Saddam Hussein Executed

"SADDAM HUSSEIN EXECUTED" is pasted on every news source imaginable right now. With what emotion do we respond to this?
There are certain events that test one's ethics as dictated by the Church. Of course you have the obvious examples of finding twenty dollars and deciding what to do with it, or making sure to avoid dishonesty. However, what about other situations that don't depend on your actions but on your opinion? Last year the many members of the faithful found themselves questioning the issue of Terri Schiavo, wondering about the implication of being pro-life in such a case.
Now we find ourselves being faced with the case of Saddam Hussein's execution. It is an integral part of our Catholic faith to show respect for the dignity of the human person which includes respect for life. To truly be pro-life, not as society defines the word but as the Church does, the death penalty must be viewed as a last resort in keeping a population safe. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the following:

(CCC 2267) Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically non-existent."

Let us then examine the case of Saddam Hussein. Was his execution necessary to protect people's safety? Would another punishment have been equally as effective while still respecting the life of one of God's creatures? If you find yourself torn in answering these questions, I am sure you are not alone. So how is it that we can possibly respect the dignity of the human person even though that person did not respect the dignity of others? Grace. If we ask for it, we are given the grace to form an ethically and morally upright opinion on the matter at hand. In doing so, I pray that those who find it within themselves to do so, pray for the soul of Saddam Hussein and those that played a hand in his execution and to trust in God's loving mercy.

The 14 Days of Christmas

Yes, it's supposed to be twelve, but calendars change with the passing years and for that reason, so the number of days in the Christmas Liturgical Season. This year, with Christmas starting on a Monday, the last day of the Christmas Season (Epiphany Sunday) is actually 14 days away, on January 7th. Now, I'm pretty sure I have that right, but if it's wrong, email me and let me know so I can make a public apology for being a newly-confirmed Catholic convert, ha ha.

Today is also the Feast of St. John the Apostle, also known as St. John the Theologian, the "Beloved Disciple" and Mary Magdalene (according to Dan Brown, how wrong can you be?!). He, like his brother James, was a fisherman called to follow Jesus. He went on to write my favorite of the New Testament Gospels, The Gospel According to John. Let us all take in Mother Mary like St. John did when Christ gave her to us as a spiritual mother.

A comment from saintoftheday.com...
"It is a long way from being eager to sit on a throne of power or to call down fire from heaven to becoming the man who could write: “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16)."

Remember to keep saying "Merry Christmas!"

Are You Catholic-Smart? (short quiz!)

Okay, it's time to see if you're Catholic-Smart or not with our short little quiz! Sit back, relax, and then flex that brain muscle and see if you can get the right answers or not! Good luck...hope your Catechesis was everything it should have been ;)

Instructions: Keep track of your answers on a post-it or scratch sheet of paper. Once you've written down your answer for each question, click the link at the bottom labeled "See How You Did!" and compare. The questions increase in difficulty as you go along. The darker the shade of blue, the more difficult the question is. Enjoy! 5 questions await you!

1. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God.

• a) True
• b) False
• c) Kind of

2. In nomine Patris et fillii et... ?

• a) Mater Dei
• b) Holy Spirit
• c) Spiritus Sancti

3. The Pope is the _____ __ ______ on earth.

• a) Holy of Rome
• b) Vicar of Christ
• c) Leader and Teacher

4. Kepha, Cephas, and Petros are all Aramaic and Greek names that were applied to Peter by Christ. They also mean _______ which is used as such by Christ when He establishes Peter's primacy in the Church. "You are Kepha, and on this Kepha I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18)

• a) cornerstone
• b) love
• c) rock

5. The Roman Missal was first promulgated in 1570 by who?

• a) The Council of Missal
• b) St. Pius V
• c) St. Boniface

Good Luck! Now "See How You Did!" by click here! More Catholic-Smart Quizzes in the future! If you have an idea for a question or five for the next Catholic-Smart Quiz, email them to us.

Smile! The Lord is on His Way!

Today is a day for smiling! The Lord is on His Way and will be here on Monday! Think about it...those who lived before the actual birth of Christ had no idea he was coming then (except for a few who had an inkling, *wink)! Unlike the people of that time period, we have the awesome honor of knowing that he is coming on Christmas Day!

Of course I'm not speaking in physical manifestations. Christ will likely not walk into your living room and sit with you on Christmas morning. And yet at the same time, that's exactly what's going on. To Christ in each member of our family this Christmas is to see God's creation for what it mirrors, for what it truly is. It's to be in the world but not of the world. So when you're opening presents and eating Christmas dinner, remember that in everyone there is God smiling back at us. And even though we don't know his actual date of birth, we celebrate his awesome journey to this Earth with all that we've got! And we should!

Consider this, some of the best music ever composed is Christmas music! And if it's not Christmas music, it's music in honor of God. And how many times a year do we go out of our way to put a tree in our living rooms and decorate it with lights and ornaments? Never! Advent is the season to prepare in all the ways we can for the awesome coming of our Lord! We must be busy with that preparation and know that "If you have too much to do, with God's help you will find time to do it all." (St. Peter Canisius). Don't feel overwhelmed this week as you prepare, buying gifts and cooking, etc. December 21st is Saint Peter Canisius' feast day and what a day to have! Just three days before Christmas, Saint Peter Canisius must be honored to be remembered as an inspiration for trusting God in doing much, even with little.

I won't even begin to go into all of the jobs and things Saint Peter Canisius did in his lifetime, that's an essay in itself! He was an amazing man, a prominent Catholic in the counter-reformation in Germany, and Dutch (this is special because Jennifer's mother is dutch, ha ha). May we all be like Saint Peter Cansius and live out these final days of preparation for Christmas with no anxiety. Pax Christi.

In His Image: Dominion & Doggies

“Then God said: ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.’” (Gen 1:26)

I see something almost every single day that makes me think of this passage, and in particular, of our duty as the children of God. He made us in his likeness by giving us dominion over the creatures of the earth, which means we have a responsibility to take care and respect those creatures. If we are to be made in His image, after His likeness in this way, then we must remember to have dominion like God would, not destroy the earth and its animals. This post has been in me for quite awhile and this morning I saw something that finally said to me “write the article, write it now.” (not literally)

These “somethings” that I see almost every day are squirrels, dogs, deer, opossum, raccoons, birds, dead on the side/middle of the road. These are the creatures we have been charge with treating like God treats all of his creation, justly with respect and love. This morning in particular I saw a dog, probably 35 lbs., lying on the side of the road. It had a chain connected to its collar (I’m guessing that’s where it was connected). Being a huge dog lover, I almost broke down right there. To think that (most likely) someone had that dog chained in the back of their pickup in such a way that it could still jump out (chain and all!) makes me physically ill. Now that dog, who could have been a loving family pet or trusty sidekick is dead on a major roadway.

Every time I see an animal dead on the side of the road I make the sign of the cross. I don’t know why but part of me wishes I could bless that animal with all the due respect and love God charged me with giving. I’ve hit animals before, yes, and I feel awful afterwards. In my life I’ve hit a squirrel, a bird and a raccoon. I feel deeply responsible (on behalf of man) for their lives.

So where does this leave us? We have torn down forests, destroying their homes to build highways and byways. We pollute their waters and their air. We drive them into extinction. And at the same time, many buy family pets and take good care of them, loving them as a child, protecting them from harm. And yet others abuse animals and treat them with gross-negligence (i.e. transporting them in pick-ups without secure collars, etc.). I don’t have answers, but we have to do something. Perhaps we can all start at a local pound or animal shelter organization. Volunteer for a day or adopt a pet. Maybe it starts even more personal than that. Go out of your way to set up a bird feeder, show a little more affection to a family pet, donate to a shelter or vet, etc. And if you see someone doing something inhumane to an animal, don’t just stand there, call someone, talk to that person, make it your business because it is.

God charged us with dominion over his creation. He created us in his image so that we may treat his creatures as he treats them. With respect, love and kindness. God Bless you and all the creatures of this beautiful world.

Saint Mary Paula di Rosa

Brescia, Italy today:

On the evening of December 15, 1848, in the midst of the First Italian War, the sisters of the Handmaids of Charity were tending to the sick in a military hospital in Brescia, Italy. Soldiers of the opposing force began pounding on the doors to the hospital demanding to be let in. While the doctors scattered and tried to hide in a panicked frenzy, Sister Mary Paula di Rosa and six other sisters opened the doors to the soldiers. When the men standing outside found their way blocked with a large crucifix and candles being held by the sister, they retreated from the doors in shame.
Today, December 15, is the feast day of St. Mary Paula di Rosa. Let us all look to her as a testimony to what can be accomplished by boldly displaying our faith in moments of darkness. As we approach the Christmas season, let us also realize the gift we have been given of our faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and that with God truly all things are possible.

GDISGUD

Today on the way to work, I saw several license plates I found interesting. On the top of my list was "GDISGUD" and "UWNTGOD". Great license plate messaging! More and more when I look around I see people with rosaries hanging on their rear-view mirror, or fish emblems on bumpers, Christian-themed bumper stickers, window stickers, etc. I've also noticed numerous small businesses adding crosses and fish to their company logos!

It's a great sign in what often seems to be a dark time lacking all integrity and morals. It seems to me that those who have faith are becoming less and less afraid to show it publicly. I remember when I used to work in a Christian bookstore, a man once came up to the counter with a fish auto-emblem. He looked at me, laughed and said "I guess it's time to commit." I've thought about that moment many, many times since then and I understand why for some it's a deeper commitment than just having faith around other faithful. It becomes a public commitment when someone puts a sticker or sign up saying "I'm a Christian" to all around.

But I also realize that perhaps it shouldn't be so hard to do. We should all move forward with our lives and mission without fear of publicly announcing our faith. I'm not saying put an ad in the NY Times... but maybe a bumper sticker or auto-emblem, cross on your business card or crucifix hanging around your neck is a good place to start? Pax Christi.

Movie Review: The Nativity Story

Jenny's Review:

The Nativity Story is one of the few family movies that the whole family actually enjoys. There is no "we're bringing the children to see it," only "we're all going to see it." It is entertaining, accurate (however Joseph is a little on the young side), and beautiful. The wise men were a comical highlight in the movie. Their friendly banter added levity to their role in the film.

This movie is also ideal for a date, believe it or not. Seeing this movie can bring to light that Mary and Joseph are timeless role models speaking to chastity and love, not antique myths heralding outdated ideals. The way in which Joseph gives of himself to Mary, and Mary's humble surrender to God and her husband's loving care leads the modern couple to evaluate their obedience to God's plan.

Minimum age: 8 - There are two scenes of mild, non-graphic violence related to the killing of the children in Bethlehem, and a scene of a teenage girl being taken from her parents by Roman soldiers.

Movie Rating: 5/5

---

Bryan's Review:

This movie is everything a Hollywood film should be and then some. Beyond the great cast, amazing scenery, and well-crafted dialogue, this film treats biblical events and situations with a true reverence. The Annunciation is handled really, really well... as are Joseph's dreams. I was a little nervous about the scenes with angels, but they were handled amazingly, as was the nativity scene, which brought tears to the eyes of several people in the theater!

This movie is intriguing, it's NOT boring (I've read people claiming it to be boring, but I haven't been so pleasantly entertained in awhile), it's funny (when appropriate) and more than anything it speaks to you. I for one have been thinking about my role as a future husband and father since last night when I saw the film. I can't put into words how inspiring it was to see Joseph's role put into film like that. I was in awe, I still am.

Minimum age: 8 - Along with what Jenny said, the birthing of both John the Baptist and Jesus show the women in quite realistic situations, this could scare or confuse your little ones a bit, but with some minor explaining it might be just fine. (*note: it's not "graphic," just facial expressions by Elizabeth and Mary. Nothing is seen, but there is some yelling)

Movie Rating: 5/5

Mary Has A Little Lamb

I was riding home last night and as I turned into my neighborhood I was thinking about today, about how it's the Feast of the Immaculate Conception... and wow, I was truly touched. I was touched because I immediately had flashbacks to two years ago when I was so confused spiritually. It was at that time that a voice brought me into the Church, the voice of Mary. She was so loving, she wanted me there. And so, as I drove I wondered how people leave the Church and practice faiths and traditions that don't revere our Blessed Mother.

I couldn't see how it was possible.

That's how central and important The Blessed Virgin Mary, our spiritual mother, is to me. I can't imagine a world without her to call out to, to plea to, to hold in my heart with such love... all given to me from her son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And so, Mother Mary definitely has a little lamb in me. Like so many others I flock to her for direction, and her instructions are always the same, "Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:5) Thank you Jesus for giving us your amazing mother as our own! Thank you!

Prayer to Saint Anne: Dear Saint, we know nothing about you except your name. But you gave us the Mother of God who called herself handmaid of the Lord. In your home you raised the Queen of Heaven and are rightly the model of homemakers. In your womb came to dwell the new Eve uniquely conceived without sin. Intercede for us that we too may remain free from sin. Amen. (From Patron Saint Index)

Yeah, I'm Catholic. Bring It On.

During my conversion, as it was getting closer and closer to Easter, the criticism of me becoming Catholic intensified. At one point someone very dear to me was quite harsh and my only outlet for advice at that exact moment was my sponsor, living four states away and attending seminary at the time. I wrote him a text message with my cell phone and told him how harsh that person was being to me, how critical, and he wrote back...

"They Crucified Jesus."

It was easily the most profound text message I have ever received. Of course, by "they" he didn't mean the person who was at the time "crucifying" me. He was referring to the spirital "we", as in people who do not have faith in Christ's redemptive message. Those three little words, "They Crucified Jesus" was more than enough to change my mindset regarding others attacking my faith forever.

Yes, Christ was crucified. The world he came to love and have love him instead crucified him on a cross. They mocked him, spat at him, beat him and stole from him, then they murdered him. He was the center of ridicule and in many ways stil is. Actually, in all of the same ways he still is. People still crucify Christ every minute of every day, if not with legislation or law, then with how they treat others and their lack of faith.

They crucify Christ when they crucify his Church. That's why we must bear our crosses everyday. Because we too are crucified by an often cruel society. It was when I read that text message that my eyes were forever opened and I was truly humbled. And from that day forward, I welcome with open arms ridicule and opposition. Because as Christ suffered on the cross, so do I when I have faith in him.

I once read an article that I've sense long lost and can't seem to find again. It was a Catholic talking on a radio interview I believe. The Catholic, who I think was clergy, spoke about how, even if he wasn't Catholic and was looking for a faith, that he'd find Catholicism. He said that he would look for a Church spat upon by the world, as Christ was. A Church ridiculed, as Christ was. A Church whipped and beaten, as Christ was. A Church crucified, as Christ was. And there, when trying to find such a Church, he would find the Catholic Church. It's a beautiful article...if you know what I'm talking about, please email me and let me know where I can read it again.

In closing... Yeah, I'm Catholic. Bring It On. I can take it. Christ suffered for me and I will suffer for Him. It's how I react to criticism that defines me in that moment. And while I'm not perfect, I do my best to accept it with open arms. Pax Christi.

Life-giving blood, life-saving blood

Happy Advent, discerningSainthood readers! We are now entering into the new liturgical year in the Church, and preparing ourselves for the great celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As the holidays approach, the virtue of generosity within us all seems to blossom. I believe this outpouring of generosity is an answer to the call to a charitable life we receive year-round. It seems to come full circle as we contemplate the love with which God graced us when he sent His Son to Earth as our Redeemer. As we further contemplate the love of Christ, we are also reminded of the sacrifice he made for us, and the great blessing we have of being able to enter into that loving sacrifice when we partake in the Eucharist. Christ freely gives his blood to us as spiritual nourishment.

All over the country there is always a great shortage of blood in blood banks during the holiday season. At a time when so many of God's children are in need of such life-saving supplies, we as Christians are compelled by the call to charity to give of ourselves in any capacity we can. For those of you who are able to donate blood, please do so at a local blood bank. As Christ freely gives his life-giving blood to us, we must freely give our life-saving blood to those who desperately need it. For those of you who are unable to donate, please help to set up a blood drive in your school, workplace, or other community organization.

For more information or to find a place to donate near you, visit www.givelife.org.

Litany of the Saints

If someone were to ask me, "Bryan, what's your favorite hmyn?" I'd know exactly what to say. Of course first of all I'd ask them why they wanted to know, but then I'd be quick to answer... "Well, it's not really a hymn, but the Litany of the Saints is my favorite," is what I'd say.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God.
Pray for us.
Saint Michael,
Pray for us.
Holy angels of God,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph,
Pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist,
Pray for us.

Who doesn't love the ancient litany, the draft and example for all other litanies? It's a beautiful prayer set deep in the Catholic Christian experience, rooted in an understanding of recognizing holiness and responding to it. I caught myself singing parts of this litany on my way to work this morning. We sang a shortened version of the litany at Mass on Sunday and I'm sure that's why it popped in my head, but regardless of the reason I'm glad it did. I love to sing it! And the funny part is that I don't even know it in its entirety, I simply pick saints and sing. And as I pick each saint, I meditate on their life... it's such a great experience. I suggest it, I really do.

Links! Litany of the Saints - Catholic Encyclopedia: Litany of the Saints

Giving Thanks

Tomorrow is the big day, Thanksgiving Day, but it's not the only reason November is a "month of thanks." Consider what holidays we celebrate at the beginning of the month, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. These are amazing holy days for remembering and paying homage to the heros of our faith and of our lives. We thank God for giving them to us as true role models and loved ones. We thank God for giving us a chance to be as loved and faithful as these people were in life and are in their new life in Christ.

And then at the end of the month we celebrate Thanksgiving, which is a great holiday and also a great holy day. In the same way that all days are holy, Thanksgiving is a time in this country for us to thank God for all that he gives us, for his blessing upon our lives, for his graces, and for his trials he puts us through. The last may be a little hard to swallow, but God tries us in an effort to grow closer to him. We should always thank Him for that.

God is awesome. Thanks be to God!

Schismatics Must Mend Themselves.

Are we getting closer? There's been talk for a little while now about a document the Pope is supposedly preparing to release in hopes of reconciling with the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX). It's been stated that the document will greatly losen restrictions on parishes using the traditional Tridentine Mass by not making priests first seek approval from their Bishops. Cardinal Arinze recently told a congregation in St. Louis that latin should be used more often in Mass. This is a step in the right direction and in my mind may be setting up a release of the document soon, hopefully right after the Pope returns from Turkey. The question is, will this mend the schisms with SSPX?

Answer: That's up to SSPX.

I understand that SSPX and a number of other smaller traditional Catholic societies are upset and dissapointed greatly with the current liturgy (Novus Ordo), but since when is it a good idea to break with the Church in order to get something done? Let's see...Martin Luther, no. Ummm, eastern orthodox bishops, no. Oh yeah, that's right, it's never a good thing to do.

I spoke with a tradionalist friend recently and it brought some light on the dark nooks of the situation I may have missed the several hundred first times I ran through it. The deal is this...whether or not people are happy with the current liturgy, it is valid. The Novus Ordo Mass is valid because it is sanctioned by the Church. That's really all there is to it. To say it isn't valid is to be one step away from heresy. Now... a Novus Ordo Mass, or any kind of Mass, can be illicit, yes. And that's where the problems come in, crazy priests doing extrememly irreverent things in the name of "the spirit of vatican II." Seriously, that needs to stop.

So when it comes down to this document to be released, it's up to the SSPX and other groups like it to understand that breaking with the Church is breaking with the fullness of truth. Christ's Church subsists within the Roman Catholic Church. To quote a friend of mine, "John and Mary stood at the foot of the cross. They didn't like what was happening, but the stood there." We as Catholics are very much at the foot of the cross that is Christ's Church subsiding in the Catholic Church. Regardless if one likes the current Mass or not, it is the Mass of the Church. One should not walk away from the Church because they aren't a fan of Novus Ordo. Nor should they say the Novus Ordo is invalid when in fact it is valid.

The schismatics need to mend this problem by getting over themselves and their likes and dislikes, and giving it up to God. The Church will change, the liturgy will change, but forever the Church of Christ will subside in the Roman Catholic Church and that's why we're Catholics. I like tradition. I love latin and incense, etc. I believe a traditional approach to any Mass (Tridentine or Novus Ordo) is the best approach. We must pray that others keep the Mass solemn and lawful by approaching it this way as well. God Bless You.

Send us an email.

Bryan and Jenny Get Engaged!

Last night (Thursday, Nov. 9th), I proposed to Jenny on a strawberry scrabble cake. She said "Yes, yes, yes!" and now we begin the greatest time of our life together. With God as our center we pray that we can continue to grow in love and holiness through eachother, for the rest of our lives.

Enjoy the pictures of the cake!

Catholic with a capital C

All new designs at the discerningSainthood store! Take the time to go check out the new line up of t-shirts, bumper stickers, hoodies and a lot more!

Display your faith and help shape Catholic culture by being a trend setter ;) Okay, maybe not, but these designs are cool...oh, and all of them are by me, Bryan. Help support our blogging vocation by taking a look at the store. And if you have an idea for a product, let me know! God Bless and enjoy the shopping!

You can visit the store by clicking here or clicking on the image above.

Video Time! Catholic Videos!

Thank you You Tube and My Space video for being so awesome with letting people post their videos, commercials, informational videos, etc. online.

I'm edited this post to remove all embedded videos and instead I've linked to them. I did this for the sake of the blog loading faster. Click below! :)


Why am I Catholic? (Very Inspirational - Great Song!)

Catholic Coke Commercial
Offensive or not offensive? Tell us.

Fishers of Men (Awesome)

Novus Ordo vs. Novus Ordo

I’ve taken time lately to grow in understanding of the viewpoint of traditionalist Catholic societies like the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX). And through my studies and reflection on arguments against the Novus Ordo (new order of the Mass since Vatican II), I’ve come to hear some valid arguments for tradional (Tridentine) Mass, as well as, valid issues with the Novus Ordo. I truly hope that there are people from both sides reading this article and please, please email Jenny and me and let us know of your opinion.

In the post prior to this one is a link to a video of a Mass held in California where people serving the Eucharist were dressed in Halloween costumes. It’s a horrible injury to the sacred liturgy to do such a thing and with that in mind I come to a loaded table of Traditionalist Catholic “reasons” why the Novus Ordo “is not valid.” And while I do not concur that the Novus Ordo is not a valid Mass and therefore doesn’t contain a valid sacrament, I will admit that some parishes (some priests) simply take things too far.

I’ve heard the stories as I’m sure everyone has of parishes performing wrong, if not horrific injuries to the sacred liturgy of the Mass. I’ve witnessed a Mass where instead of solemn music for reflection and prayer, we were subjected to “rocking out” the Sanctus and turning the Gloria into an American Idol solo. I’ve been told of Masses where the priest does the motions of the consecration where a soloist sings the prayers. I’m sorry, but that’s simply not valid! Does saying that it’s “not valid!” make me sound like a Traditionalist Catholic?

I belong to a Novus Ordo parish and I’m quite active there. And more than anything I take complete comfort and delight in knowing that Novus Ordo has been successfully and probably perfectly transitioned into the liturgy. I will gladly stand along side anyone who is against such liturgical abuses as those I’ve stated or heard about (blessing a prop of the bread, yes, a plastic prop, I’ve heard of this also). The Mass is Holy, and we do not approach the Holy with irreverence or a false “spirit.”

In closing I must define my viewpoint. I do not agree with radical traditionalist Catholics who claim the Novus Ordo Mass is invalid. I think that’s ridiculous. If the Church validates such a Mass and the proper words of consecration for it, then by its very nature it is valid. However, I do have serious issues with Novus Ordo parishes who abuse the liturgy just as I would have serious issues with a Tridentine parish abusing that liturgy. There’s simply nothing right about injuring the greatest prayer we have, the Mass. It saddens me greatly to know that there are parishes out there, priests out there who hold so little reverence for Church teachings and especially Our Lord that they take part in and promote such abuses.

Devil Distributes the Eucharist

This is sad, really sad. Corpus Christi Parish in the Diocese or Orange. It's time for someone in Rome to starting kicking some irreverent butt and taking some names out in Bishop Brown's territory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WadbbxPoBlk

Horrible. I don't understand having people dress up for Holy Mass

Vote YES for Marriage

Tomorrow is a BIG day in the state of Virginia. It's election day and a huge thing on the ballet is the Marriage Amendment which will define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It will also go on to discourage co-habitation since common law marriage is not recognized in the state. I'll be honest, I'm quite nervous at the outcome of the voting. And I have to ask myself, why is it that ignorance of God can run so rampant that I have to be worried about something as fundamental and natural as marriage between a man and a woman?

God instituted marriage. It was one of the first things He did in the book of Genesis. He created Eve for Adam, that they may become one union and as Saint Paul puts it, "one flesh." So why is it that human beings and institutions feel they can ignore God to the point of establishing "unions" between a man and another man or two women as equal to real marriage or even valid at all. I take a step back and look at it from a long-ranged scope and what I see is yet another huge failure by the human race to respect that which God has given us. He gave us marriage.

I might hear "it doesn't affect you if two men get married, so why do you care?", but what someone who might say that doesn't understand is that it does in fact affect me. It affects all of us. When we sin we sin not only against God, but against his creation, against all of us. That's why we confess to eachother, that's why we ask eachother to forgive one another and to pray for one another. If this ammendment doesn't go through, Virginia is one step closer to allowing gay marriage. And that concerns me very greatly because it directly affects me in a very spiritual and very real way.

If you're reading this and you live in the state of Virginia, please make sure to vote tomorrow (Tuesday). If for nothing else, vote to ammend the state's definition of marriage, vote Yes to make sure it says "marriage is between and man and a woman." If you'd like to know more, visit www.va4marriage.org

Best of Pop Culture (according to me, Jenny)

Movies
Crash:
If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you must. It is most definitely not for the kiddies, but for the 17+ crowd out there, Crash has a lot to offer in terms of the message it sends. There have been lots of attempts at “racism is bad” movies, but Crash really hits the nail on the head. It accurately displays prejudices among people and and how those prejudices are lived out in our culture. This movie will certainly give cause to look inward at ones own prejudices, and help to come to a greater understand of how they are lived out.

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events:
Calling all Harry Potter fans and foes alike. The good family friendly, ethereal spirit present in the Harry Potter movies and books is equal (if not greater . . . sorry H.P. fans) in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. The Baudelaire orphans struggle with the loss of their parents, battle against the evil Count Olaf, and handle complex moral questions with their unique talents. However, there are some parts that could be scary for the littlest of the little ones.

Passion of the Christ:
Enough said.

Band/Artists
Matisyahu:
A reggae singing Hasidic Jew with lot of talent and even more to say in his music. Some of his music has a distinctively ecumenical flair. I especially like “King Without a Crown” from his album Youth.


P.O.D.:
These guys broke out in a major way into the world of secular music with “Boom” and “Youth of a Nation.” Not all of their music is overtly religious in subject matter, but it’s always wholesome, and they do classify themselves as a Christian rock band. My two personal favorite songs are “Ridiculous” and “Strength of my Life.”

Television
The Office
Always funny. Truly funny. I can’t recall any crude humor on the show, and I have been watching it since the first season. It’s simply a conglomeration of dry office-related humor. Any 9 to 5ers out there will appreciate it immensely.

Comedy
Brian Reagan:
Reagan is squeaky clean and hilarious, a rare combination. He comments on everything from mistaking the pronounciation of someone's name, to little league coaches, to awkward dating situations. Every bit of his comedy is for anyone who wants to listen. Some younger listeners may not "get" some jokes, but it is still appropriate for all ears.

Friends Don't Let Friends Skip Mass

It's a motto, learn it, love it, live it.

Hi there, since today is one of the holy days of the year that's also a day of obligation, I figured I'd give you and yours a little motivation to start your holy day of obligation off on the right foot.

First and foremost, as Catholic Christians we live a faith that is protected and guided by the Holy Spirit. And as we all know, Christ gave the keys of heaven to St. Peter and stated "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt, 16:19). This is very important when we look at a holy day of obligation like today (All Saints Day) and ask "but why must we go today?"

I'm going to make this really simple and direct... because the Church says so. If at first you think "this guy is just illogical," consider this... if the Holy Spirit is guiding the Church, then when the Church makes an official decree that a certain day is a holy day of obligation, then how can one say "nah, I don't feel like going" or "it's not important enough to go to mass" without turning their back on the guidance of the Holy Spirit itself? If the Church deems a certain day a holy day of obligation, that is because she feels the teachings and observance of the day are so important to the life of a Catholic that he/she simply MUST be there.

Consider it. And God bless you on this day when we remember all the Saints in heaven, especially those we don't know.

All Saints' Day

All Saints' Day is essentially the celebration of the Church Triumphant. However, the question is sometimes brought up about why we celebrate all the saints on one day when each has his or her own feast day. Pope Urban IV (Pope 1261-64) answers this by explaining that All Saints' Day is a day to celebrate those saints who are unbeknownst to us and to make recompense for any deficiencies in our celebration of other feast days.

We, as Catholics, have been celebrating this day in some shape or form since at least the late 4th century AD. Traditionally, Catholics in adjacent communities would get together to exchange and divide relics and to share a common feast once a year. Historians believe this was often on the Sunday following Pentecost, as there is evidence of an invitation by St. Basil of Caesarea to neighboring bishops for a celebration of the Church’s martyrs in 397 AD. Pope Gregory IV (Pope 827-844) named November 1 as the day of celebration for all the saints.

So why is this so pivotal a day for us? We look at the Church Triumphant as an ideal. On All Saints' Day, we are reminded that we must honor those who are now part of the Church Triumphant as role models for a Christian life and to hope to share in their joy of receiving the ultimate blessing of living with God, our Father in Heaven.

Some Exciting Additions!

Myself and Jenny are excited about some new happenings here with the blog and an upcoming network of Catholic material we're happy to be spear-heading. We thank you for your readership, feeder subscriptions, and prayers as we plod down the path of an online publishing vocation through blogging and soon more!

All-New DiscerningSainthood.com!
With you the user in mind, we've created an all-new Discerning Sainthood.com! At the moment it is a portal to the blog and the store with a little bit about Jenny and I and some email links. Click to visit!

Discerning Sainthood Online Store!
We've had it up in some minor form for the past several months, but now it's much more designed and user friendly for the buying experience. While there are only a few products right now, I'm happy to say that there will be several more up soon, just in time for the Christmas season! Visit www.cafepress.com/discerning to check out some fun bumper stickers and t-shirts.

Discerning Sainthood Newsletter!
Thanks to Cafepress.com which we run our online store through, we can also send newsletters. This is good news as we've been trying to figure out how to do this for little to no cost for some time now. Please sign up to receive the once-monthly Discerning Sainthood Newsletter filled with Updates, fun Catholic facts, and motivational messages. You can do so here on the site by entering your email in the newsletter box at the top right or on our store front.

Thank you, Thomas Merton.

I recieved an assignment to write an essay on the Buddhist principle of the Four Noble Truths. I had my doubts about my own competence in the matter. However, I took a step back and humbly followed the example of Thomas Merton. While he never waivered in his own faith after joining the Trappists, his study and understanding of the eastern faiths deeped and enriched his own. In that spirit I started my soul searching of what I had learned about the Four Noble Truths in the light of my own Catholic faith.

1. Life is suffering . . .

Life is suffering. We know this innately. We know that it does not feel good to be diseased. It does not feel good to experience negative emotions. It does not feel good to want. Life is full of trials. Every person experiences the suffering of earthly life. We cannot escape it. Suffering will never simply cease on its own.
Even though life has its positive moments, they are incomplete. The things that ostensibly make us happy and even the emotions themselves are fleeting and impermanent much like the physical universe.

2. Suffering is due to attachment . . .

For me, in my Catholic faith, this translates into an attachment to the sinful aspects of the world. To live in accordance with you flesh rather than in accordance with the Spirit causes a sinful and corporal attachment to things that are not in line with God’s plan. All attachments to things that are only of this passing, mortal world are sinful in nature. It is an obsession with things not created for man by God. To be attached to these things causes a longing for God. In attempting to fulfill this longing, man mistakenly tries to fill the void with empty acts and objects of the flesh.

3. The cessation of suffering is contingent upon extinguishing attachment . . .

In my own life and faith, in order to eliminate suffering, I must eliminate my attachment to the passing world and the things within it that are not representative of the pure goodness of God. In order to do this I must realize the void that exists even with the presence of passing, corporal pleasures and goods. I must fill this void with God, which will lead to a detachment of myself from the enslavement of the flesh.

4. The Eightfold Path extinguishes attachment . . .

It is here in the last of the Four Noble Truths that the Buddhist tradition teaches the action that is needed for the result. If the desired result is freedom from attachment to end suffering, then the action must lead to such a result. The Buddhist tradition asserts that the Eightfold Path leads to the elimination of desire and suffering. Each of the steps, or “rights,” of the Eightfold Path directly applies to the basic tenets of the Catholic faith.
Similarly, these “rights” all apply to my own life and faith. If one follows right view (Catholicism), right intention (doing God’s will), right speech (glorifying God in your words), right action (glorifying God in the things you do), right livelihood (fulfilling God’s plan for you in your vocation), right effort (doing what is asked of you by God), right mindfulness (glorifying God in your thoughts), and right concentration (living a healthy prayer life) then one may be led to God rather than to works of the flesh. In this way of life one lives in accordance with the Spirit rather than in accordance with the flesh.

Studying the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, including the Eightfold Path, gave me a chance to examine my own Catholic faith. I saw the beauty of both faiths more clearly. Thank you, Thomas Merton.

Lesson 1: To Be A Saint: Giving Up Everything

What does it take to be a Saint? What does it take to reach such an amazing honor bestowed by God and witnessed by the faithful?

Must I give up all of my belongings even if they do not come between God and myself? I have a roof over my head, I have clothes, a computer, many books, cds, a television, a car. But in these things I find purpose for God. On my computer I witness, I spread the Gospel, I take part in fellowship. Of my many books, the vast majority are religious texts, Bibles, writings by the Saints, devotionals, etc. In them I find God speaking to me. Even in my cd collection I find God, listening to music that inspires me to be a better Christian. And on my television I watch and learn about God, about those who need him, about things which I should pray for, etc.

So what do I give up? Those things which I can live without? I can live without almost all of the things I own. Is it that I own them that I must readdress? I give them freely to God in what I do with them and with how I lend them to others. You are reading this because I have a computer and I pray that it inspires you.

This past Sunday's readings included the story of the wealthy man coming to Jesus and asking him what he must do to inherit the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells him to obey the commandments. The man says that he has always adhered to them. Jesus then tells him that he has much wealth and to give up all that he owns, for it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy man to enter the Kingdom of God. The wealthy man then walks away sad, for he had many possessions.

I've heard people say that the moral of that story above all else is to give up that which comes between you and God. The wealthy man walked away sad because his possessions were something he would not part with, therefore if we have possessions that we will not gladly part with for the glory of God, then we MUST give them up. This makes a lot of sense to me, though at times I do struggle. Sometimes I feel like maybe I'm not doing enough, but I find comfort in knowing that I can never do enough to be worthy, only what I'm capable of doing with God's help. I can never give up enough, for it's not the action of giving something up that justifies me before God, but the reason I give it up.


(feel free to click on the above banner and use it on your own site as a reminder of what we need to do in order to grow in holiness.)

White Hats Repel Muslim eAttack

In the world of computer hacking, the hackers employed by corporations and organizations as Security Consultants are referred to as "White Hat Hackers". And just earlier this week when Muslim hackers planned and attempted an attack on the Vatican website, White Hats were the papal line of defense. And defend they did, repelling the attack which caused absolutely no damage or significant slow-down to the website, according to the ANSA news service. According to the report, the attack was to be a "denial of service" attack, where the Vatican site would be overloaded with visitors and be forced to shut down.

Apparently this was found to have been planned on a Muslim website where it was stated that the attack was to get back at Pope Benedict XVI for his comments in Germany "against Islam". If you ask me, ridiculous. I found this story here at Catholic World News. They make no mention of the term "white hats", but I decided to use it instead of "computer-security experts". Why attack the Vatican website? That's makes absolutely no sense at all.

Consecrated Hotpocket

I once knew a guy who had left the Church to become an Episcopalian (Anglican-Americanized) because he felt that he was called to be a priest, but also called to be married. This wasn't the only thing he was desperately confused about. One day he said he wanted to consecrate a Twinkie and Dr. Pepper once he became a priest. He was joking, yes, but I wonder if he really would. Knowing him, I can honestly say that I'm not so sure he wouldn't. Regardless, I hope he's following God's plan for him and carefully discerning his true vocation (whether it's marriage or priesthood).

Anyway, I didn't just lead in with that for no reason. As I sit here and eat a hotpocket, I thought of that person and how utterly lost they must be in their understanding of the Holy Eucharist. It made me contimplate for a little while what it's like to be without this precious miracle and most holy sacrament. And I realized, if you truly have faith in the Eucharist...if you try to love the presence of our Lord in this most holy and perfect sacrifice, then you can't live without it. And if you think you can, you don't have the faith or love for Christ that you thought you did.

The Deacon at our parish told us a story not too long ago about when he was in seminary as a young man. A friend of his, Baptist, asked if he could come to the local Catholic church with Deacon that day out of curiosity. See, Deacon was going to this church daily for prayer and reflection and his friend had always wondered what was so special about the space. Anyway, Deacon and the man walked into the church and up to the area in front of the altar. Deacon was explaining some of the religious art to his friend and genuflected before the tabernacle. Then he turned around to continue explaining things to his friend only to find him laying prostrate on the floor! He got up a few minutes later and asked Deacon what was in that box behind the altar, that he had never felt the presence of God like that before.

Amazing story, right? It's true. And it tells of a reality that a lot of people only see as some sort of weird religious experience type ordeal, or denounce it as fake or false. Or even pull out the relative card and try to say that all churches are the same, etc. The truth is in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. And that truth exists in the Holy Catholic Church. I pray for all to find it where it's guarded from evil and loved intensley. Your home is in the Catholic Church because that's where Christ is, that's where He's prepared his table. Amen.

Murder Magazine Hits Stores

It looks like pro-choicers have built another weapon to propogate murder. And this time it's not another slaughter clinic, but a magazine. Yes, in the guise of a periodical promoting women's issues and rights, Ms. Magazine is doing little more than promoting abortion and a false sense of feminism. To these women, feminism is about promoting a woman's right to choose to kill her unborn child, and they highlight this belief in an issue of Ms. Magazine where 53 women proudly come forward and admit to having murdered their unborn child ("terminated pregnancy"), because they chose to sin ("had the right to choose").

Score another point for satan. This has got to stop.

Humor, Children & Email

Here's a little humor compliments of an email I received. You know what I'm talking about, one of those Fwd (forwards) you get from someone you may or may not know (or remember). Turns out that sometimes they are actually worth reading. Enjoy!

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.

The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".

The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"

The little girl replied, "Then you ask him ".

And one more...

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.

As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."

The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

It's always good to know that people are still writing jokes clean enough to repeat and fwd to your friends. Send these along too! And if you'd like the full email with all the jokes, send an email to discerningsainthood@gmail.com and I'll Fwd you the entire thing! :) Pax Christi!

Theology of Love: St. Paul, Jewish Law, Sin, and the Spirit

One question that I feel many non-Christians (and even some questioning Christians) ask has to do with the faithful not practicing all the Jewish laws. In one of my religious studies classes, my task was to find the answer to that question in chapters 5 and 6 of St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians.

Below is the essay that addresses the issue:

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes the members of the church that “for freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1). He is speaking, of course, not of actual enslavement of the body, but the enslavement of the human soul. That enslavement of which Paul writes is the enslavement of the Torah bound people.

To be free in Christ is to live free of the Torah and of the Jewish Law. Paul discusses this freedom at length in Galatians. To live by the Law rather than by the Spirit as Christ commands us, is to live by the flesh. We do not live according the flesh only through “fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like” (Gal 5:19-21). When we deny the Spirit and its fruits as the the way by which we may “inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:21), and exalt and rely upon the Law as the way to such an inheritance we are living according to the flesh just as through the above mentioned works.

While living by the Torah and by the Law is not in and of itself sinful, it is the exaltation of the Law as a means of salvation that is the sin. Paul makes this clear to us when he writes that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail,” but that “faith working through love” is the new Law (Gal 5:6). Paul’s theology of love begins to emerge here. We all live on earth in our flesh, in our earthly bodies. If Paul writes for us not to live according to the flesh but by the spirit and not according to the law but to freedom, how do we conduct our earthly bodies in a way that is in accordance with the Spirit? If “faith working through love” is the new Law by which we must live, then we must obey this as our new Law (Gal 5:6) so that “if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal 5:25). Paul further unfolds his theology of love commanding us to “have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another” (Gal 5:26).

Paul’s theology of love tells us that a sin is an act against love, for “faith working through love” is the new Law (Gal 5:6). Going against the love of self is to deny yourself as a temple of the Spirit or to willfully corrupt the temple of the Spirit. To go against the love of others is to “grow weary in well-doing” a sin against which Paul warns us (Gal. 6:9). To go against love of the Spirit is to go against God himself, as the Spirit is the gift of the new Law from God. To live by Paul’s theology of love is to “live by the spirit” and to “walk by the spirit” (Gal. 5:25). This gives us an entirely new approach to sin and the avoidance thereof. The new Law is not one of forbiddance but one of allowance. In its very concept it guides us toward works of love, rather than away from acts of sin. It gives us freedom to live by the Spirit through our spirit to guide our flesh, rather than live by the Law through our already corrupt flesh, resulting in a faulty guide for our spirits.

While we must live in our flesh, but we must not live by the flesh, for Paul writes that “he who sow to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption” (Gal 6:8). However, while living in our flesh, if we live not by it but by the Spirit then “from the Spirit [we] will reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:8). In order to truly live in accordance with the Spirit, we must not live for the flesh but in the flesh for the Spirit.

Following the path of St. Mary Magdelen

Many of us have special affections for our patron saints and the saints’ names under which we were confirmed. Each of us chose a saint that spoke to our souls. I was confirmed under the name Jennifer Mary Magdalen. I didn’t tell my sponsor until we were standing outside St. Benedict Church that Mary Magdalen was going to be my confirmation name because I myself did not yet know until that point. But as I stood there on the steps of the church waiting to process into the church and be accepted into the faith I took a few moments for reflection.

I looked up at the processional crucifix and the symbolism was striking. I was following it into the ceremony were I would promise to follow Jesus Christ as His faithful disciple. The path of any penitent sinner who turns to Jesus is that of St. Mary Magdalen. She was exorcised and cleansed by Christ, as I was baptized by water and the Spirit. She washed Christ’s feet in thanksgiving and love, as I pray to Him in thanksgiving and love. She was faithful to Christ as a disciple as I strive to be faithful to Christ as a disciple. She also received the greatest blessing of Christ revealing Himself to her in His transfigured state on Easter morning. This is a blessing we all pray to receive.

During my time in RCIA a woman who has become a dear friend of mine said that the Catholic Church is not a Church of saints, it is a Church of sinners. It is truly a Church of those in need of healing, for as Jesus said, "those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners” (Lk 5:31). Just as St. Mary Magdalen did, we the faithful of the Church have heard Christ’s call to a continuing conversion of heart. Now we must follow our shepherd.

Ecumenical Prayer Day for Pope

After having received several requests, concerned emails, and prayerful emails regarding the violent and stubborn threats on Pope Benedict XVI and his office, I have decided to post one of them. In a true spirit of ecumenicism, let us all join together to pray for the safety of a great leader and holy man, Pope Benedict XVI. The following email was received by me and is being posted here with permission from one of our many brothers in Christ.

"Wednesday September 20th marks the one week anniversary of Pope Benedict’s address at the University of Regensburg. In the days that followed we have seen an escalation in threats, violent rhetoric and actual violence against Christians by radical Islamic extremists. Several threats on Benedict’s life have been made public.
I would like to invite all Christians, Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican or Protestant to join me in making this Wednesday, September 20th a special of day of united Christian action. Please join by offering prayer, fasting, penance or almsgiving for the intention of Pope Benedict’s safety and a peaceful resolution for this situation.
Yours in Christ
David (an Eastern Orthodox Christian)"

God Bless and keep the Pope. We love our German Shepherd.

Muslims Angry at Pope Benedict...touchy.

I read an article on CNN.com this morning about how Muslim authoritative bodies worldwide are upset about a statement the Pope made when he quoted 14th-century Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus who said, "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

Of course, this was preceeded by the Holy Father commenting on how discourteous the emperor's comment was. So lets do some logical thinking here... The Pope makes an academic speech where he says the emporer was not very nice for saying "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

You'd think Muslims would thank him for saying this. But no...instead they are up in arms because it was mentioned in the first place. Yes, I'm serious. Also, from CNN, there is this...

Condemnation also came from Turkey where Benedict is scheduled to visit in November.

"His words are extremely regrettable, worrying and unfortunate in terms of the Christian world and common peace of humanity," the Anatolian state news agency quoted Ali Bardakoglu, the head of Ankara's Directorate General for Religious Affairs, as saying.

"I do not see any use in somebody visiting the Islamic world who thinks in this way about the holy prophet of Islam."

I can't get that last statement out of my head. Isn't it kind of silly to say/think? I mean honestly, the Pope is visiting in an effort to be ecumenical in the truest sense of the word. To "love thy enemy" and to witness to billions of muslims the Christian faith.

"who thinks in this way about the holy prophet of Islam." I don't mean to call anyone out on this, but I'm going to guess that the Pope, like any true faithful Christian, doesn't even believe that Muhammad was a prophet, let alone holy. And the muslim leaders know that! So why even make that comment? Think on that.

9-11

Five years ago today a horrible thing happened in New York, USA. You know what it was, everyone does. And while it's largely seen as a horrible American tragedy, I offer a view that's un-nationalistic. Yes, I'm aware that "un-nationalistic" isn't a word, but I had to choose carefully how I worded what I'm trying to say. You see, to say unpatriotic would not be accurate. The attack on the World Trade Center was very much driven by and an attack against patriotism. I'm not unpatriotic, I have a love for this country that's rooted in my right to be free and gratitude for the things I often (though I shouldn't) take for granted.

The "un-nationalistic" view I offer is one of worldwide tragedy. The day muslim extremists hijacked those planes and ran them into the towers and the Pentagon was a day of horrorific tragedy for all that is good and holy in the world. It doesn't just affect the families of the victims, or New York, or this country. It affects anyone that believes in anything right and just. And for those who feel that what happened was just and right, a true seed of evil is planted in them, one that deeply saddens me. Christians worldwide must unite under a banner of unwavering trust in Christ or such seeds of evil will sprout into much more dangerous forms. We see it even today in the Middle East where extremist groups operate under the brainwashed guise of martyrdom.

God Bless the families of the victims of the 9-11 attacks. God Bless the heros aboard Flight 93. God Bless America and every other country in the world. God Bless thouse who stand for peace and the light of truth. Pax Christi.

Lucky . . . wait, no . . . blessed me.

I always took for granted the towering structure that is a central landmark for my college’s academic campus. It is an attractive structure that added a much needed architectural flair to the newer part of the university with all of its utilitarian brick buildings. However, it wasn’t until this semester when the combination of a ripening faith and bad off-campus parking took hold that I realized how blessed I am. On a (state) university’s campus sits the cathedral of the Richmond Diocese.

You may be asking yourself why bad parking has made me appreciative of the cathedral’s location. Well, every morning when I emerge from Monroe Park and see the academic campus the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart stands directly in front with its inscription reading “IF YE LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.” It’s a reminder of what it means to love God and that my actions must reflect that love.

It wasn’t until these past few weeks that I’ve realized this blessing of the cathedral’s placement. Until know, I never knew the privilege of being able to say my morning prayers in a church, or to step in for a visit between American studies and chemistry.

My brother-in-law said something once that made me realize the beauty and importance of praying inside a church where the Eucharist is present: If your grandmother lived in the same city as you, and you only spoke on the phone, that would be a neglectful action, an incomplete relationship. How can you say you love her but never visit, despite her close proximity? Similarly, how can you say you love God if you never visit Him in His house? I’ve been blessed with the presence of the cathedral, and I can now visit God in his house daily.

Reflection on Authority

When I reflect on authority, I often wonder on what authority do modern Christians preach what they preach. The claim of our non-demoninational and protestant brothers and sisters in Christ is that they preach and develop doctrine on the authority of scripture. But is that so? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say they do so on the authority of their interpretation of scripture? And even then, most often only on a particular exerpt from the Bible, not the entire thing. If you can bare with me for a second, I'd like to try a short exercise in this mindset... "God so loved the world that He sent his only Son,..." (John 3:16). What? His only son! That means we aren't all Children of God, we must be something else! <-- See what I mean?

Then there's the groups who read the Old Testament but feel it is secondary and often obsolete compared to the New Testament. What do they think the earliest Christians were reading? They didn't have a collection of the gospels and letters that created the New Testament! The Old Testament is as much Christian as it is Jewish. Jesus completed the law, the OT is Christian scripture.

So where does authority come from? Well, if you look at the schismatic and segregating nature of modern Christian movements (and by modern I mean the protestant reformation to present day), it's obvious to me that Sola Scriptura (scripture alone) is an idea that isn't working. If the Word of God is supposed to be uniting us in Christ, then the modern attempts of "Bible Only! All that other stuff doesn't matter!" aren't doing the job because we are becoming more and more seperated.

If it's not rites and rituals that seperate us, it's interpretations of scripture. I've heard too many times "All that other stuff doesn't matter, we need to be living out God's Word in scripture," and then witnessed first hand how "all that other stuff" (rites, rituals, marian dogma, etc.) is replaced with various interpretations contradicting eachother. And what really gets me is where most of these comes from. It's surprising how many theologians are in the world today, regardless of educational background, vocational training, etc.

But what many people don't get is that we are not "better equipped" (as I've heard many times) today than the Christians in the 2nd century were to interpret scripture and Apostolic tradition. Want to know why? Because the Christians of the 2nd century were the students of the apostles and the students of their students. The redemptive message was alive and fresh! So why is it then that I see protestants running into Christian bookstores and buying Bible study guides and telling me that we are now "better equipped" because we have all the original languages translated, blah blah blah? Seriously, I used to work in one such store and I have this preached to me many a time. I have no problem with people studying the Bible, I know I do and others should to, but to think that we know better than the students of the apostles and the apostles themselves is just ignorant.

So what do we do? Where does authority lie if not completely in scripture? "Ummm...what is 'Sacred Tradition?'" Correct! Think about it. What Christian faiths aren't constantly schisming and seperating? The answer is, those in line with Sacred Tradition. While the protestant, reformed, non-denominational, etc. etc. churches of the world constantly break apart and form new bodies, the Catholic and Orthodox churches of the world hold it together. Sure there are people who leave, groups that break off from time to time, but what do they go and do? Create new churches that fail, break down, seperate, etc. And all the while, the unwaivering doctrines and dogmas of ancient Christian churches stay firm. But some people cringe at the idea that they don't know better than the earliest Christians.

Sacred Tradition is very much the glue. The 2nd century Christians knew what they were doing and talking about because they were learning it from the Apostles and students of the Apostles themselves! Important sacraments such as the Eucharist (which has immense Biblical basis, instituted by Christ himself at the last supper) are rooted in the tradition of the early Christians who celebrated the feast of life! And even important sacramentals, such as the sign of the cross, are rooted in the rich spiritual tradition of those earliest Christians.

I guess it's easy to dismiss those things because they are often "man made." But lets not forget who came down from heaven and became man for us and our salvation. The physical world is not evil, it is not unclean. "What goes into your mouth does not make you 'unclean.' It's what comes out of your mouth that makes you 'unclean.'"(Matt 15:10) Rituals and Rites rooted deeply in Christ are not wrong, if anything they are healthy to one's spiritual journey. Sometimes we need to spend less time attacking what we don't agree with and try to understand why it is we don't agree. Often we'll find that we don't disagree at all.

Harmartiological Reflection

What if one's sins were worn on the outside, like some sort of jacket that showed people the person's true actions? Would (s)he feel worse or more ashamed?
I think I would. Which leads me to ask, do I fool myself about sin? Do I feel worse about my sin if I get caught or suffer some sort of immediate, lasting consequence? It is far easier to ignore all my sins until it’s time for an examination of conscience an hour before Saturday confession. But I shouldn’t ignore my sin and push it to the back of my brain until I’m forced to pull it forward. That makes it too easy to start a register and add to it daily with little thought or consideration.
My sin should be in the front of my mind. I should feel guilty about sins of which I am guilty, not just sins from which I feel lasting effects which force me to keep the sin in the fore of my head.
Lets look at an example of sinning and lasting effects, but in a different way. Take for example a person who engages in intercourse outside of a sacramental marriage one time. This person may immediately regret their decision and feel remorse. However, what if a pregnancy results from this one act, becoming a physical display and reminder of the sin. Would this compound the guilty feelings? Why should it? The pregnancy itself is not a sin itself, but a consequence of one. I'd imagine the loss of sanctity and chastity would be distressing, but would that person not be able to regain a feeling of spiritual health after confessing? In thinking about that, if it was me, I have the distinct impression that I would carry guilty and shameful feelings long after confessing if a pregnancy resulted from the single act, much moreso than if it didn't.
What about lying? A lie is a lie, white or otherwise. If I know my lie has hurt someone, I experience guilt that far exceeds that which I experience after telling a “white” lie that has resulted in no ostensible harm. What does this say about my experience of sin and of reconciliation?
What do these examples tell us about how we, as children of God, view our sins and experience guilt? While obsession with our own sin is a sin in itself, perhaps we do need to dig deeper in our consciences to find the source of guilt. I should think that if we experience guilt for a reason other than the sins we have committed (i.e. judgment of others, seeing obvious effects) it is difficult to determine whether we feel guilty for the sin at all.

What's Next? Time-Shares in Heaven (or Hell)?

I'm blown away. Just when I thought it was impossible that I could be more surprised by the heretical activities of former priests, turns out it was only improbable. Yep, they've done it again, take a look... http://www.rentapriest.com

Feeling sick? I was when I looked at it. Actually, sitting here writing this entry, all I can do is feel really icky. That and pray out of a sense of sorrow for those poor souls who are commiting these horrible acts and those being led down the wrong path because of them. So sad. I'm not saying that a Priest shouldn't get married if they truly feel called to, I'm just saying that they should respect their vows and current state, leave the priesthood for good, and then get married. Have some respect!

Why We're Catholic - The Shortest Post To Ever Be Posted on Discerning Sainthood

God's want for us to be with him far surpasses our understanding. It's so strong that he sent his only Son to die on a cross for us. That is what we must understand and come to share with others. Through petty differences, that is the truth that unites us. We are all called to take action and part in that truth. The fullness of that truth exists in the Eucharist. And that is not a belief or thought, it is fact.

"Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.'" (John 6:53)

Rear-End Witnessing

You're on the road and someone just let you over. "What a nice person," you think (hopefully), and make a mental note to let a person over sometime that day as well. Then later down the road, the friendly driver passes you and you notice a bumper sticker on the back of their vehicle. It reads, "I'm the Catholic the liberal media warned you about."

I was doing my best to find a bumper sticker online I noticed on several cars at my parish, but couldn't seem to locate it anywhere. Instead I ran into the cafepress list of stickers in their "religious" and "catholic" categories. In other words, I came across a listing of Catholic stickers made by people and posted online for sale on www.cafepress.com.

First and foremost, I was excited to see our very own bumper sticker "Friends Don't Let Friends Skip Mass" as the fourth sticker on the first page in the listing of 86 pages! What an incredible blessing (and work of technology)! Then I started to notice some of the other great stickers available. They are hillarious! Here are a few of the products I found...
Funny right? There's more, lots more! And check back here now and then for updates to the dS store! Soon we'll have t-shirts and more! You know, I see more and more rosary beads hanging in cars these days...I'm not sure if the driver always knows it's a Catholic thing, but they have them none the less. Just as I believe rosary beads hanging in your car can bring you closer to God, so can stickers, magnets, t-shirts, and buttons! Celebrate this faith, it's the fullness of truth!

Can We Say "Excommunication"?

Okay, so I'm a fairly new Catholic and I'm not always up on all the under-currents and what not in Vatican City, but how did I manage to miss this? Apparently an African Archbishop, Milingo, has totally lost it and honestly I'm surprised that something drastic hasn't been done to correct his mistakes so far.

According to an article by CWN, Archbishop Milingo was forced to resign as Bishop of Lusaka after he led a series of unorthodox "healing services." The local people and Rome felt he was acting more like a witch doctor than a Bishop. So he ended up being summoned to Rome where he held no pastoral appointment. Then he started doing those services again! He was further corrected by the Vatican, but apparently that did no good because, well...I'll let a segment of the article from CWN explain it...

Archbishop Milingo's most spectacular departure from orthodoxy came in 2001, when he announced his adherence to the Unification Church, led by the self-proclaimed Korean messiah, Sun Myung Moon. In a mass wedding ceremony in New York, he took a Korean bride, chosen for him by Rev. Moon. In August of the same year a repentant Archbishop Milingo returned to Rome for a personal meeting with Pope John Paul II (bio - news), renounced his attempted marriage, reaffirmed his Catholic faith, and disappeared for a year of reflection and prayer.

This year, after his disappearance in June, the archbishop surfaced in Washington, DC, on July 12, in the company of the self-proclaimed Archbishop George Stallings, a former Catholic priest who now heads a sect known as the African-American Catholic Congregation. In an appearance with Stallings at the National Press Club, Archbishop Milingo called for an end to priestly celibacy. The African archbishop later revealed that he had returned to the Korean woman he sought to marry in 2001.

Crazy? Led Astray? A little of both? I'm going to leave that up to you, the reader. But honestly, stop this guy! And now they are concerned because he's been in talks with Dan Brown (writer of The Da Vinci Code) and has an agreement to work with him on his next book! That's all we need, some renegade crazy-priest giving credibility to more false excuses for Brown's conspiracy theories!

Sure this article's title is 'Can We Say "Excommunication?"', but I know the Church would rather handle this without going that far. Still, I'm going to guess he's only a sneeze away from being outside of the Church's loving embrace, and that's a horrific place to be. Want to find hell on earth?...excommunication might be pretty close.

P.S. I found this on the Unification.net website, which is the website of the Unificationism movement that "Archbishop" Milingo takes part in. It's a letter from Milingo explaining his actions. And for those of you who don't know much about it, the leader of the Unification movement is Sun Myung Moon (pictured here), who believes he is the Messiah. Check this out.

Pray for Peace

Please pray for peace.

As Americans we have a responsibility to set an example. Reguardless if we asked for it or not, it's what we must do. Let's set an example of prayer for peace.

Return to Orthodoxy

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately on the state of the liturgy currently. I admit that both Jenny and I are in the camp of young adults that would like to see a return-to, strengthen-of, reform-in-the-spirit-of, traditional liturgical practices (whatever the case may be). Am I referring to tridentine? If that's what's best for the Church, then yes. More orthodox novus ordo? Maybe. I'm not going to pretend to be wise enough to know what's in the Church's best interest liturgically, but I can say that I feel it's important that it's born out of the rich tradition, solemnity, and spirit of the Church.

I've been to mass at many a church and I won't act like I've enjoyed all of them. And it's no secret nation-wide that here in the Diocese of Richmond, VA. there are plenty of liturgical abuses. I'm content in knowing that the parish I attend is very serious in its liturgical practices and respect, but I'm also restless knowing that at many churches in the diocese (and world-wide) liturgical abuses are occuring.

For me it's not so much "this is how things were and should be," that's not the case. For me it's about an understanding of how the liturgy is formed, and what it's purpose is. To quote a Benedictine Father and friend of mine, Fr. Gregory Gresko OSB, "We are to worship God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all at once the best way we can, and the liturgy is that way. The liturgy is the source and summit of our life as Christians...and the source and summit of that liturgy is the Holy Eucharist." We have to take it serious because it is so important and serious spiritually.

In my mind there is no answer to the problem. I wouldn't know how to even suggest or implement a solution if I had one, but I will say that there is a strong current of young adults asking for more access to Tridentine Masses, as well as, a surge of novus ordo young adults pushing for their parishes to be more orthodox. I see this as a good thing and I'm very excited about it. It's important to remember that the Church is supposed to be counter-culture. It's okay to be different. Just because our protestant brothers and sisters are playing rock music in their churches to draw in youth doesn't mean us Catholics have to do the same. Christ draws them to the Churches, and through sacred music we honor Him. Let's leave the rock music in the cd players.