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.