the roots, the radices, of Western thought and culture. In the eyes of the world we are just about as “retro” as a college can be, but we are convinced that this is ultimately in the best interest of our students. Is it not the same with the liturgy and Catholic life? We want to be radical in the best sense—to connect with the deep roots that nourish our faith and identity as Catholics. Traditional liturgy, be it Western or Eastern, is an essential part of this nourishment; so is the language of the Latin-rite Church and her musical patrimony. Wyoming Catholic College is grateful to Almighty God that we are able to provide such nourishment—the robust and hopeful vision of Pope Benedict XVI—to the future leaders of the Church in this country.

As the Second Vatican Council teaches, the sacred liturgy—and above all, the Holy Eucharist—is “the source and summit” of the Christian life. For this reason, the sacred liturgy is celebrated at Wyoming Catholic College with fidelity to the directives of Holy Mother Church and with loving attention to her Tradition. Taking inspiration and guidance from the teaching and example of Pope Benedict XVI, the College chaplaincy offers a rich liturgical life to students, faculty, staff, and members of the local community. On most days of the week, the collegiate Mass is the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, celebrated in English, with common parts (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Pater Noster, etc.) sung in Gregorian chant, and with antiphons taken from the Graduale Simplex. The main collegiate Mass on Sundays is celebrated with special solemnity, the Schola singing the Introit, Offertory, and Communion antiphons and the College Choir providing hymns and polyphonic music.

In keeping with the generous intentions of Summorum Pontificum, the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite is celebrated every Wednesday (12 pm), Saturday (11 am), and Sunday (8 am) by the College’s full-time resident chaplain. On Wednesday it is the only collegiate Mass offered and the majority of students attend it; on Saturday it is the only daily Mass in the town of Lander. On Sunday it is always a Missa Cantata.

About twice a year, a biritual diocesan priest celebrates a fully sung Byzantine Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (Ukrainian recension). This, together with the Roman rite, affords all of us, including several Eastern-rite Catholics in the student body, a welcome opportunity to “breathe with both lungs” of the Church.

Confessions, all-afternoon Eucharistic adoration, and evening Benediction are part of nearly every day’s schedule. Small groups of students gather daily to pray Lauds, Vespers, and Compline in Latin, and the Rosary in English.

The College has been blessed with visits from a number of prelates who have celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with us: The Most Rev. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo; Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.; Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay (one of the College’s founders); Bishop Paul D. Etienne of Cheyenne; Bishop Michael J. Sheridan of Colorado Springs; Bishop Paul S. Coakley of Salinas; and Bishop James D. Conley, Auxiliary Bishop of Denver. Fr. Vernon Clark, a priest of the Diocese of Cheyenne who also ministers to the Carmelite monastery in Wyoming, has twice celebrated a Missa Cantata in the traditional Carmelite Rite. Other priests have made extended stays in Lander, either for personal visits or to assist in The Aquinas Institute for the Study of Sacred Doctrine, and during their stay have celebrated the Extraordinary Form, often as a series of sung Masses: Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB, formerly of the Institute of Sacred Music in St. Louis; Fr. Thomas Bolin, OSB, of the Monastero di San Benedetto in Norcia; Fr. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem., of St. Michael’s Abbey in California; and Fr. John Zuhlsdorf. The local pastor has been most welcoming and accommodating towards all these visitors and has made a point of including the College’s liturgical and devotional schedule in his parish bulletin.

The general attitude and approach of Wyoming Catholic College is this: whatever form or rite is being used, the sacred liturgy is to be offered in the most beautiful and dignified manner possible, characterized by obedience to current universal norms and by an immense respect for the Church’s ancient heritage. In recognition of the exalted place of the sacred liturgy in the life of the College, our academic schedule is devised to allow all students and faculty to attend every day. The College promotes a culture of daily attendance at Mass and we are pleased to see that a majority of the students do attend daily.

It's hard to argue with this assesment

2011-09-03T09:45:00.002-05:00

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I find this very hard to argue against:

A response to the current jobs report: HERE

In my humble opinion, it the only response I have seen that actually makes any sort of real sense to the current economical issues this country faces.

I really do believe that this time around, more so than any other looming election, we need to be more than basically informed about the leadership and direction of this country.

The mainstream media’s disconnect from Ron Paul

2011-08-16T17:40:00.006-05:00

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What the mainstream media has against Ron Paul I don't know. It seems odd to me to see such disdain.

While I do not agree with all Congressman Paul's political positions, he does not seem like a crazy man to me.
What is crazy to me is that our government has driven our country into the debt oblivion.
It does not seem crazy radical to me to hear someone say our countries leaders should be fiscally responsible, and manage our economy in sound fashion by not over spending more than we take in.
It does not sound crazy to me to hear a congressman say that our nations leaders should abide by the Constitution and the rule of law in governing this nation. Anyway I digress.

Ron Paul finished second in the Iowa Straw Poll by just a few corn kernels (less than 200 to be exact).
He has swelled to 14% approval as a Republican candidate in the race for the Republican nomination.
He talks common sense, he appeases no one, and defends his positions very well.

So what's the deal with the mainstream media, just looking past this guy?

I don't trust the mainstream media, and I certainly detest the manner in which they distort reality.

This much is true - the mainstream media does not like Ron Paul, the Liberal left does not like Ron Paul, and the established GOP does not like Ron Paul.

If all these groups have this much disdain for the man, them maybe we should spend a little more time listening to what he has to say about our Country, and the decisions that need to be made to get it out of the financial hole it finds itself in.....maybe....anyway I digress again.

I thought it amusing that The Daily Show with John Stewart actually did a fantastic job railing the liberal and established media on their blatant refusal to draw attention that Ron Paul has been doing nothing but picking up steam in this race for the Republican nomination...

take a look...

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

The Art of Manliness

2011-08-15T15:50:00.005-05:00

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Some things should be shared with as many people as possible.

Such as... The Art of Manliness

Seriously this is some of the best information I have come across in a long time.

I know I will spend some quality time becoming more manly, and passing the precious information on to my son.

Here is a GREAT piece on the Art of Manliness guide to Scotch Whisky.

Here is a great quote from the article

“The proper drinking of Scotch whisky is more than indulgence: it is a toast to civilization, a tribute to the continuity of culture, a manifesto of man’s determination to use the resources of nature to refresh mind and body and enjoy to the full the senses with which he has been endowed.”

Classic!

I do concur

Scotch Whiskey is manly.

Insanity

2011-08-01T22:53:00.001-05:00

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Stop the Insanity.

Watch: HERE

Enough said.

Head of Sacred Congreation for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments recommends that Catholics recieve communion kneeling and on the tongue.

2011-07-29T09:09:00.003-05:00

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CNA is running the story.

Here are a few tidbits:

The cardinal’s remarks came in response to a question on whether Catholics should receive Communion in the hand or on the tongue. He recommended that Catholics “receive Communion on the tongue and while kneeling.” Receiving Communion in this way, the cardinal continued, “is the sign of adoration that needs to be recovered. I think the entire Church needs to receive Communion while kneeling.”

The good Cardinal goes on to state the following when asked about liturgical abuse...

In response to a question about the liturgical abuses that often occur, Cardinal Canizares said they must be “corrected, especially through proper formation: formation for seminarians, for priests, for catechists, for all the Christian faithful.”

Sound catechetical instruction and formation is key.

Catechetical Foundations can help with that. Go check out them out. Maybe hire them and bring them to your parish to help rebuild and strengthen your Catechists and parish staff. More and more people are responding to the call to pass on the faith in all its rigor and vigor. Catechetical Foundations does some great work.

Lastly,I never thought I would live to see the day when a Cardinal from Rome, let alone the Prefect for the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, would publicly state that he thinks the "entire Church needs to receive Communion on the tongue while kneeling"

A point well made

2011-07-21T10:04:00.002-05:00

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We have highlighted Congressman Ron Paul on this weblog before. It was during the last presidential election.
Let this be known, this in no way is an endorsement for Ron Paul and his run for president. I also do not agree with all of Congressman Paul's political positions. That being said, however, in my opinion he has made more sense on most issues than anyone else in recent history who has ran for the office of President of the United States.

I do admire his lifelong commitment to refuse to just tote the party line.

In the case of the current issue of the debt limit I think his position is right. I admire his passionate defense of it, and his appeal to all of us to demand that our government only spend according to its means.

Rome wasn't destroyed in a day

2011-07-20T13:26:00.001-05:00

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Rome wasn't destroyed in a day.

See: HERE

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Thoughts?

Combat the Crises of Faith in the Church

2011-07-16T11:14:00.002-05:00

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Our Holy Father has his Benedictine Marshal Plan

Restore the Liturgy, Restore Catholic Identity, Restore the Faith.

Here is a site that understands this plan and has chosen to respond by helping to aid the Church by forming sound Catechiststs for this generation and the next.

Catechesis that is faithful to the perennial teachings of the Church is a must. It is foundational.

How well do you know your faith? If called upon could you systematically catechize others effectively?

Does your parish or school have poor catechetical instructors?

If where you live and attend Church and school is anything like where I live then you probably would say "yes" to all three questions.

The good news is that there are people who take seriously the Church's command to teach the faith with all it's "rigor and vigor" (Catechesi Tradendae, JPII). They are part of a growing movement to take back the faith and ensure that it is handed on faithfully for future generations.

Go check out: Catechetical Foundations

You won't be sorry.

Anniversary

2011-07-07T09:05:00.004-05:00

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Today marks the four year anniversary of the landmark Papal Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.

Thank you Pope Benedict XVI for this gift to the Church.

Benedict XVI is the Pope of Christian Unity

"What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place."

(Letter of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Bishops
on the occasion of the publication of the Moto Proprio Summorum Pontificum)

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With the accompanied Letter (On the Implementation of Summorum Pontificum)
recently by the Ecclesia Dei Commission titled "Universae Ecclesia"
Catholics in the pews are more empowered than ever by the Church to work to see the Extraordinary Form of the Mass back in everyday parish life.

Don't settle for anything less than all the Church has to offer. The fullness of the Faith is a beautiful thing. Know the splendor of the liturgical life of the Church. Work to restore the Extraordinary Form of the Mass in our parishes, in union with the mind and heart of the Vicar of Christ on earth.

Long Live Pope Benedict XVI

The Big Catch

2011-07-05T11:25:00.006-05:00

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Life is good when you are fishing.

Fishing is something that I just love to do. It is relaxing, it is always a joy to be outside enjoying life, and hey Jesus chose to hang out with fishermen.

A good catch is always exciting. Especially a big King.

Instilling the love of the outdoors into your children is important too!

Here is the latest from the first time Salmon fishing with my son. We caught nine Chinooks (King) Salmon on beautiful Lake Michigan.

A couple photo's

The first catch of the day. That is a 13lb smile!

Father and Son after a glorious evening of fishing. He pulled in his all by himself!

I am hoping that Father Z will run a Salmon recipe on his blog.
If he lived closer I certainly would provide the fish for him.

The President's address yesterday

2011-06-30T09:51:00.002-05:00

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The following puts yesterday's address into pretty good perspective.

Enough said.

See: Here

Last summer I heard a sermon about the current crises our world is experiencing financially.

It was a wonderful homily. It kept in perspective our daily Christian duties to remain resolved, and to trust in God and His providence. This priest also asked us the people to do two things well: (1) Always keep your soul in order, strive fervently for holiness, and (2) Keep your home in order. Don't live outside your means, earn your keep, strive to strengthen the family bond.

Wise advice.

It would be foolish to think that man can live in this life without God. That we can depend on our own "inventions" to replace only what God can give.

A society without God always fails.

Redemptoristine Nuns and the celebration of Corpus Christi

2011-06-27T11:15:00.003-05:00

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The life of religious men and woman inspires me. When I encounter them, or read about different orders, I find myself experiencing a sense of gratitude for their life. They help so many people by their fidelity to the Gospel, and by their willingness to sacrifice so much for the salvation of souls and for the freedom and exaltation of Holy Mother the Church.

Their different charisms and expressions of religious commitment add a wealth of blessing to us who toil and labor in the day to day grind of secular life. They give the example that we can give ourselves to the Lord now, and honor him completely with our whole life.

Today I came across these beautiful Redemptoristine Nuns and their incredible sacrifice for the Church.

Read: Here

Is College Worth It?

2011-06-24T15:01:00.002-05:00

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Read the following article today. Explosive to say the least.

Is the mainstream University really a place of education anymore?

This is a must read: Is College really worth it?

Martin Mosebach on Universae Ecclesiae

2011-05-30T20:01:00.001-05:00

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Martin Mosebach on Universae Ecclesiae and the Gregorian Rite

From the website of the Society of St. Hugh of Cluny:

The Church Must Endure this Anger

Freedom is restored to the Old Rite: Martin Mosebach on the recent papal letter on the Latin liturgy

By Paul Badde

(Die Welt, May 23, 2011)

Four years ago, Pope Benedict XVI, against the opposition of the great majority in the Catholic Church, restored the old Latin liturgy to equality with the new vernacular form of the celebration of the mass, which had been mandated since 1969. (The Latin liturgy substantially dates back to Gregory the Great (540-604) and was finally authoritatively fixed by the Council of Trent (1545-1563).) A week ago, the Vatican, in a papal letter, reaffirmed its determination of 2007 and clarified some disputed questions regarding its practical application. Martin Mosebach, the recipient of the Büchner prize, is one of the most fervent admirers and defenders of the old Liturgy.

Die Welt: In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI, in a special motu proprio (an apostolic letter), freed the ancient Gregorian liturgy for the Catholic Church. Why does the Vatican publish instructions four years later on how the will of the pope is to be implemented?

Martin Mosebach: The enemies of the great liturgical tradition of the Roman Church in many cases have not accepted the permission given to the Old Rite. They often tried to ignore the pope’s motu proprio and sought to maintain obstacles. They tried with bureaucratic methods to render ineffective the pope’s generosity. Therefore, the Vatican had to be clearer if it wanted to maintain the motu proprio.

Die Welt: The Instruction speaks of “two usages of the one Roman rite.” Doesn’t this open the door to a creeping new schism?

Martin Mosebach: There’s already a schism, not between supporters of the new and old rites, but between those Catholics who adhere to the old sacramental theology of the Church as was solemnly confirmed by Vatican II, and those who assert that Vatican II founded a new Church with a new theology and new sacraments. This latter doctrine has been diffused wholesale and against the better knowledge of its promoters, in the seminaries, universities and Catholic academies. This is what has fostered the danger of a schism.

Die Welt: “What was sacred for prior generations remains sacred and great also for us as well; it cannot be suddenly prohibited altogether or even judged harmful.” The Instruction cites here the pope. But wasn’t this the intention of the overwhelming majority of the Catholic bishops in the last 40 years?

Martin Mosebach: Yes, it is regrettably true that a not small part of the Catholic bishops, in a suicidal frenzy, attempted to separate from the Catholic Tradition and to cut the Church off from the source of her vitality. In the sentence you have cited, the pope has given them some tutoring in ecclesiology.

Die Welt: How can the Roman liturgy in the “usus antiquior “ be offered today “to all the faithful “ if only a fraction of the faithful understand Latin?

Martin Mosebach: At all times only a few Catholics have been able to follow the Latin Mass word for word. Europe looks back on well over a thousand years of glorious Catholic culture without the people being able to understand Latin. They understand something more important: that in the rite the Parousia – the mystic presence – of the Lord takes place. Without this understanding, a person has understood nothing of the Mass, even if he thinks he understands every word. Moreover, for a long time there have been wonderful bilingual missals with which we can pray the mass with the priest. But it is indeed correct: the Old Rite requires a certain effort, a readiness to learn.

Die Welt: And how will precisely the promotion of the “older” rite further “reconciliation within the Church” after it has led to so much conflict until now?

Martin Mosebach: The conflict essentially is due to the misunderstanding, so perilous for the Church, that Vatican II established a new Church. The struggle surrounding this misunderstanding must be endured to the end. Covering it up with peaceful phrases doesn’t help the Church.

Die Welt: Pastors are invited to show “a spirit of generous welcome” to groups of faithful who would like to celebrate the Old Mass in Latin. Isn’t this naïve after the last few decades, in which such faithful were considered hopelessly old-fashioned and retrograde?

Martin Mosebach: Indeed, the faithful, who have adhered to the Old Rite or have discovered it just recently, were reviled in manner that, I hope, is not revealing of the spiritual worth of the reform. Karl Rahner’s words have not been forgotten: the opponents of the reform of the mass are “tragicomic fringe elements, frustrated by humaneness .” Today, however, one surprisingly finds a great deal of understanding for the cause of Tradition among younger priests.

Die Welt: That the pope personally changed the old Good Friday petition for the Jews satisfied hardly a single critic or opponent. Doesn’t the new Instruction stir up the fire once more?

Martin Mosebach: The critics of the Good Friday prayer perceive the insistence of the Church that Christ is “the Truth” as creating scandal. But the Church must endure this anger. She cannot deviate from this conviction.

Die Welt: Now priests can once more celebrate mass by themselves (or with the assistance of a single server). Isn’t that a leap back into the age when the concept of “communio” had only a shadowy existence in the Catholic Church?

Martin Mosebach: The concept of “communio” never had only a shadowy existence in the Church. The “communion of Saints” is , after all, even an article of faith. The community of which the Church speaks, however, is much more than the people actually present. It is a community with the dead and with the angels – but it is especially a community with Jesus Christ. Experience teaches that this community can be intensively experienced in the old form of the mass and even especially in the low mass – in any case, for many people better than in the post-conciliar form, characterized by incessant talking and the singing of questionable songs.

Die Welt: The training of priests is supposed again to “offer the opportunity of learning the extraordinary form of the rite” to theology students. But who will teach it? There are, after all, almost no teachers left.

Martin Mosebach: There are a number of Traditional priestly societies which view as their mission the imparting of the old liturgy to young priests. One only has to turn to these priestly societies and ask. They are happy to provide information, but until now have been impeded by many bishops.

Die Welt: What surprised you the most in the new Instruction?

Martin Mosebach: What surprised me is how determined the pope is in the question of liturgy. In any case, he has created the legal prerequisites for returning the Old Rite to complete freedom. No bishop who would like to impede the Old Rite can cite legal reasons any more.

Die Welt: And what disappointed you the most?

Martin Mosebach: It was disappointing for me that the great rite of the old ordination ceremony can from now on only be celebrated in Traditional monasteries and priestly societies. It is a pity that this spiritual treasure, which defines the priesthood so exactly, is to be lost to the universal Church – at least for the time being.

Die Welt: How do you respond to the criticism that the debate over liturgy overlooks the plight of the Church and the world?

Martin Mosebach: The plight of the Church is precisely that she has forgotten where her center lies. Her mission is to proclaim the living Christ and the living Christ appears in the liturgy. If the liturgy is made subject to the fashions of the day, the living Christ becomes invisible. Then the Church is truly in a crisis.

(Translation by kind permission of Paul Badde; translated by Stuart Chessman.)

H/T : Rorate Caeli

Universae Ecclesiae. - Instruction on the application of Summorum Pontificum

2011-05-11T20:51:00.000-05:00

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The Holy See Press Office announces that the Instruction Universae Ecclesiae of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", on the application of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, will be made public on Friday, May 13th, and will be published on that afternoon (May 14th edition of L'Osservatore Romano). The Instruction will be published in its Latin typical version, and in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese translations.

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Long awaited.

Our Lady of Fatima....Pray for us!

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Long Live Pope Benedict XVI!

Sober Reality Check

2011-05-04T21:12:00.003-05:00

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While many in America celebrate the "death" of Usama bin Laden, should we be weary of the death of constitutional principles?

Is this the type of power our President should have?

Are we comfortable with this?

Where does it lead?

A sober reality check: Here

(I am not claiming to have answers to my own questions above. However, this whole ordeal strikes me as something that I just can't celebrate over. I wonder too if the "death" of Usama Bin Laden doesn't mark the death of how our own governmental system is supposed to limit the type of power this President just exercised.)

A New Creation

2011-04-23T21:29:00.006-05:00

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May you rejoice! Alleluia!!

For he who was crushed for our sins, has risen as he said!

A new creation is upon us.

Pope Benedict gave, what I consider to be one of his, if not his best homily ever.

Amazing!

Creation has been fulfilled in Christ our Risen Lord - Alleluia!

I won't leave you waiting....Here it is: Pope Benedict's Easter Vigil Homily

Requested of us

2011-03-30T07:01:00.002-05:00

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"Keep watch and pray"
(Matthew 14:38)

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Lent II - The necessity of penence

2011-03-24T08:29:00.003-05:00

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Excerpt from the Liturgical Year by Dom Gueranger

"There is one means more whereby we are to secure to ourselves the grand graces of Lent; it is the spirit of retirement and separation from the world. Our ordinary life, that is, such as it is during the rest of the year, should all be made to pay tribute to the holy Season of penance; otherwise, the salutary impression produced on us by the holy ceremony of Ash Wednesday will soon be effaced. The Christian ought, therefore, to forbid himself, during Lent, all the vain amusements, entertainments, and parties, of the world he lives in. As regards Theatres and Balls, which are the World in the very height of its power to do harm, no one that calls himself a disciple of Christ should ever be present at them, unless necessity, or the position he holds in society, oblige him to it: but if, from his own free choice, he throw himself amidst such dangers during the present holy Season of penance and recollection, he offers an insult to his character, and must needs cease to believe that he has sins to atone for, and a God to propitiate. The world, (we mean that part of it which is Christian,) has thrown off all those external indications of mourning and penance, which we read of as being so religiously observed in the Ages of Faith; let that pass: but there is one thing which can never change: God’s Justice, and man’s obligation to appease that Justice. The world may rebel as much as it will against the sentence, but the sentence is irrevocable: Unless ye do penance, ye shall all perish [St. Luke, xiii. 3]. It is God’s own word. Say, if you will, that few now-a-days give ear to it; but, for that very reason many are lost. They, too, who hear this word, must not forget the warnings given them by our Divine Saviour himself, in the Gospel read to us on Sexagesima Sunday. He told us, how some of the Seed is trodden down by the passers-by, or eaten by the fowls of the air; how some falls on rocky soil, and gets parched; and how, again, some is choked by thorns. Let us be wise, and spare no pains to become that good ground, which not only receives the Divine Seed, but brings forth a hundred-fold for the Easter harvest which is at hand. "

The Liturgical Year by Dom Gueranger

Lent

2011-03-09T15:22:00.002-05:00

Pray - Fast - Give Alms

Some saintly wisdom as we begin this Holy Season

"Paradox: To Live one must die."

"Everything that doesn't lead you to God is an obstacle. Tear it out and cast it far from you."

(St. Jose Marie Escriva - The Way)

back again

2011-03-01T20:44:00.002-05:00

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Apologies for not posting in some time.

Google account was hacked, and until it could be fixed I was unable to access the weblog.

It is a matter of justice and obedience

2011-02-01T21:32:00.002-05:00

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It is pretty simple really.

The Church has laws. We must follow them...even Bishops and Priests.

The Pope issued Summorum Pontificum in 2007, he clearly made it law that if the Extraordinary Form of the Mass was asked for that pastors and Bishops (if they are asked to intervene) are to make provisions for their faithful. Read the Motu Proprio if you are unfamiliar with the law regarding the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The document is simple and straightforward

It is a matter of justice and obedience that the pastors of the Church obey the supreme lawgiver of the Church.
Justice toward those lay faithful that ask for the Mass, obedience to the one who has authority over them...namely Jesus Christ whose authority is exercised through His Vicar on earth...the Pope.

It is time for Bishops and priests to stop treating those faithful who have preference for the Extraordinary form of the Mass like lepers. Many of these lay faithful desire to remain faithful to the truth, ever close to the Church, and simply desire to worship in a manner that the Church herself has declared to be legitimate.

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Here is one Papal Nuncio that gets it. His name is Archbishop Gullickson.
The following is an excerpt from a sermon he posted on his website: Here

"Why, even three years after the issuance of Summorum Pontificum (just to name one example), are well-meaning lay folk still treated with such great disdain by no less than bishops, bishops in communion (of heart, soul, mind and strength?) with the Successor of St. Peter when they ask for Mass in Latin? Is this anything other than blind hypocrisy (the plank!)? You tolerate no small amount of bad taste, bad music and caprice, while begrudging some few a port in the storm of liturgical abuse which seems not to want to subside? Can we be after His own Heart and not just claim to be members of Christ’s Body while still acting so at odds with the example set by the Holy One of God, meek and humble of heart? Such prelates are at counter or cross purposes to the sense in which the Church wants to go; they are ignoring what the Spirit is saying to the Churches and doing so with a backhand to some who are branded common and contemptible, but certainly not in the eyes of Christ... Let me say it more clearly! My issue is with the contempt shown for an outstretched hand, contempt such as would not be shown toward someone asking for some other benefit.

When the Holy Father speaks of his will to see these two forms of the Roman Rite (ordinary and extraordinary) enrich each other, when he and others express eagerness for a recovery of the sense of the sacred in our churches and in how we worship, I am convinced that he has indicated the true nature of the rupture which has indeed occurred and needs to be mended or healed. You would think that those in communion with the Pope would seek to understand him and embrace his point of view. There is too much room for caprice and hence the need to reform contemporary Catholic worship. This is evidenced time and again, by way of one example, in the sense of helplessness many priests experience when confronted by musical groups moving into church with inappropriate repertoires, not to mention the dance and puppet troupes which should have been banished long ago. If a bishop does not want to discipline at least he can respect and foster those seeking good order."

well said! Bravo!!

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BTW: The times are a changing if you haven't figured it out yet.

Even with many Bishops obstinate to the wishes of Holy Mother the Church the Extraordinary Form of the Mass is once again finding itself back into the lifeblood of everyday Catholics.

For instance in the Arlington, VA Diocese 1 out of every 5 parishes offers the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.

Long Live Benedict XVI - The Pope of Christian Unity!!

An Important Message

2011-01-29T20:30:00.002-05:00

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Sober Inebriation Weblog is proud to bring you this important liturgical message from Cardinal Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI the Pope of Christian Unity.

"It is never just an event in the life of a community that finds itself in a particular place. No, to celebrate the Eucharist means to enter into the openness of a glorification of God that embraces both heaven and earth, and openness effected by the Cross and Resurrection. Christian liturgy is never just an event organized by a particular group or set of people or even by a particular local Church." (Spirit of the Liturgy)

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Next time you find yourself amidst the latest trendy "theme Mass" in your local parish....DON'T PANIC...take a deep breath, make reparation for the offense committed, and then go out and purchase for the kind Pastor "The Spirit of the Liturgy" by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.

Pray - Speak Out - Defend

2011-01-20T14:36:00.005-05:00

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"If you want peace, work for justice"
Pope Paul VI

Blessings to the hundreds of thousands who will be marching this weekend in Washington D.C.

Pray that our country will overturn Roe V. Wade

Pray that our country will be a country that protects and respects the sacredness of human life from natural conception to natural death.

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Monks make and donate casket for 9 year old Christina Green

2011-01-13T15:10:00.002-05:00

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A very touching and generous gesture.

CNN ran the story.

A group of Trappist monks in Iowa have donated a handmade casket to bury 9-year-old Christina Green, the youngest victim in the Saturday attack that killed six and wounded 13 others in Arizona.

Sam Mulgrew, the general manager of Trappist Caskets in Peosta, Iowa, told CNN a family representative of the Greens reached out to the monks at New Melleray Abbey near Dubuque after her death. The custom-made casket arrived in Tucson, Arizona, Wednesday morning.

"We didn't want to send an adult coffin that would be too big, we wanted something just for her," said Mulgrew, who is not a monk but who manages the 11-year-old casket business that is part of the abbey.

The casket, crafted from red oak, was made especially for 9-year-old Christina, Mulgrew said. She died after a gunman opened fire at a constituents event held by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically wounded in the shooting.

Christina's funeral is scheduled for Thursday in Tucson.

The lid of the casket was inscribed with her name, date of birth and death, and a cross. The family also will receive five small keepsake crosses hewn from the same wood as the casket, Mulgrew said.

Before the casket was sent from the monastery in Iowa to Arizona, the monks gave the casket a special blessing inside their chapel on Tuesday.

The monks are Roman Catholic and are part of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance. They make and sell custom caskets with "reverence for nature," according to the Trappist Caskets website.

"Along with prayer and study, our casket ministry is an extension of our sacred work. We labor quietly with our hands in support of our life of simplicity," says a statement on the website.

Mulgrew said when a child dies it hits the monks particularly hard. He said they don't like to sell children's caskets; instead, a "child casket fund" they started often covers the costs.

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Our Lady of Fatima asked us to Pray the Rosary to make reparation for sin, and to pray the rosary for peace.

Pray the Rosary with those two intentions.

So many souls need us to pray for them.

Great Things at Catechetical Foundations

2011-01-07T09:13:00.003-05:00

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Catechetical Foundations is growing!

You can be assured of sound faithful teaching and the opportunity to really grow as a Catechist.

I encourage you to share this site with as many people as you know.

Go there and see what is offered: Catechetical Foundations

For Unto Us A Child Is Given

2010-12-28T21:36:00.002-05:00

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It is one of my favorites.

Handel's Messiah is played frequently in our home during the Feast of Christmas. In my opinion it is one of the best pieces of musical art ever. I have yet to go actually hear it live. It is on my list to do in this life.

I hope you are having a blessed and Merry Christmas!

Our Lady of Expectation

2010-12-23T22:36:00.003-05:00

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I really like the picture.

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I never knew that there used to be an actual feast in the Roman Calendar called "The feast of Our Lady of Expectation".
She is still venerated under this title in Bulgaria and Italy.

Catholic Church Conservation has more pictures and info: HERE

Here is a little more info from the Catholic Encyclopedia

Idaho State player's totally sweet foul shot!

2010-12-23T22:15:00.002-05:00

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The laws of physics are awesome, I have no idea what the statistical possibility is of the ball staying on the front of the rim is, but it sure isn't very high. I have been watching and playing basketball for a long time, and this is a first for me. To cool!

Ad Orientem

2010-12-20T23:35:00.002-05:00

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The following information has already made good rounds on a number of Catholic weblogs, but being that this is an issue at the heart of the "reform of the reform" of the Mass, it is worth the post.

Dom Mark Daniel Kirby, OSB, has written a piece on his blog, Vultus Christi, titled Five Years of "Ad Orientem".

In his article, Dom Kirby details his history and experience in celebrating Mass ad orientem, not to mention his experiences in celebrating both forms of the Roman liturgy. He lists ten reasons for celebrating Mass ad orientem. Here they are:

What are the advantages of standing at the altar ad orientem, as I have experienced them over the past two years? I can think of ten straight off:

1. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is experienced as having a theocentric direction and focus.
2. The faithful are spared the tiresome clerocentrism that has so overtaken the celebration of Holy Mass in the past forty years.
3. It has once again become evident that the Canon of the Mass (Prex Eucharistica) is addressed to the Father, by the priest, in the name of all.
4. The sacrificial character of the Mass is wonderfully expressed and affirmed.
5. Almost imperceptibly one discovers the rightness of praying silently at certain moments, of reciting certain parts of the Mass softly, and of cantillating others.
6. It affords the priest celebrant the boon of a holy modesty.
7. I find myself more and more identified with Christ, Eternal High Priest and Hostia perpetua, in the liturgy of the heavenly sanctuary, beyond the veil, before the Face of the Father.
8. During the Canon of the Mass I am graced with a profound recollection.
9. The people have become more reverent in their demeanour.
10. The entire celebration of Holy Mass has gained in reverence, attention, and devotion.

I pray that more and more priests will return to the Christian tradition of praying with the people in one direction toward Christ our Lord our East.

Inspired by Maximilian

2010-12-02T21:24:00.002-05:00

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He has always inspired me. He had an incredible devotion to our Lady, and sought to conquer the world for Christ, through the total consecration of all people to the Immaculata.

Be close to her, give your heart to her, make sacrifices in reparation for the many sacrileges and blasphemies against our Lord and His Blessed Mother. Be truly devoted to our Lady, and she will certainly draw you most completely to Christ.

What to make of all the - "Pope and Condoms" statments...

2010-11-26T00:00:00.007-05:00

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The Pope and his statements on the use of Condoms.....

I have purposely not commented on this issue these last few days, rather I have watched, read, and tried my best to understand .

Read Father Finigan at "The Hermeneutic of Continuity" on the issue.

In my estimation he has done the best job helping sort this out.
I also agree with his conclusions.

His post titled "Molotov cocktail of planetary magnitude" really helped.

Bottom line - The Pope did NOT endorse the use of Condoms.
He clearly stated that they were not a "real" or "moral" solution.

The example he gave was not in any way an endorsement for people with HIV to continue to do as they please, as long as they wear a condom. Alas, many in the mainstream media are reporting things this way.

Fr. Z has good posts on this as well: HERE & HERE

Make sure to get the right information on this.
The mainstream media is doing a hack-job on the whole issue.

Catechetical Foundations

2010-11-19T10:30:00.003-05:00

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If you have time go check out what is going on with
Catechetical Foundations.

Great things are happening in the Church! Catechetical Foundations is responding to the Crises of the Faith by providing solid Catechesis, and faithful material.

Learn the Faith, become well equipped, so as to give the reasons for the Hope that is in you.

Feast of the Antlers

2010-11-14T20:17:00.005-05:00

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Tomorrow is the opening day of firearm deer season in the state of Michigan.

The Feast of the Antlers, as I refer to it, is a two week long celebration.

I have taken a few days off work to head out and chase down that ever elusive Whitetail buck.

"By the intercession of St. Hubert, patron saint of hunters, may you always honor God the Creator, who set man in dominion over all the animals.

May the Lord God make you an honorable hunter who respects fellow hunters, the animals, and all creation;

May He keep safe you and all who share the field or the forest;

May He make all hunters proud of their kill, generous with their meat, and thankful in all circumstances.

May God bless you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." (prayers for hunters)

St. Hubert.....Pray for us.

Happy Feast of the Antlers!

Return.....

2010-11-04T20:45:00.002-05:00

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Return to Prayer

Pray especially for those souls in Purgatory who have no one to pray for them.

Java Review

2010-10-30T11:35:00.002-05:00

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Sober Inebriation is happy to help advocate for the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming and their growing community.
These Monks roast and sell fair trade coffee as a means to help support themselves.
Every time you purchase their coffee you help them, you help the Church!

Recently a kind reader of Sober Inebriation Weblog emailed me a review of Mystic Monk Coffee
purchased through one of our links.

Mystic Monk Carmel - very smooth, mild flavor

Cowboy Blend - much stronger blend, good strong flavor, smooth but not as smooth as Carmel

Mystic Monk Blend - milder taste than Cowboy or Hermits, though still bold, slightly bitter at first

Midnight Vigils Blend - great, medium bodied coffee

Hermits Bold Blend - excellent bold flavor, preferred to Midnight Vigils, had a full coffee taste without being bitter

French Vanilla - the best of the flavors that I tried; the flavors blended well so that you tasted the vanilla and coffee together, not separately

Hazelnut - good flavor, medium bodied coffee

"Overall, this is excellent coffee. The only thing that I didn't like is that the grind was a little rough, I expected it to be smoother. However, I am not sure if this affects the flavor of the coffee or the brewing process. This could be avoided by purchasing whole beans and grinding it yourself. As for the website, ordering process, etc., I was very pleased with that. The website is well done, and they have coffee "clubs" (similar to Gevalia), as well as sample and gift packs, and the shipping was expedient. Also, how many places do you know of where you can buy great coffee and a Gregorian chant CD? Our overall experience with Mystic Monk has been great, and I can't wait to try the remaining flavors. Thanks for providing the link!"

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So what are you waiting for?

It is the Fall season, the Monks need a new Monastery to provide for their increasing ranks, and you can directly help the growth of the Church! 100% certain your money goes to a loftier cause!

Please use one of our links to purchase this wonderful coffee,

By doing so you help support our blogging efforts in a small way too.

The Catholic Vote

2010-10-28T20:17:00.003-05:00

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We are only a few days away from election day. Fellow Catholics it is important that we hit the polls and vote. Get out the Catholic Vote.

Archbishop Raymond Burke, President of the Apostolic Signatura and Bishop Emeritus of St. Louis is featured in a news piece today with CNA. The piece is relevant to how we as Catholics are to approach the issue of voting...Catholic.

Here is the piece from CNA:

(CNA/EWTN News).- Cardinal-designate Raymond Burke stressed to Catholic voters in a recent interview that they have a “very serious” obligation to uphold the truth of “moral law” in the upcoming mid-term elections. He specifically cited protecting unborn children from abortion and defending traditional marriage.

The American Vatican official, who was recently named by the Holy Father as a future cardinal, spoke on Oct. 20 to Thomas McKenna, president of Catholic Action for Faith and Family, just hours after the Pope’s announcement.

Cardinal-designate Burke opened his remarks by saying that “as a bishop it’s my obligation, in fact, to urge the faithful to carry out their civic duty in accord with their Catholic Faith.” Clarifying that he does not endorse particular candidates, the prelate also spoke of his duty to relay “principles” to the faithful to help inform their vote.

Speaking on the contentious topic of abortion in the upcoming mid-terms, Cardinal-designate Burke said one “can never vote for someone who favors absolutely the right to choice of a woman to destroy a human life in her womb or the right to a procured abortion.”

“You may in some circumstances where you don’t have any candidate who is proposing to eliminate all abortion, choose the candidate who will most limit this grave evil in our country,” he explained, “but you could never justify voting for a candidate who not only does not want to limit abortion but believes that it should be available to everyone.”

The Vatican prelate also addressed the issue of same-sex “marriage,” asserting that maintaining the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman is not unjust discrimination.

“Where there is unjust discrimination –for instance, where you say that a fellow human being, because of the color of his skin, is not a part of the same race as someone, say, who is a Caucasian, that is a kind of discrimination which is unjust and immoral,” he said.

However, he added, “there is a discrimination which is perfectly just and good, and that is the discrimination between what is right and what is wrong.”

“Between what is according to our human nature and what is contrary to our human nature. So the Catholic Church, in teaching that sexual acts between persons of the same sex are intrinsically evil, are against nature itself, is simply announcing the truth, helping people to discriminate right from wrong in terms of their own activities.”

In his interview, Cardinal-designate Burke also urged Catholic politicians who have caused “scandal” by endorsing positions contrary to moral law to repent through a “genuine reform of heart.”

“That’s done through the Sacrament of Penance,” he said, adding that political figures must publicly “renounce” their errors, recognizing and recanting the “evil” they have promoted.

Cardinal-designate Burke's remarks on voting can be viewed at: http://www.catholicaction.org/

CNA has a video of Archbishop (soon to be Cardinal) Burke
regarding the issue of voting as well: HERE

The Watchman

2010-10-26T10:10:00.003-05:00

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When I was in College, I helped found a household of Catholic Christian Men, where we could keep each other accountable in our moral, and prayer life. Our spirituality was founded on the concept of the Old Testament Watchmen, who would wait, and keep watch for the coming of the Lord. They would guard the Holy City - and protect it.

The name of our household was The Watchmen of Zion.

I came across a story the other day that reminded me of my call to always be a watchman.
I thought it was an inspiring story.

It is about a man who keeps watch and helps those who are in desperate need.

LifeSite News ran the piece early last week. Here is a brief excerpt:

"They call retired salesman Don Ritchie "the watchman." Each day, as he sits in his favorite chair at his cliffside home, he looks up and scans the precipice that takes the lives of approximately 50 suicide jumpers each year, trying to discern the intentions of visitors.

When somebody seems to be lingering too long at the cliff, he walks out to talk to him.

"You can't just sit there and watch them," Ritchie told the AP in a recent interview. "You gotta try and save them. It's pretty simple."

Now 84 years of age and struggling with cancer, Ritchie doesn't have the energy to grab people and pull them back from the brink of death, as he once did. But he says that he will always be there to talk to those who might be thinking of ending their lives."

You can read the rest of the story: HERE

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There is still good in the world, and we have the capacity,
with God's grace to choose the good every day.

Good News! Carmelite Monks of the Immaculate Heart of Mary receive approval to build monastary

2010-10-17T19:47:00.004-05:00

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The Carmelite Monks of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Wyoming have been given the approval to move ahead with their plans to build a new Monastery in Wyoming.

These are the same Monks who sell Coffee to help make ends meet.

It is very good coffee too!

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Catholic Online has a great article about the news of the Monastery: HERE

Here are a few tidbits from the story... (but do read the whole article)

"At an open public hearing before the Park County Board of Commissioners, the monks were given unanimous approval to proceed with building the new monastery. The Monks of Mt Carmel know that their calling to live a radical monastic life, in fidelity to the original vision of the Carmelites, is special. They embrace it courageously in and for the Lord and His Church. Now they will be able to build a new Mt. Carmel for America. When the history of the Third Millennium is written, this monastery will be one of many where historians recount the rebirth of Christendom."

"The Carmelite monks in Wyoming are hardy men with even hardier hearts, dedicated to the Lord and His Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. They have revived the ancient tradition of Carmel, returning to the original charism and the ancient traditions."

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The new property will also allow the Monks to build hermitages, and to begin ranching. These truly are manly men, who live a radical monastic life of prayer, work, and community. What a blessing that this Monastery will be here in the States.

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This is good news and gives good reason to stock up on their fine coffee! You can do so by clicking any Mystic Monk Coffee link you see here on this Blog. Every time you do, and you purchase coffee, you help the Monks, you help them strengthen the life of the Church, and you even help me in a small way with my blogging efforts.

With Mystic Monk Coffee you are always certain that your money is helping build a Kingdom that is out of this world.

Bishop Slattery of Tulsa - Speaks

2010-10-12T19:43:00.002-05:00

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The Eastern Oklahoma Catholic has part of a speech given by Bishop Slattery to the students of Thomas Aquinas College in California. In it Bishop Slattery discusses the Holy Mass.

Here is a sample of some of his words:

"All of this leads me to an important consideration regarding the necessity of receiving the liturgy from the Church, rather than inventing it afresh Sunday after Sunday, or having our liturgy committees cobble it together like industrious shoemakers. I would like to propose that the most important thing we can do to foster and authentic liturgy, the most important thing we can do to implement the vision of the Second Vatican Council, is to return to the notion of a received liturgy, a liturgical that comes to us in place and properly arranged, without the need of our creativity or ingenuity to be successfully celebrated."

[...]

"In trying to articulate the sense of loss and dislocation that accompanied the abrupt liturgical break that took place in our liturgical celebrations in the '60s, I am drawn to Josef Cardinal Ratzinger's analysis of the situation. Cardinal Ratzinger, now His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, described the principle that legitimized this break in our liturgical tradition as a hermeneutic, or a perspective of discontinuity. Those who accept this -- and their number is still legion -- show an overriding dislike of anything that may have come down to use from past generation."

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I particularly like "having our liturgy committee's cobble it (the Mass) together like industrious shoemakers." (in his reference to present day liturgical innovation).

To read the whole article go: HERE

A True Catechist

2010-10-06T16:32:00.003-05:00

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Long Live Benedict XVI

Extra-Ordinary Monkey Business

2010-09-29T21:10:00.002-05:00

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Extra-Ordinary Monkey Business.

Granny Snarks has a new thing going.

Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

2010-09-20T20:14:00.003-05:00

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The Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is located in Wyoming.

This contemplative order of Carmelite monks is growing.

They are also hoping to expand and build a beautiful monastery for the glory of God

See: Here

Here is some general information about their order from their website:

In a solitary monastery under the Rocky Mountains in northern Wyoming, the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming seek to perpetuate the charism of the Blessed Virgin Mary, living the Marian life as prescribed by the primitive Carmelite Rule and the ancient monastic observance. This new monastery of contemplative monks lives a life of faithful orthodoxy to the Magisterium, where joy and peace abound in a manly, agrarian way of life. The Carmelite Monks wear the Holy Habit faithfully, which includes the brown Carmelite scapular and white mantle of our Lady of Mount Carmel. These young Roman Catholic monks live a full, reverent, and traditional Carmelite liturgical life, with the Divine Office and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass being prayed in Latin with Gregorian Chant.

Desiring to become great saints, this community of strictly cloistered contemplative men has a vehement longing to live the entirety of the customs and charism established by Ss. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila in the Discalced Carmelite Reform, namely: strict monastic enclosure, two hours of contemplative prayer daily, study and spiritual reading, and manual labor. The Carmelite monk may aspire to be a lay brother or a priest who celebrates the Sacraments, gives spiritual direction, and preaches retreats to the monastery retreatants. Once mature in the spiritual life, a Carmelite monk may aspire to become a solitary hermit in the mountains, alone with the Alone. With a burning love of God and a missionary zeal for souls, the Carmelite monk immolates his life in the vows of obedience, chastity and poverty for the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the entire world.

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They are also the producers of Mystic Monk Coffee. They sell great coffee as a means to help make ends meet.

You will notice that Sober Inebriation Weblog is now proud to advertise their coffee.
By clicking any Mystic Monk link on my site you will help the monks, and in a real way help the Church!

Buy coffee, support the Monks, you can't go wrong with that.
Their coffee would make great gift items for friends and family too.

Great Britain Wowed by Pope Benedict

2010-09-20T19:17:00.002-05:00

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I have to say that in my opinion Pope Benedict's visit to Great Britain could go down as one of the most influential
Papal Visits ever.

His speeches, homilies, and addresses were articulate, profound, and struck the core of the deep relationship between faith and reason. He won over Great Britain in a humble and holy manner....with the truth, and left his enemies befuddled, silenced, reduced to the fanatic fringe. He spoke with profound eloquence, reason and logic. Great Britain responded with open ears, and respect, and awe.

He is the Pope of Christian Unity, and at this period of history the Church is being blessed with Greatness.

Benedict the Great?

I am not opposed to thinking so.

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You can read his addresses, speeches, and homilies: HERE

(I think Catholics and any person is crazy for not reading his addresses, speeches, etc. on this historic visit)

The Prime Minister of England put it well... "You have really challenged the whole country to sit up and think"

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Only...he was not just challenging Great Britain. He is the Vicar of Christ on earth! His words were a challenge to us all.

Long Live Benedict XVI.

American Family Association Calls For Boycott of Home Depot

2010-09-11T21:55:00.006-05:00

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The American Family Association gives their reasons.

See for yourselves: Here

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Sober Inebriation Weblog professes that Marriage is a Holy Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ
and can only take place between one man and one woman. This sacrament is "ordered toward the good of the spouses, and the procreation and education of offspring" (CCC 1601).

Clearly The Home Depot does not advocate that.

How should a faithful Catholic respond?

I would really be interested in any comments to this question. I ask it in all sincerity.
However, if anyone for one second starts ranting on and on....blah, blah...God made "Adam and eve...not Adam and Steve...then I will delete your comments.

I am looking for an intelligent discussion to the issue of how Catholics should respond to Home Depot.

Should faithful Catholics boycott or not?

2010-09-11T21:55:00.001-05:00

911

2010-09-11T15:58:00.003-05:00

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Take a moment today to remember.

Pray for the living and the dead.

Well Said....G.K. Chesterton

2010-09-08T20:59:00.003-05:00

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"A good translator will be the first to agree that no translation is good; or, at any rate, good enough. How are we to find eight short English words which actually stand for 'Sumit unus, sumunt mille; quantum isti, tantum ille'? How is anybody really to render the sound of the 'Pange Lingua,' when the very first syllable has a clang like the clash of cymbals?"

-G.K. Chesterton (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas).

H/T: Orbis Catholicus

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No more verbal clanging...Keep Mass In Latin!

Tradition finds a home in Ireland

2010-09-07T06:01:00.002-05:00

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The famous Island and the Faith of Ages almost go hand and hand.

The Institute of Christ the King has a home in Ireland.

Last Nights Dinner

2010-09-04T08:37:00.003-05:00

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Bi Bim Bop

Bi Bim Bop (Bap) is a traditional Korean dish consisting of rice, vegetables, and sometimes meat.
It is served in a piping hot stone bowl.

The veggies can vary. In the case here my wife whipped this up with what we had (cucumber, carrot, and kimchi).
All of the veggies were fried in sesame oil (except for the Kimchi, egg, and gim (seaweed) ) before being added to the bowl.

It is finally topped with sesame seed, sesame oil, and Gochujang (red pepper paste). All of which I like to stir in before I stuff my face.

One of my favorite meals....so good...too good!!!

It goes really well with an ice cold glass of Makju (beer).

Women In The Sanctuary

2010-08-31T21:44:00.003-05:00

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H/T: Fr. Z

Hope for the Church with "Summer Sounds"

2010-08-28T19:28:00.002-05:00

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I viewed this video the other day and I was very impressed.
It left me with increased hope that someday we will no longer have the Gather Hymnal.
I long for that day.
There is nothing worse than crappy music that doesn't really belong in the Liturgy.

Vatican II's document on the Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium puts it best when it states that Gregorian Chant

"Should be given pride of place in liturgical services." (SC 116)

BTW: Young people can sing and do appreciate Sacred music. They just need to be taught.

Again this video gave me increased hope and solidified a little more for me that there really is a New Liturgical Movement taking place in the Church. One that is based on continuity with the Church's Liturgical Patrimony. That is reassuring.
I look forward to the day when I will no longer be greeted in the Divine Liturgy by a priest shouting "Good Morning!"

Or standing for a "Gather Song" (whatever that is supposed to be??)

Or having to endure "Praise and Worship" Masses

Or even worse having to endure endless clapping because some pastor has decided to affirm everyone in his parish....

Stop the madness, return to the sacredness, instruct the youth liturgically with the mind of the Church!

It is a hard and shameful reality that many Catholics feel foreign when confronted with their own Roman Catholic Liturgical wealth. How sad.

Ok I am off my soap box now....really this video is just fantastic. I pray that this type of education will begin to happen in many other places in the world.

Benedictine Monks of Clear Creek Monastary: Living the Liturgy

2010-08-26T19:51:00.002-05:00

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Remarkable calling. Incredible lives. I know that their sacrifice gains for many of us graces we possibly couldn't have merited on our own.

Discover more about Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek Monastery: Here

Their vocation crises is that they don't have enough room for the increase of postulants.
maybe you might want to help with their building efforts: Here

Free Gregorian Chant Downloads

2010-08-23T23:08:00.002-05:00

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Miles Christi is a relatively young religious order.

Their weekend retreats focusing on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are amazing.

They offer them in many parts of the country.

A brief synopsis from their website:

The Spiritual Exercises are a weekend silent retreat with spiritual talks and time for personal meditation in silence.

The spiritual conferences are preached by the priests of Miles Christi, according to the method and the principles of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Apart from the conferences and time for prayer, each day there will also be Holy Mass, Holy Rosary, and opportunity for confessions.

As experience has shown throughout the centuries, the Spiritual Exercises have proven to be an excellent means of conversion and sanctification. In addition, the Magisterium of the Church has commended them numerous times.

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I have personally made the Spiritual Exercises with the Priests of Miles Christi. The retreats changed my life and have helped me immensely in my own personal growth in sanctity.

Check them out and see if there is a retreat being held near you. Then go. Make time for God.

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BTW: They also provide some free Gregorian Chant downloads that are easy to learn.
Free downloads: HERE

They are basic traditional chants. Don't let our own Catholic Culture die. Re-learn the chants of the Church, teach them to your children, advocate for it in your Masses in your parish.

The difference between a terrorist and a liturgist

2010-08-19T13:36:00.002-05:00

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Sent to me by a friend today.

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Question: What's the difference between a terrorist and a liturgist?

Answer: You can negotiate with a terrorist.

Obama's Land Grab Agenda

2010-08-18T14:36:00.005-05:00

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See for yourselves.

Michelle Malkin is running the piece: HERE

Interesting no?

Angry Atheists

2010-08-18T14:08:00.002-05:00

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Say it like it is.

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Thoughts?

Awesome Alert!! : How to celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2010-08-17T09:20:00.003-05:00

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WOW!!!!!

Awesome alert!!!!!!!!!!!

This is how celebrating the Truth of Mary's Assumption should be done.

You have to see this....really! Just amazing, incredible, I have no more adjectives.

Go see for yourself.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(after viewing please hit the comments and give my your best adjective to describe this)

Mine is "Bravura"

Why we need Summorum Pontificum.....

2010-08-16T12:26:00.003-05:00

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WARNING: The following video material is highly offensive.

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I need a moment to rant......

As I sit here and practically heave up what I had for lunch, I can't help but go back in my mind to a conversation I had earlier this year about the Mass. A particular person was trying to convince me that the Ordinary Form of the Mass was more close to what it was like when Jesus had the last supper, and since the Extraordinary Form was not, this person felt the Extraordinary Form should not be celebrated. Obviously, I disagreed. Obviously, this person had no freak'n clue what they were talking about.

I don't need to get into every argument here as to why they were wrong. But seriously - It is too bad that in the Gospels they left out the part about the scantily clad, semi-erotic dancers at the last supper. I mean given today's culture, the Gospels might relate better to people if we had more strip-club-esk dancing in the sanctuary. Maybe the message of Christ as commonly presented wouldn't be so polarizing today if the Council Father's of Vatican II would have explicitly stated that semi-erotic dancing would now be reintroduced into the Liturgy. You know like how things were done when Jesus celebrated the last supper.

Oh, I just remembered that was left out because it was agreed upon that the Spirit of Vatican II would make semi-erotic liturgical dance spontaneously self-evident to the post-conciliar enlightened, who upon waking up in 1970 realized that the way the Church guarded, celebrated, and handed on the Mass for almost 2000 years was wrong, and bad, very bad indeed. I mean....come on...we need to get with the times...right?

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Thank God that we no longer have to rely on Joe Blow Liberal in the parish to spoon feed us rotten potatas about how the Mass as most parishes celebrate it today, is really closer to what it was like when Jesus had the last supper.

Anyone can access the Catechism online. Anyone can get the authentic teachings of the Church from say
Papal Encyclical Online.

Or getting in contact with Catechetical Foundations to help.

We have easy access to the truth, and we also have new advantages in making the truth known.

We also have Summorum Pontificum!

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Thank God for Pope Benedict and the gift of Summorum Pontificum.

Institute of Catholic Culture

2010-08-16T12:16:00.002-05:00

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The following site was brought to my attention the other day.

It is way to good of a site to keep silent about it.

I give you....

The Institute of Catholic Culture

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It is a wealth of great information. Go check it out, I bet there will be much there to interest you.

Social Media Rosary Crusade

2010-08-13T10:22:00.005-05:00

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The outstanding weblog of Rorate Caeli is asking all to pray the Rosary on August 15, asking our Lady to halt the building of the Mosque at Ground Zero in New York:

Much attention in the United States has been paid recently to the pending construction of a mosque near Ground Zero where the World Trade Towers once stood.

Named the Cordoba Mosque, clearly in remembrance of the Muslim conqueror of Catholic Spain and the taking over of the Cordoba Cathedral as a sign of conquest (Muslim conquerors often took over Catholic churches and desecrated them, turning them into mosques as a sign of victory), the New York City Mosque is scheduled to open, of course, on 9/11 – 2011.

While there are well-publicized efforts underway to stop the construction – construction unfortunately but not surprisingly supported by the mayor of New York and its city council – and we encourage all to participate in lawful protests, Catholics know there is but one hope to stop this slap in the face of the victims of 9/11 – Our Lady.

On Facebook, there is a holy effort underway to stop this undertaking, beginning this Sunday, on the Feast of the Assumption. As the group states: “Pope St. Pius V trusted in the power of Our Lady's intercession through the Holy Rosary to save Christendom. He asked Christians everywhere to pray the Rosary for the victory of the united Christian fleet against the Mohammedan Turks. On 7 October 1571, at the Battle of Lepanto, the Turkish fleet was defeated, and the Catholic Church now celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary every year on October 7. … 15 August is also the 90th anniversary of the ‘Miracle on the Vistula,’ when the outnumbered Polish army drove back the invading Bolshevik army. Many of the Polish soldiers saw a vision of Our Lady during the battle.”

Please join this crusade by praying a Rosary on Sunday, August 15, to Our Lady for its success. For those of us who lived through 9/11 personally, and for those of you around the world who watched in horror and don’t care to relive it again, please consider lending your support.

Our Lady of Victory, ora pro nobis!

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Sober Inebriation Weblog is happy to help spread this holy effort.
Catholics and All Christians of Good Will pray the Rosary on August 15, beseeching our Lady this one request.

Sacrilege Alert: Catholic parish to host Episcopal Church ordination of gay rights proponent

2010-08-12T10:38:00.003-05:00

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Katharine Jefferts Schori, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, will ordain an Episcopal cleric from New York State as the Episcopal bishop of Alaska on September 4. The ceremony will take place at a Catholic parish in Anchorage.

Until recently, Lattime was a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester’s Committee for Gay and Lesbian Ministry, which “seeks to further the cause of recognition and legitimization of lesbian and gay relationships within the church and in civil society.” Lattime is married and has three children.

“Catholic churches are consecrated or blessed buildings which have an important theological and liturgical significance for the Catholic community,” the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity notes in its 1993 Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism. “They are therefore generally reserved for Catholic worship. However, if priests, ministers or communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church do not have a place or the liturgical objects necessary for celebrating worthily their religious ceremonies, the diocesan Bishop may allow them the use of a church or a Catholic building and also lend them what may be necessary for their services.”

There are four Episcopal Church congregations in Anchorage.

H/T: Catholic Culture

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To voice your concerns/displeasure: (do so with charity)

Archdiocese of Anchorage
Office of the Bishop
Most Rev. Roger L. Schwietz, OMI
225 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-297-7755 (Bishops Number)

Real Estate For Life

2010-08-12T07:21:00.003-05:00

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Help build the culture of Life.

Take a moment and go find out about Real Estate For Life.

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Real Estate For Life is a ministry in conjunction with St. Michael's Media

Statement of Bishop Thomas Olmsted on Proposition 8

2010-08-11T10:51:00.004-05:00

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Bishop Thomas Ohlmsted of Phoenix has made a public statement on the ruling against Proposition 8.

See: The Diocesan Newspaper "The Catholic Sun" for the statement

Here are a few quotes to wet your appetite...

"What is at stake here is cultural sanity and viability. Defending the clear nature and purpose of marriage is not discrimination against homosexual persons. Why did God create both men and women, not just one sex?"

"Is it really all that difficult to fathom that God had a plan for marriage, which He wove into the very fabric of human nature?"

"Is ours an enlightened age that is wiser than previous ones? Are activist judges helping us finally to rise up and overthrow the “hang ups” of billions of people who have gone before us and to free us from the shackles of religion? Or is another explanation not possible: that these activist judges are products of the ideology of the sexual revolution who are now imposing their ideology upon our society?"

"Love and truth go hand-in-hand. Everyone who experiences true love knows this — we want those we love to know the truth. As Catholics, we want to love people authentically and not in a mediocre way that would ignore dangers in a person’s life out of a shallow concern for political correctness. We need never worry that speaking the truth clearly and charitably is a violation of love."

And there is more....but to go read the statement for yourself: HERE

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Bishop Ohlmsted's statement reminded me of a post Adam Raha co-editor of Sober Inebriation Weblog posted on this subject in May of 2009. The title of his post was: (it was a fantastic analysis)

The "Liberation" and "Protection" of man into Oblivion

The United States Is Bankrupt?

2010-08-11T09:18:00.003-05:00

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Have a go at this and then let me know what you think.

U.S. Is Bankrupt And We Don't Even Know

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Our hope can only be in God. He is all there is. The material things pass away, but what will be our consolation when our castles crumble before us.

Will we trust enough to the point where we won't worry about what we will wear, what we will eat, or how we shall dress.

A few weeks ago a priest gave a homily relating the gospel to the current financial crises the US finds itself in. Ultimately, he told us in the congregation to go and first put our souls in order, and secondly put our homes in order. Wise words.

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Are you living simply? What is it that you cling to? Is everything that you have necessary? Can you go without so many pleasures in this life?

Statement of Bishop Jamie Soto on Proposition 8

2010-08-11T08:24:00.002-05:00

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Via: The California Catholic Daily

“Obstinate judicial impulse to innovate”

Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto has released the following statement in response to a federal judge’s ruling declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional:

The Honorable Judge Vaughn R. Walker chose to ignore the common sense decision of the California voters and overruled Proposition 8.

Efforts to restore the long-standing tradition of marriage to the California Constitution will continue at higher levels of the judiciary. Hopefully, the obstinate judicial impulse to innovate will give way to the prudent principle of the prevailing historical understanding of marriage that has served the common good for generations.

The respectful and reasonable distinction of marriage as the union of a man and woman should not suffer the discriminatory, intolerant disdain that some have sought to promulgate.

Hysteria has, unfortunately, become the hallmark of California discourse. It is important for the Catholic community and all Californians of good will not to be intimidated into silence and accommodation. What we believe and what we have proposed throughout this campaign is sound and sensible.

There is a prevailing cultural confusion about sexuality and marriage. This is not a reason to retreat into some kind of pious isolation. We must continue to engage the civic discourse and enrich the conversation with the beauty and grace of the Catholic moral tradition about marriage and family.

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Kudos to Bishop Soto for speaking so clearly and forcefully. Obviously the attack on the traditional notion of marriage is taking place elsewhere in this country. At times you feel overwhelmed with it, and have feelings of "oh well, what can I do about it?" However, the Bishops clear direction should be followed by us all : "There is a prevailing cultural confusion about sexuality and marriage. This is not a reason to retreat into some kind of pious isolation. We must continue to engage the civic discourse and enrich the conversation with beauty and grace..."

The truth is beautiful, the truth is goodness not just for some but for all people. We are obligated to know our faith, to profess our faith, and to shape the culture around us to radiate that faith. The Apostolate is the lay calling, it is the calling to be "in the secular ring" sort of speak. To convince those around us by living a life "worthy of the call", by responding to error with convincing and sound arguments enriching the minds around us with truth, beauty, and goodness.

Where has God led you in this life? How can you help shape our culture within the vocation, the job, the daily life you find yourself in? Really think and pray about this question, be resolved to respond.

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" I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,



: and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry."

(2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Does Catholic Answers have an answer? UPDATED

2010-08-09T11:21:00.005-05:00

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It is without a doubt that RealCatholicTV.com is causing a splash among mainstream Catholic Apologetic information online.

I have seen links to Michael Voris' "Vortex" on a number of different weblogs (such as "What Does The Prayer Really Say" and "The Hermeneutic of Continuity"). I have even posted links here at Sober Inebriation highlighting some of the solid material Real Catholic TV has produced.

It seems however that a battle is beginning to brew between the popular Catholic Apologetic Organization Catholic Answers and Real Catholic TV.

According to web users on Real Catholic TV's You Tube Channel Catholic Answers is banning people from commenting in their online forums if they openly support Real Catholic TV, and Michal Voris while posting on the forum.

Online users have stated the following about Catholic Answers:

"that if anyone starts a post about Michael Voris that person would be banned from Catholic Answers forums!"

"Catholic Answers pulled out the censor button and started banning people who support Michael Voris and Traditional Catholicism. Of course they say it was because Voris' threads were causing "occasions of sin" and bringing out the worst in people."

"I was banned from "Catholic Answers" for supporting this web site - they called it "commercial spam".

RealCatholicTV.com responded to their audience on their You Tube channel stating:

"Just a note to everyone; while I realize Catholic Answers have spoken against us, and that there may be issues with other Catholic media (real or imagined issues) it is hard for representatives of those organizations to respond here. So, can people just bear in mind that anything they say against or about another Catholic media outlet is something they cannot answer or address here? I don't mind the conversations - but just remember they cannot respond easily, so we should be calm and careful. "

"Occasions of Sin" , "bringing out the worst in people" , and "commercial spam"...Wow! If these allegations are true, Catholic Answers has made some pretty serious allegations. Allegations that would deserve a public explanation to its users. While I do not subscribe to Real Catholic TV what I have seen of their work so far has been faithful, and from my end I would like to know exactly why an organization like Catholic Answers is allegedly censoring its online users from supporting the work of Real Catholic TV.

Will Catholic Answers have an answer?

I hope so. I believe their own integrity as a Catholic organization depends on it.

UPDATE: I emailed the Forum Administrator for Catholic Answers. I will update if any development happens.

UPDATE #2: Below is the email I received today from Jo Benedict of Catholic Answers.

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?p=6920199#post6920199

Please see the post linked above, which explains that the temporary ban was put in place to address member behavior. The topic under discussion was not the problem; it was members' behavior in the course of discussing that topic. I hope this helps to clarify. God bless.

Jo Benedict
Supervising Moderator
Catholic Answers Forums
(http://forums.catholic.com)

While this is good to know, and it is good to expect and demand that users discuss with charity, this answer does not address the specific questions I asked Jo Benedict today. That is, were the original online forum threads censored because of the alleged reasons stated in the above post. Also, if you click the link CA provided you will notice that a ban at Catholic Answers still exists in reference to Roman Catholic TV. That is, a user may not start a thread about Roman Catholic TV. In existing threads RCTV can be brought up, but a user may not start a thread about Roman Catholic TV. Catholic Answers mentions that this may change. But as for now an online user of Catholic Answers will not be able to start a discussion thread about Michael Voris and Roman Catholic TV.

Why we need Summorum Pontificum

2010-08-08T12:33:00.004-05:00

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Make sure to thank God everyday for the gift of Pope Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum

Chapel in the Diocese of Mainz
Enough said.

H/T - Catholic Church Conservation

How to make Kimchi

2010-08-06T20:53:00.016-05:00

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My wife is from South Korea. She came to the states when she was seven. Thus Korean food has and is a part of our family.
Korean food is absolutely amazing.....especially Kimchi. I have been wanting to do this post for some time. So the last time my wonderful wife made Kimchi I was on hand to capture it.

First you have to cut the cabbage. Kimchi is made from Napa Cabbage. This is two heads.
Drain the cabbage and place in a large glass or metal bowl (my wife uses our large cooking pot).
Then you need to add plenty of salt. It needs to be good hearty sea salt.
Don't use the generic stuff, unless you want your Kimchi to turn out terrible .
Salt draws most of the moisture from the cabbage, causing it to lose it's firmness and wilt.

This is the salt my wife uses. She gets it at a local Health Food Market.
I can't tell you how much she uses, but she uses a lot of it.

Once salt is mixed in the cabbage sits like this for 2-3 hours.

While the cabbage salts make sure you get the other ingredients ready.
You will need one whole white onion, 1 1/2 bulb of garlic, green onion (all of this was cut up and used)
Ginger goes a long way, my wife cuts up a piece that is about one inch long. She then skins it and cuts it up really well.
You will also need premium fish sauce (1/6 cup), sesame seed (2 tablespoons), sugar (1 1/2 tablespoons), and Kochugaroo (which is crushed red pepper flakes - 2/3 cup). The red pepper flakes you can find at most Oriental markets).
Mix your onion, garlic, and ginger in a bowl (preferably glass or metal)
Mix the Kochugaroo, sugar, sesame seeds and fish sauce together then mix together with the onion, garlic and ginger.
Lastly add the green onion (cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces) and mix in with rest of ingredients.

It should come out looking like this. Go ahead and let it sit at room temp until the cabbage is done salting.
This will be added to the cabbage once the cabbage is done salting and any remaining moisture has been squeezed out.

Rinse the cabbage "many, many times" as is said in our home.
Once thoroughly rinsed, gently and firmly squeeze whatever moisture is left in the cabbage.
Don't just grab it and squeeze like a brute either. The picture here shows you the proper way to squeeze.
Remember the cabbage is weak and wilted. If you crunch it to hard the pieces will squish.
Put rinsed and squeezed cabbage into your glass or metal mixing bowl.

Add the Kimchi paste and mix well with hands.

You will need gloves to mix. Do not mix with a spoon or spatula. Mix with your hands. Gently.

Put Kimchi into glass jars. Use something you can get a good seal on. We prefer old mason jars. Leave a little room at the top Kimchi will expand a bit as it begins to ferment. Also over filling might cause the jars to leak a little.
Do not use plastic, glass containers work best.

Let the Kimchi stand at room temperature for 24-48hrs then keep refrigerated.
The Kimchi will continue to ferment even while being refrigerated, and should last 3-4 weeks.

Ahhhh...so good...too good!
Kimchi is usually served cold and accompanies practically every Korean meal.
For a quick snack my wife and I will eat it with just white rice, or
sometimes we fry some up with some tofu in sesame oil.

Update: I was told by my wife to include the following information. As the Kimchi ferments it get a little more sour. She says the Kimchi that is more sour at the 3-4 week mark is great for frying up. This is what she does. She will fry it up and eat it with rice, or have some veggies with it, or even use it for Kimchi soup....but that will have to be another entry.

Anyoungikasayo!

Every Catholic Must Oppose Certain Things

2010-08-03T21:37:00.002-05:00

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The following article was written by Father Michael Rodriguez for the El Paso Times
(emphasis mine)

I sincerely hope and pray that all El Paso Catholics will take to heart the precious and infallible teachings of Holy Mother Church in the moral sphere, particularly those most relevant to our city at this critical juncture.

Remember: Every single Catholic, out of fidelity to charity and truth, has the absolute duty to oppose (1) the murder of unborn babies, and (2) any and all government attempts to legalize homosexual unions.

Any Catholic who supports homosexual acts is, by definition, committing a mortal sin, and placing himself/herself outside of communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

Furthermore, a Catholic would be guilty of a most grievous sin of omission if he/she neglected to actively oppose the homosexual agenda, which thrives on deception and conceals its wicked horns under the guises of "equal rights," "tolerance," "who am I to judge?," etc.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a pastoral letter on marriage in November 2009, which is endorsed by our own local bishop, his Excellency, Most Rev. Armando X. Ochoa.

This pastoral letter states the following:

"Among the many blessings that God has showered upon us in Christ is the blessing of marriage, a gift bestowed by the Creator from the creation of the human race.

"The Church has taught throughout the ages that marriage is an exclusive relationship between one man and one woman.

"One of the most troubling developments in contemporary culture is the proposition that persons of the same sex can 'marry.' This proposal attempts to redefine the nature of marriage and the family and, as a result, harms both the intrinsic dignity of every human person and the common good of society.

"It is not unjust to oppose legal recognition of same-sex unions, because marriage and same-sex unions are essentially different realities. The denial of the social and legal status of marriage to forms of cohabitation that are not and cannot be marital is not opposed to justice; on the contrary, justice requires it."

I urge all of the Catholic faithful to treat homosexuals with love, understanding, and respect. At the same time, never forget that genuine love demands that we seek, above all, the salvation of souls. Homosexual acts lead to the damnation of souls.

Recently, a couple of letter writers claimed that in a democracy, it's up to the majority to decide between right and wrong. This form of reasoning is not only false, it's ludicrous!

While it's true that a majority of the citizens in a democracy has the political power to impose its "morality" on society, this juridical reality has no bearing whatsoever on the intrinsic moral value of actions.

That which makes something right or wrong is the objective moral order established by God, which can also be grasped and appreciated through the use of human reason. In philosophy, this is known as natural law.

Even the ancient Greeks had a basic respect for the principles of natural law.

To simplify: One would have to be ghastly morally decrepit to think that if 51 percent of Americans opine that rape is OK, then rape becomes, in effect, all right. Sure, the majority is politically capable of such a vote, but this could never make rape morally right.

There is such a thing as a corrupt democracy, you know!

Abortion and homosexual acts are unequivocally intrinsic moral evils. And friends, this objective truth doesn't depend on the opinion of the majority. Frighteningly, if the majority chooses to deny the objective moral order, then we will all suffer the pestiferous consequences.

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Fr. Michael Rodríguez is the parish priest at San Juan Bautista Catholic Church.

A couple of things: (1) It is clear from the get go that he is addressing this article to Catholics about Catholic teachings. (2) I like the fact that he boldly did this through the use of the secular media. He would reach a lot of Catholics out there that he may not see in his parish. (3) He took a beating in the comments section. Many of these people obviously are not Catholic and have a very limited understanding of the Church. People don't get it, and the hate speech toward Father and the Catholic Church is rampant. If you have a moment go there and encourage this brave priest for speaking the truth, and if you have the time help clarify some of the harsh misunderstandings.

Comments Section to Father Rodriguez' article: HERE

Leisure and the big catch

2010-08-02T15:06:00.008-05:00

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Last weekend my family spent three quality days "up north" as they say here in Michigan.
Every year some of my closest friends and I wake up at the crack of dawn (while our wives and children sleep) to fish. Over the years these early morning fishing escapades have turned into a two day bass fishing tournament. We mostly catch large mouth bass. Rules are it needs to be fourteen inches or larger, and it only counts if you get it into the boat.

Yours truly here with my catch on day two. The large mouth in the back was a doozy!

I also managed a nice sized small mouth bass that same morning. The family that owns the cottage we are able to vacation at every year says they have never caught any small mouth bass out of this particular lake. I happened to catch two. One went back to the waters as it fell two inches short of being able to count. This one below came in at 14-15 inches.

Over all I managed to catch a total of seven bass that morning, only four counted. In the end we fell just short of making it an all out victory for my team this year. The reason for the loss is now a legend of the lake and I cannot bear to speak of it. Lets just say that on day one of the tournament, the almost impossible happened, and my teammate and I were left empty handed at the end of the day. And what did I catch all these fish with? A top water jointed Rapala minnow.

This lure was seriously voodoo-magic (voodoo-magic was what my fishing partner called it that morning).
All I had to do was land this puppy next to a dock, pontoon boat, or lily pad, give it a slight twitch and WHAM it was fish on!

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Where am I going with all this? Every year my wife and children spend three days with two other families relaxing in God's creation, swimming, fishing, having camp fires, well.....leisure as you might say. Every year I come home refreshed, and every year there are new and beautiful memories.

Josef Pieper (one of my favorite writers) put things this way:

"Of course the world of work begins to become - threatens to become - our only world, to the exclusion of all else. The demands of the working world grow ever more total, grasping ever more completely the whole of human existence."
— Josef Pieper (Leisure The Basis Of Culture)

Leisure is important, and done right can be part of our very worship to the God who has showed us we must rest from the every day work we are called to do. This rest is not idleness, but rather a movement to better ourselves, to check ourselves, and to see that we don't just exist to "do" work. We exist to glorify God and to give him supreme adoration. Leisure divorced from reveling in God, would be nothing other than wasted time.

Thank God for the water, the wind, the moon at night! Thank God for the fish in the sea, and in northern Michigan lakes!

Population Control

2010-07-30T16:43:00.002-05:00

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The Internet can be the great equalizer in promulgating the truth against those who want to push a culture of death, or unorthodox views of the faith.
Use it to bring the truth, use it to spread the faith.

The Population Research Institute is doing just that, and much more for the cause of life.

Quote

2010-07-30T09:57:00.001-05:00

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"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."

-"Plan Your Children", Planned Parenthood pamphlet, 1962

H/T: Orbis Catholicus Secundus

Be Bearers of Truth

2010-07-28T14:37:00.002-05:00

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The Internet can be a Great Equalizer.

See here: The Great Equalizer

Coming from someone that has worked in today's mainstream parish I can personally attest to the "power control" that is still had (at least in my diocese) by those who maintain unorthodox positions, and are always seeking to bring the faithful along with the "emerging church". In my neck of the woods things are still pretty bad. Anyway see the above "Great Equalizer" if you haven't yet.

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BTW: Here is one movement that I am proud to be a part of....

Catechetical Foundations

Check it out and spread the word.....Catechetical Foundations is a orthodox and deeply faithful response to the Catechetical crises in the Church today.

Truth TV

2010-07-24T10:08:00.002-05:00

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A great resource, and a great contributor to the culture of life.

Check out: Truth TV

You cannot say you are part of the culture of life and then sit idly by and do nothing to fight against the culture of death.

Get educated on what the Church teaches, get educated on all the issues concerning life, pray, and help shape the culture around you to value every life whether in the womb, near death, sick, or aging.

Pope Names Delegate to oversee the Legionaries of Christ

2010-07-23T20:12:00.004-05:00

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After the year long investigations into the inner workings of the Legionaries of Christ the Holy Father has granted absolute power to an outside delegate to bring the much needed reform to the ailing order.

The task was given to Archbishop Velaiso De Paolis and according to Catholic News Agency the Holy Father has given the "Archbishop the responsibility of governing the Legion “for as long as it takes to complete its path of renewal” and to lead it to an extraordinary general chapter to revise its constitutions."

CNA is running a story

The Legionaries of Christ Website has the Decree

Scandal: Diocese of Rome

2010-07-23T15:15:00.003-05:00

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Pray for our Holy Father that he will not flee for fear of the wolves. May the Holy Spirit strengthen him to lead with conviction, firmness, and love.

Scandal in the Diocese of Rome.

New Introduction to Christianity

2010-07-22T19:40:00.002-05:00

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"We need a new introduction to Christianity. Also for children and young people. An introduction to the liturgy does not only mean to know something about the celebration, although of course that is indispensable both theologically and doctrinally. Young people and children should participate in liturgies celebrated with great dignity, which are entirely permeated by the mystery of God in which the individual knows himself to be included. Active participation does not mean to do something, but to enter into the worship and the silence, into listening and also the prayer of petition and all that which really constitutes the liturgy. As long as that does not happen, there will be no liturgical renewal. We have to turn around one hundred eighty degrees. Youth ministry should be a place where the encounter with the living Christ in the Church takes place . Where Jesus Christ appears as someone of yesterday, neither liturgical education nor active participation is possible. As long as the awareness of the living Christ does not awake again, nothing will come of the much-needed renewal."

(Cardinal Cañizares Llovera, current Prefect for the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Taken from the interview given by the German Catholic newspaper Die Tagespost on the occasion of the third anniversary of the publication of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum).

The NLM has the full interview: HERE

Catechetical Foundations

2010-07-21T12:17:00.002-05:00

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A serious response to the crises in the Church that I am proud to be a part of.

I am pleased to give you....Catechetical Foundations

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If you are a Bishop, Priest, Religious, Diocesan Director of Catechetics, a Parish DRE, Pastoral Associate, Youth Minister, Home Schooling Family, or Catholic School Administration then Catechetical Foundations can help form and equip competent future Catechists of the Church.

If you are not any of the above but know some of the above mentioned, and think that this Foundation would be a help. By all means pass it along.

I will keep you posted to the growth and upcoming events and services that Catechetical Foundations will provide.

No more revolutions.....the time has come for restoration.

Post-Christian Europe is becoming Anti-Christian Europe

2010-07-19T10:42:00.002-05:00

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The shift from Post-Christian Europe to Anti-Christian Europe is happening before our very eyes.

I am to disgusted to run the full story of this outrage here.

CNS has the story of the latest public sacrilege in the country of Italy no less.

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Intolerance of Catholicism is increasing in the West at what I consider to be an alarming rate. The political dogma of secularism has and will replace any notion of a Christian society. This translates to the complete and total intolerance of anything to do with the Christian religion in the public sphere. So much for the secular tenant of "tolerance".

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And if you think that we are free from this demise here in the States then I fear that your optimism has blinded you to the harsh reality that is unfolding.

See: Here

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Where is the Church in all this? Here is a darn good assessment.

We need Catholics to embrace the traditional Catholic Culture that has been their own for centuries.
We need Catholics to embrace the entirety of their faith, and to live it as if the very blood that coursed their veins was saturated with the very salt that can season the earth!

Don't stand around and wonder what is happening, or what has happened. Do something. Make your homes and your hearts authentically Catholic again! Live it heroically with trust in the Lord's promises. Return to the sacraments, especially confession. Educate yourself on the truth and beauty of the Catholic Mass, and begin to demand that our pastors and Bishops return to an authentic Catholic Mass again, one in which the beauty of the Roman Rite is celebrated in all its splendor whether in the Ordinary or Extraordinary Form.

The banal and the vulgar, the reductionism, and the liturgical activism has left the sanctuary practically devoid of anything that is holy. How can we expect to become holy if that which is supposed to adorn and govern the Holiest of Holies is either trampled underfoot or totally disregarded?

The Law of Prayer is the Law of Belief (Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi). You cannot change the Mass without doing harm to Faith it is intended to pass on.

We don't need any more revolutions, we need a complete and total Restoration.

CaeremonialRomanvm

2010-06-30T21:14:00.003-05:00

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Go see this really neat Catholic YouTube channel: CaeremonialRomanvm

There is both video footage of papal ceremony as well as some amazing photo's of many things papal.
Everything is accompanied by beautiful music.

Things covered for example: The Coronation of Blessed Pope John XXIII, the Coronation of Venerable Pope Pius XII, as well as Pope Paul VI. Other cool papal things like the use of the Papal Fanon, the Papal Asterisk (that's right an Asterisk, bet you didn't know the Popes used one of those in the Liturgy)

Just go check it out!

Landon Donavan

2010-06-23T22:56:00.003-05:00

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The Man of the Day.

What a finish....91st Minute (are you kidding me?)

Big Day

2010-06-23T07:00:00.005-05:00

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I'm a total World Cup junkie. I follow every game, keep tabs on the groups and their point totals, and I pretty much know all the scenarios for each team to advance.

This is the reason I have not blogged at all in the last week! Literally.

My job affords me the summers off, so I have been very busy with helping my flower and vegetable gardens grow, fishing with my son, going on bike rides, swimming at the beach, waking up....late (if you consider 8am late)), and lastly I have been filling my evenings with watching as many World Cup games as I can.

I love the power, passion, life, and drama of the World Cup. The culture of it and the emotion it evokes amazes me. No other single game in the world possesses this type of unifying power, and meaning for countries. The only other event I think brings about a national interest is the Olympics. But the Olympics is not a single game, but a serious of events and sports countries participate in for top honors. The World Cup stage stands alone in terms of its magnitude and meaning for countries.

The other night when the United States came back from being down 2-0 to Slovenia I was screaming, and shaking the arm of my wife (who I am, hopefully, converting to love the World Cup).

Today is a BIG DAY. The States play Algeria. We must win to move on to the round of 16! My hopes are high.

You can bet that I will be watching, and maybe even saying a pray or two for victory. I'm not so sure God hears prayers like that...but I will say them anyway!

Go USA!!

Chartres Pilgrimage

2010-06-10T23:03:00.002-05:00

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Saints have made this pilgrimage! St. Joan of Arc made this pilgrimage.
Now it is the young people of the Church who have brought it back.
The Sensus Fidelium is alive in those that desire a full and faithful Catholic life!
Our Faith is worth the sacrifice.

This is a pilgrimage I personally long to make with all my heart some day.

And a good fair informative documentary on the great Chartres Pilgrimage.

And some footage of Catholic Bavarian Scouts getting crazy for the LORD on the 2007 Pilgrimage
The guy on the mega-phone is money! The Spirit moveth!!

The old guard of the 60's liberal liturgical agenda is dying hard.
Youth desire a hearty Catholicism. Young orders in the Church that are Orthodox, faithful to the Pope, and embrace the Tradition of the Church in all its splendor are growing.
Youth of the world are praying and sacrificing to help restore our broken world, for a restoration of the faith in society, in our Church. Give me the Mass in all its Traditional splendor! Give me all of Catholicism, no cutting corners, the traditional faith, nothing else will do!
The Faith of our Fathers, the Faith of the Saints, the Mass of Ages!
Paris to Chartres....if God Wills it....someday for me.

Spread the Word

2010-06-05T20:46:00.003-05:00

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Take part in the Blackout

Spread The Word - Sign The Pledge: HERE

Let's end this by 2020 or better yet before then.

Killer Youth Ministry Tips

2010-06-01T22:12:00.003-05:00

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Those of you who have labored in the Youth Ministry Vineyard will appreciate this...hysterical!!

Killer Youth Ministry Tips from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

Johnny and Chachi Rock!

Check out Johnny and Chachi's Website: HERE

Generosity

2010-05-27T19:32:00.003-05:00

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I have not posted in a while because frankly I have not been inspired to. You just never when your faith is going to be tried. Lately life has just been hard knocks. I know in my mind that God gives the grace to persevere, but it has been very difficult to embrace that reality in my heart. Today, by God's grace I realized that no matter what, a Christian really never has cause to be sad...I mean take a moment and think what God has done. In everything, since the beginning of time, in His creation, through His revelation, through His Son, in your life. Has He not showed us the way to endure our sufferings? Are we not worth more than the sparrows? Our trials deepen our faith, and our Faith while possessed by us, is a pure gift. Oh the generosity of our God!

The Holy Father Consecrates All Priests to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

2010-05-12T20:26:00.003-05:00

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During the month of May our Holy Father is making a Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Fatima.

His speeches, prayers and statements have shown the spiritual depth this pontiff possesses.

He is the Pope of Christian Unity and we should fervently pray for him.

Today he consecrated all priests to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. His consecration prayer is amazing and is much needed today. Let us take after his example and fervently offer all priest to Jesus through Mary.
I offer his prayer here:

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Immaculate Mother,
in this place of grace,
called together by the love of your Son Jesus
the Eternal High Priest, we,
sons in the Son and his priests,
consecrate ourselves to your maternal Heart,
in order to carry out faithfully the Father’s Will

We are mindful that, without Jesus,
we can do nothing good (cf. Jn 15:5)
and that only through him, with him and in him,
will we be instruments of salvation
for the world.

Bride of the Holy Spirit,
obtain for us the inestimable gift
of transformation in Christ.
Through the same power of the Spirit that
overshadowed you,
making you the Mother of the Saviour,
help us to bring Christ your Son
to birth in ourselves too.
May the Church
be thus renewed by priests who are holy,
priests transfigured by the grace of him
who makes all things new.

Mother of Mercy,
it was your Son Jesus who called us
to become like him:
light of the world and salt of the earth
(cf. Mt 5:13-14).

Help us,
through your powerful intercession,
never to fall short of this sublime vocation,
nor to give way to our selfishness,
to the allurements of the world
and to the wiles of the Evil One.

Preserve us with your purity,
guard us with your humility
and enfold us with your maternal love
that is reflected in so many souls
consecrated to you,
who have become for us
true spiritual mothers.

Mother of the Church,
we priests want to be pastors
who do not feed themselves
but rather give themselves to God for their brethren,
finding their happiness in this.
Not only with words, but with our lives,
we want to repeat humbly,
day after day,
Our “here I am”.

Guided by you,
we want to be Apostles
of Divine Mercy,
glad to celebrate every day
the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar
and to offer to those who request it
the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Advocate and Mediatrix of grace,
you who are fully immersed
in the one universal mediation of Christ,
invoke upon us, from God,
a heart completely renewed
that loves God with all its strength
and serves mankind as you did.

Repeat to the Lord
your efficacious word:
“They have no wine” (Jn 2:3),
so that the Father and the Son will send upon us
a new outpouring of
the Holy Spirit.
Full of wonder and gratitude
at your continuing presence in our midst,
in the name of all priests
I too want to cry out:
“Why is this granted me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43).

Our Mother for all time,
do not tire of “visiting us”,
consoling us, sustaining us.
Come to our aid
and deliver us from every danger
that threatens us.
With this act of entrustment and consecration,
we wish to welcome you
more deeply, more radically,
for ever and totally
into our human and priestly lives.

Let your presence cause new blooms to burst forth
in the desert of our loneliness,
let it cause the sun to shine on our darkness,
let it restore calm after the tempest,
so that all mankind shall see the salvation
of the Lord,
who has the name and the face of Jesus,
who is reflected in our hearts,
for ever united to yours!

Amen!

H/T: Rorate

Overpopulation is a myth

2010-05-03T20:32:00.002-05:00

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Round three from the Population Research Institute

The Population Research Institute is a great web resource for high school teachers.

C of E Anglo-Catholic leaders to convert "en masse"

2010-05-02T20:40:00.004-05:00

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The Fruits of Anglicanorum coetibus

As the Anglican Church continues on it's course of total implosion

The Pope of Christian Unity Pope Benedict XVI has paved the way
for those who desire to come home to the fullness of the Faith.

See the news: HERE

Jesus - Adoration

2010-04-30T20:12:00.002-05:00

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He is Risen...The Lord is truly risen! It is still the Easter Season. Go be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. If you have an Adoration chapel close by go spend time with Jesus there. Don't delay....go be with Him! Pour your heart out to Him, sit silently near Him...Love Him with the love that He gives you to Love with.

Can you tell the difference?

2010-04-10T14:07:00.003-05:00

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A very good primer on what Sacred Music is. Very instructional, and a good reminder that we should, whenever possible, do all we can to help bring about a greater understanding of what music is appropriate for the Mass.

An apology is due...

2010-04-07T14:10:00.007-05:00

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The health care reform law should not be phrased as Obamacare but rather Obamascare.

Notice how the term "death panel" is referred to as "advisory board" with absolute binding power.

Sarah Palin does deserve an apology.

There is no consolation in knowing that if you are old, or terminal that a panel of people can decide that you are no longer cost effective and so terminate you...legally...that's right legally.

What a disgrace that so many "catholic" health professionals and religious sisters advocated for the health bill.

The Passion of Pope Benedict: Six Accusations, One question

2010-04-07T12:09:00.002-05:00

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Please pray for our Holy Father everyday.

Sandro Magister has a piece up today titled: The Passion of Pope Benedict: Six Accusations, One Question.

Go there and read it.

Thank God we have been given a great man in Pope Benedict.

Pray for him!!

CNN Rips President Obama, Congress, Nancy Pelosi, etc....

2010-03-28T20:23:00.004-05:00

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I didn't think this could be possible coming from CNN....but it is right on!

H/T: Pinoy

After The Rapture Pet Care...

2010-03-08T20:27:00.002-05:00

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"If the rapture happened right now, what would happen to your pets?"

I am pretty sure that these people are actually really serious.
If they aren't then they do a pretty good job of selling it.
Their video is over the top.
Take a peek:

No joke see for yourself: HERE