Red Guadalupana: November 2012

Not @PaxChristi, but Pax anti-Christi

Brethren, Peace and Good to all of you.

I found this piece written by Matt Bowman at CatholicVote.org:

Pax Christi Promotes Killing

You may have heard that the Diocese of Pittsburgh in its lawsuit against the HHS Mandate was told to come back to court later after the Obama administration supposedly changes its rule next August.

What you may not have heard (unless you paid close attention to Catholic media a few months ago) is that Pax Christi Pittsburgh, among others, filed a legal brief asking the Court to dismiss the diocese’s lawsuit, not temporarily but permanently on the merits.

Pax Christi’s brief says that it assumes that the HHS Mandate does include abortifacients, and so it does require the Church herself to offer and pay for insurance coverage of items that kill human embryos, but that the diocese’s religious freedom claims are still meritless because the Church must submit to government coercion even to give coverage of abortion to private citizens, even if that forces it to violate its beliefs.

By this rationale, the federal government could force Pax Christi affiliates to volunteer in factories that manufacture military assassination drones. After all, those “peace” folks wouldn’t actually be assassinating anyone (“directly”), and nothing stops them the rest of the week form proclaiming that they really do oppose drone killings (except when a Democrat pulls the trigger).

Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi boasts in its brief of being an affiliate of Pax Christi USA. Also, “Pax Christi, Pittsburgh Area Chapter” is listed on the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s website as a lay organization.

Here is the Diocese’s statement in response to the lawsuit dismissal.

Pax Christi was joined on the brief by Call To Action Pennsylvania, Catholics for Social Justice, and The Association of Pittsburgh Priests.

I am thinking of starting my own lay organization: Catholics for Diocletian. Maybe Pax Christi USA would let me affiliate. I am sure I would get blogging privileges at the National Catholic Reporter and Commonweal, and of course a grant from the Soros Foundation.

May the “peace of Christ” be with you all. Wink, wink.

Commentary. PaxChristi’s actions defy logic and common sense; they also bring shame and dishonor upon themselves and cause grave scandal among the faithful.

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." All those self-proclaimed “Catholic” organizations like PaxChristi have one thing in common: a hubris derived from a conceit that their dedication to pursue a few of the corporal works of mercy cloaks them with a special cloak of prophetic authority which in turn enables them to oppose the bishops of the Catholic Church and scandalize the observant faithful of the Church who also care about the poor and the needy while at the same time supporting our bishops.

In his Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote:

See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being theinstitution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] eitherby the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid.

By this ancient standard, and by their own words an actions, PaxChristi has placed itself outside the pale of the Church of Christ and the bonds of ecclesial charity. Respectful calls for their repentance and conversion are now in order, as well as prayer and sacrifice.

Let’s hit PaxChristi in its pocketbook

Another way that may get their attention is withholding our money from them. During the holiday season, workers around the country are asked to contribute to charities of their choice via the United Fund Campaign (UFC). PaxChristi appears as choice in many regional collections. If you disagree with PaxChristi and want them to mend their ways, I invite you to not select PaxChristi as a receiver of your charitable contribution. Select another Catholic charity faithful to the Church, such as the Archdiocese for the Military Services. I’ve seen their reach and know what they are able to do. Your support of this Archdiocese will go to support our Catholic military men and women throughout the world. They’ll be thankful for it, I assure you.

To end, PaxChristi’s cozying up to Caesar’s behind in this manner is the dumbest move I’ve ever seen. Remains to be seen what are they going to do when Caesar comes knocking at their door asking for his due.

A Catholic critique of the vampirism found in Breaking Dawn

Brethren, May the Peace that surpasses every created understanding be with you.

Recently I had the opportunity to see the last installment of the “Breaking Dawn” franchise, based upon a 4-part series of novels, The Twilight Saga, written by American author Stephanie Meyer. I attended out of curiosity as well as to mollify close family members who invited me to accompany then.

I try to appreciate this kind of movie on two levels: what the movie claims for itself in the context of its genre, and for its impact on general culture, consciously or unconsciously intended by the author. Therefore, I look at aesthetics, plot, plot devices, character development, etc., as well as its message and potential impact upon several audiences. On the first level, being myself an incurable romantic, sure, I appreciate it. On the second level I found cause for concern.

Ms. Meyer owes a lot to the foundress of the postmodern vampire novel, Anne Rice, with some modifications Meyer made to make the vampires more intelligible to a younger audience. Within her worldview, vampires are sympathetic, likable beings, who are societal outliers and critics of the prevailing human culture. They are endowed with amazing powers: for all purposes they don’t suffer and are practically immortal. Meyer’s vampires “shine” under sunlight, and are extremely agile, spirit-like even.

These attributes rang a bell within until I realize these are the properties of those bodies which will be resurrected for heaven. Consider the properties of glorious bodies as described in the Catholic Encyclopedia:

The first is "impassibility", which shall place them beyond the reach of pain and inconvenience. "It is sown", says the Apostle, "in corruption, it shall rise in incorruption" (1 Corinthians 15:42). The Schoolmen call this quality impassibility', not incorruption, so as to mark it as a peculiarity of the glorified body; the bodies of the damned will be incorruptible indeed, but not impassible; they shall be subject to heat and cold, and all manner of pain.
The next quality is "brightness", or "glory", by which the bodies of the saints shall shine like the sun. "It is sown in dishonour," says the Apostle, "it shall rise in glory" (1 Corinthians 15:43; cf. Matthew 13:43; 17:2; Philippians 3:21). All the bodies of the saints shall be equally impassible, but they shall be endowed with different degrees of glory. According to St. Paul: "One is the glory of the sun, another the glory of the moon, another the glory of the stars. For star differeth from star in glory"'(1 Corinthians 15:41-42).
The third quality is that of "agility", by which the body shall be freed from its slowness of motion, and endowed with the capability of moving with the utmost facility and quickness wherever the soul pleases. The Apostle says: "It is sown in weakness, it shall rise in power" (1 Corinthians 15:43).
The fourth quality is "subtility", by which the body becomes subject to the absolute dominion of the soul. This is inferred from the words of the Apostle: "It is sown a natural body, it shall rise a spiritual body" (1 Corinthians 15:44). The body participates in the soul's more perfect and spiritual life to such an extent that it becomes itself like a spirit. We see this quality exemplified in the fact that Christ passed through material objects.

The big difference is that vampires in this genre attain these bodily properties by dying and then remaining dead. Also, they maintain their status by drinking human and/or animal blood. Finally, their immortality is conditioned to remaining whole and escaping fire.

There seems to be an inversionhere, as to means and ends of glorified vis-à-vis vampire bodies, and a distortion: for glorious bodies, one has to die to self but to become a vampire one has to die and remain dead; to attain glory, a Christian has to drink the Blood of Christ but to become a vampire, one has to suck the blood of a human or animal; to attain a glorious body a Christian is judge but a vampire not only escapes judgment, he or she is better if they don’t discriminate against the morality of others.

This upside-down message is being transmitted unfiltered to millions of unguarded minds. As a consequence, these millions walk toward spiritual darkness.

Please, I urge you to raise your own guard and that of children and other loved ones to this danger. Thread carefully, my brothers and sisters and be very, but very discriminating toward what you read or watch on TV or in the movies.

Vatican II On The Apostolate of the Laity

3. The laity derive the right and duty to the apostolate from their union with Christ the head; incorporated into Christ's Mystical Body through Baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, they are assigned to the apostolate by the Lord Himself. They are consecrated for the royal priesthood and the holy people (cf. 1 Peter 2:4-10) not only that they may offer spiritual sacrifices in everything they do but also that they may witness to Christ throughout the world. The sacraments, however, especially the most holy Eucharist, communicate and nourish that charity which is the soul of the entire apostolate.[3]

One engages in the apostolate through the faith, hope, and charity which the Holy Spirit diffuses in the hearts of all members of the Church. Indeed, by the precept of charity, which is the Lord's greatest commandment, all the faithful are impelled to promote the glory of God through the coming of His kingdom and to obtain eternal life for all men--that they may know the only true God and Him whom He sent, Jesus Christ (cf. John 17:3). On all Christians therefore is laid the preeminent responsibility of working to make the divine message of salvation known and accepted by all men throughout the world.

For the exercise of this apostolate, the Holy Spirit Who sanctifies the people of God through ministry and the sacraments gives the faithful special gifts also (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7), "allotting them to everyone according as He wills" (1 Cor. 12:11) in order that individuals, administering grace to others just as they have received it, may also be "good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10), to build up the whole body in charity (cf. Eph. 4:16). From the acceptance of these charisms, including those which are more elementary, there arise for each believer the right and duty to use them in the Church and in the world for the good of men and the building up of the Church, in the freedom of the Holy Spirit who "breathes where He wills" (John 3:8). This should be done by the laity in communion with their brothers in Christ, especially with their pastors who must make a judgment about the true nature and proper use of these gifts not to extinguish the Spirit but to test all things and hold for what is good (cf. 1 Thess. 5:12, 19, 21).

Source: Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, Apostolicam Actuositatem.

Where did Advent go?

OK, it is getting closer now and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Of course the stores began the season this year as soon as Halloween passed but the Christmas Season has actually not even started yet. One thing many people forget is that December 25^th is the first day of Christmas and the Christmas season continues for 40 days until Candle mass, yet on December 26^th you see the Christmas trees aligned on the street ready to be picked up by the trash collectors.

I remember when I was a kid living in Mexico we never had a Christmas tree at our house but I do remember my aunt putting up a very elaborate Nativity set every single year. She always told me that this should be done on Christmas Eve but she cheated and on December 16^th the first day of the “Posadas” she would put it up, then kept it until at least January 6^th the day of the Three Wise Men.

These days we start celebrating Christmas too early and don’t pay attention to Advent (I for one love the Christmas Season and want to extend it as long as I can and I too have become a culprit in this practice), but let me remind you that the season of Advent is one of preparation for us to receive Christmas and should not be ignored.

Again, my wish for you is that no matter how you all decide to participate in this wonderful holiday may you all have the best and the most joyous Christmas season and that peace, love, and family unity is the main focus as we all remember and celebrate Baby Jesus’ birth.

Peace!

Glendale Glitters 2012

What to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon? Well considering we were already showered and fed as my mom and my lil sis came to visit earlier I thought I would show Abby what 1.5 million lights wrapped around trees, palm trees, and even buildings would look like on the yearly biggest block party in Historic Downtown Glendale. Yes, 16 blocks of Historic Downtown Glendale get the sparkling treatment for the delight of millions of people that come to visit from November 23 until January 12. Welcome to Glendale Glitters!

On our way over to Glendale Glitters we noticed that the Tanger Outlets are already open. As we exited the freeway a line of cars wrapping around the entrance to Westgate had formed already, then again it was still Black Friday weekend so it was obvious people would be flocking the brand new shopping center. For us, that will be a future trip to go and explore and probably blow some moula.

City of Glendale Arizona, City Hall.

As we got to Historic Glendale I expected to have a hard time finding a free parking space ($10.00 prime parking signs are posted all over the place) but luck was on my side and we found a nice semi-empty street within a very short walking distance. As we crossed 59th Ave I have a habit of trotting while I cross the street but Abby hates it. Well this SOB on a big Ram truck didn’t show signs of wanting to stop even though we were at the middle of the intersection and on the crosswalk. I pulled Abby harder and then hesitated as I still was not sure of what he was going to do. We finally got to the other side and I couldn’t help but scream to the fool on the truck out of adrenaline charged rage. His female passenger attempted to do the talking for him but he sped away. OK this was the only bad incident of the night. They will get their just reward for their stupid careless actions in due time.

If you have never been to Glendale Glitters try to make the trip at least once. I know some of my family members like to go every year more than once. Food row is a huge attraction at this event with the ever famous and always tasty Indian bread having one of the biggest lines. If you have kids this is a good place for them to have a fantastic time as there are lots of attractions, rides, and activities aimed just at them. However take some money as it will set you a few dollars back.

Historic Glendale houses lots and lots of Antique Stores and they keep them open late during this time. If you are into antiques this is the place to be.

We walked it up and down, had some Indian Bread, entered a couple of Antique Stores, took some pictures, enjoyed the lights, fought the crowds (on opening weekend this event attracts well over a hundred thousand people each night), enjoyed the typical Phoenix Winter weather (no sweaters or jackets required) and then decided to call it quits and headed back home.

All in all, a good time once again. Life is good and God is always great.

Peace.

Today’s Christ the King Sunday

Christus Vincit, Christus Regnat, Christus Imperat

Office of Readings - From a discourse of Origen on prayer

Thy kingdom come

The coming of the kingdom of God, says our Lord and Saviour, does not admit of observation, and there will be no-one to say “Look here! Look there!” For the kingdom of God is within us and in our hearts. And so it is beyond doubt that whoever prays for the coming of the kingdom of God within himself is praying rightly, praying for the kingdom to dawn in him, bear fruit and reach perfection. For God reigns in every saint, and every saint obeys God’s spiritual laws — God, who dwells in him just as he dwells in any well-ordered city. The Father is present in him and in his soul Christ reigns alongside the Father, as it is said: We will come to him and make our dwelling with him.

Therefore, as we continue to move forward without ceasing, the kingdom of God within us will reach its perfection in us at that moment when the saying in the Apostle is fulfilled, that Christ, His enemies all made subject to Him, shall deliver the kingdom to God the Father that God may be All in All.

For this reason let us pray without ceasing, our souls filled by a desire made divine by the Word Himself. Let us pray to our Father in heaven: hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come.

There is something important that we need to understand about the kingdom of God: just as righteousness has no partnership with lawlessness, just as light has nothing in common with darkness and Christ has no agreement with Belial, so the kingdom of God and a kingdom of sin cannot co-exist.

So if we want God to reign within us, on no account may sin rule in our mortal bodybut let us mortify our earthly bodies and let us be made fruitful by the Spirit. Then we will be a spiritual garden of Eden for God to walk in. God will rule in us with Christ who will be seated in us on the right hand of God — God, the spiritual power that we pray to receive — until he makes his enemies (who are within us) into his footstool and pours out on us all authority, all power, all strength.

This can happen to any one of us and death, the last enemy may be destroyed, so that in us Christ says Death, where is your sting? Death, where is your victory? So let our corruptibility be clothed today with holiness and incorruption. With Death dead, let our mortality be cloaked in the Father’s immortality. With God ruling in us, let us be immersed in the blessings of regeneration and resurrection.

Source: Universalis.com

My Commitment to the Truth of Natural Marriage Remains Unshaken

Brethren, Peace and Good to all of you in Jesus’ Name.

In case you were missing it – and sorry I took so long to restate it – the aftermath of President Obama’s reelection has had no effect upon my commitment to defend the truth about natural marriage: that marriage is an institution born from intimate human experience, that it is grounded upon the natural moral law, and that it is to be between just one man and just one woman (funny that we have to state that), that it derives from the sexual complementarity of the spouses, that this complementarity is no accident, and that it presupposes a total and mutual gift of self from husband and wife. As a consequence of this gift of self, which is always to be open to life, love becomes “incarnate”, so-to-speak in the children that are fruit of this love, and that the children’s right to be raised by parents who express this mutual complementarity shall not be violated by positive law.

That’s what marriage is supposed to be for our species. Same-sex pairings are not marriage in light of natural law, nor in light of divine revelation. Since marriage so conceived lies at the core of the family, it should be protected by law and custom, not redefined out of existence by political fiat.

“Equality” is a term too often thrown about to justify same-sex pairings. But, when is it that equality isn’t “equality”? When the things thus equated are in fact, not equal. To do otherwise is to void the notionof “equality” of all meaning, or it redefined in order to justify a violation of the very meaning of “equality.” Restricting marriage to couples of the opposite sex violates no one’s right to equality, for other pairings are not equal to natural marriage in their fundamental essence.

We have entered a new, dubious, even dangerous phase in this debate. There are powers now who have the upper hand who are also intent upon redefining marriage for the rest of us, and to (ironically) use the coercive power of the state to repress and delegitimize our views. We must face them visibly – via the ballot box, activism, even civil disobedience – and invisibly, that is, prayer, sacrifice, and spiritual warfare.

“Showing the other cheek” doesn’t mean that we’re supposed to become everyone else’s welcome mat. It is right and just to resist this new dawn of tyranny with every legitimate tool at our disposal. Thus we advance, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the + Holy Spirit. Amen.

Read also Frequently Asked Questions About The Defense Of Marriage at the USCCB Website

Added on November 29, 2012:

I also hereby renew my support to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and their mission “to protect marriage and the faith communities that sustain it.” My support for NOM remains wholehearted and unwavering now more than ever.

How Remedy Minor Temptations

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales Now as to all these trifling temptations of vanity, suspicion, vexation, jealousy, envy, and the like, which flit around one like flies or gnats, now settling on one's nose,--anon stinging one's cheek,--as it is wholly impossible altogether to free one's-self from their importunity; the best resistance one can make is not to be fretted by them. All these things may worry one, but they cannot really harm us, so long as our wills are firmly resolved to serve God.

Therefore despise all these trivial onslaughts, and do not even deign to think about them; but let them buzz about your ears as much as they please, and flit hither and thither just as you tolerate flies;--even if they sting you, and strive to light within your heart, do no more than simply remove them, not fighting with them, or arguing, but simply doing that which is precisely contrary to their suggestions, and specially making acts of the Love of God. If you will take my advice, you will not toil on obstinately in resisting them by exercising the contrary virtue, for that would become a sort of struggle with the foe;--but, after making an act of this directly contrary virtue (always supposing you have time to recognise what the definite temptation is), simply turn with your whole heart towards Jesus Christ Crucified, and lovingly kiss His Sacred Feet. This is the best way to conquer the Enemy, whether in small or great temptations; for inasmuch as the Love of God contains the perfection of every virtue, and that more excellently than the very virtues themselves; it is also the most sovereign remedy against all vice, and if you accustom your mind under all manner of temptation to have recourse to this safety-place, you will not be constrained to enter upon a worryingly minute investigation of your temptations, but, so soon as you are anywise troubled, your mind will turn naturally to its one sovereign remedy. Moreover, this way of dealing with temptation is so offensive to the Evil One, that, finding he does but provoke souls to an increased love of God by his assaults, he discontinues them.

In short, you may be sure that if you dally with your minor, oft-recurring temptations, and examine too closely into them in detail, you will simply stupefy yourself to no purpose.

Give thanks to the Lord for having created you

A meditation by St. Francis de Sales

Preparation.

1. PLACE yourself in the Presence of God. 2. Ask Him to inspire your heart.
Considerations.

1. Consider that but a few years since you were not born into the world, and your soul was as yet non-existent. Where wert thou then, O my soul? the world was already old, and yet of thee there was no sign.

2. God brought you out of this nothingness, in order to make you what you are, not because He had any need of you, but solely out of His Goodness.

3. Consider the being which God has given you; for it is the foremost being of this visible world, adapted to live eternally, and to be perfectly united to God's Divine Majesty.
Affections and Resolutions.

1. Humble yourself utterly before God, saying with the Psalmist, O Lord, I am nothing in respect of Thee--what am I, that Thou shouldst remember me? O my soul, thou wert yet lost in that abyss of nothingness, if God had not called thee forth, and what of thee in such a case?

2. Give God thanks. O Great and Good Creator, what do I not owe Thee, Who didst take me from out that nothingness, by Thy Mercy to make me what I am? How can I ever do enough worthily to praise Thy Holy Name, and render due thanks to Thy Goodness?

3. Confess your own shame. But alas, O my Creator, so far from uniting myself to Thee by a loving service, I have rebelled against Thee through my unruly affections, departing from Thee, and giving myself up to sin, and ignoring Thy Goodness, as though Thou hadst not created me .

4. Prostrate thyself before God. O my soul, know that the Lord He is thy God, it is He that hath made thee, and not thou thyself. O God, I am the work of Thy Hands; henceforth I will not seek to rest in myself, who am nought. Wherein hast thou to glory, who art but dust and ashes? how canst thou, a very nothing, exalt thyself? In order to my own humiliation, I will do such and such a thing,--I will endure such contempt:--I will alter my ways and henceforth follow my Creator, and realise that I am honoured by His calling me to the being He has given; I will employ it solely to obey His Will, by means of the teaching He has given me, of which I will inquire more through my spiritual Father.

Conclusion.

1. Thank God. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and praise His Holy Name with all thy being, because His Goodness called me forth from nothingness, and His Mercy created me.

2. Offer. O my God, I offer Thee with all my heart the being Thou hast given me, I dedicate and consecrate it to Thee.

3. Pray. O God, strengthen me in these affections and resolutions. Dear Lord, I commend me, and all those I love, to Thy neverfailing Mercy. OUR FATHER, etc.

At the end of your meditation linger a while, and gather, so to say, a little spiritual bouquet from the thoughts you have dwelt upon, the sweet perfume whereof may refresh you through the day.

The Five Stages of Religious Persecution

Brethren, Peace and Good to all of you.

Msgr. Charles Pope over at his blog shared with us Some thoughts on the five stages of religious persecution. I will refer you to his blog post for this thoughts, but I want to share with you those "five stages" for a reflection of our own.

1. Stereotyping the targeted group - To stereotype means to repeat without variation, to take a quality or observation of a limited number, and generalize it of the whole group. It involves a simplified and standardized conception or view of a group based on observation of a limited sample.

2. Vilifying the targeted Group for alleged crimes or misconduct, - As the stereotyping grows in intensity, Catholics and Christians, who did not toe the line in the cultural revolution were described as, close-minded, harmful to human dignity and freedom, intolerant, hateful, bigoted, unfair, homophobic, reactionary and just plain mean and basically bad people.

3. Marginalizing the targeted group’s role in society - Having established the (untrue) premise that the Church and the faith is very bad, and even harmful to human dignity and freedom, the next stage seeks to relegate the role of the Church to the margins.

4. Criminalizing the targeted group or its works.– Can someone say HHS mandate?

5. Persecuting the targeted group outright - If current trends continue, Christians, especially religious leaders, may not be far from enduring heavy fines and jail.

One way or the other we have seen the first four stages in action in our times. How much longer before we see the fifth stage take place? Never in America? I don't think so. I think we can see persecution here. Let's hope for the best!

What do you think?

Arizona Mills

Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice. ~Dave Barry

Ok she had been to Arrowhead Mall in Peoria but I still have not taken her to Arizona Mills in Tempe so after we attended mass and dropped my mom home I headed to the Mills without telling her where we were going. We got there on an empty stomach so I suggested we eat first. The mall as expected was pretty packed and parking space was scarce but we spotted an empty spot near the entrance and parked the car before we were beaten to it.

We had dinner at the Rainforest Café and let me tell you it took the whole rest of the day and lots of walking afterwards just to digest it. I had an extremely tasty steak and chicken fajitas plate while Abby opted for an equally tasty plate of pasta Cajun style aptly named “Pastalaya”. Ummm both plates were very delicious and filling and worth every penny. We pretty much finish all the food as we didn’t want to be carrying it all over the mall.

Ok the truth is we did carry the food but in our tummies.

Arizona Mills has more higher-end stores that are not found at Arrowhead Mall but when you visit the stores on a Sunday and a holiday is near and all the stores swear they have “good sales” the place becomes hard to navigate and I for one feel crowded and overwhelmed. I grew up being a swap meet type of guy not a mall person.

Still, Abby did find herself a cool looking suit ensemble in a different color than her standard black. I have yet to convince her to put more color in her wardrobe but hey little by little. It appeared that this year orange is the new pink but she wasn’t buying it.

Before we knew it gates and sliding doors were being slammed and that was out cue that it was time to go home. Truth be told my feet were so tired from walking that in my case should have been cue enough but Abby is a tireless browser/window shopper and I just have to shape up to keep up with her. Ah youth has escaped and swooshed over my head without my permission.

As we stepped out to the parking lot it was already dark and after a not to bad traffic jam from all the exiting shoppers we were on the freeway on our way back home.

All in all, a most excellent day out in the company of my honey. I am sure we will be doing this again soon.

It took four years, but Mr. Bourgeois is now gone from the Church, priesthood

Brethren: Peace and Good to All of you.

Do you remember this post from almost four years ago?

Folks, this is from the Catholic News Agency:

In exclusive comments made to CNA, the official called Fr. Bourgeois’ November letter defending his stand a "sad piece of propaganda" and argued the dissenting cleric takes his inspiration from American newspapers rather than Catholic doctrine. Fr. Bourgeois, who is involved in organizing human rights protests at the military training school formerly known as School of the Americas, has called the Catholic position on women’s ordination "sexist."

In August, he delivered a homily at a ceremony at a Unitarian church purporting to ordain a woman to the Catholic priesthood.In an October 21 letter, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith gave Fr. Bourgeois 30 days to renounce his public support for the ordination of women, on penalty of excommunication. In a November 7 letter, Fr. Bourgeois said he was compelled to take his stand as a matter of conscience and would not renounce it. The priest said he knew many women who feel called to the priesthood and argued that the Church cannot treat this reputed vocation as invalid. He characterized the "exclusion of women from the priesthood" as an "injustice."CNA spoke with an official of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding the case of Fr. Bourgeois. The official reiterated that all procedures at the CDF are confidential.

However, since Fr. Bourgeois decided to make public his letter to the Congregation, he said that "clearly the letter is a sad piece of propaganda and in no way expresses any doctrinal substance for his position." "Rather, Fr. Bourgeois feels he can engage with the (CDF) to change the doctrine of the Church… quoting American newspapers as if they were a source of any kind of Catholic doctrine." The official said that the formal excommunication will "certainly take place" as soon as the CDF "responds personally to the letters sent either supporting or denouncing (Fr. Bourgeois.)" "Of course, Fr. Bourgeois could avoid excommunication at any point if he recants, but unfortunately all his latest actions do not seem to point in that direction," the official told CNA.

Commentary. If Fr. Bourgeois wanted to leave the priesthood, he elected a high-profile way to do it. He’s leaving with a bang, not with a whimper, as if someone else forced him to do it and not as act of his own free will. This is pathetic.

Good bye and good luck, Father – soon to be mister – Bourgeois. The doors will remain open for you if you wish to return at any time.

Well, there's been a development. According to the Catholic News Service:

WASHINGTON (CNS) - The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has dismissed Roy Bourgeois from the priesthood because of his participation in the invalid ordination of a woman and "a simulated Mass," the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers announced Nov. 19.

The order said in a statement the canonical dismissal came Oct. 4.

Citing Bourgeois' participation in the invalid ordination in Lexington, Ky., Aug. 9, 2008, the Maryknoll statement said, "With patience, the Holy See and the Maryknoll Society have encouraged his reconciliation with the Catholic Church."

Bourgeois could not be immediately reached for comment.

"Instead, Mr. Bourgeois chose to campaign against the teachings of the Catholic Church in secular and non-Catholic venues," the statement said. "This was done without the permission of the local U.S. Catholic bishops and while ignoring the sensitivities of the faithful across the country. Disobedience and preaching against the teaching of the Catholic Church about women's ordination led to his excommunication, dismissal and laicization."

The church holds that it has no authority to ordain women. This year at his Holy Thursday chrism Mass at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI reaffirmed the church's ban on women priests.

The Maryknoll statement said, "Mr. Bourgeois freely chose his views and actions, and all the members of the Maryknoll Society are saddened at the failure of reconciliation. With this parting, the Maryknoll Society warmly thanks Roy Bourgeois for his service to mission and all members wish him well in his personal life.

"In the spirit of equity and charity, Maryknoll will assist Mr. Bourgeois with this transition," the statement concluded.

Maryknoll spokesman Mike Virgintino declined further comment in a brief interview with Catholic News Service.

Bourgeois first gained the attention of Vatican authorities after participating in the attempted ordination of Janice Sevre-Duszynskaa sponsored by Roman Catholic Womenpriests Aug. 9, 2008, in Kentucky. In a meeting with his Maryknoll superiors nine days after the ceremony, he received a canonical warning related to his role. At the time, then-Father Bourgeois said he hoped the issue was settled because he had no intention of participating in any other such event.

Subsequently, he spoke about his support for women's ordination, saying it was a matter of sexism within the church that caused him to speak out.

The former priest was excommunicated Nov. 24, 2008, "latae sententiae" -- automatically -- for not recanting his public statements supporting the ordination of women. He has said that his beliefs are based on his understanding of justice and equality as expressed in the Gospel, but the Catholic Church teaches it cannot ordain women because Jesus chose only men to be his apostles

Commentary. It's sad to see another priest fall into heresy and ecclesiastical oblivion by choosing his own feelings over and against the teaching of the Catholic Church. That's nothing new, for the road of our Church's history is littered with them.

We must pray for our priests, brethren! They're the enemy's main objective! Let us also pray for Mr. Bourgeois' repentance, conversion, and healing, and for our own.

Catholic in Brooklyn: Vatican II: Blessing or Curse?

Brothers and sisters: Peace be with you.

My noted blogging colleague, Catholic in Brooklyn, posted a piece you all ought to read. It's titled Vatican II: Blessing or Curse?. Here's a quote:

However, much to the chagrin of many Traditional Catholics, we have the added problem that all of the Holy Fathers since Blessed John XXIII have given their approval to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. This produces a real conundrum for Catholics. If we are to believe those who reject the teachings of Vatican II, then we must also believe that our Popes are not infallible when it comes to faith and morals. If the Popes are not infallible, then it is possible for a Pope to rebel against the guidance of the Holy Spirit when it comes to the teachings of the Church, thus making Jesus Christ a liar. Our Lord told us that the gates of hell would never prevail against the Church, but if our Popes are giving us false teaching, then hell has prevailed in the Church. To quote the Apostle Paul, we are of all men most miserable. They may not realize it, but people like John Vennari are telling us that our Catholic faith has been destroyed and we have no hope.

Read it all here.

Commentary. I must agree with my colleague. I've observed many traditionalist writers, both faithful and schismatic, in English and in Spanish, tying themselves in knots into incoherence trying to nuance Vatican II into oblivion while applying tortuous canonical reasonings in order to preserve their standing in their own eyes. It doesn't work, really, as my friend the Catholic in Brooklyn amply shows. His is a great post we should all read and ponder.

St. Francis of Sales on Sadness & Sorrow

Chapter XII of An Introduction to the Devout Life

S. PAUL says that "godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death." So we see that sorrow may be good or bad according to the several results it produces in us. And indeed there are more bad than good results arising from it, for the only good ones are mercy and repentance; whereas there are six evil results, namely, anguish, sloth, indignation, jealousy, envy and impatience. The Wise Man says that "sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein," and that because for the two good streams which flow from the spring of sadness, there are these six which are downright evil.

The Enemy makes use of sadness to try good men with his temptations:--just as he tries to make bad men merry in their sin, so he seeks to make the good sorrowful amid their works of piety; and while making sin attractive so as to draw men to it, he strives to turn them from holiness by making it disagreeable. The Evil One delights in sadness and melancholy, because they are his own characteristics. He will be in sadness and sorrow through all Eternity, and he would fain have all others the same.

The "sorrow of the world" disturbs the heart, plunges it into anxiety, stirs up unreasonable fears, disgusts it with prayer, overwhelms and stupefies the brain, deprives the soul of wisdom, judgment, resolution and courage, weakening all its powers; in a word, it is like a hard winter, blasting all the earth's beauty, and numbing all animal life; for it deprives the soul of sweetness and power in every faculty.

Should you, my daughter, ever be attacked by by this evil spirit of sadness, make use of the following remedies. "Is any among you afflicted?" says S. James, "let him pray." Prayer is a sovereign remedy, it lifts the mind to God, Who is our only Joy and Consolation. But when you pray let your words and affections, whether interior or exterior, all tend to love and trust in God. "O God of Mercy, most Loving Lord, Sweet Saviour, Lord of my heart, my Joy, my Hope, my Beloved, my Bridegroom."

Vigorously resist all tendencies to melancholy, and although all you do may seem to be done coldly, wearily and indifferently, do not give in. The Enemy strives to make us languid in doing good by depression, but when he sees that we do not cease our efforts to work, and that those efforts become all the more earnest by reason of their being made in resistance to him, he leaves off troubling us.

Make use of hymns and spiritual songs; they have often frustrated the Evil One in his operations, as was the case when the evil spirit which possessed Saul was driven forth by music and psalmody. It is well also to occupy yourself in external works, and that with as much variety as may lead us to divert the mind from the subject which oppresses it, and to cheer and kindle it, for depression generally makes us dry and cold. Use external acts of fervour, even though they are tasteless at the time; embrace your crucifix, clasp it to your breast, kiss the Feet and Hands of your Dear Lord, raise hands and eyes to Heaven, and cry out to God in loving, trustful ejaculations: "My Beloved is mine, and I am His. A bundle of myrrh is my Well-beloved, He shall lie within my breast. Mine eyes long sore for Thy Word, O when wilt Thou comfort me! O Jesus, be Thou my Saviour, and my soul shall live. Who shall separate me from the Love of Christ?" etc.

Moderate bodily discipline is useful in resisting depression, because it rouses the mind from dwelling on itself; and frequent Communion is specially valuable; the Bread of Life strengthens the heart and gladdens the spirits.

Lay bare all the feelings, thoughts and longings which are the result of your depression to your confessor or director, in all humility and faithfulness; seek the society of spiritually minded people, and frequent such as far as possible while you are suffering. And, finally, resign yourself into God's Hands, endeavouring to bear this harassing depression patiently, as a just punishment for past idle mirth. Above all, never doubt but that, after He has tried you sufficiently, God will deliver you from the trial.

US bishops plan to revise the Liturgy of the Hours

Brothers and Sisters: Peace be with you.

This, according to the Catholic News Agency:

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved a plan to draft an amended edition of the English-language Liturgy of the Hours for use in the United States.

The conference’s Committee on Divine Worship, headed by Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans, had recommended the action in light of new liturgical texts, including the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, the revised Grail Psalms and biblical canticles, and revision work begun by the International Committee on English in the Liturgy.

The vote at the general assembly of bishops’ Nov. 13 morning session in Baltimore involved only the Latin Rite bishops, who passed the proposal by 189 to 41, with one abstention.

The preliminary vote means the Committee on Divine Worship will begin translation and editing. It will present a full draft to the conference when its work is completed. If approved, the draft would be submitted to the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for approval.

The Liturgy of the Hours is a set of daily prayers that priests and religious are obliged to pray. Many lay Catholics also pray this liturgy, which incorporates psalms, hymns and readings from Scripture and the Church Fathers. The day’s prayers are set according to the Church calendar.

The U.S. bishops’ conference will decide which elements of the new Liturgy of the Hours edition to replace or retranslate, except for the non-biblical readings of the Office of Readings which will remain in their current form.

The new edition will include changes in light of the new edition of the Roman Missal. Hymns will use English translations of Latin hymns provided by the International Committee on English in the Liturgy, which will also be consulted on translations of several regularly used prayers.

The new edition’s psalms will come from the Revised Grail Psalter, translated by the Benedictines at Conception Abbey in Missouri. Canticles from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Gospel may use the current translation, an updated translation from the New American Bible, or new translations from Conception Abbey.

Biblical readings will be adjusted according to approved texts.

The current edition of the Liturgy of the Hours was published in 1975 and 1976 by Catholic Book Publishing Co., with a 1992 supplement.

Commentary. This is a great and worthy task which will take several years to produce and implement. It will affect the way we all pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Just to think that not long ago I purchased the most expensive edition of the four volume version...nevertheless, I'm sure that the online versions and the ones accessible via apps will change accordingly. We should welcome this moment as inspired by the Holy Spirit, who is the one Person inspiring this "reform of the reform."

love at lowndes grove plantation

last weekend, ww and i were lucky enough to attend a gorgeous wedding, in our very favorite city, of two of our very favorite people. this was a special wedding for us not only because we love this couple so much, but also because they are the peeps who introduced us.

jim & betsy got married in charleston, south carolina at one of the most gorgeous wedding venues i have ever seen. lowndes grove plantation is like something out of a movie (specifically, like something out of 'the notebook'.) considered charleston's "last great waterfront estate", this gorgeous plantation home is situated right on the ashley river, and they were married at sunset overlooking the water. they could not have asked for better weather, either.

i mean, really... take a look:

and how beautiful is this bride?

as ww mentioned in his toast to the couple on friday night, anyone who knows jim & betsy can see that they really are best friends who genuinely enjoy each other's company and make each other laugh. they appreciate every quirky quality in the other person, and that makes them an amazing couple to be around. we feel so lucky to have been a part of their marriage celebration in such a special place.

and now, we cross our fingers that they move to houston...

fall in texas

when we lived in dc, fall was by far my favorite season. i loved when the weather would get cooler and less sticky, the leaves would change, and you could finally bust out your boots. and how every saturday, every bar in the neighborhood was filled with people watching football. we loved walking down to our neighborhood spots for brunch & bloody marys followed by a whole saturday of football.

here in houston, fall is a bit spottier. 90 degree days will be followed by 40 degree days, constantly confusing your wardrobe choices. however, it does make having a crisp day & putting on a sweater that much more exciting. here are some things we have been enjoying about october in houston:

picking pumpkins...