What a Kerry Supreme Court Would Look Like

Check this out from an organization called Concerned Catholic Lawyers and Scholars:

John Kerry purports to be a practicing Catholic, but when it comes to deciding what’s right and wrong for our country, he checks his Catholicism at the door to the Senate.   He’s made clear that he will not rely on his Catholic faith as President:  "I don't take my Catholic beliefs, my article of faith," he says, "and legislate it on a Protestant, on a Jew, or an atheist, who doesn't share it."   Kerry’s record as a Senator demonstrates his hostility – if not utter contempt – for laws that reflect the religious and moral values that we Catholics hold dear.  

            As faithful Catholic lawyers, we believe that the election of John Kerry as President would be a severe setback for the core tenets of faith held by practicing Catholics.   A Kerry presidency would have dire consequences for the future of the Supreme Court and of our country.   His proven track record of opposition to legislation designed to protect the unborn, foster traditional marriage, and protect educational choice demonstrates the kind of President John Kerry would be.   Equally important, when combined with his staunch opposition to President Bush’s judicial nominees, John Kerry’s Senate record shows that he would fill the Supreme Court and lower federal courts with liberal judicial activists who would run roughshod over core matters of Catholic faith and laws that reflect fundamental Catholic values.  A Kerry presidency would mean a radical agenda in many areas...

The document then goes on to discuss what hes presidency would mean as regards such things as abortion, marriage, school choice, and even the boy scouts.  It's a fascinating read.  Check it out here.

Go See It!

It opens in select theatres tonight, and everywhere else tomorrow, which coincidentally is her feast day.  I hope Joe London gets a chance to see it, maybe it will give him some insight into the lives of the saints.

For more information and to watch the trailer click here.

Great Post...

from the Curt Jester on Planned Parenthood...check it out here.

Novena to St. Therese:  Day 8

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dear St. Thérèse, like you I have to die one day. I beseech you, obtain from God, by reminding Him of your own precious death, that I may have a holy death, strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, entirely resigned to the most holy Will of God, and burning with love for Him. May my last words on earth be, "My God. I love You."

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Death. It says in the catechism that death is nothing but the separation of the soul and body. Well, I have no fear of a separation which will unite me forever with the good God.

I am happy to die because I shall be able to help souls who are dear to me, far more than I can here below.

Life is not sad; it is very joyous. If you say, "This exile is sad," I understand you. We are wrong to give the name "life" to something which will end; it is only to the things of Heaven that we should apply this beautiful name.Concluding Prayer: O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Remember that if you have any prayer requests that you would like everyone to pray for you can post them in the comments section of the first day of the novena.

A Sad Commentary On Society

As more and more young couples are co-habitating/living together/fornicating this gentleman came up with a Rite for Living Together.  When I read it I wasn't sure if I should laugh, cry, or get ticked off...no matter what, it has alot of truth to it.  Here it is in full:

A Rite for Living Together

Couples who are thinking about living together outside of holy matrimony may use this form.

I_________take you__________to be my live-in lover, to share some of my bed and some of my bills. I enter this arrangement with no real expectation that it will work out — which is why I am choosing not to marry you.

Let’s face it, we don’t know each other well enough to make a commitment, we just like sleeping together. My decision — to the extent that it was a decision and not just an impulse driven by fear, loneliness or lust — is based on hormones, economics and convenience. If this arrangement becomes inconvenient, I retain the right to leave you at any time for any reason and not be accountable to anyone for my decision.

I will stay as long as you interest me and meet my needs, or until someone I like better comes along. Because I expect the same from you, I will maintain a certain emotional distance from you. That way, if either one of us decides to leave, it won’t hurt as much. It will also make it possible for me to more quickly enter into a similar arrangement with someone else.

If you get really sick or lose your looks, or prove to be a person who has deep needs which may drain my emotional energy, I will try to stick around for a respectable period of time so I won’t appear shallow or self-absorbed, but then I will probably leave and never look back. I expect you to do the same.

If our birth control method fails and we conceive a child, we can either get married out of guilt or shame, or one of us can leave — believing the other is not a fit parent — or we can have the baby killed to preserve the sanctity of our personal freedom. Raising children, after all, requires commitment and responsibility — the very things we are trying to avoid by living together without getting married.

If we do decide at some point to make a public commitment to one another (like you, I don’t like using the “M” word just yet), I also realize that our decision to live together before making that commitment significantly reduces our chances of having a successful marriage. (Oops, I said the “M” word — but you know I didn’t mean it.)

I feel better having said these things to you. It is good that neither of us has any illusions.

___________________________
Signed

__________
Date

Novena to St. Therese: Day 7

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O little martyr of Love, you know now even better than in the days of your pilgrimage that Love embraces all vocations; that it is Love alone which counts, which unites us perfectly to God and conforms our will with His. All you sought on earth was love; to love Jesus as He had never yet been loved. Use your power in heaven to make us love Him. If only we love Him we shall desire to make Him loved by others; we shall pray much for souls. We shall no longer fear death, for it will unite us to Him forever. Obtain for us the grace to do all for the love of God, to give Him pleasure, to love Him so well that He may be pleased with us as He was with you.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Love of God. I will love God alone and will not have the misfortune of attaching myself to creatures, now that my heart perceive what He has in store for those who love Him.

What attracts me to the kingdom of Heaven is the call of our Lord, the hope of loving Him as I have so desired and the thought that I shall be able to make Him loved by a great number of souls who will bless Him forever.

When Christ said, "Give Me a Drink," it was the love of His poor creatures that He, the Creator of all things, desired. He thirsted for love.

Remember that the dear Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you, for you alone. Remember that He is consumed with a desire to come into your heart.

Concluding Prayer: O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Remember that if you have any prayer requests that you would like everyone to pray for you can post them in the comments section of the first day of the novena.

Friday Evening

FYI:  I will be presiding over and preaching at a holy hour four vocations at the Monastery of St. Clare (Poor Clare Nuns) in St. Louis at 7:00pm.  Interestingly enough it is also the feast of St. Therese.   

If you are free, please come and spend an hour with our Lord.

Novena to St. Therese: Day 6

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Thérèse, Patroness of the Missions, be a great missionary throughout the world to the end of time. Remind our Master of His own words, "The harvest is great, but the laborers are few." Your zeal for souls was so great, obtain a like zeal for those now working for souls, and beg God to multiply their numbers, that the millions to whom Jesus is yet unknown may be brought to know, love and follow Him.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Zeal for souls. Let us work together for the salvation of souls. We have only the day of this life to save souls and to give them to the Lord as proofs of our love.

I tell Jesus that I am glad not to be able to see, with the eyes of my soul, this beautiful heaven which awaits me, in order that He may vouchsafe to open it forever to poor unbelievers.

I cannot perform brilliant works; I cannot preach the Gospel or shed my blood. But what matter? My brothers work in place of me, and I a little child, keep very close to the royal throne. I love for those who are carrying on the warfare.

My deeds, my little sufferings, can make God loved all over the world.

Concluding Prayer: O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Remember that if you have any prayer requests that you would like everyone to pray for you can post them in the comments section of the first day of the novena.

It's About Abortion, Stupid.

Sept. 23 - The Democrats are likely to lose the Catholic vote in November—and John Kerry could well lose the election as a result. It’s about abortion, stupid. And “choice,” make no mistake, is killing the Democratic Party.

Youth Revolt

Read the whole article here.

Novena to St. Therese: Day 5

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Little Flower of Jesus, from the very first moment of your religious life you thought only of denying yourself in all things so as to follow Jesus more perfectly; help me to bear patiently the trials of my daily life. Teach me to make use of the trials, the sufferings, the humiliations, that come my way, to learn to know myself better and to love God more.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Patience in Sufferings. I do not fear trials sent by Jesus, for even in the most bitter suffering we can see that it is His loving hand which causes it.

When we are expecting nothing but suffering, we are quite surprised at the least joy; but then suffering itself becomes the greatest of joys when we seek it as a precious treasure.

Far from resembling those beautiful saints who practiced all sorts of austerities from childhood, my penance consisted in breaking my self-will, in keeping back a sharp reply, in doing little kindnesses to those about me, but considering these deeds as nothing.

Concluding Prayer: O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Novena to St. Therese:  Day 4

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dear Little Flower of Carmel, bearing so patiently the disappointments and delays allowed by God, and preserving in the depths of your soul an unchanging peace because you sought only God’s will, ask for me complete conformity to that adorable Will in all the trials and disappointments of life. If the favors I am asking during this Novena are pleasing to God, obtain them for me. If not, it is true I shall feel the refusal keenly, but I too wish only God’s Will, and pray in the words you used, that I "may ever be perfectly fulfilled in me."

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Abandonment to God. I fear only one thing---to keep my own will; take it, my God, for I choose all that You choose.

The only happiness here below is to strive to be always content with what Jesus gives us.

I can demand nothing with fervor, except the perfect accomplishment of God’s will in my soul.

O my Beloved, I offer myself to You, that You may perfectly accomplish in me Your holy designs, and I will not allow anything created to be an obstacle in their path.

Concluding Prayer: O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Novena to St. Therese: Day 3

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dear Little Flower, make all things lead me to heaven and God, Whether I look at the sun, the moon, the stars and the vast expanse in which they float, or whether I look at the flowers of the field, the trees of the forest, the beauties of the earth so full of color and so glorious, may they speak to me of the love and power of God; may they all sing His praises in my ear. Like you may I daily love Him more and more in return for His gifts. Teach me often to deny myself in my dealings with others, that I may offer to Jesus many little sacrifices.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: The Use of God’s Gifts. How much benefit have I received from the beauties of nature, bestowed in such abundance. How they raise me to Him who placed such wonders in this land of exile which is only to last a day.

O sparkling nature, if I did not see God in you, you would be naught but a great tomb.

With your little hand which caresses Mary, You sustain the universe and bestow life; and You think of me, O Jesus my little King.

I do not wish creatures to have one atom of my love. I wish to give all to Jesus, since He has shown me that He alone is perfect happiness.

Concluding Prayer: O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Remember that if you have any prayer requests that you would like everyone to pray for you can post them in the comments section of the first day of the novena.

Excellent Article on Cardinal Ratzinger and Proportionate Reasons

It lays everything out quite nicely.  Check it out here.

St. Therese Novena: Day 2

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O dear little Saint, now that you see the crucified Jesus in heaven, still bearing the wounds caused by sin, you know still more clearly than you did upon earth the value of souls, and the priceless worth of that Precious Blood which He shed to save them. As I am one of those children for whom Christ died, obtain for me all the graces I need in order to profit by that Precious Blood. Use your great power with our divine Lord and pray for me.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Sin. The only grace I ask, O Jesus, is never to offend Thee.

By love and not by fear, does a soul avoid committing the least fault.

Yes, even if I have on my conscience every possible crime, I should lose none of my confidence; my heart breaking with sorrow, I should go and throw myself into the arms of my Savior.

The remembrance of my faults humbles me and makes me afraid to rely on my own strength, which is nothing but weakness.

Concluding Prayer: O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Remember that if you have any prayer requests that you would like everyone to pray for you can post them in the comments section of the first day of the novena.

Good Idea

A German telecommunications company says it is developing the first mobile phone that will alert users when their breath is bad or if they are giving off offensive smells.  The spokeswoman says it will examine the air in the phone's immediate vicinity for anything from bad breath and alcohol, to atmospheric gas levels.

Novena to St. Therese of Lisieux

Today is the first day of the Novena in preparation for the memorial of St. Therese. St. Therese is a very special saint to me, and to many, many others. In fact she has been hailed by many Popes as the greatest saint of modern times. She has endeared herself, through her simple yet very profound message of humilty, littleness, and confidence in God's mercy and forgiveness.

I suggest that we make this novena together. I will post the prayers for each day of the novena here on this blog. Please join me in praying for her intercession. If there are any specific intentions you would like everyone to pray for please do not hesistate to post them in the comments box so that we can all pray for them.

For more info on here life, writings, etc. click here, and if you want to print out the entire novena click here.

Novena Day One

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

St. Thérèse, privileged Little Flower of Jesus and Mary, I approach you with childlike confidence and deep humility. I lay before you my desires, and beg that through your intercession they may be realized. Did you not promise to spend your heaven doing good upon earth? Grant me according to this promise the favors I am asking from you.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but specially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Confidence in God. We can never have too much confidence in the good God who is so powerful and so merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope for.

If you are nothing, do you forget that Jesus is everything? You have only to lose your nothingness in His Infinity and think only of loving Him.

Concluding Prayer: O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

I Love It...Cause It's True

Bored????

Here is a little something to keep you occupied.

Slow Blogging

I'm sorry that blogging has been slow lately, but at least there has been discussion in the comments boxes.  Keep it up!

The last couple days have been very busy.  It all started with the installation of Lectors here at the seminary on Saturday evening.  After that I went to my parish assignment for the weekend, but left after the 9am Sunday Mass to get to the Installation of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher which was about three hours away.  It was a magnificent ceremony complete with Archbishop Raymond Burke dubbing The Knights with a sword.  It was very impressive to see a whole Church full of Knights and Ladies in their full regalia singing the praises of God boldly. The installation Mass was followed by a reception and banquet.  It was a fabulous time.

This week up until now has been surprisingly busy even though I have no classes, hopefully tomorrow will be a little lighter and I can do some blogging.

Until then...

A Good Article On The Physical, Mental and Emotion Health Risks of A Homosexual Lifestyle

It's short and to the point.  Check it out here.

An Election Year Always Brings Much Humor To Our Lives

What if Jesus was running for President?  What would the anti-Jesus ads look like?  Here is one, compliments of Mark Shea, that shows what a Bush/Cheney ad against Jesus might look like:

But lets remember what Mark Shea points out, "Of course, the Kerry campaign could do the same with other select quotes and frame Jesus as an anti-semite, an elitist, and an enemy of a Woman's Right to Choose[TM]. "

This just cracks me up.

I Hope I Get The Chance To Watch This

"The Question of God: Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis is a four-hour PBS series scheduled to air on consecutive Wednesday nights, September 15 and 22. It is a superb journey into the critical distinctions between the competing worldviews which underlie the cultural war currently convulsing Western Civilization.

While many Christians may mistrust PBS when it comes to accurately and respectfully presenting a Christian view on virtually anything, The Question of God should allay those fears — at least as far as this program is concerned. C.S. Lewis, whose writings were arguably the most influential among Western Christians in the 20th century, is treated with utmost respect, and his views are sympathetically portrayed.

This series, however, is not for the faint-hearted Christian who dislikes any open discussion of contrary viewpoints. It is, as a review in Christianity Today called it, "Think TV." Freud's argument against the existence of God is laid out as completely as Lewis' faith in Christ.

Perhaps more than anything else, however, the series portrays the humanity of both Lewis and Freud in a manner that is quite poignant. Christians will suffer along with Lewis, as he mourns the death of his beloved wife to cancer, which threatens to shatter his faith. With Freud, Christians witness in powerful fashion an avowed atheist as he wrestles with death's uncertainty. One almost watches with bated breath to see if the famous father of psychoanalysis, himself battling cancer, embraces God. Sadly, he remains defiant to the very end."

This looks like it will be a real, honest, and truthful debate...of course we know which side will be shown as the reasonable truth. I hope that Joe London will be able to watch as well, I am sure he will have some comments after viewing...it will make for some good comment box conversation.

Is President Bush The Anti-Christ?

WASHINGTON DC -- According to freelance journalist Wayne Madsden, "George W Bush's blood lust, his repeated commitment to Christian beliefs and his constant references to 'evil doers,' in the eyes of many devout Catholic leaders, bear all the hallmarks of the one warned about in the Book of Revelations--the anti-Christ."

Madsen, a Washington-based writer and columnist, who often writes for Counterpunch, says that people close to the pope claim that amid these concerns, the pontiff wishes he was younger and in better health to confront the possibility that Bush may represent the person prophesized in Revelations. John Paul II has always believed the world was on the precipice of the final confrontation between Good and Evil as foretold in the New Testament.

This is pretty amusing.  It's the usual tabloid mumbo-jumbo about the antichrist from people who have very active imaginations.

The Feast Of The Exultation Of The Holy Cross

Today we celebrate one of my favorite feasts of the Church year, and as I was doing my spiritual reading this morning I came across yet another great quote from St. Josemaria Escriva in which he speaks about how we find joy and glory in faithfully carrying the crosses that come our way.  I thought it would be appropriate to share a few of these quotes with you today.

Jesus gave himself up for us in a holocaust of love. What about you, who are a disciple of Christ? You, a favoured son of God; you, who have been ransomed at the price of the Cross; you too should be ready to deny yourself. So, no matter what situation we may find ourselves in, neither you nor I can ever allow ourselves to behave in a way that is selfish, materialistic, comfort-loving, dissipated or — forgive me if I speak too candidly — just plain stupid! 'If all you want is the esteem of your fellow men, and you long to be respected and appreciated, and you only seek a pleasant life, then you have strayed from the path... Only those who travel the rugged, narrow and austere path of tribulation are allowed to enter the city of the saints, there to rest and reign with the King for eternity.'

You yourself must decide of your own free will to take up the cross; otherwise, your tongue may say that you are imitating Christ, but your actions will belie your words. That way, you will never get to know the Master intimately, or love him truly. It is really important that we Christians convince ourselves of this. We are not walking with Our Lord unless we are spontaneously depriving ourselves of many things that our whims, vanity, pleasure or self-interest clamour for. Not a single day should pass that has not been seasoned with the salt and grace of mortification; and, please get rid of the idea that you would then be miserable. What a sad little happiness you will have if you don't learn to overcome yourself, if you let your passions and fancies dominate and crush you, instead of courageously taking up your cross!

What does it matter that we stumble on the way, if we find in the pain of our fall the energy to pick ourselves up and go on with renewed vigour? Don't forget that the saint is not the person who never falls, but rather the one who never fails to get up again, humbly and with a holy stubbornness...If you really want to make progress in the interior life, be humble. Turn constantly and confidently to the help of Our Lord and of his Blessed Mother, who is your Mother too. No matter how much the still open wound of your latest fall may hurt, embrace the cross once more and, calmly, without getting upset, say: 'With your help, Lord, I'll fight so as not to be held back. I'll respond faithfully to your invitations. I won't be afraid of steep climbs, nor of the apparent monotony of my daily work, nor of the thistles and loose stones on the way. I know that I am aided by your mercy and that, at the end of the road, I will find eternal happiness, full of joy and love for ever and ever.'

New Website To Help Catholics Decide

This site is certainly interesting and has lots of info on Senator Kerry's voting record on Catholic issues as well as the quote seen above in the banner "Abortions need to be moved out of the fringes of medicine and into the mainstream of medical practice."

I could not find a similar site examining the President's record on Catholic issues.

Check it out here.

True Freedom

I found this quote from Friends of God by St. Josemaria Escriva to be very true.  I am reading that book right now for my spiritual reading and I highly reccomend it to anyone who wants practical advise on how to grow closer to Our Lord.

Reject the deception of those who appease themselves with the pathetic cry of 'Freedom! Freedom!' Their cry often masks a tragic enslavement, because choices that prefer error do not liberate. Christ alone sets us free, for He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life...But we can still say 'no' to God, rejecting this source of new and permanent happiness. Anyone who does so stops being a son and becomes a slave. 'Each thing is that which it is fitted to be according to its nature; hence, when it goes in search of something alien to its nature, it is not acting according to its own manner of being, but under an alien impulse; and this is to act in a servile manner. Man is rational by nature. When he acts according to reason, he proceeds by his own movement, according to what he is: and this is proper to freedom. When he sins, he works against reason, and then he is allowing himself to be led by the impulse of another, he is subject to limitations imposed by another and so anyone who commits sin is a slave to sin (John 8:34).'

It is very true that those who claim that they are "free" are the ones who are enslaved the most.  We can see that from our own experience of sin.  When we think we are being free by sinning we soon find that it was not freedom at all, rather enslavement.

Just thought I would share that quote. and if you want to read the entire book you can find the entire text online here.

Disco Squirrels

Don't ask questions...just check it out.

The Dutch Toboggan Slide To Hell

"FIRST, Dutch euthanasia advocates said that patient killing will be limited to the competent, terminally ill who ask for it. Then, when doctors began euthanizing patients who clearly were not terminally ill, sweat not, they soothed: medicalized killing will be limited to competent people with incurable illnesses or disabilities. Then, when doctors began killing patients who were depressed but not physically ill, not to worry, they told us: only competent depressed people whose desire to commit suicide is "rational" will have their deaths facilitated. Then, when doctors began killing incompetent people, such as those with Alzheimer's, it's all under control, they crooned: non-voluntary killing will be limited to patients who would have asked for it if they were competent.

And now they want to euthanize children.

In the Netherlands, Groningen University Hospital has decided its doctors will euthanize children under the age of 12, if doctors believe their suffering is intolerable or if they have an incurable illness. But what does that mean? In many cases, as occurs now with adults, it will become an excuse not to provide proper pain control for children who are dying of potentially agonizing maladies such as cancer, and doing away with them instead. As for those deemed "incurable"--this term is merely a euphemism for killing babies and children who are seriously disabled."

This is sick and wrong...and if someone doesn't stop the toboggan it will continue...

Read more about it here.

Homily: 24th Sunday In Ordinary Time

There is a story about a little boy that I know.  Being the good, warm hearted boy that he was, Tommy decided to do a good deed.

 

Lying in bed early one Sunday morning he decided to make his mom and dad breakfast, and he immediately set out for the kitchen.  He had seen his mom make pancakes a hundred times so he knew exactly how to make them.  First, he needed a big bowl, so he opened the cupboard and peered into the darkness inside…he finally caught sight of the big bowl way in the back.  He reached in, grabbed it, and yanked.  It made the biggest racket he had ever heard when all those pots and pans came tumbling out…they were strewn all over the floor. 

 

Next, he pulled a chair over to the counter, crawled up on it, opened the cupboard and pulled down the big canister of flour, spilling it all over himself, all over the countertop, all over the floor, and even all over the dog.  Needles to say the little guy was getting a little frustrated, but he really wanted to do this nice thing for his parents so he kept plugging along.  Suddenly, he saw his puppy licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push him away and in the process knocked the eggs onto the floor. He tried to clean up this huge mess as fast as he could, but he slipped on the eggs and got his pajamas all dirty.  He was nothing but a big bundle of mess, covered from head to toe in flour and eggs. 

 

Just then he noticed his dad standing in the doorway and the tears began to well up in his eyes.  All he wanted to do was a good deed for his mom and dad, but all he ended up doing was making a really big mess…he thought he was in for a talking to…and maybe a little spanking, but his father just stood there and watched him.  Then, walking right through the mess, his dad, with tears in his own eyes picked Tommy up in his strong yet gentle arms and hugged him, getting his own pajamas dirty in the process.

 

In today’s readings we hear a lot about people who have made messes; people who have turned aside from the way that God had pointed out, people who worshiped idols, people who were blasphemers and arrogant, people who left home and squandered their inheritance on a life of dissipation.  People like us. 

 

We are all sinners…you and me.  There is no way to avoid that fact – even St. Paul in the second reading admits that he was a sinner.  In his own words, he was “the foremost” of all sinners.

 

St. Paul had a very healthy sense of his own sin.  On one hand he knew he was a great sinner, but on the other hand he also knew that he was redeemed by the blood of the Lamb – Jesus Christ.  He knew that like the prodigal son, he could run back to his Father at any time, and he would welcome him back with open arms, and a fabulous feast.  He knew that even though he was weak and foolish, his Father would lift him out of his mess and embrace him in his most loving and merciful arms.

 

We, like St. Paul in the first reading, and the prodigal son in the gospel have made messes in our life – some big, some small, but messes nevertheless. But I don’t care what mess – what sin we are involved in, God wants to enter that mess and lift us out.  Whether it’s an addiction to pornography, a past abortion, contraception, marriage problems, a homosexual relationship, drinking, drugs, murder, or theft, God wants to forgive us. He wants to enter our messes and rescue us from them.  He wants to wipe away our tears.  He wants to forgive us.  But my friends are we humble enough, childlike enough, to let him love us? 

 

Letting God love us, letting him forgive us…that is what the sacrament of penance is all about.  It’s not about beating ourselves up.  It’s not about telling our sins to a priest just for the sake of telling them, it’s about confessing our sins as a way of letting God into our messes so that he can heal us.  I know that it can be hard.  I know that sometimes we may feel like little Tommy – waiting for the wrath of our Father – a talking to, or a spanking.  But we know from scripture and our own experience that Our Father is not going to turn his back towards us, but rather he will run to meet us like the father of the prodigal son.  He’s not going to be angered at our sinfulness; rather he will rejoice that this child of his who was dead through sin is now alive.

 

My friends, today we gather around this altar to enter into greatest act of love our God could ever offer to us, the very death and resurrection of his own Son Jesus Christ.  Today we will truly and really be present as he freely gives his life so that we might live. So let us resolve right here and now to allow God to love us, to let him enter our messes through the sacrament of reconciliation.  I promise you that if you allow yourself to be honest, if you really open up your messes to the Lord in the sacrament you will not regret it, for in that moment He will look at you, and with tears in his eyes he will walk right through the midst of your mess, lift you up and hold you in his strong yet gentle hands, and love you with all His merciful heart.  Then the celebration in heaven will begin.