Lenten preacher for the Curia & Holy Father...

...will be Cardinal Giacomo Biffi.

here is something he wrote two years ago regarding the Antichrist:

The days are coming, and are already here…
by Giacomo Biffi

The Antichrist, says Soloviev, was "a convinced spiritualist." He believed in goodness, and even in God. He was an ascetic, a scholar, a philanthropist. He gave "the greatest possible demonstrations of moderation, disinterest, and active beneficence."

In his early youth, he had distinguished himself as a talented and insightful exegete: one of his extensive works on biblical criticism had brought him an honorary degree from the University of Tübingen.

But the book that had gained for him universal fame and consensus bore the title: "The Open Road to Universal Peace and Prosperity," in which "a noble respect for ancient traditions and symbols was joined with a sweeping, audacious radicalism toward social and political needs and directives. Limitless freedom of thought was united with a profound comprehension of everything mystical; absolute individualism with an ardent dedication to the common good; the most elevated idealism toward guiding principles with the complete precision and viability of practical solutions."

It is true that some men of faith wondered why the name of Christ did not appear even once, but others replied: "If the contents of the book are permeated with the true Christian spirit, with active love and universal benevolence, what more do you want?" Besides, he "was not in principle hostile to Christ." On the contrary, he appreciated his right intentions and lofty teaching.

But three things about Jesus were unacceptable to him.

First of all, his moral preoccupations. "The Christ," he asserted, "has divided men according to good and evil with his moralism, whereas I will unite them with the benefits that both good and evil alike require."

He also did not like Christ's "absolute uniqueness." He was one of many, or even better – he said – he was my precursor, because I am the perfect and definitive savior; I have purified his message of what is unacceptable for the men of today.

Finally, and above all, he could not endure the fact that Christ is alive, so much so that he repeated hysterically: "He is not among the living, and will never be. He is not risen, he is not risen, he is not risen. He rotted, he rotted in the tomb…"

But where Soloviev's presentation shows itself to be particularly original and surprising – and merits greater reflection – is in the attribution to the Antichrist of the qualities of pacifist, environmentalist, ecumenist. […]

Did Soloviev have a particular person in mind when he made this description of the Antichrist? It is undeniable that he alludes above all to the "new Christianity" that Leo Tolstoy was successfully promoting during those years. […]

In his "Gospel," Tolstoy reduces all of Christianity to five rules of conduct which he derives from the Sermon on the Mount:

1. Not only must you not kill, but you must not even become angry with your brother.

2. You must not give in to sensuality, not even to the desire for your own wife.

3. You must never bind yourself by swearing an oath.

4. You must not resist evil, but you must apply the principle of non-violence to the utmost and in every case.

5. Love, help, and serve your enemy.

According to Tolstoy, although these precepts come from Christ, they in no way require the actual existence of the Son of the living God to be valid. [...]

Of course, Soloviev does not specifically identify the great novelist with the figure of the Antichrist. But he intuited with extraordinary clairvoyance that Tolstoy's creed would become during the 20th century the vehicle of the substantial nullification of the gospel message, under the formal exaltation of an ethics and a love for humanity presented as Christian "values." [...]

The days will come, Soloviev tells us – and are already here, we say – in which the salvific meaning of Christianity, which can be received only in a difficult, courageous, concrete, and rational act of faith, will be dissolved into a series of "values" easily sold on the world markets.

The greatest of the Russian philosophers warns us that we must guard against this danger. Even if a Tolstoian Christianity were to make us infinitely more acceptable in the living room, at social and political gatherings, and on television, we cannot and must not renounce the Christianity of Jesus Christ, the Christianity that has at its center the scandal of the cross and the astonishing reality of the Lord's resurrection.

Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Son of God, the only savior of mankind, cannot be transformed into a series of worthwhile projects and good inspirations, which are part and parcel of the dominant worldly mentality. Jesus Christ is a "rock," as he said of himself. And one either builds upon this "rock” (by entrusting oneself) or lunges against it (through opposition): "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but when it falls on any one, it will crush him" (Mt. 21:44). [...]

So Soloviev's teaching was simultaneously prophetic and largely ignored. But we want to repropose it in the hope that Christianity will finally catch on to it and pay it a bit of attention.

---

Hat tip to Simon-Peter

Not out of the woods...

Well, I didn't stay up late enough to get this, which was sent in the wee hours of the morning; ("today" refers to Sunday).

Thank you Amy and Rosa for quickly getting emails out for extra prayers tonight. And thank you Russ for praying with me over the phone as I was driving back to the hospital. And as always, thank you all for all of your generous prayers. Tonight’s seizure was very very scary. Because this morning they had removed the drain-tubes there was a possibility of bleeding. When the seizure occurred tonight, they stopped it and immediately did a CAT scan, and thank God it didn’t show brain swelling or hemorrhage. They think that a drop in her sodium may have caused the seizure. An MRI is scheduled for tomorrow at 9:30 AM. This MRI will give them more information on how everything is, and it will also tell them if the tumor is completely gone. Today Sophia was asleep most of the time. There are a lot of “unknowns” at this point about her brain functions, vision, etc. Please continue praying for Sophia, her doctors and nurses and for Scott and Veronica. They are both getting very little sleep; they are very tired and of course worried. Tonight was very very hard for them. Please keep them in your prayers. God bless each and every one of you. Daniela Ysursa

Lord, in your generous and merciful hands we place our trust.

Triumph of the Catholic Church

I haven't received any news today about Sophia, but did meet her aunt Daniela after mass today. Hopefully will have more news to pass along tomorrow.

This chart was tucked inside a book I ordered that just came. I had seen this before in the Catholic Answers reprint of "Winning Converts." Fr. Eric over at Orthometer would like that book: PREACH THE TRUTH wins converts!



The chart (click for a larger view) shows the growth of the church, and all the major offshoots over time.

Update & pictures

I just got back from the hospital. Sophia is doing well, asleep most of the time, and a little confused when she wakes up, but they say that’s normal. The cute story for the day was when she sat down and started taking her robe off because “she had to get dressed and go to school”. These are all normal things and actually good, the nurses loved seeing that kind of interaction and to see the strength she had in her arms and legs as she sat down to do that. This afternoon they started her with her thyroid medication that she will be taking daily. As I was saying before, it’ll be a very slow process, but she’s a little fighter. I’m including a couple of photos that I took this afternoon, the tape that looks like a headband is covering the incision. Please keep those wonderful prayers going her way. God bless you all, Daniela Ysursa

Saturday update

Sophia is at St. Luke’s PICU for the next couple of days, then she’ll be transfer to the Pediatric area.

Dr. Tim Johans stopped by first thing in the morning and when he saw Sophia he told them it was a true miracle that she was in the conditions she was this morning. Not even a bruise (they were expecting her swollen and bruised around the eyes). Sophia woke up this morning, talked to them, same old Sophia, polite, answered “yes please” when asked if she wanted 7Up and Jell-O, and had a little of both. And said “Good morning Samantha” to her doll :) !!! The nurse told her to look at her, and she followed Veronica with her eyes, so today she sees, we don’t know how well and how that will continue during the next critical 48 hours, but it was a good sign. I’ll bring the camera today and send you all a picture tonight. Thank you again for all of your love and prayers. God bless you, Daniela

Surgery update!

We’ve been blessed with the miracle of another successful surgery today! After 11 hours in the surgery room, Sophia is doing great. Both Dr. Cherny and Dr. Johans said “it went very very well”. Dr. Johans was the first one to come talk to us, he said “in our field, these two surgeries were like poetry.” Everything went extremely well, very smoothly, with no complications and the doctors got to remove everything that was left of the tumor. With everything that could have gone wrong, nothing did. Dr. Cherny came out with a skull model and explained what they did. It’s a true miracle, and it’s truly the work of God done thru these very special doctors. The cut this time went from ear to ear, a bigger piece of the cranium was cut and removed, including the eye socket, to get to that area, that is almost behind the nose bridge, in between the eyes, where 2 eye nerves cross. They feel optimistic about the vision, we won’t know for sure for about 48 hours but they think the optical nerves look really good. It was one of the few parts were the tumor wasn’t attached too badly (another miracle!), so they didn’t have to do a lot of scrapping or cutting of blood vessels in that area. The stalk in the pituitary gland was the other concern, being only 1 millimeter long, hidden in such a large tumor, they knew it could be easily missed and removed with the tumor. That’s actually what happened. That stalk regulates most of the functions of the pituitary gland, but with hormone treatments and medication Sophia will get what her body needs for her normal development. The doctors didn’t seem concerned about that, they said they were kind of expecting that to happen. It’ll probably be a slow recovery, but I believe the worse is over. And you never know, when you see that little body, and how incredibly well she endured these 2 dreadful surgeries, it makes you realize what a fighter our little Sophia is. Can’t wait to see what God has in store for her, I just know that she has a special purpose in life!. When I go back to the hospital tomorrow, I’ll be bringing my camera so that I can send you a photo. The nurses braided her hair, put a ribbon on the braids and she looks like an angel :) Well, that’s the update for the day. We are all exhausted but we can breath easier now, I know Veronica and Scott will rest a little better tonight. Let’s continue praying for Sophia’s vision, strength and recovery and in thanksgiving for Dr. Cherny and Dr. Johans and the outcome of the surgery!. God bless each and everyone of you, Daniela Ysursa



Thank you, thank you Lord for being so gracious and loving and for listening to our prayers. Thank you for revealing yourself, your love, and your warmth, through all these loving people, Sophia’s prayer angels, that have been so crucial in our lives during these past couple of weeks.

also, if you would like to receive updates directly, drop me an email and I'll forward it. S-P!!

> Thank you Mark so very much, we have nothing but appreciation for people like you that have so generously showered Sophia with prayers. I'm adding you to my list so that you can get my updates, which I've been trying to do daily.

Today's surgery!

This came late last night:

Okay, Prayer Angels, here's the last minute news. Scott just called with the MRI results. Tuesday's surgery was successful, and they know for sure now that they took everything out of that part. Thank you Jesus. But here's the hard part. About tomorrow's surgery, it's more risky. There is a 1.7 cm left of tumor touching the pituitary gland, the optical nerves and the hypothalamus. We need to pray that the tumor is not attached to those very critical parts of the brain, so that it can come out without damaging them. The risks are many, we are talking about her vision and all the production of hormones. Scott said that if the hypothalamus is damaged she could stay like she is now for the rest of her life. Very very scary. The surgery is scheduled for 7:30 AM. Let's ask our Lord to bless her with another miraculous surgery. I'll keep you posted. God bless each and every one of you, Daniela

The Dominican heart...

The first saint of the Americas; Rose of Lima:


OF HER ZEAL FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS, AND
HER CARE IN ASSISTING THE POOR IN THEIR
SICKNESS AND NECESSITY


True love being always accompanied by zeal, it follows that we cannot love perfectly the Son of God, who takes so great an interest in the salvation of those souls whom He has redeemed with His precious blood, without also being zealous for the eternal welfare of sinner for whom He suffered death. As this was the characteristic of S. Dominic, and as it still inflames the hearts of those among her children whom the Church destines to gain souls, we need not be surprised that S. Rose, his beloved daughter, should have received the spirit of zeal of this great patriarch with the habit of his order, as she showed during her whole life an indefatigable zeal for the conversion of sinners, and never failed one single day to ask of God for them by her prayers, and generally also by her blood, the grace to be restored to His friendship.

Surgery update

The following is a forwarded message from Sophia's aunt:

To all of Sophia’s prayer warriors,

Yesterday, needless to say was a very long day at the hospital. Sophia went into the operating room at 7:30 AM, they put her under right away and started hooking her up for the surgery. At 9:30 AM the light by her name in the screen in the waiting room came on indicating surgery had started. Every hour the nurse came out with “updates”. We would look at her face from the distance looking for a smile, indicating everything was going smoothly. Every time she came out, it was the same thing, “She’s doing great. Doctors are going very slow, taking their time. She’s still under the microscope.” We knew that the whole surgery was “under the microscope” and that when that part was done it would mean “start closing” and that part would take another hour and a half. At 7:15 PM (almost 12 hours after they put her to sleep !!!!) the surgery was over. She was in the recuperating room for an hour before they took her to PICU. Dr. Cherny and Dr. Johans came out and gave us the detail of what they have done. Dr. Cherny said that he was very pleased with how it went. It took longer than what he had expected, he explained that the tumor was very large and it was more attached to the walls than he thought it would be, so he took his time. But they took the largest part of the tumor out, cleaned that area very well (he thinks they removed all of it from that area), and got as close to the pituitary gland as they had plan to get on this first surgery. He was pleased with how the walls of that part of the brain came back together and explained that the brain, without all of that pressure from the tumor would be “more relaxed” for the second surgery. She lost some blood, so she had a transfusion in the middle. Again, everything went as they had planned, and what they found was what they were expecting, a “craniopharyngioma” tumor. Because she had been asleep for 12 hours, they said she would take a while to wake up, but they woke her up enough to make sure she was responding well. She said her name, her age, and moved hands and wiggle toes as directed. When we went in to see her at 9:00 PM she opened her eyes a little, and tried to smile. The nurse tickled her feet to try to wake her up and she moved them and nodded her head when asked if she was ticklish. :) All those little things, as you can imagine, were huge for all of us to see !!. She looked beautiful, like an angel, as usual, nothing swollen or out of the ordinary. The next couple of days, she’ll be in PICU, awaiting the second surgery. They will try to do another MRI today to concentrate on the small piece of tumor left. That is much smaller than what they removed already, but it’s also the part in the pituitary gland and eye nerves. They’ll know more about the surgery after the MRI, but they are expecting it not to be so long.

Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your prayers, love and support. Our prayers were heard, our Lord was so incredibly good. Our little Sophia handled the 12 hour surgery like a champ. God worked through Dr. Cherny and Dr. Johans hands, no doubt !!!

Please continue praying for no complications this week or during the other surgery, for strength in Sophia’s body to be ready for another surgery, for the miracle of the tumor to “loosen up” in that area so that it can come out without damaging the gland or nerves. Please continue praying for the doctors, that they can rest and be ready for another long and tedious surgery. And please pray for Veronica and Scott.

I’ll keep you posted. Thank you. God Bless each and everyone of you,

Daniela

First surgery today; please pray!

Surgery will start in a few minutes; it is expected to be 12-14 hours, and the second surgery is scheduled for Friday; there may be a third one as well.

Father in heaven, You Who gave Your only Son, a pure and unblemished lamb, in sacrifice for the salvation of the world, that we who were born as men might be reborn as your children; Your ways are not our ways, but You have taught us to pray, to love one another, and to carry one another's burdens. And so we pour our hearts out to you, dearest Father, for Sophia, for her family, and for her surgeons and team, that if it be your Holy Will, this surgery will find that Jesus the Divine physician has already healed her; that those who do not believe may give You thanks and praise; but if that be not your Will, Father, guide the surgeons' hands, that they may discharge their task successfully. Most importantly, we pray for Sophia and her family, that whatever the outcome You have determined, that the Holy Spirit bring them closer to You, Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Steve Ray cuts to the chase...

When reading the Bible devoid of its historical and textual context, there is no context except the context which any idiot might give it.

or put otherwise,

A text without a context is a pretext.

read the rest here

Sign of Jonah

In today’s Mass reading, we hear the startling response to the Pharisees:

Mark 8:11-13 The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

Which is a just response, for “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Lk 4:12, Dt 6:16)

However, in a parallel passage in Matthew, we hear that there is a sign for evil and unfaithful, not so much as tempting God gains a response, but in God’s mercy, the path to the narrow door is open to all.

Matthew 12:39-40. He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights."

Having once been of the evil and unfaithful generation, I will bear witness that this sign was made visible to me by St. Augustine. As Fr. Morse Later was fond of saying, “all religions were founded by men, but only one was founded by a man who rose from the dead.”

To take it one step further, the men of Jesus’ own time were able to see this sign, and the sign would be available to be seen until the end of time. And Jesus has insured that this sign has a continuity here, today, among us, for all to see. Hear Him tell you how that sign is linked to Him:

Matthew 17 Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father."

Forever linked is the sign for you, oh evil and perverse generation; and you hate him now, as you hated Him then.

Children of men

John and I recently saw the movie "Children of Men," which is powerful and disturbing. I've had a hard time finding intelligent commentary on it, but it turns out Boston's Cardinal Sean O'Malley sumed it up on his blog:

The Church is a bastion of defense against the culture of death. In terms of the film Children of Men we are “the human project” — the alternative is the culture of death. As the populations of the Western world age, we will see that the generation of parents that aborted their own children, will be euthanized by the children who survived.

Thanks to Thomas at Ad Jesu per Mariam

Clear thinking

I received a complimentary copy of "Catholic World News" yesterday. It contained an article about the bishops appointed by Pope Benedict XVI. I was struck by the following quote, taken from the Oct 8, 2006 homily at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, where Bishop Tartaglia, diocese of Paisley, Scottland, speaking out against abortion, homosexual unions, and civil divorce, had this to say:

“Unfortunately, in our times, the minds of many have been so darkened by hubris and by the selfish pursuit of their own gratification that they have lost sight of the natural law which God has written into his creation so that even those who do not believe in him may reach out for the truth and so be disposed, however inchoately, to God’s presence in the world. Even if they cannot be blamed for not having faith, I suspect that God will call them to account for ignoring the promptings of their own right reason. They are fortunate that He is more merciful than they are!”

Entire homily may be read here

Urgent prayer request

Forwarded by Dr. Roger:

Please pray for little Sophia. This little girl, who goes to St. Joseph's School, Boise, has a brain tumor. She is very small for her age 7 -- caused by the tumor apparently. The tumor was discovered last week by doctors who were trying to figure out a cause for her small stature. The tumor is wrapped around her pituitary gland and her optical nerves. They expect that it will take three surgeries to remove the tumor, and she is probably going to lose some or all of her eyesight. The first surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13. Pass this prayer request on to anyone who is willing to join in prayer for her. Pray for a miracle for Sophia. Pray for her team of surgeons.

Stations of the Magdalen

Stations of the Magdalen




Yesterday I created a web site, based on blogger, to display the materials we used for our Mary Magdalene Retreat at the Dominican Chapter House on July 22, 2006, the Feast of Mary Magdalene.

This is an experimental venue for such a thing. I plan to produce a downloadable pamphlet in PDF format to make it easy to use it. Any suggestions on the site are welcome.

A Prayer of St. Rose of Lima

“Lord Jesus Christ, God and Man, my Creator and my Savior, I am extremely sorry and sensibly grieved for having offended Thee, because Thou art what Thou art, and Because I love Thee above all things. My God, who art the Spouse of my soul, and all the joy of my heart, I desire, but I desire it with all the powers of my soul, to love Thee with a very perfect love, with a very efficacious love, with a very sincere ineffable love, the greatest that a creature can have for her God, with an incomprehensible love, with a love resolute and invincible in difficulties; in a word, I desire to love Thee in heaven. Even more, O God of my heart, of my life, and all the joy of my soul, I desire to love Thee; as far as I am capable of it, as much as the Blessed Virgin, Thy Mother and my sweet Lady, loves Thee. Oh, Salvation of my soul! I desire to love Thee as Thou lovest Thyself. Oh, my sweet Jesus! May I burn with the fire of Thy divine love! May it consume me, and make of my soul a holocaust to Thy glory.”

From The Life of Saint Rose of Lima, Text from the Fr. Faber translation, Peter F. Cunningham, fourth edition, 1855

Catholic==Mormon???

I previously said that I needed to study, meditate, and pray about what is sometimes call deification, or being made like Christ. We who are Catholics recognize implicitly that we do not believe we will become Gods, as held by the LDS, but it can be hard to make the distinction, such that a Mormon would not accuse us of holding their belief.

Simon-Peter suggested I purchase a book, which just arrived; in it I found the following, which seems to explain it rather well.

Christ the Life of the Soul,
by Dom Columba Marmion, OSB
Chapter I, sec IV

God gives us a mysterious share in His Nature which we call "grace": Efficiamini divinae consortes naturae[40]

According to St. Thomas, this grace is a "particiapted similitude" of the Divine nature. Participata similitude divinae naturae.[41]

40, II Pet 1:4 St. Peter does not say that we become participants of the Divine Essence, but of the Divine nature, that is to say, of that activity which constitutes the life of God, and consists in the knowledge and the fruitful, beatifying love of the Divine Persons.
41. St. Thom. III, q. lxii, a. I. This is why it is said in theology that grace is deiform, in order to denote the Divine resemblance it produces in us.

Ps 141 in Evening Prayer I, Week 1, Liturgy of the Hours, reminded me that I needed to post this.

DRINAN & DAVROS - DR WHO & THE JESUITS?

From Father Joe, who writes: Sent to me from a friend who is probably less charitable than I am, these posted pictures will only make sense if you are a Doctor Doctor Who / Science Fiction fan.

THE CHURCH

DIVINE INTIMACY

Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.
THE CHURCH

MEDITATION

Jesus loves us so much that He wills to remain with us until the end of time. Therefore, He abides with us in the Blessed Sacrament as the Companion of our earthly pilgrimage, as the Food of our souls, but He also remains with us in the Church as our Guide, our Shepherd, and our Teacher. Jesus formed the first nucleus of the Church by His preaching, by choosing and instructing the Apostles; He gave life to her by dying on the Cross. "The Church," as the Holy Father notes, "came forth from the side of our Savior on the Cross like a new Eve, Mother of all the living" (Mystici Corporis). Jesus sanctified her by shedding His blood for her. He gave her His power; He made her His spouse and collaborator, continuing through her His work of sanctifying and directing souls. Today Jesus no longer dwells among us as He did nineteen hundred years ago; His Physical Body is gloriously enthroned in Heaven at the right hand of the Father. But He does abide with us in His Mystical Body, the Church, His Spouse and our Mother. Jesus is the living Head of the Church; it is always He who rules her invisibly by His Spirit, the Holy Spirit. He sustains and vivifies her unceasingly, gives her life, and distributes graces to each of her members "according to the measure of His giving" (cf. Eph 4:7). The Church lives by Christ alone; she is holy with His holiness; she is the Mother of souls through her union with Him. This union of Christ with the Church is so intimate and vital that the Church can be regarded as a prolongation of Christ. Indeed, Pope Pius XII teaches that "Christ sustains the Church in a divine manner; He lives in her to such a degree that she is, as it were, another Christ" (Mystici Corporis). Even as it is through the Eucharist that we unite ourselves to Jesus and are nourished with His immaculate Flesh, so it is through His Church that guided and ruled by Him, we are vivified by His grace and nourished by His doctrine. And as we cannot become more one with Christ in this life than by uniting ourselves to Him in the Eucharist, so we can have no greater assurance of living according to His Spirit, of being directed and taught by Him, than by uniting ourselves to the Church and following her directives.

To be a "Child of the Church" is the most glorious title for a Christian and second only to that of "child of God." These two titles can never be separated -- one depends upon the other; for as St. Cyprian has said, "He who does not have the Church for a Mother, cannot have God for a Father." Jesus wishes to save and sanctify us, but He wishes to do it by means of the Church. He gave His life and shed His Blood for us; He put His most precious merits at our disposal; He gave us the Holy Eucharist and left us the heritage of His doctrine, but He wished the Church to be the sole depository and dispenser of the inestimable benefits, so that all who wish to enjoy them must have recourse to her. Let us go, then, to the Church with the complete confidence of children, certain to find Jesus in her, Jesus who sanctifies, nourishes, teaches, rules, and directs us by means of His representatives. If the thought of being a Child of the Church does not make our hearts vibrate, if our love for the Church is weak, if our recourse to her is not confident, this indicates a lack of the spirit of faith: we have not sufficiently understood that the Church is Christ, continuing to live in our midst to sanctify and sustain us and to lead us to eternal beatitude. "We can think of nothing more glorious, more noble, and more honorable than membership in the Holy Roman Catholic Church, by which we become members of such a holy Body [the Mystical Body of Christ], are guided by one and so sublime a Head [Jesus Christ], are filled with one divine Spirit [the Holy Spirit], and finally, are nourished in this earthly exile with one doctrine and one same heavenly Bread until we are permitted to share the one eternal beatitude in heaven" (Mystici Corporis). Let us love the Church, "the most perfect Image of Christ" (ibid.); let us love the Church, the most pure Spouse of Christ and our Mother; and as He loved her whom "He hath purchased with His own Blood" (Acts 20:28), so let us love her with a true spirit of obedience and filial devotion, offering ourselves completely to serve, glorify, and defend her.

Hand on what you have received

Above you see a hand, a glove, and a glove turned inside out.

This can be thought of as a metaphor. The hand is the revealed Truth handed down from the Apostles. The glove is how we see it and experience it. The person out side the faith looks at the exterior of the glove, which is admittedly prettier. The faithful live in contact with the truth, which is a bit coarser, but they are warmed by the divine fire of the Holy Spirit.

The glove inside, and the glove outside may also be though of as the correct understanding of revealed truth pre Vatican II, and post Vatican II. There is only one body of revealed truth, although for reasons we do not know, another perspective than that which went before has been articulated; but Truth remains Truth; Benedict XVI's hermeneutic of reform admits of only one glove.

so who's the guy below? He's the "hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture."

New Provinicial and Promoter for the Laity

The Blessed Margaret of Castello Chapter is pleased to welcome the new Prior Provincial of the Province of the Holy Name of Jesus, Fr. Emmerich Vogt OP,





and the new Promoter for the Dominican Laity, Fr. Vincent Serpa, OP




we extend our thanks to Fr. Roberto Corral, OP for his service as Prior Provincial, and our special gratitude and thanks to Fr. George Matanic, OP, for his service as Promoter of the Laity, and under whom this chapter has grown from it's inception nearly ten years ago. Our thanks to all the Friars who have given so much; may our Gracious Lord Jesus unite them to His Sacred Heart through Mary and St. Dominic.

Prophets, or simply annoying?

There is this strange phenomenon, whereby those who are fond of taking liberties with liturgy, or dissenting from church doctrine and praxis, like to talk about being “Prophetic;” taking as a sign of confirmation that they are acting as the Prophets of the Old Testament, when they see a negative reaction.

Objectively, is this really the case, or is there an element of self-deception involved?

First, it will help to examine what “Prophecy” is, for to be “Prophetic,” one must utter a “Prophecy.” St. Peter gives us an excellent answer to this question:

And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts. Understanding this first: That no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation. For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:19-21)

St. Paul tells us why Old Testament prophecy came to an end.

God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all, In these days, hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world. (Heb 1:1-2)

What Ss Peter and Paul say explains why the prophetic office today consists of proclaiming the Holy Scriptures; which is to proclaim God’s word unveiled. Those who proclaim His word do so by the Holy Spirit. Those who, in opposition to doctrine and practice, offer their own opinions to “discomfort the faithful,” are offering according to their own will, and delude themselves by the ego-gratification of usurping the mantle of prophet.

Quoting Anita, "to take as a sign of persecution the perceived frown of pope Benedict XVI, is not a sign of prophecy, but childish petulance."

Hate Crime and Punishment.

New “hate crimes” legislation is being introduced in the 110^th U.S. Congress entitled the “David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.” (H.R. 254). This legislation would expand present hate crimes law to include ‘sexual orientation’ in addition to race, color, national origin, religion, gender or disability.

Hate crimes legislation as proposed would enhance the penalty for committing a “hate crime” against another person.

In addition to any penalty for committing a crime against another person, any defendant who commits bodily injury to another person with the use of “fire, a firearm, or an explosive device” because of the “actual or perceived” sexual orientation of the victim, will receive an enhanced punishment of not more than 10 years in prison or fine, or if the ‘hate’ crime victim dies, or if done with certain violence towards another, it could result in imprisonment for a term of life.

The law presently protects against other types of “hate” crimes such as race, color, national origin, religion, gender, or disability.

At first glance, all of this looks rather good, doesn’t it? You bet—at first glance. If a criminal commits a crime, he or she should pay the price. Right?

That would seem true. I ask you to think. Think carefully.

Traditionally, American criminal thought was based upon objective moral transgressions with punishments that should fit the gravity of the offense.

Reform, incarceration, restitution, deterrence, protection, and retribution are classic western and American goals of criminal law.

In accord with our Constitution, a criminal who committed a crime was seen in violation of fundamental natural rights of life, liberty, and property. This is a fundamental purpose of government, especially limited government even by Catholic writers such as Sts. Thomas Aquinas and Robert Bellarmine.

This foundation of American law was eroding starting in the sixties, when the sexual revolution also questioned whether crime really was a moral transgression—after all people were the victim of their social and economic conditions.

Instead at looking at conscience or moral culpability of individual persons, these commentators began to look at sentimental or environmental conditions that would “cause” and lead persons to commit crimes.

Crime was excused. Fault set aside. Criminals were criminals because of poverty, disenfranchise, racial prejudice, or the like.

The mea culpa became the mei excuso. Somebody forgot about the victim as well as society.

As time marched on, these sentiments and environmental conditioning led to political correctness, whereby current political fad and issues, as well as tolerance, guided society and now, the criminal law. Tolerance has become the sole rule of life in current culture; usually tolerance of what is morally wrong.

“Hate crime” legislation is most problematic.

Rather than punish crime due to the evil of the crime, we look to the most current political sentiment. Presently, the proposal in Congress regards homosexuality and other forms of sexual expression and orientation.

The underlying problem with all this is, isn’t all crime based in hate? Isn’t all crime sinful? Isn’t all crime hateful? From a Christian worldview, you bet it is. This is true because all crime is based on man’s weakened will and dimmed intellect due to original sin. There is evil in the world. One of its manifestations is crime.

Don’t confuse this with victim’s rights laws. These laws consider the victim and society, his or her injury, restitution for the injury, and the seriousness of the crime at the time of sentencing by the court.

The proposed “hate crime” legislation is a response to the current passion. In the past few years, it has been homosexuality.

This all has a serious impact upon our legal system and the common good.

Here’s how.

1. The law enhances the punishment due to the status of a victim. The problem is that all crime, all kidnapping, all murders, all robberies, etc., are the result of hate. The status of the victim should not matter. The injury should matter.

2. The objective standard of committing a moral transgression, of committing a crime, is removed. Instead of measuring the intent of the defendant, the courts will measure the feelings, thoughts, and attitudes that are the sentiment of the day.

3. Expands federal crime statutes. This legislation expands federal laws against certain crimes that were once all subject only to state jurisdiction. It invades the concept of the balance of powers and separation of powers among the states and the federal governments, and interferes directly with state administration of justice.

4. It increases the need for more courts; more prisons, more judges and clerks, and decreases the economic administration of justice in this country.

5. Hate crime legislation is unnecessary. Crime is crime and should be punished equally before the law.

Finally, this is dangerous to our Republic. It is also a result of political rather than religious thought.

Most of criminal and tort law that arose out of Western thinking and was a result of biblical or religious philosophy or practice. The biblical view is that life is precious and it should be honored.

This is true especially of innocent life. The biblical view also held that one should not steal from another, and that one should be protected against personal injury, and if so, then restitution was due.

The courts should be free from political correctness and subjective thinking, a plague that haunts the judicial halls of tyrannical nations.

Lastly, the next step downward to subjectivity is “hate speech.” Hate speech is the type of speech that people engage when talking about other people. Biblically and legally, we have historically called that defamation, gossip, slander, rash judgment, detraction, or the like. It is a sin. Therefore, this type of speech is hateful. It can also be actionable in a civil court of law.

However, when the legislature prohibits hate speech particularly regarding a sinful behavior, it states that you cannot say anything about a particular group of people or activity without disobeying the criminal law.

Thank God, we have the First Amendment in the U.S.A. Not so in Canada and in Europe.

In British Columbia, a Catholic city councilor has been ordered to pay a homosexual couple $1,000 for publicly saying that their lifestyle is "not normal and not natural."

The man in question, Joe DeCicco was simply restating the Church’s position on homosexuality. Is homosexuality unnatural? Yes. That is true. Is it disordered? Yes, just observe.

He was prosecuted for stating his personal beliefs under Canada’s hate crimes law. Unfortunately, people people tolerate this type of oppression in a free society.

The irony of it all is that those who seek social approval of this behavior would seek such sanction from the state to quash any of those that would disagree. All of this would be done in the name of “hate speech.” This is not hate speech. It is debate.

Now, let me be clear, if the Congress passes H.R. 254, that is not a hate speech bill. Hate speech is not “hate crimes” legislation. “Hate speech” is the next step downward as has happened in other countries. It could happen here.

It is not “hate speech” to point out the ills of society and wrong behavior. This is true especially with regard to homosexuality, alcoholism, drug addiction, abuse, or the like.

Homosexuality will never be regulated or stuffed away, prohibited, or the like. It cannot be done so. Like many problems, it is socially tolerated to some extent. As St. Thomas Aquinas pointed out; that not all vices can be or should be legislated against.

In sum, we cannot hate when we admonish others against sin. That is not possible, for it is one of several of the works of Mercy as taught by the Church. What are they? Here they are: 1. Convert the sinner, 2. Instruct the ignorant, 3. Counsel the doubtful, 4. Comfort the sorrowful, 5. Bear wrongs patiently, 6. Forgive injuries, and 7. Pray for the living and the dead.

And, as Christ admonishes us, we should love all sinners. It is sin that is the problem at its false attraction. It is not the sinner. We should be charitable in our message about any sin, because far too often people associate themselves too quickly with their toys, their behavior, or to their peculiar sins, rather than to God the Father. That is sad. In the end though, we are all children of Him who loves us. That is our common inheritance. That is why Love will prevail. It did so on the Cross. We need to allow it to conquer our hearts.

Idaho Right to Life March for Life, or March for Politics? I think, "To life!"

For those dear Dominicans and friends who attended the Pro-life march sponsored by Idaho Right to Life, thanks for being there. There were 500 people present, we had a fine MC, a good speaker that challenged us, and more time for fellowship.

As some have said, the March for Life is a bittersweet moment, in the sense that we come together for the March in common prayer and fellowship from all faiths, but we have to do so as a result of the issue of our day--the commission of abortions--is a crime that history knows no precedence.

The speaker was the youth minister at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Nampa, Idaho, a wonderful town just west of Boise, Idaho. He is 30 something, dressed a little informal, but well-prepared. Boy, did he challenge all of us, especially the evangelical and Catholic worlds that gathered about the podium.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't agree with him entirely myself, but it proved to me again and hopefully to the big guy of our Diocese, our dear Bishop Micheal, that we should be turning out great preachers, not great social justice promoters.

If we ignite the hearts and minds of all Catholic people, and by example all Christian and Jewish people, then we can change the face of Idaho for all people including the unborn, the homeless, the hungry, the disabled, and all.

Once ignited in the Holy Spirit, like our dear St. Dominic could do, people will respond by acts, not just words.

I pray that my message not get lost here. Peter Espil, youth minister and speaker, challenged many people that day with what he called a seamless pro-life message. I loved his challenge for regardless of whether you may agree with him, the bottom line was about the dignity of all human persons.

Our government was founded on the principle that all human persons have dignity, that this principle is grounded in who we are as people, and that the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution recognized this principle (and did not establish that principle).

Boy, back to the story, Pete's message was heard by Catholic, Christian, Protestant, Evangelical, and Jew alike. From all these traditions, many were offended. Deeply offended. Some wrote him off, others recognized some of the truth of it, others agree, and still others saw the political side of his message and resisted the remainder.

His message had some politics in it for sure. A discerning mind could not help but here that, but it did take discernment to at least listen and learn.

I prayed that I would listen and learn. I don't agree with him entirely. For instance, I don't agree that more government spending for poverty is necessarily equivalent to the moral problem of poverty. I believe that people must be called to end poverty by Christian action, by right order of lives, finances, property, assets, and resources, and following the Gospel. By, giving. I believe it will require great preachers, trained in good theology (not politics) to change the way people think.

I believe Pete's speech will result in dialog, discourse, and will help get the message out. The problem with many in the social justice committees and crowds is that they mix social justice with 'socialism justice' believing government is the solution. This approach has utterly failed across the world.

The solution is with all of us. I challenge you to review Pete's speech. The link is below.

What follows is a response to Dennis Mansfield's note on his blog, dismissing Idaho Right to Life's annual March for Life as a "march of the dead." Of course, Dennis' commentary was, frankly, dismissive, but he got it all wrong. You can read his entry at http://www.dennismansfield.com/.

Not impressive at all. The problem is, however, is that you cannot dismiss his view entirely, because he reflects many of the Protestant tradition (even though Dennis was raised a Catholic). I count him as a friend as I have known him for almost 18 years. I have worked with him. I believe he is a man of good will.

Below is the post that I put on Dennis' web. I hope it makes sense.

This is a long discourse here, but an important one, for being pro-life is more than a march, more than being on the right or left, and more than being against the commission of abortions, it is indeed about the dignity of all human life.

Please review the following entry on the Mansfield blog:

Dennis:

My friend. Your commentary regarding the March for Life was overly snarky. It wasn’t like you! Above all, however, your interpretation was wrong. Sorry, Dennis, but it was flat wrong!

Full disclosure. I am a member of the board for Right to Life. Fuller disclosure. I have met, but do not know Peter Espil. More disclosure. I carefully reviewed Pete’s speech on Adams blog here:

http://www.adamsweb.us/blog/index.php/a/2007/01/ , and here

http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TS-7413.mp3

Dennis, I think you could be a source of instruction, shepherding, and discourse, not discord. Your blog is nice, but you got it wrong. It was not a march of death.

Yes, it may seem a negative, and it gets that way sometimes. No one declared death. The message was life! The march declared life.

The march of the dead? Lighten up!

Peter Espil challenged our thinking, but he didn’t carry the message of death!

You need to re-think this approach, and as you stand in the vanguard with so many other people, you can challenge other’s thinking as well.

I think you were trying to be positive by referencing the march for BSU. Yet, wouldn’t it have been better to see both as one and the same, that life—all life—begins in the womb, and the young men who rallied on that football field just a few weeks ago were living and breathing because their mothers’ choice was life and not death.

Pete says he is a seamless pro-life Catholic. I believe he is in earnest about his views but in some ways, he was wrong. He talked about the dignity of all human persons. Was that so wrong?

He definitely comes from a different point of view—especially as compared to the typical evangelical point of view. Yet, was he so wrong?

Yes and no. From his talk, it commences a discussion out of respect for differing views. I listened to his speech again, and recognized the over-reaching theme of his talk was the dignity of all human persons. Is that so wrong? I don’t entirely agree with him; and I am a seamless pro-life Christian—a seamless pro-life Catholic.

I don’t agree with him about spending more government money to solve problems. Government is a part of the problem—it is not the solution like so many people believe. That is simply bad economics. Discourse, not discord.

I believe the Church needs to teach that materialism and over-consumption is wrong, that abortion is wrong, that adultery is a sin full of death, that immorality whether sexual or stealing (or whatever) in any form, is wrong. (We need good preachers, not good politicians!). All of these things rob us of our ability to help the poor. Many in the Christian church teach more government money for this or that, as if all problems will be resolved. I didn’t agree with him about more government money, but did he make you think?

Discourse, not discord or dismissal of the message.

He challenged us to support free medical clinics by raising funds each summer. He challenged us to re-look at the option of war. While I agree we must protect ourselves, was the Iraqi war right? After four years, I don’t know. Was it so wrong to make you think?

He spoke of the death penalty. If in time, a condemned man repented and the mercy of God visited his heart and soul, and gave it all to Jesus, would it be so bad that he lived life in prison, instead of ending it by state-sanction?

Discourse, not discord or dismissal.

The same for immigrants. I want illegal aliens to obey the law. It is essential that foreign governments re-align their governments and economies to recognize political and economic freedom. Only then, will this onslaught of immigrants, refugees, and the like end. But, as a beacon of hope here in America, shouldn’t we treat our fellow human beings with dignity? Is that so difficult? That is all Pete was asking that we uphold the dignity of all human persons.

His message was about human dignity. We may approach it differently, but his message is pro-life. Your dismissal of Peter Espil’s message was short-sided—and may I say, so unlike you!

After all, he needs help. He is pro-life. He is a Democrat. That combination is so sparse in Canyon County, that when they have their state convention, they fill up the southern-most booth at the Little Kitchen restaurant in downtown Nampa!

Finally, Idaho Right to Life is quite alive and the dear old emperor has the robes on. If you disagree with something, engage in discourse, be resourceful and hopeful. The message is clear, life is good, life is worth living, there is hope, and BSU wins!

Your friend,

John Keenan

St. Augustine on Obedience

I was reading On the Good of Marriage (de bono conjugali) by St. Augustine today, looking for something else, but ran across these:

For marriage is in no place condemned by authority of our Scriptures, but disobedience is in no place acquitted.

Obedience is in a certain way the mother of all virtues.

I call that obedience, whereby precepts are complied with.

S.T.D. candidate comes home from Rome.

I was reviewing a national news magazine two days ago, and behold, there was an ad entitled, "Wyoming Catholic College." That made me pause. Wyoming?

With a population of a little over 500,000 people, here is Wyoming with a Catholic institution of higher learning! Wonderful.

Yet, what was it like? I had to check out the website at www.wyomingcatholiccollege.com.

The college was commenced within the last two years, and the Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming is the chairman of the Board. Additionally, it uses the Great Books curriculum. It is the college's policy that that every effort will be made to get a student into the school despite the student's and his or her family's financial resources. Excellent.

A true Catholic education.

Could that happen in Idaho, with a population of nearly 1.5 million? You bet. The top boys at the Diocese obviously have to support it, but it could be done. In addition, we need to believe and think above the mediocre. It can be done!

After reviewing the curriculum and student life section, I checked the teaching staff. Another behold! Guess who is on the staff of the College effective July 1, 2007? Dr. John Mortensen, a candidate in a degree of sacred theology. He grew up in Boise. He is the son of Bob & Connie Mortenson, dear folk whose family attends Holy Apostles Catholic Church in Meridian, Idaho.

Congratulations John, to you and your wife and children, may peace & faith follow you all the years of your life. Welcome to your new home. Here is John's curriculum vitae (to date).

John R. Mortensen, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Vice President for Administration

B.A. (Liberal Arts), Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, California; S.T.M. and S.T.L., International Theological Institute, Gaming, Austria; Ph.L. and Ph.D., Pontificia Università della Santa Croce, Rome; S.T.D. candidate, Universität Freiburg, Switzerland

Dr. John Mortensen grew up in Boise, Idaho, before attending Thomas Aquinas College in California. He spent the next ten years in Europe where he studied theology and philosophy in Austria, Oxford, and Rome. Since 2002 he has been an Assistant Professor at the International Theological Institute, an institute of papal right in Gaming, Austria, teaching courses in logic, natural philosophy, metaphysics, fundamental theology, and Trinitarian theology. During these years he also held the positions of Director of Finance and subsequently Vice President for Administration. He completed a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, and is currently working on his doctoral dissertation in theology. He specializes in the work of Aristotle and Aquinas, but his interests also include spiritual theology, music theory, Catholic literature, and computer programming. Dr. Mortensen will join WCC's faculty in July 2007.

Catholic alphabet Meme

A little late on this, but I wanted to post it in honor of the communion of the saints, especially those who have assisted me:

A is for Ss. Anthony of the Desert, Athanasius, Ambrose, and Augustine (of Hippo), and Augustine (of Canterbury), all who assisted me in entering the faith, and S. Thomas Aquinas, for stumping me with it, and S. Albert the Great,

B is for Ss. Basil, Benedict, Bernard, Bede, and Bonaventure, for their contributions to religious life,

C is for S. John Chrysostom, the golden tongue which ever rings out the Word of God, and Catherine of Sienna, patroness of Dominican Tertiaries,

D is for S. Damasus I who gave us the canon of scripture; and also for Dogma, a man’s best friend, but especially for S. Dominic,

E is for S. Ethelbert, a king who witnessed the power of Christ by trading his crown for the monks habit (read Bede),

F is for S. Felicity, beautiful martyr, preferring her Lord over her life; and S. Francis, who with Dominic helped reignite the fire of the Holy Spirit in a dying Europe,

G is for S. Gregory the Great, for chant and the Pastoral Rule, and Ven Louis of Granada, for the Sinners Guide and the Compendium of the Summa,

H is for S. Hyacinth, Dominican missionary to Poland,

I is for S. Ignatius of Antioch, and Ignacio, founder of the Jesuits, as well as Infallibility, Indulgences, Index, and Inquisition, all aspects of government,

J is for S. Jerome, savior of the Holy Scriptures,

K is for S. Maximillian Kolbe, such a witness, and Thomas a Kempis, whose Imitation of Christ no doubt informed S. Kolbe,

L is for Henri Lacordaire, who dared to return the Dominican Order to France, and Br. Laurence for his delightful “Practice of the presence of God”,

M is for Mary Mother of God, and Mary Magdalene, the two who present us for our imitation with the two paths to Christ,

N is for S. Norbert, among whose Premonstratensians S. Dominic received his formation as a Canon Regular,

O is for Our Lady, Help of Christians; and for Holy Obedience, which all the Saints teach by example,

P is for S. Pius V, first Dominican pope,

Q is for Quakers, my origins, may they enter the Holy Catholic Church (all things are possible with God!), and for Quadragesima, cause it’s such a cool word,

R is for S. Raymond of Penafort, reluctant early master general of the Dominicans, and author of the Summa Casuum, and S. Rose of Lima, first flower of the Americas,

S is for Savonarola, not for anything he wrote or stood for, but that once he made a fine mess, and the chips were down, he presented himself to the mob, giving his life for his friends, an act for which the words “no greater love” apply, and S. Francis de Sales, whose Introduction to the Devout Life

T is for Theresa of Avila, Mystical Doctor, and Tomas de Torquemada, whose cause will probably never be instituted due to the hardness of heart of a world gone mad, and S. Turibius, Archbishop of Lima during the life of S. Rose of Lima,

U is for Uganda, that troubled country which has produced many martyrs, and also home to Fr. Mbishibishi, the Angilcan priest who baptized me,

V for S. Vincent Ferrer, converter of thousands, and S John Vianney, the Cure of Ars,

W for Walter Farrell, whose Summa Companion makes Aquinas’ Summa accessible to the simple minded (like me!),

X for S. Francis Xavier, wonderful missionary to the east,

Z for Munion de Zamora, seventh Master General of the Order of Preachers, for the Rule for the Dominican Tertiaries, and St. Zdislava, who lived it.