Advent

What is it, exactly, that we do during this season of Advent? We spend this time in joyful anticipation of the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We extend our spiritual arms to reach towards Christmas, when we celebrate the day that God dwelt among us in the flesh. As Christians, we welcome His arrival and adore Him. But during this season, let us also not forget Christ's words when he said, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me (Mt 25:40)." Just as we love and welcome the arrival of our Messiah, we must also love and welcome the least of His brothers. Advent is a time to renew our love for Christ and our love for one another as well. During this time of joy, please do not forget the least of our brothers. Here are some ideas for charitable contributions:
-Volunteer your time to help those in need.
-Experience the joy of donating monetary support to a charity.
-Spend some extra time with an elderly or sick family member.
-Mind your manners and the feelings of others when experiencing frustration from Christmas shopping.

Allow me to leave you a prayer for an increase in charity during this Advent season:
Lord Jesus Christ, our Heavenly King,
As we enter into this season of Advent,
let us experience an increase in charity and goodwill.
Fill our hearts with a desire to treat others
in a manner befitting the name Christian.
May we treat one another with the same love
with which you treat us.
And may we find ourselves renewed for
the Christmas season during which we celebrate the day
the Word became flesh,
and you dwelt among us.
AMEN.

Sean Taylor dies

I know you're probably wondering why I'm writing about this on Discerning Sainthood, after all, Sean Taylor wasn't Catholic (that I know of). The fact is, I'm a big Redskins fan and this is definitely a day of mourning for all Redskins fans. He was one awesome football player, a joy to watch and only 24 years old. From ESPN...

"His father called and said he was with Christ and he cried and thanked me," said Sharpstein, Taylor's former lawyer. "It's a tremendously sad and unnecessary event. He was a wonderful, humble, talented young man, and had a huge life in front of him. Obviously God had other plans."

God bless his family and friends, the Skins organizations and all the players. Sean, you were a pleasure to watch and you'll be greatly, greatly missed. Please take time today to pray for his soul and his family.

Thank you.

This Little Light of Mine

". . . the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
John 1:5

Not only rich in meaning and beautiful in verse, but profound and dramatic in its implications for us as Christians, John 1:5 testifies to the gift of light found in Christ alone. He is salvation and He is the light of the world. We are called to be part of Christ's body, and to shine in this world as Christ does, to burst through the darkness of sin into which we were born.
Christians, let your light shine in this world!

A prayer:
Christ our Lord,
through you we received the gift of light at baptism,
and as you are the Light in the darkness, let us also be.
Through you and in you may we shine brightly,
And, following the way of Your servant, John the Baptist,
may we testify to the Light unceasingly.
AMEN.

Movie Review: Bella

Last night, Jenny and I were fortunate enough to see "Bella" for free with a sold out crowd. If you haven't heard about "Bella" it's an independant film directed by Alejandro Monteverde and starring Eduardo Verastegui. It's won several awards at film festivals all over the US and beyond and is quickly becoming a conservative Christian's favorite film of 2007. The movie is boasted to have a Catholic flavor and pro-life message.

After seeing the movie I can honestly say it's incredible. At the same time, is it a rallying cry for pro-lifers? No. The movie, while having a latino-Catholic flair, does not in any way, shape or form push any type of morality and religion on its audience. Is the story a pro-life stand? Only if every movie ever made where a single mother decides to have her baby is a pro-life stand.

Don't read my wrong here. The movie is fantastic. I was smiling ear to ear through every part where tears weren't building up in my eyes. I love this film and I love that it really does show the beauty of love for a child, the inner struggle of people, and the outcomes of the choices (and mistakes) that we make. All I'm saying is that nothing is shoved down your throat (which is a great thing!).

While this movie is no standard to march behind, it is an instant classic. The script is clean, funny and heart-warming. The acting is top notch and the music is superb. In other words, we (pro-life Christians) don't need this film to be a staunch pro-life banner. Sometimes we just need a good story to remind us why life is so precious.

I've heard of movie critics who have blasted this film for its "moral pushing," and I must say... "what film did you see?" Honestly, I was kind of hoping for a little moral pushing, but there was none to be had. I guess it goes to show that people with agendas (in this case, the critics), will say whatever it takes to bring something so beautiful down.

Go see this movie.

Happy All Saints Day!

A history lesson thanks to AmericanCatholic.org...

" The earliest certain observance of a feast in honor of all the saints is an early fourth-century commemoration of "all the martyrs." In the early seventh century, after successive waves of invaders plundered the catacombs, Pope Boniface IV gathered up some 28 wagonloads of bones and reinterred them beneath the Pantheon, a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods. The pope rededicated the shrine as a Christian church. According to Venerable Bede, the pope intended "that the memory of all the saints might in the future be honored in the place which had formerly been dedicated to the worship not of gods but of demons" (On the Calculation of Time).

But the rededication of the Pantheon, like the earlier commemoration of all the martyrs, occurred in May. Many Eastern Churches still honor all the saints in the spring, either during the Easter season or immediately after Pentecost.

How the Western Church came to celebrate this feast in November is a puzzle to historians. The Anglo-Saxon theologian Alcuin observed the feast on November 1 in 800, as did his friend Arno, Bishop of Salzburg. Rome finally adopted that date in the ninth century."

Bash Those Catholics

Recently I read an article on Catholic.org about Britney Spears' new album art. Apparently included in her new album are pictures of her mocking the sacrament of confession. She appears in fishnets posing in provocative ways next to a hunky priest. I can't help but agree with Deacon Keith Fournier (the author of the article and deacon at my parish church) when he says...

"...that the only acceptable discrimination in America these days is bigotry toward the Catholic Church."

It's horribly true it seems... like there's some sort of "Okay Seal" on media training sheets that instructs journalists to make sure they're sensitive to every interest group on the planet except for those Catholics.

I'm honestly at a loss for what to say anymore. It's getting harder and harder to write this blog when the world seems to be getting darker and darker. I guess we all have to finish the race and keep the faith. From Deacon...

"In the meantime, we can pray for Britney. We must also continue to stand up against the continued exploitation of the images of our Church by those who have no shame."

A Halloween All Saints Article for ALL Christians

A friend of mine writes for Crosswalk.com, which you might recognize as the largest Christian website on the internet. In general, it doesn't really cater to Catholics, but surprisingly enough plenty of Catholics visit the site and comment on articles, etc.

An article just posted on the site is an attempt to reclaim Halloween for the Christian feast day it really is, and the best part is that Sarah (the author) has helped bring this "reclaiming" to not only Catholics, but Protestants.

Check it out! http://www.crosswalk.com/parenting/11556966/

Authentic Men in the Church - a message

I was privileged to hear a speaker last night during a "Men's Night Out" at our parish. The speaker, Mark Houck, was kind enough to come down from Pennsylvania to speak to us about authentic masculinity and the role of the man in the Church. Mark is the co-founder of "The King's Men," an apostolate focusing on molding men into real men, Christian men. They believe we as men belong in battle, a battle for life, for our families, as leaders and as wise counselors. The King's Men is currently in a battle against the pornography industry in PA. To hear him speak on what it is to really be a man is inspiring... a lot like a rally before a big battle in an epic movie.

I invite you all to check out http://www.thekingsmen.us for more information and to listen to their podcasts.

An Interview with Nadeem: The Mission of a Persecuted Catholic in Pakistan

The following is an email interview between myself and a man I met months ago online named Nadeem. Nadeem is from Pakistan and lives in a Christian community persecuted by its Muslim neighbors. Nadeem told me that he has recently become the first pakistani oblate of Saint Benedict thanks to online correspondance with Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania. That Archabbey is the first Bendictine Monestary in the United States. He brings joy to my heart because he so brightly shines the light of Christ in the face of so much strife.

While Nadeem asked me to correct his english for him, I've decided not to in order to capture the essence of what he says in his responses to my questions. Also, I am not using Nadeem's last name, nor am I showing any pictures of him in order to protect his identity. He has also requested that he only names "Pakistan" as his home in order to keep the Christians where he lives safe.

Bryan: First of all Nadeem, God Bless you and thank you for answering these questions.

Nadeem: Yes, This is great opportunity for me that you give me a chance to share my life with whole the world by yours sources. So thanks yours very much to give me this stage.

Bryan: Where do you live?

Nadeem: Pakistan

Bryan: From what I understand, you were fired from your job because of your faith, is that right?

Nadeem: Yes, Because I am religious person I am leading one Catholic Youth Group. And my boss was not happy with me that I ask him some time holidays for my religious activities. Because my Boss was Muslim and he was against Christianity. I was only the one Christian who was worked at that office. Actually here in Pakistan its so hard to get good job. I was data operator in one office. I am skill full in computer I had some courses in computer but now a days I am working as a building painter.

Bryan: Is that sort of persecution normal where you live?

Nadeem: It depends on Christian person religious activities and how much he or she famous in the Christian community, and some time I am looking here that poor Christian people get attack by Muslims. Here you can see some persecution on the Christian people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Pakistan

Bryan: And your family converted from Islam, right?

Nadeem: Yes, My grand pa was converted from Islam.

Bryan: What do you do in your community to bring the light of Christ to others?

Nadeem: Yes, this is very good and important question. First at all mostly people are illiterate in my area. So being an Oblate Novice of St. Benedict. I have some religious and materialistic (secular) actives. At the evening time I in some houses around me and say prayer for them and preach them Good News of Jesus of Christ. And tell them believe in Jesus and don’t feel depressed and lose yours heart because we are blessed people these trail and suffering are ordinary we are owner of the Heaven. I also want to do something for my areas people in spirituality and in physically.

I would like to take part in volunteer works and leading a youth. In which I teach the poor children materialistic (secular) and religious education. I have been organizing different festivals on different occasion and events. I have been organizing these festivals to improve confidence of children and preach them; I have been paying attention to teach children religious education particularly. I have been worked on primary health, education (formal and informal) global peace, drugs and also community problems (conflict resolution/mediation) I have had prepared few kids on different places to perform and teach Rosary the people in their own places.

I am also a member of the parish .I work with my parish priest voluntarily. Especially I have been teaching catechism to prepared children for FIRST HOLY COMMUNION every year. I have been other activities in the parish, especially on events. I also help when prayer services held in mine area. I have a deep feeling for my religion and I would like to serve my energies only to teach and help my religious thought. I feel comfort after doing these because of I know God want to me I do this.

I felt delighted when I read about your organization that you would like also like to take help of such who like to work volunteer am pleased and offer my self for this service.

Bryan: Do you believe the children you help will grow up and remain Catholic?

Nadeem: Yes, I am very much sure, because I make them so religious. I am seeing my childhood on there faces. When I was the kid I get good teacher too those taught me about Catholic faith.

Bryan: What kind of prayers do you need from the world?

Nadeem: We need prayers for Peace, unity, love, freedom, and humanity.

Rest assured, Nadeem, our prayers are with you. Please feel free to post a comment here to offer kind works to Nadeem. I'll make sure he gets them. And for his community in Pakistan, let us pray a divine mercy chaplet this week. God Bless them.

If you have any questions you'd like to ask Nadeem, please email me and I'll make sure they go into the follow-up interview I hope to do in the near future with him.

When in Rome, do as Saint Ambrose does?

I found out something today that's really quite cool. It turns out the quote "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" is attributed to Saint Ambrose! Yes, a Father of the Church from the fourth century! This blew my mind because it's yet another testament to the everyday quotes that stem from the Bible and Saints.

In a letter to Saint Augustine, Saint Ambrose wrote...

Si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more; si fueris alibi, vivito sicut ibi

Translated into English, that means "When you are in Rome live in the Roman style; when you are elsewhere live as they live elsewhere." This was in reference to another quote by Ambrose... "When I go to Rome, I fast on Saturday, but in Milan I do not. Do you also follow the custom of whatever church you attend, if you do not want to give or receive scandal." While the general meaning of it has changed, the quote is the same.

It was quoted as a proverb in the "Commonplace Book" in 1530 and then again in the nineteenth century in America in "Voyages of Radisson." It's so amazing how such a well known quote can originate from the scribblings of one holy man to another.

Jesus Bashing is Okay?

On the Emmy's this past weekend, Kathy Griffin made the following bold statement...

"No person had less to do with this award than Jesus. Can you believe this sh@#? Hell has frozen over. Suck it, Jesus, this award is my god now."

In the same vain of Don Imus or Keith Richards (both having said offensive things), Kathy Griffin said the above, offending Christians everywhere. The difference is that while Don and Keith got into trouble for their offensive statements, Kathy won't because such statements against faith are tolerated as "jokes."

Look at Isaiah Washington. He made an anti-gay remark backstage or wherever and it might have ruined his career. Kathy Griffin offends 85% of the population (believers) and doesn't get in trouble at all. It's a pathetic double-edged sword isn't it?

Bill Donahue from the Catholic League appeared on CNN.com where he attempted to argue for this. I'm not sure if he got a point across other than what was stated above, but he did bring to light a lie from Kathy's publicists that states that she's a Catholic. She isn't. She's a self-proclaimed "militant atheist."

Honestly, I'm not surprised. Why should we be? Christ's church is the persecuted church. It always has been and always will be until the end of days. We shouldn't despair though, we should embrace the path we've chosen, the cross we bare.

The Assumption... What Now?

Yesterday was the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, one of my favorite days of the liturgical calendar. My favorite hymn is sung during that feast, Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above. Ever since it was sung on "Sister Act," I've loved that song. It's an important day for all Catholics and hence a holy day of obligation. But after the Mass is over, after the sun has set, what now?

The Fest of the Assumption is a day of obligation because Mary's witness is so perfect that we, as Christians, should imitate her in our lives. We should strive to be like Mary in order to devote ourselves completely to Christ. Just as she was an instrument of God, giving birth to our Lord, so we must become instruments of God and help "give birth" to his light in the world.

Suggested Reading: True Devotion to Mary, St. Louis de Montfort

Tragedy and Peru: A Speculation

I woke up this morning and did my morning routine which involves checking the news online. “Breaking News” on most sites this morning was an earthquake in Peru that killed 337 people (thus far). The quake was followed by strong aftershocks and a tiny, 1-foot tsunami. This is a horrible tragedy for the people of Peru and my prayers are with the victims, their families and those who are suffering both directly and indirectly from this disaster.

After the initial shock wore off, I was saddened to think that this could happen on a Marian feast day, the Feast of the Assumption, but then immediately something came to mind. Peru has been in the news lately, as have many latin American countries. While Castro and Chavez seem to make headlines now and then, I’m referring more specifically about the legalization of abortion for the first time in many of these countries.

Before I continue, I’m not the type of person to say that disasters happen because people are wicked, etc. You won’t find me subscribing to the theory that the Holocaust was some form of divine punishment for the Jews having rejected Christ. That line of thinking, in my opinion, is often lacking an understanding of God as both pure justice and pure love. You also won’t find me saying that God doesn’t punish. I only have to pick up my Bible, flip to the Old Testament and read about Sodom and Gomorrah.

And so… in the spirit of throwing out theories that are based purely in speculation, I can’t help but correlate this immense disaster with the recent practice of abortion in Peruvian hospitals, as well as, the recent (2005) UN decreed legalization of the morning after pill in Peru. Also, US-funded organizations in league with the UN Population Fund are trying to legalize abortion under the guise of “women’s health.” Read about it here.

What worse way could one deny Christ and His mother than to deny the very miracle of life and motherhood? I don’t know about you, but breaking my mother’s heart is not something I want to do. In the same way, breaking Mother Mary’s heart is never something I want to do. Has Peru broken her heart?

Catholic Culture - Wow!

This is a post where we (Bryan and Jenny) share with you some really cool Catholic culture "stuff" we've come across lately. If you know of anything (music, websites, clothing, bumper stickers, news, anything!), please email us and we'll gladly include it in our next Catholic Culture posting. Here we go...

MUSIC:

Last Day - Happy Medium
I just found out about this band today (I feel out of the loop!). I love their sound (especially the song Chasing Tomorrow) and I'm definitely going to buy this album. Click here to preview the album.

They're apparently playing at the CrossRoads Catholic Music Festival in September. Click here to check out more about the festival!

Point 5 Covenant - Listen. Learn.
This band has a very urban beastie boys-like sound. I first came across these guys on YouTube in a video of them from the Catholic Underground in New York. You can preview and buy their album from PhatMass. They also have an official site, http://point5covenant.com/


GEAR:

RomanticCatholic.com
This is a great site with great shirt designs. The best part about this company though is that it's a lay ministry in Colorado. The ministry team is made up of RCIA team members, youth leaders, etc. This is a great idea and their designs are top notch.

CNN fails again.

Check this out.

Mr. Roland S. Martin apparently knows all there is to know about Catholicism and has related the Pope's recent assertion of authority as "an old man trying to get a little attention."

Wow, CNN isn't biased at all (note the sarcasm). It's people like this that create schism in the body of Christ, not the Pope (who has integrity).

2000 Years Later (and the press finally catches on)

You'd think it would have been brought up before now, especially recently with all the good will toward the Catholic Church and especially the attention given to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. And yet, just when you think you're out of the gloomy media buzz that is the liberal, naive American media, they surprise you with a whole new level of ignorance.

Today, strewn across media channels all over the U.S., headlines like "Pope: Other Christian Denominations Not True Churches" and "Pope: Other Christians Not True Churches" are being printed, fought over and googled for over and over again. The doctrine in question, which says a lot more than any one headline can boast, has been central to Church teachings since it's conception... and yet, the media has now decided it's something to report on a level that will anger some and alienate many faithful.

And that, is very sad.

Ignatius of Antioch proclaimed it as early as 110 AD, yes, that early. And it was reinforced and proclaimed again and again by the mouths of Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Jerome, Augustine, and several others (all before the year 393 AD), not to mention countless times in modern times. It's been around that long.

What's the doctrine in question state, you ask? It states that the Catholic Church is the church that Christ himself founded upon the trust of St. Peter. It states that the Catholic Church, being apostolic (that is, the authority of its clergy can be specifically traced back to the apostles), is the fullness of truth (of Christ's church) on earth and therefore has primacy (authority).

It goes on to state about other Christian churches outside of the Catholic Church are indeed Christian and vehicles for salvation (those who attend them may find Christ and gain salvation through their teachings), but that the fullness lies within the Catholic Church, not those churches. Therefore they are "spiritual bodies" with "wounds" in their doctrine and authority.

In other words, if the fullness of truth could be explained in a pie chart, the Catholic Church's would be full while a protestant church's would be partially full.


This has been the doctrine of the Church for forever and will continue to be. Pope Benedict XVI simply reaffirmed a document that stated what the Church has been saying for almost 2000 years. The media simply picked it up and reported irresponsibly on the issue, which will no doubt weaken relations with other churches and alienate Catholics in their secular communities. For once I wish the media would have an expert or Church representative explain things to them instead of reporting half-truths and inciting problems.

Great Article
Great Blog Article

To be more Christ-like . . .

we must follow his example.

Lord Jesus Christ,
the only son of God,
grant me the grace needed
to follow the example of filial obedience and piety
that you displayed towards both
the Father in heaven and your earthly parents.
AMEN.

RIP Miss Mitzi - We'll love you forever.

Today Miss Mitzi left us. Her kidneys failed her at the ripe old age of 13 and we had to put her to sleep in order to save her from horrible pain. She had an amazing life...she was loved by many...she loved us. I can't really remember much before Mitzi and she'll never be forgotten.

She was a good dog. A really, really good dog. I'll love her forever.

It's Possible! Orlando Catanii

Just like most people in this world, I don't lead a monastic life and sometimes it can be hard to juggle the Word and the world in which I live. Everyone I know has struggled with some of the things Christ calls us to do in scripture... give up everything, detach oneself from wealth, etc. As a soon-to-be married man, providing for a family one day, I can honestly say that sometimes it's hard to relate to the great monastic saints of the Church.

We have Christ's lead to follow of course, but as Catholics we also have the amazingly rich lives of saints to ponder over. These amazing people did their best to follow Christ and in doing so are examples of piety and Christian vocation for us. But with the overwhelming majority of them having led monastic lives (or so it seems at times), it can be a bit tough to relate. After all, St. Francis wasn't married. Neither was St. Paul or St. Therese'.

I subscribe to the American Catholic.org "Saint of the Day" email and I'm glad that I do. Today's saint is Servant of God Orlando Catanii. I had never heard of him before, but upon reading his short bio in the email, I was inspired. Orlando was rich, he was nobility, and yet he was inspired by St. Francis and decided to follow his example. Orlando gave his palace at the foot of Mount La Verna to St. Francis and became a third order Franciscan. On his estate a church was erected, as well as, a convent and several chapels. Orlando departed from earthly treasures and instead did various works of charity as a Christian nobleman.

This was a much-needed read for me. It teaches me that there is always a way to follow the pious examples of the saints we admire. I don't have a palace to give up, but I know I have skills God is free to use any time He wants. And I'm more than willing to have Him work through me. Pax Christi.

Pray for Madeleine

She's been missing since May 3rd when she disappeared from a hotel room in Portugal while her family was vacationing. She is four years old. Just this week in Vatican City, the Pope met with her parents, blessed them, and a photo of Madeleine. We are all called to pray for this little girl, even if we haven't as of yet, let us do so now. Not because they are Catholic, not because the Pope met with them, but because they are parents very much in pain over the likely abduction of their daughter.

Lord, Father God,
Please be with the McCann family now in a way they've never felt, offering them the comfort they need to sustain. And please, just God, return Madeleine to their side safely. May she be found healthy and if she was taken, may her abductor see the error of their ways, have a conversion of heart, and hand her over safely.
May your will be done in all things.
Thank you, Lord, we love you.
Amen.

(Photo borrowed from Fox.com, taken by the McCann family)

In the Wake of the Ascension

I overheard a conversation today from someone who's church is in the middle of going through a division. It looks like part of the congregation will be leaving to start another church and all I could do was sit at my desk and feel horribly sad for those people. It happens again and again, churches splinter and make new churches, each with their own interpretations, each splintering again in time. The protestant reformation truly created a lasting effect that's dividing the church still today.

This Sunday (Feast of the Ascension of the Lord) is even a regularly practiced Sunday in non-Catholic churches (Ascension Sunday) and you'd think a message like Jesus' Ascension and our charge to spread the Gospel would bring communities of Christians together, but in the wake of this Ascension Feast, I'm reminded how sad it can be to be away from the Church. I lived that life once and I'm glad I've come home.

I'm not sure what else to say. I'm really, really sad.

Culture: Rapping Priests & Blogs!

Every once in a while Jenny and I run across cool Catholic-related "stuff" on the net or elsewhere and we decide to share it with you. These things are a part of Catholic culture, the main focus of this blog. Check em out:

Francesco Productions:These are the guys who bring you Father Stan Fortuna (Priest rapper/Video Blessings) and this amazing Photo Gallery from Adoration at Steuvenville. Look at that amazing picture!






That's right! A completely, 100% Catholic blog community! Enough said! I think Jenny and I might be posting our blog on both communities, easier for you to find us! http://www.stblogs.com

Keep checking back in, more cool stuff to come! God Bless

Our Identity Is Our Responsibility

It's interesting living in an area that's predominantly not Catholic. One could surmise that identifying with a Catholic identity could be hard in a religious-arena like that, but I'd also say that it can be just the opposite at the same time.

In the sad but normal protestant style, churches splinter time and time again to form new congregations and new doctrines. This creates a fairly watered down Christian identity among the people, who may not understand salvation all that well, but certainly know that they go to the ABC Church now because the XYZ Church believes in dancing. It's sad, horribly so. It only took somewhere around 15 years for protestant churches to begin splintering after the Protestant Reformation and it hasn't stopped (it's only gotten worse!).

What's the bi-product? A broken Christendom, segmented Christians spending more time concentrating on the differences they have with one another than being Christians in the world and witnessing to those of other faiths. I used to be Lutheran; I grew up in the middle of it. I've spoken to many Lutherans and people of various faith backgrounds who agreed with me when I said, "I'm pretty sure Martin Luther is turning in his grave right now over what's happened." I think that just about sums it up.

How then does a Catholic pinpoint an identity without getting lost in a predominantly non-Catholic Christian society that is so often lukewarm? Sometimes it's hard to be Catholic when everyone around you isn't. And even more so than not being Catholic, it seems the majority (or at least those you hear from) are so wrapped up in a sense of modernity (marked largely by relativism) that being one denomination or another doesn't mean anything or even matter. They simply attend a church in which they like the people and find the teachings at the pulpit generally inoffensive.

The problem is that when everything is relative, it is very difficult for one uphold the teachings of Christ, which were not relative in the least. Catholics struggle with this when they live in societies that do not identify with Catholicism and are consumed with relativism. A false understanding of humanity leads "humanists" to their ultra-relative and liberal teachings on "choice" and a general acceptance of “right and wrong” as it applies to “feelings.” In short, there is no sense of accountability except to each other, and every Catholic knows that’s not the way it’s supposed to be.

This is where it becomes both an identity crisis and an identity opportunity for a Catholic. It’s easy to get caught up in the game of relativism, and it’s there that we lose our Catholic identity because the responsibility to God is lost or replaced. However, Catholics must find their identity in that responsibility. It’s the very cornerstone of the liturgy, where we worship God formally the very best way we know how as taught by tradition. Our responsibility to God is also physically manifested in the charity and love we show to others (a fundamental point of Christianity). Our piety is just as centrally devoted to a sense of responsibility. Through the years the Church has instituted practices (such as Eucharistic Adoration, Stations, the Rosary, etc.) because of her responsibility to God in teaching His children the faith. When that responsibility to God is replaced with relativism, Catholics lose their identity and forget their mission.

Catholics living in areas dominated by non-Catholics are also gifted with a chance to really explore and identify with their faith within the parish community. While the world around them denies such an identity, or ignores it altogether, a strong Catholic parish community is a haven for the authentic Catholic identity. It’s there that a Catholic can feel at home and support the strong responsibility to God. It’s there that others like them come to commune and build their faiths, ever looking to heaven. It is in parish families where Catholics can come together to celebrate their identity and rally to share it with the world around them. It’s not to say that relativism and lax faith doesn’t seep into Catholic parishes as well (it does, sadly), but luckily we, as Catholics, have such a rich heritage adorned in art, pieties, sacramentals, and Christ’s presence, that the tools to help us return to our roots are never far away.

Our identity is real. It’s out there for the world to see. And when we forget it at times, we mustn’t look for answers in society. We need to turn to God. It’s hard to find that identity when we turn to culture, but in turning to the Church and its physical manifestations of its missions, (stained glass, art, statuary, sacramentals, charity organizations, etc.) we are reminded of the identity that is the reality of Christ’s Church on earth.

And through it all, Light.

As most people in the U.S. have likely heard, a huge tornado (EF-5) hit Greensburg, Kansas more or less completely leveling the city and killing nine people. Some say there are still people trapped under debris in the city, it's horrid. In light of all the struggle and tragedy though, there was this on the cover of CNN.com this morning...



That's right, the only thing left on the wall at a destroyed church in Greensburg was a picture of Jesus. It says something doesn't it? I hope no one takes such a "coincidence" lightly. Because it is more than that, it is a sign. God is there through it all, Christ is there. We must reach out to him in times of need and sometimes, a picture is left on a wall to remind us of just that. Houses can be rebuilt, cities restored, but only God can completely heal our hearts and souls after loss and strife is lived.

Jenny's and my hearts go out to the people of Greensburg, Kansas and everyone everywhere who falls victim to hardship. The whole world is in our prayers. Divine Mercy is the answer, it is the salve that shall heal us all and mend the world. Amen.

Pray for Virginia Tech

I'm sitting here in Richmond, Va. only hours away from Blacksburg, Va. and I can't believe what has happened today. I simply can't believe it. In fact, I've been trying to write this article for awhile now, not able to get past the first sentence for almost 45 minutes.

This morning at Virginia Tech University, the worst school shooting in US history took place... with 22 confirmed dead (including the shooter) thus far and hopefully not more. An additional 21 were injured... alright, actually now NBC has just confirmed 31 dead and the shooter also killed himself. This is horrible!

Please pray for the families of those who have lost members. Please pray for those who have been killed or injured. And this is the hard part to swallow, but please pray for the shooter's soul. While I'm not suggesting in any way that you side with the gunman, I'm asking that you pray for his soul... that God is total mercy. We all need mercy.

Please pray for the victims of this massacre.

From "AH!" to "Oh."

When it comes to life lessons, the good Lord always seems to know exactly what to do and when to do it. I recently had to schedule my classes for the upcoming fall semester, and I found myself smack dab in between the proverbial rock and hard place. Things weren't fitting together properly and all I could think is, "WHY?! Why is this so difficult?!"

Now that everything has resolved itself, one of my many shortcomings has reared its ugly head. My own tunnel-vision had led me to desire one particular road to scheduling and, rather than allow myself to be led down another, never thinking that it could be for the best, I complained and fretted and stressed when it didn't work out precisely as I'd planned.

In school planning it is important and even necessary, of course, to be organized and focused. However, in other areas of life, such as planning a weekend date or a walk around the neighborhood, perhaps it is more important to embrace flexibility and the fun that change can bring. I, on the other hand, choose to ignore this in most areas of my life. I am schedule-driven to the point of tunnel-vision.

I now have an ideal class schedule complete with an extra bit of unexpected relief from my summer classes. This most recent adventure in class scheduling has taught me that even when situations do not comply with your vision of them, things are not necessarily going awry.

Easter and Deja Vu

One year ago this evening, Jenny and I came into the Church. She was baptized and confirmed, and I was confirmed. It was an amazing experience for both of us. And tonight, as members of the RCIA team we will watch some new friends come into the Church with the same bursting hearts and open arms that received us. It's amazing how much has changed in one year... I think this rings true for just about everyone.

It's an exciting time of year, the Triduum, ending with the holiest day on the Christian calendar, Easter. It's the day Christ rose, the day our eternal life came to be in Jesus. He defeated eternal death and now offers us a chance to overcome it through Him. Pay special attention tonight at the Easter Vigil, and don't be surprised when you get to heaven if you have a little deja vu, it's a little bit of heaven on earth every Mass, every Vigil.

God Bless, Happy Holy Saturday and Happy Easter! Christ is risen, Alleluia!

Sin is the Symptom

When we get sick, it is the body’s reaction to an invading pathogen that causes us to become symptomatic. While the underlying cause of the illness is the invading force, it is the body’s reaction that causes us so much misery. To prevent illness, we fortify the body through maintaining our general health in order to react defensively to these pathogens. We often fight them off so quickly that we are never actually aware of them. Even when we do succumb to an invading illness, the better equipped the body is to fight, the faster and more efficiently it can overcome the illness. Sometimes we need help though, an extra boost in strength in the form of an antibiotic or analgesic in order to fight off an infection.

Within this biological fact there is an analogy that carries with it a great implication of the distinct roles both evil forces and our own spiritual strength plays in sin. What we perceive as being sick is simply the body’s reaction to invading pathogens, which causes us to be symptomatic. There must be a pathogen which invades, but more importantly, there must be a reaction from the body that indicates it is too weak to fight off the pathogen and has succumbed to the illness. Likewise, in the case of sin, it is evil which infiltrates our soul, but it is our own reaction to that evil which causes sin. Evil will try to penetrate, as that is its nature, and it cannot act contrary to it. However, we have free will. It is not the evil which causes us to sin, it is our free reaction to it which determines whether we will fight the evil fully or if it will invade and infect. Sin is the symptom that indicates a submission to evil.

We can often fight off the evil and the temptations when our spirits are strong, but when we are weak, we may are more apt to sin. When our souls do become sick, we often need help to fight off the invading force. We turn to the sacraments and to pastoral guidance and, more often than not, fight off the assaulting forces. Those remedies for the soul exist to help us heal our souls. Yet the best way to avoid sin is to fortify ourselves against the works of the devil through maintaining our spiritual health. The first step in avoiding sin is spiritual maintenance. Go to Mass, receive the Eucharist regularly, participate in regular acts of penance and reconciliation. Christ, the Church, and her sacraments through Him are the strength and the light of our spirits.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength:
Lord,
through Christ's ministry and Passion
you teach us fortitude of spirit,
through your Church and sacraments
you give us means for such strength.
Help us daily to live a life of holiness and sanctity,
and may you fortify us against all evil.
AMEN.

Overdraft Protection for a Soul in Debt

There are countless beautiful ways by which theologians and poets alike have described Christ's sacrifice. Many of the metaphors are universal and speak as much to today's audience as they did to the audience of Christians almost 2,000 years ago. However, I have a metaphor that speaks solely to modern man.

Christ's sacrifice on the cross, by which He ransomed our souls, is much like overdraft protection. A bank offers such a system for those customers who fall into debt. In using overdraft protection, rather than being indebted to collectors, they simply must pay the money due to the bank and a fee as a token of gratitude for the bank having paid their debts. Similarly, Christ's death for us acts as a protection for those who fall into sin (which, of course, includes everyone). Rather than being condemned by our actions, we are given forgiveness and must repay and display our gratitude as best we can through living a life of holiness and devotion to Christ.

That being said, let us return to the situation of overdraft protection at the bank. Is this a service to be abused? Is it prudent to continuously dip into the overdraft protection? No! It is responsible to avoid falling into negative numbers in a bank account and to use the overdraft protection only as a backup when some miscalculation of funds or spending error has occurred. Likewise, our salvation is not something to abuse. It is prudent to avoid sin at all costs, so as not to fall hopelessly into a cycle of a "negative balances." Just as overdraft protection exists as a way to help those in debt to live free from debt, Christ died for us so that we may live free from sin, not so that we may indulge in it and presume forgiveness.

At a certain point, we must answer for our debts, both monetarily and spiritually. When we close bank accounts, we must settle our debts and repay the bank that protected you from the loan sharks out there. In the same way, when we die we must repay any remaining debt to our Lord by resolving the stains of sin in purgatory. The less you make use of the overdraft protection, the less debt you will need to settle with the bank. The fewer sins you commit, the holier the life that you live, the fewer stains you will need to cleanse after death.


Brings a new meaning to the phrase "economy of salvation," doesn't it?

Lyrics to Inspire

I know this song has been out for a really long time, but I can't help but cry or come close to doing so whenever I hear it on the radio around Christmas time. It's all the more fitting for Easter time and therefore for lent... so please, read the words and think on them. Remember what lent and Easter are all about...

Song: Christmas Shoes
Artist: Bob Carlisle

"It was almost Christmas time
There I stood in another line
Try to buy that last gift or two
I'm really in Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me
Was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing around like little boys do
And in his hands he had
A pair of shoes

And his clothes were worn and old
He was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Sir I wanna buy these shoes for my Momma please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes will make her smile
And I want it to look beautiful
If Momma meets Jesus tonight

They counted pennies for what seems like years
And cashier says son there's not enough here
He searches is pockets franticly
And he turned and he looked at me
And he said Momma made Christmas good in our house
Most years she just did without
Tell me Sir
What am I gonna do?
Some how I gotta buy her these Christmas shoes

So I lend the money down
I just had to help him out
And I'll never forget
The look on his face
When he said Momma's gonna look so great

Sir I wanna buy these shoes for my Momma please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes will make her smile
And I want it to look beautiful
If Momma meets Jesus tonight

I know I won't regret some help as he thanked me and ran out
I know that God sent that little boy to remind me
What Christmas is all about

Sir I wanna buy these shoes for my Momma please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes will make her smile
And I want it to look beautiful
If Momma meets Jesus tonight

I want it to look good
If Momma meet's Jesus tonight"

Don't ask, don't tell...

We commonly refer to the military's policy on homosexuality in the armed forces as the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. But I like to use this phrase in a different way. It is the policy we use in this country regarding our leaders. "Don't ask about my personal ethics, and I won't have to tell you that I don't really have any."

Nowadays, it seems that the personal ethics of politicians have gone by the wayside. People like John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) supporting pro-choice movements, promoting the culture of death, yet calling himself a faithful Catholic. The public seems to think that politicians like that are pushing their personal opinions and ethics aside in order to better serve this country. However, I can't help but ask myself how somebody could push true moral convictions aside! The answer is that it is not possible. Politicians like Kerry, use false pretenses (like going to Mass and calling himself Catholic) in order to gain a certain vote (in Kerry's case, the Catholic vote). They hope the public policies they put forth will be casually overlooked in favor of their ridiculous and (hopefully) transparent pretenses. Their public policies ARE their personal ethical convictions. A politician cannot push for a pro-choice bill but be pro-life in his or her heart. What is on the inside shines through to the outside! So when we see politicians pushing certain policies, we can safely assume that that is what they personally feel as well, whether they admit so or not.

Through these ugly and murky political waters, there are a few points of clarity shining through. In the news recently General Peter Pace was quoted supporting the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. He said that he personally feels that homosexual acts are immoral and that the military is right in not allowing homosexual citizens to serve openly. He rightly likened it to adultery (another offense that calls for dismissal from the military). Shortly thereafter, Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), a potential presidential candidate, supported General Pace's remarks. Brownback was quoted saying, "We should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues. In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility will have strong moral views." My point exactly!

The leaders we need to support are the ones who show a distinct congruity between their words, beliefs, and actions. These are the true leaders. So let's stop the use of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy in protection of our leaders. We must ask, and they must tell. Their actions are reflections of their heart, not a separate entity altogether. We as a country must recognize this and force our leaders into accountability.

A Lenten Pick-Me-Up: Laetere Sunday

Flashback to a few months ago on Sunday, December 17. Remember anything special about that Sunday? Those distinctive rose-colored vestments worn on Gaudete Sunday during Advent will be seen again this Sunday, March 18. The fourth Sunday in Lent, known as Laetere Sunday is a sort of pick-me-up for the faithful. Both gaudete and laetere are Latin words for "Rejoice!" During the most austere liturgical season, the Church recognizes the difficulty we face in staying faithful to both Church-wide and self-imposed Lenten restrictions. Laetere Sunday reminds us of the joy that is to come during the Easter season and refreshes us in our faith and in our worship that is needed to prepare for rejoicing of the Easter season.

So as we near the half-way point in our Lenten observance, do not get discouraged, do not not give in to temptation. All will be well! Let us celebrate the remaining days of Lent in faithful observation and look forward to rejoicing in the Resurrection of Christ during the coming Easter season!

Do Not Hide from God.

Lent is a time for reflection, a time for being honest with ourselves and with God. He knows anyway, so why lie to Him? Why hide from Him? And yet we do. We hide from Him every time we give in to temptation. I say we hide because none of us have the ability to stand directly in front of God and still sin, I can only imagine His radiance to be beyond our ability to think for ourselves, let alone sin. So engaging that we stumble towards him, scared beyond belief, but also yearning to be embraced.

And yet, when challenged with giving up for Lent, we do not. Or we say we do, we try, and we still falter. Even if it's not on purpose, we fall short. The first Friday of Lent, I ate meat, twice. I had completely forgotten it was Friday! But if I had known, if it had registered, and if then I still ate meat... cowering in a corner with meat in my mouth, then I would have been hiding from God. And for what? A turkey sandwich? Trust me, there isn't turkey anywhere in existence worth turning our back on God. I made it up to Him on Saturday.

This Lent, try not to hide from God. If you're struggling, if you're craving something you've vowed to give up, talk to God about it. Let Him know that you're struggling, give up that pain, that anxiety for those unfortunate enough to not have much of anything to give up. Remember, there are children out there that if they gave up a meal for Lent might not eat at all that day. How sad is that? Do not hide from God, step into the light, expose yourself, and be a beacon for others to do the same. God Bless you.

Ecumenicism or Loss of Catholic Identity?

I've been battling lately with the idea of ecumenicism and how to reach out to other Christians. It my various attempts and soon-to-be attempts to reach other Christians, I've found that what's commonly seen as "ecumenicism" is really a giving-up of Catholic identity. This isn't always the case, but seems to often be. For instance, if I was creating an ecumenical site promoting living as a Christian at work, one ecumenical approach to doing just that would be to give advice that non-Catholics wouldn't take offense to. This means not mentioning prayers to Mary, Saints, etc.

I've come to realize that this is sugar-coating, not ecumenicism. Catholic identity is important for Catholics and the Church because it is through that identity that we come to actively participate in the reality of Christ and His Church. Are we not denying the importance of the Blessed Mother to all Christians by purposefully leaving her out of "ecumenical" discussions?

My thoughts are a bit jumbled right now, so I hope what I'm trying to say is coming out more or less clear. When we need in the Church is Authentic Ecumenicism, at every level... even the local, grassroots level.

Note! Read Sarah's response and in-depth musings on this subject!

Urban Ashes: Lent in the City

The University where I teach part time is in an urban setting, so when I went to teach this past Wednesday night, I was kind of amazed at what I saw. It was, as you know, Ash Wednesday. I had been to Mass at 7:15 that morning, and it was going to be a long day (the class I teach meets from 7-9:40). I was walking through the student commons to get a drink, maybe coffee before class when I started seeing something that made me smile. There, on an urban campus, crosses on people's foreheads.

Mine had all but disappeared, but these student's ashes were going strong. And I didn't just see one or two, but dozens of students who had ashes imposed. It was quite the joy to see. They greeted each other and acknowledged others marked with the sign of the cross. In some ways I felt like I was back in the second or third century, one of the brothers of Christ among the pagan world (then again, it's not much different now is it?). It was a great thing to witness!

The University is not a Catholic school, but a Cathedral is just about smack dab in the middle of campus and holds a "University Mass" at 5 pm. That's where they had been (after some research I found that the Cathedral was the only place that had service around that time on campus). So not only had they bucked the cultural trend and were marked with the cross visibly for all to see, but they had done so at Mass! What a great thing to see.

Let us not be afraid to visibly wear our faith. This culture, this world needs more than ever to be reminded of its responsibility and even more so that its God is not that of retail or money. For the next week, try and wear a crucifix or cross on your clothing or around your neck, but keep it visible. There's nothing silly about showing your faith, we as Christians have so much to "brag" about ;)

Catholics and Confession

“When I was 7, 8 or 9 years old,” she said, “I found myself repeating the same sins over and over to the priest. It seemed to me they weren’t really sins but simply human nature. On the other hand, if I did something really serious, the guilt alone would drive me to confession.”

This quote is taken from an article by Ed Conroy, writer for the National Catholic Reporter, featured on Catholic Online about the decline in numbers of American Catholics participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. From this quote it seems that there must be some kind of warped view on what it means to be human. This woman said the sins she was confessing as a child did not seem sinful, but human. Sin is part of our human weakness, not our nature of inherent goodness as children of God. The pitfalls that seem to be part of our "human nature" are really those small sins into which it is easiest to fall. We have the blessed gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and we receive abundant graces from it to help us combat these sins in the future in addition to forgiveness we receive in the first place.

The article goes on to explain that one of the biggest reasons Catholics cite for their staying away from confession is ". . . the feeling they said that confession gave them [was that of] of being trapped within personal weaknesses, always guilty, always in need of forgiveness." It is exactly the opposite that is true. Without the Sacrament of Reconciliation we are ". . . trapped within personal weaknesses, always guilty, always in need of forgiveness." The focus of the sacrament is not the sins of the faithful, but the restoration of the human to a level of dignity appropriate to a child of God. Humans cannot be fully realized without purity of heart and soul, which is exactly what the sacrament helps us to attain. Now more than ever our world needs a renewed sense of purity, a complete conversion of the heart. Let that begin with Catholics worldwide, beginning with an increased participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The abovementioned article can be found at the following URL:
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=22951

Catholic St. Valentine's Day Gifts!

Check these great gifts out and many more at our online store!

Where's the line? Murder or... murder?

This morning, the large news outlets are reporting a shocking story. A woman, Tiffany Hall, has been arressted after brutally murdering a woman and her unborn child. She killed the woman by forcefully cutting her unborn child (of 7 months) from her womb, effectively killing the child also. The official charge is intentional homicide of an unborn child.

Wait a second, what?

The official charge is intentional homicide of an unborn child.

Whoa. Okay, I must be reading something wrong because last I checked "intentional homicide of an unborn child" takes place thousands of times a day in this country legally. It's called abortion. The only difference is that the mother of the child is killing her unborn child instead of someone else.

So where's the line?

When is it not murder to kill an unborn child? Obviously what Ms. Hall did is horrible and I'm not in anyway trying to minimize it, but there's a huge issue of common sense here. God gave us reason, let's use it, why aren't we? If it's murder when someone else kills your unborn baby forcefully, why isn't it murder when a woman gives consent for someone to kill her unborn baby (abortion)?

The answer... it is.

It's a shame we live in a "culture" of "intellectuals" who either have no common sense or can't put one and one together.

Tiffany Hall has also been connected with the murders of three more children. This is a horrible travesty. Please pray for her soul and those she has killed and affected by her actions. Also, pray for the millions of mothers who have had abortions, may their souls reach heaven and be reunited with the children they never knew.

R.I.P. House

Tonight I watched a show I once liked very much and even had a lot of respect for. I considered it one of the more rewarding shows on television, but tonight I felt my heart cry out while I watched an episode end in travesty.

I know it's just a show, but the statement it made does nothing short of further defining the culture of death we live in today. A girl comes to the clinic where Dr. House is working and it comes to light that she was raped a week before. Through the course of the show an emotional story unfolds as we find out she has a minor sexually transmitted disease from her attacker. And then, towards the 3/4 mark, we find out she is also pregnant.

In classic hollywood style, Dr. House immediately suggests a "termination," to which she responds, "Abortion is murder" and goes on the defend her beliefs from an argumentative House. At first it made me smile, as their was a glimpse of hope that someone out in tinseltown might have a soul reaching for God. But that smile quickly turned to a frown as in the final 30 seconds of the show we find out that she takes House's advice and terminates her pregnancy. It was no more than an agenda-driven plot. The writers should be ashamed.

I'll miss the show because every other episode I've seen was quite rewarding, but for me I know that one episode can ruin them all... in this case it's ruined for me and most likely for thousands more a character beloved by so many. "House," you've lost my viewership and respect. Tonight, I pray for the writers and the souls of those they've influenced.

Pride and Principle

Recently I have discovered that there is a line, not much thicker than a strand of hair, between standing up for a principle for virtuous reasons and simply being prideful. Often times it is extremely difficult to tell when the line has been crossed and one is neck deep in a state of sinful self-importance. It is judgments like those that require the grace of God. It is only through grace that we are able to develop any clarity regarding our intentions.

A Prayer for Humility:
Lord,
help us to humble ourselves both to you and to others.
By Christ's example,
let us be secure only in that which we know pleases you.
In all other things,
grant us the clarity to discern right action.
We pray this in a spirit of humility
through Christ, your son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

The First Bishop of Crete

There's a letter addressed to him from the Apostle Saint Paul. He was known as a great peacemaker which Saint Paul considered a gift of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Paul would often send him to "solve problems" and "end quarrels." Legend says that when he visited, the guilty immediately felt regret. So who is this mystery Bishop? None other than Saint Titus!

January 26th is the joint feast day of St.s Timothy and Titus. While doing some reading on their lives, I came across a very cool fact I hadn't been aware of before... that St. Titus had likely died a natural death. And that he had been the first and only Bishop of Crete up until he died. I always find it inspiring to know that not all early Church leaders were killed. In fact, it seemed as if the Christian community on Crete was quite strong, which makes perfect sense due to Titus' reputation as a peace maker.

This is a picture of the Basilica of St. Titus in Gortyna, Crete. Originally constructed in the 6th-7th centuries, the Basilica is a prime example of an early Church basilica. Invading Saracens destroyed the Basilica in 824, but parts remain (as you can see in the picture).

Saint Titus' relics (namely his head) were taken to Venice, Italy and are kept enshrined in St. Mark's.

Precious Brandon

My baby brother, Brandon, was born when I was one year old. He was born on Palm Sunday, but he wouldn't live to see Good Friday or experience his first Easter. They were only days away, but Brandon couldn't breathe. He died only a short time after being born. That's all I know about him.

While growing up, my mom would always cry on Palm Sunday. I came to eventually know why, but for the longest time I didn't understand. And now I cry and don't understand. This past year on All Souls Day, I mourned my little brother for the first time in my entire life. It was through the understanding and celebration of All Souls Day that I came to realize that his death was very real although never spoken of. And even though I have no idea what he looked like, his death is very real to me. I can't explain the feeling of loss I feel sometimes. It's very odd to me.

Sometimes I wonder what he looked like. I'm fairly sure there isn't a picture anywhere to be seen. The doctors knew something was wrong immediately. There were little to no smiles, no happy parents. Sometimes I wonder if I can see his face in the faces of my parents, or in my own face and that of my sister's. I'm weeping just writing these words and yet I know it was simply his time. God, for whatever reason, felt that Brandon should be brought to Him in that very instant. Whether God was saving him years of struggle, or it was part of something beyond that, it was time. That's why I cry and don't understand why. I never knew my brother but sometimes I feel like I knew him perfectly.

Today in D.C. and all over the U.S., thousands of citizens are gathering to march and pray for a culture of life in this country. I have to admit that I don't understand at all how a mother can take the life of her own child in an abortion. Life is precious, all too much so. Brandon never had a chance to tell anyone anything, but love for him will never fade. He may have died minutes after being born, but every second of his life, from conception to his death was precious.

A year later, after my Mom was told that she would not be able to conceive again, my sister Erica was born. Maybe Brandon made way for a miracle, maybe in his soul the Lord saw someone so unselfish that he would give himself right then and there for his future little sister. Either way, I miss you Brandon and I can't wait to finally meet you in heaven. I love you.

Two Cents

'98: FedEx delivers a package
for the Pope at Vatican City...

"Hey Buddy, I'm not joshin'
ya. I really am the Pope."

Where is God?

Thank you to the Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church website for this one:

A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that, if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons were probably involved.

The boys’ mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon.

The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, “Where is God?”.

The boy’s mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open, wide-eyed. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, “Where is God!!?” Again the boy made no attempt to answer.

So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face and bellowed, “WHERE IS GOD!?”

The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.

When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, “What happened?” The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, “We are in BIG trouble this time, dude. God is missing - and they think WE did it!”

Saintly Logos and More

Hello everyone. Please pray for me while I update the blog layout in hopes that I don't delete anything substantial. When blogger updated to blogger beta, I figured Discerning Sainthood should make the upgrade to (for the sake of future technologies available to us bloggers). This I knew would be a painful thing because the old site template would no longer function for all of our readers. And so, after a week of tweaking things here and there, I finally decided to execute the upgrade and the new look.

I appreciate any feedback, comments, opinions, problems, etc. with the new version of the blog.

Let me know if you run into any problems with your feeds or any links. Oh, and p.s... the bearded saintly fellow in the top left is our new logo, let us know what you think. Thanks and Pax Christi!

A Truly Sacramental Marriage

Occasionally I will have personal revelations which lead to a deeper understanding of what I already know. I had one of those today in relation to the topic of the Church's teaching on the use of contraceptives.
We receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist under the accidents of bread and wine. The bread and the wine are physical expressions of the Eucharist. In the same way, the act of conjugal love within a marriage is the physical expression of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony that couples married within the Church receive on their wedding day.
What is asked of married couples in the Church is that we allow God into our marriages in the same way he is present in the Eucharist. The Eucharist only becomes what it is when God enters into the bread and wine. The marital act is an expression of a sacramental marriage only when we allow God in freely without attempts to frustrate His will.
Speaking as an engaged woman preparing to enter into the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, I must take this to heart in all its truth to prepare for a deeper understanding of my future marriage, and those already in marriages must answer to this and live out their marriages in the way the Church teaches and thus the way God wills.

What Don't Friends Do?

Friends Don't Let Friends Skip Mass™, That's what!

Hello, readers! Go check out the new website from Bryan and me:
http://www.FriendsDontLetFriendsSkipMass.com

In the words of the Blessed Dina Belanger, "If souls but understood the Treasure they possess in the Divine Eucharist, it would be necessary to encircle the tabernacles with the strongest ramparts for, in the delirium of a devouring and holy hunger, they would press forward themselves to feed on the Bread of Angels. The Churches would overflow with adorers consumed with love for the Divine prisoner no less by night than by day."

Help to remind others of the great blessing God has granted us in the power and beauty of the Mass and the Eucharist. Visit http://www.FriendsDontLetFriendsSkipMass.com.

Christian Mission: The Net is Waiting

The internet speaks to everyone. I say this because there is something for everyone on the world wide web. It doesn't matter how old you are, or how young. It doesn't matter what ethnicity, gender, background, religion, anything! You can be a committed businessman or a boxcar hobbyist, it doesn't matter. You get my point.

So where am I going with this?

Regardless of your state in life, whether you know you're on the right track with your career or relationships, or whether you feel completely and utterly lost, along for the ride in the current of life... regardless, we as Christians have a mission. If you feel no other sense of purpose but to fulfill your Christian mission of bringing the Gospel to others, then so be it.

So why did I lead off with comments about the internet?

Because the internet is fertile ground for your mission. Sure you can talk to people face to face, or write for the local newspaper, or put together a charity, all of those things are amazing and valuable avenues for spreading the Good News... but might I suggest something to throw in the loop as well? Consider making a web page, I'm not even really suggesting a web site, just a page would do. One page talking about the Lord, one page that might inspire many to find their way to God. You'd be surprised how many people will happen across a single page, seriously.

Just throwing that idea out there. One page, one blog, one more avenue to continue your mission. For those of you who are semi-tech savvy, it's easy to create free or low cost sites. For those of you who can barely make it to this blog, it's not a big hurdle thanks to site-building software out there. Consider it, pray about it.

Some links to help you along:
- free blogs: www.blogger.com , www.vox.com
- free websites: www.tripod.com , www.myspace.com
- low cost sites: www.godaddy.com

* note: I'm only listing places where I've had good experiences. Myspace.com can be a questionable place, but if you ask me, it just needs more Christians pronouncing their faith on there. Also, I haven't actually used Vox.com yet, but I plan on doing so very soon, check it out.

Subtract 2 Days from Christmas

Hi everyone. Thanks to David Perry, a regular reader of DS, I've come across a mistake in the "14 Days of Christmas" post from December 27th, 2006. Turns out there is still only 12 days, ha ha, so I guess what I'm trying to say is that the basis for the title and first part of the article is only partly there. Here's what David said in his email...

"Actually it's still 12. Christmas day doesn't count, the season starts the day after. The feats of Epiphany is on Saturday Jan. 6th. Some RC dioceses may opt to observe the Sunday after Epiphany as Epiphany Sunday, but the feast is still on the 6th."

We'll be the first to admit when we're wrong, ha ha, but if there's one thing I've learned about the liturgical season, there's always differences... let us here from you... is this correct? Just leave a comment to let us know. Thanks!