Friday, June 30, 2006
Fr. George Peter Irving
I came across this heartwarming story about how Father George Peter Irving while browsing the internet today. It is the story of Fr. Peter being assigned a derelict parish in a gang infested neighborhood in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and transforming it over the course of 13 years to a living and vibrant parish community.
Talk about pastoring in the near anathema that is Cardinal Mahoney's archdiocese, but on top of that in a gang ridden barrio where neighborhood homes have bars in their windows and St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church was enclosed by a large fence and gate.
Anyways, you should read the rest of the story on Singing in the Reign blog by Michael Barber. It's a story worth reading over this 4th of July!
For the story click here.
(H/T Curt Jester)
Homosexual Gene is an Abnormality
Like being born with one arm or two heads. It isn't normal even if there is a homosexual gene, it's not suppose to be there because it mutated.
The sound you hear is the air coming out of the liberal argument that people that like to perform perverse sex on each other is a mutation at best, an abnormality at worst.
Next week how condom use is not as effective as abstinence in stemming the AIDS epidemic!
For more on the article click here.
Return of the Traditional Latin Mass?
Pope Benedict XVI may consider liberalizing the use of the classical Latin-rite Mass, liturgical rite of Pope St. Pius V (Tridentine-rite), to further efforts in bringing the eastern Orthodox back into the sphere of Rome. Of course that would not be the big reason, but it would certainly help in reconciling with the Orthodox; and maybe even the obstinate SSPX.
"Pope Benedict XVI, able to tell "the tree by its fruits," clearly recognizes the advantage of having more than 500 priests in the SSPX in full communion. He also recognizes the accelerating number of priestly vocations produced in other traditionalist communities like the Fraternal Society of St. Peter (FSSP) and the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP)."
The article goes in depth in the challenges of the Orthodox returning and their concerns of the Novus Ordo Mass. To summarize, we are long way from having our Orthodox brothers to return to the fold and the Novus Ordo Mass is still a work in progress.
For more on this article click here.
55,000 Christians Die Each Year For Their Faith
According to ASSIST News Service out of Lake Forest, CA by Professor Thomas Schirrmacher, director of the Religious Liberty Commission of the German Evangelical Alliance.
India, Pakistan, and Indonesia are the most likely countries where a Christian would die because of his or her Christian faith. Discrimination against Christians is highest in Islamic countries (no kidding).
Besides the dire news, Christianity is experiencing a worldwide growth phenomenon that is continuously being underreported by the MSM here in the United States.
For more on this article click here.
Archbishop DiNardo Receives Pallium
Here is Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston receiving the pallium, the symbol of his authority at Archbishop, from Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop DiNardo received the pallium yesterday at the Vatican.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Millions Still Flock to Lourdes
Though the faith is waning in France (but showing signs of life since the turn of the millennia), Lourdes has grown in faithful pilgrimage.
"For nearly 150 years, millions of Christian pilgrims from Europe and elsewhere have flocked to the small French town, Lourdes, where it is said the sick can be healed, miraculously. The Roman Catholic church has also softened rules for other unexplained healings."For more on this article click here. For the official website of Lourdes click here.
Muslims Profane Christ
In modern day Istanbul Muslims continue to desecrate everything and anything Christian. In my previous post about Turkey, this example shows their contempt for our faith.
In a commercial promoting Turkish tourism in Russia Muslims are shown dancing on the face of Jesus Christ from an old Christian Church. These Muslims are intoxicated on top of all this. These particular Muslims are referred to as Dervishes.
Anyways, this is just another fine example of how the religion of peace thinks of his and her fellow Christian.
For more on this article click here.
For my previous posting on the guilty white liberals poster child of a Muslim democracy click here.
Pic of the Day: John Kerry's Dog
No one will tell him. I guess that's what happens when you're a cafeteria Catholic, you pick and choose your reality.
(H/T Lucianne.com)
Monday, June 26, 2006
Nicole Kidman a Catholic?
I've been thinking a bit about why Nicole Kidman is so interested in marrying into our Catholic faith. She was raised Catholic, albeit with a poor catechesis, but ended up marrying ex-Catholic Tom Cruise into the Scientology cult.
I've read over the years bits and pieces of her interest and it seems almost spiritual but without any sound moral grounding. She loves the 'smells and bells' and a lot of the art and architecture of the Catholic faith, but is she really into the actual teachings of the Church?
I don't know.
I pray the Holy Spirit guides her more into our Catholic faith to learn the great treasures and truths.
For a recent article on Nicole Kidman and her standing in the Catholic Church click here.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Archbishop DiNardo To Receive Pallium
His Excellency Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo will be receiving the symbol of his authority, the pallium, by Pope Benedict XVI himself this Thursday in Rome on 29 June, the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The modern pallium is a circular band about two inches wide, worn about the neck, breast, and shoulders, and having two pendants, one hanging down in front and one behind. Or that's what I found out about what the pallium looks like.
The Pallium can only be used on special occasions, so if you spot it on our Archbishop at any ceremony or Mass, you're involved in something unique!
For more on Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo in Rome click here and here.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Why Matrimony?
(1659-1660)The marital union of man and woman, which is founded and endowed with its own proper laws by the Creator, is by its very nature ordered to the communion and good of the couple and to the generation and education of children. According to the orignal divine plan this conjugal union is indissoluble, as Jesus Christ affirmed: "What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder" (Mark 10:9)
COMPENDIUM of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #338
To learn more abou the Compendium click here.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Turkey's Persecuted Armenian Christians
Being of Armenian descent in Turkey is a difficult life to lead. They are fine examples of what the late Pope John Paul II has labeled martyrs of the worst century of Christendom, the 20th century. More Christians have died because of their faith in the 20th century than in all centuries prior combined.
During the aftermath of World War I the Ottoman Empire disintegrated and the various Arab nations they once dominated gained their independence. During this tumult, the various Christians who were the original inhabitants of the Anatolia, then and now dominated by Muslim Turks, were severely decimated to guarantee an ethnically homogeneous Turkey. Millions of Armenians, Greeks, and Syriacs, were executed, raped, and their children taken away to be raised as Muslim Turks.
The remnant of these Christians, the Armenians, Greeks, and Syriacs, live as a suppressed minority under Turkish rule. It is difficult for them to make a living because the government officially recognizes only Islam as the religion of the country of Turkey. So many obstacles are placed in the way of Christian Armenians such as exclusion from working in certain fields of work and suppressions of their Christian faith.
Nothing has changed in what the 'enlightened' guilty white liberals of western Europe and America calls Turkey a successful secular and democratic Muslim nation.
Riiight.
For more about the persecuted Armenian Christians of Turkey click here.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Pic of the Day: Cardinal McCarrick's Communion
Cardinal McCarrick accuses his fellow Bishops of partisan politics, though he himself is immune to it according to the Catechism of McCarrick. He wants practicing Catholics to remain silent while it is deemed ok for the guilty white liberal wing of the US Catholic Church, the liberals, to shout about the Holy Doctrine of Illegal Immigration but remain silent on life issues. Cardinal McCarrick is eager for woman's ordination and the deconstruction of the nuclear family(at least he does the dance when confronted with these questions). He sees nothing wrong with people who are in grave sin in continuing to receive Communion. In fact, he doesn't understand what the fuss is all about.
He wants a 'live and let live' attitude to continue to pervade the Catholic Church in America. This same attitude had been adopted by Archbishop Mahoney and Bishop Levada in the priestly abuse scandal. Apparently 'cover your behind' is the only doctrine they religiously adhere to.
Anyways, Cardinal McCarrick signals the beginning of the end of the 'spirit of Vatican II' insurgents of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Mahoney, Bishop Trautman, Bishop Tod Brown, and Cardinal Levada are the graying representatives of the 'spirit of Vatican II'. Cardinal McCarrick is officially retired and we need to continue to pray for his soul and the souls of his malcontents that are carrying the heavy burden of the millstone that they so rightly earned.
For more on Cardinal McCarrick's doctrine of dereliction of duty and an excellent posting by Diogenes in OFF THE RECORD (Catholic World News) click here.
Another Communion cartoon of Bishop Tod Brown is shown here.
(H/T The Cafeteria Is Closed)
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Historical Dating Conflicts
As I wrote in an earlier posting it seems as if the school system here in America is continually moving in the direction of eliminating anything Christian in our culture. Such as replacing the long standard use of dating, BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini), with the secular version, BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era).
"Several other states have shifted to that nonsectarian style in history curriculums, since it's preferred by Jews and increasingly observed by secular scholars. Biblical Archaeological Review publishes Christian, Jewish and secular authors and lets each decide which designation to follow."So what is the defining moment of history that became 'common'? PC Monkeys and their cohorts the guilty white liberals are going ape over any vestige of our culture that resembles Christianity. Are we going to rename San Francisco because it is named after a saint (St. Francis)? For more on this article click here. For my previous posting on this subject click here.
Monday, June 19, 2006
School Pulls Plug on Christian Speech
Does someone smell the presence of the ACLU (Anti-Christian League of Uberliberals) around? Good guess.
Brittany McComb is the valedictorian at Foothill High School in Henderson (Las Vegas), Nevada. As is the tradition in most of the country, the valedictorian address is supposed to speak on behalf of her fellow graduating classmates at the commencement ceremonies. The moment she stepped up to the microphone, it went dead.
Silence was all that was heard because Clark County School District officials cut off the microphone because speaking about Christianity is against the law.
The crowd began to jeer the school officials for preventing Miss McComb from saying her speech. What were the reasons?
Brittany McComb is a Christian and she wanted to talk about Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and how He was the inspiration to her throughout her life.
The ACLU would have none of that and said what the Clark County School District officials was the 'right call'.
As long as free speech doesn't offend liberal (progressive) sensibilities, then you are allowed to have free speech.
For more on this article click here.
To learn more on what you can do to stop the ACLU click here.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
UN Subverts Homeschooling & USA Draws Inspiration
The United Nations (UN) has begun to subvert national governments like Belgium because of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Convention). Under the Convention severe limitations are placed on the parents to homeschool their children.
In the UN Convention Articles such as Article 13, parents could be subject to prosecution for any attempt to prevent their children from interacting with material they deem unacceptable. Unacceptable implies a Christian education or anything that would prevent depraved sexual activities and prevent any drug use?
In Article 14, children are guaranteed 'freedom of thought, conscience and religion'. This simply means means that the child has the legal right to 'not receive' any religious education.
It's already occurring in Belgium where a couple is under threat of prosecution for homeschooling and violating these ambiguous articles.
Had enough? Fortunately this has not been passed into U.S. law, until Hilary Clinton wins the presidency of course. For more on this article click here.
Speaking of homeschooling, a liberal writer for a policy group has drawn the ire of homeschoolers; more generally, stay at home moms. For more click here.
In football, err, soccer, the USA has gained a measurable amount of respect for tying the Italians yesterday in World Cup play. We lost two men and were outgunned for almost and entire half, but we were able to stop the mighty Italian side 1-1. Yeah, soccer isn't big here in the states, but I love BIG EVENTS! And outside of my Catholic faith, the World Cup is the biggest event in the world (sorry Super Bowl, the truth is absolute here). For more click here and here.
On my last note, the Pro-Life movement was able to make a statement in the Colorado State legislature. Read the wonderful news here and here.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Cafe Catholica
Cafe Catholica is the largest Catholic young adult event here in Houston, Texas. The event is free and showcases a series of speakers (usually leading Catholics) of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Department of Young Adult & Campus Ministry. Each event begins with a Mass, followed by a catered dinner that you enjoy while listening to live music. When everyone is settled down with their meals, the speaker begins. The idea is to create a coffee house environment where young adults can gather in fellowship, hence the name Cafe Catholica.
Cafe Catholica has been held each year since 1999. Since I moved to Houston three (3) years ago, I have been attending the event and I've enjoyed every one of them. The theme for this series of speakers is Highway to Heaven.
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church on 6800 Buffalo Speedway, here in Houston, will be hosting the event . Cafe Catholica is held each Monday for four (4) consecutive Mondays beginning on July 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st. Mass begins at 6:30 pm, with dinner to follow at 7:00 pm and the speaker beginning at 7:30 pm followed by a question and answer forum.
This year marks a highpoint in Cafe Catholica because we will have all three (3) bishops of the archdiocese speaking. Our brand new Archbishop, his Excellency Daniel N. DiNardo will be speaking on the first two (2) Mondays (July 10 & 17), followed by Bishop Joe S. Vasquez on July 24 and Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto on the 31st of July.
For more information about Cafe Catholica click here.
For more information on the Department of Young Adults & Campus Ministry of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston click here.
For more information on St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church click here.
For more information on his Excellency Archbishop Daniel N. DiNardo click here.
For more information on Bishop Joe S. Vasquez click here.
For more information on Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto click here.
For more information on the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston click here.
Friday, June 16, 2006
New Missal, Fake News, and Mythical 1968
Just came back from attending daily Mass at the Chapel of St. Basil on the University of St. Thomas campus when I heard the good news about the new 'new' missal being approved by the modernist leaning USCCB. (with the exception of 'consubstantiation' being removed, I guess the bishops didn't want the U.S. to be that ROMAN). That lifted up my spirits a bit considering the difficult week I had.
Speaking of modernism, check out these pics of the Chapel of St. Basil. Sadly it is very modernistic with strong luciferianism symbolism with a cracked dome and nearly empty interior. Go figure, a Catholic University hires an avowed atheist to design the chapel. How unfortunate, maybe last years Hurricane Rita was a warning? Who knows!
Anyways, I came a humorous pic of Jon Stewart of the Daily Show mocking Katie Couric's transition to being the anchor for CBS News. Enjoy!
And here is a timely article from Catholic Exchange that underlines one of my ideas of my posting earlier today, Vatican II Redux, that many Church progressives misinterpreted Vatican II and its documents. Which was ever more evident than the encyclical of Humanae Vitae.
For more news on the new missal click here.
For the article on the Myth of 1968 click here.
For more pics on the modernistic architecture of the Chapel of St. Basil click here.
Vatican II Redux
When Vatican II concluded their proceedings in 1968 it could be safely said that of all the Church councils, Vatican II was distinctly different from all others because the documents produced didn't have an interpretive authority. I believe this was the catalyst that bore the fruit of discontent in the West, especially here in the United States. This discontent was the result of hasty 'reforms' implemented, incorrectly, in the 'spirit of Vatican II' by progressives within the Catholic Church; Subsequently allowing for traditional Catholics to feel marginalized and subsequently a fast moving protestantization followed.
Without this interpretive authority, the documents procured in Vatican II created confusion for the rest of the Church. These unintended consequences caused an exodus from religious vocations and a drop in morale among the laity; especially when these documents coming from said council were often misinterpreted from the outset by high-minded Church progressives.
The goals of Vatican II in my humble opinion were to energize the laity in bringing the message of Christ to humanity, ie, the world. Vatican II laid the foundations for the laity to evangelize the world through their continual pursuit of holiness that were once thought of the domain of religious and saints.
Unfortunately many progressives grossly misinterpreted Vatican II as a break from tradition. Thus 'reforms' were implemented such as increasing the roles of the laity in traditional priestly activities such as the celebration of Mass. Another example of this misinterpretation is the army of extraordinary ministers being highly visible during Sunday Mass.
The results from implementing the goals of Vatican II have been mixed at best and devastating at worst. These resulted in a drop in the quality of catechesis, the protestantization of the Church where the Tabernacle has been marginalized and the Mass desacramentalized. The liturgy, lectionary, and the Bible have been watered down through creative interpretations by Church progressives. In addition, progressive American bishops went ahead to completely eliminate spoken and written Latin, which the goals of Vatican II did not require or intend to do. The resulting consequences have been that Mass is reduced to something less than holy and our Catholic faith has been almost indistinguishable from mainstream Protestantism. Thusly being a Catholic has been reduced to a Sunday activity of ritual and process rendering our faith meaningless in light of secular society.
The problems of understanding and implementing Vatican II were recognized by then Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger in 1985. In an interview that was released in book form called The Ratzinger Report, which acknowledged the misinterpretations of Vatican II. These misinterpretations were addressed by Pope John Paul II's holding of Extraordinary Synods. These Extraordinary Synods became the interpretive authority that Vatican II required. These Synods came in succession in 1987, 1990, and 1994. The themes of each Synod respectfully were On the Laity, Formation of Priests, and The Consecrated Religious Life.
Only now in some parts of the West, particularly the United States, have these problems been identified and in some cases been rectified. The main problem having been that Gaudium et Spes has not been implemented correctly. Gaudium et Spes needs to be implemented through the document Lumen Gentium as Pope John Paul II had wanted and Pope Benedict XVI does now. Many Catholics, mostly progressives, interpreted Vatican II as a 'break from the past', while other Catholics, mostly traditionalists, felt marginalized and subsequently excluded without consultation on fatuous and misguided interpretations.
With these Synods adding interpretive authority these incorrect changes can be reversed and the correct implementation of Vatican II documents can begin to bear more abundant fruit through the witness of Christ. The Novus Ordo Mass can be celebrated partly in Latin and in some cases completely. The laity is more involved as witnesses to Christ through the pursuit of holiness once thought of the domain of saints and religious; not through the laicization of Mass. The New American Bible (NAB) will eventually be discarded and the official Vatican translation will revert to the Revised Standard Edition, thusly eliminating the pseudo-neuterized and watered-down passages of the NAB. The lectionary will be updated correctly with the correct teachings of the Church and the liturgy will be returned to the correct translation of the Roman Missal. These are just a fraction of the 'visible' changes that will and are occurring now in our Church, not withstanding the invisible changes such as the pursuit of holiness that ALL Catholics are called to pursue.
The Holy Spirit will prevail in guiding our Bishops, priests, and lay authority in the new springtime of our Church. Those of us that were born after Vatican II experienced the unintended consequences of a secularized Church. In the light of these experiences we should not judge those that have caused harm, whether intentional or not. We should bear witness to the love of Christ and be the catalyst for change in the proper implementation of Vatican II.
With the interpretive authority still relatively fresh and new in these Extraordinary Synods, it will take a while for these correct changes to occur and work themselves through. We as religious and laity should be constructive in our criticisms and faithful in our sincerity for change. We should work wholeheartedly in educating others and implementing the documents of Vatican II with joy. In due time will the fruits of Vatican II begin to flourish. It all begins with each individual Catholic by being this catalyst of change. And when I mention this I mean being actively involved at the parish level to bear witness to Christ to our Catholic brothers and sisters. Let us all pray to our Lord and Savior in expressing ourselves through positive actions to bring these changes to completion so that others may see the Light of Christ and enter His Church.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Random Thoughts on Softball and a Tucson Bishop
So I've just finished visiting Veritas Catholic bookstore and walked over to Jake's Philly Steaks for a chicken Philly steak and soda pop and got into an excellent conversation with a philosophy student/waiter/aspiring writer about life and religion. Well he is of the more liberal variety, though he voted for Bush (unique here in Texas), and I was able to plant some seeds of doubt concerning his views on Christianity, specifically Catholicism.
He's a raised nominal Episcopalian but is now what I would say an agnostic with somewhat strong moral values. He believes that the Slippery Slope predicament we are facing as a nation with Roe v. Wade and the advent of homosexual marriage is false. So I asked him what is the consenting age for a child entering a physical relationship with a grown man and he fell into 'relativism'. He didn't answer my question and is still figuring out whether that will be a consequence of homosexual marriage. Anyways, I know I made an impression so hopefully he is on the road to recovery.
My alma mater, the University of Arizona, won the Women's College World Series by sweeping Northwestern 2 games to none. Which brings me to my next topic emanating from my old college town of Tucson, Arizona. Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas (Tucson, Arizona) seems to has lost his voice, nerve, and Catholicism when he allowed pro-choice politicians such as Arizona Governor Napolitano at a political rally staged in a hall of a Knights of Columbus chapter. Kelly Copeland, Director of the Holy Family Society of Tucson, had this to say:
"In open departure from official doctrine, Bishop Kicanas has preached that the fight against poverty -- not abortion as Pope John Paul II taught -- as 'first and foremost' among moral duties; honored radical pro-homosexual marriage activists such as Rep. Jim Kolbe with glowing and fond words;"Is that sick or what? I pray that Archbishop DiNardo (Galveston-Houston) doesn't spring a surprise such as the above forementioned. I came across this from The Lair Of The Catholic Caveman and was simply flabbergasted. On the week that the USCCB is meeting on top of that! When will these bishops fall into line with the Vatican? Is the virtue of obedience an abomination to these men? I wonder what Matt at Mattsapundit, a local Houstonian who loooves the Knights of Columbus, has to say about a fellow chapter being used for un-Catholic activities that goes against the formation of all Knights? One more random thought of the day... Today is the proclamation of the Edict of Milan! Where it was made illegal to persecute Christians. For more on this posting by Vir Spaluncae Catholicus of The Lair Of The Catholic Caveman click here. For the Holy Family Society press release and home click here.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Catholic Spotted at University of Notre Dame
None other than our Director of Young Adult Ministry of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Bill! In his quest for all things Catholic in this great country of ours, Bill daringly went to South Bend, Indiana to investigate the claims of the University of Our Mother that they are indeed 'Catholic'.
Rumors abounded of Bishop D'Arcy and Father Jenkins, but all of which amounted to only hearsay in Bills blog yesterday. Bill spoke with 'rectors, dining hall workers, security personnel, continuing ed staff, and campus ministers', but not a single Catholic was spotted nor identified in his blog posting. Even attending a 'mass' (yes a small 'm', they don't take their Catholicism that seriously in northern Indiana) in the 'dorm chapel' provided few clues to the conundrum of the missing 'Catholics' at Our Mother's university.
Through it all, Bill 'encountered' a 'pervasive Catholic atmosphere'. This said 'atmosphere' was only identified as 'Catholic'. What this means I can only surmise and deduce that there are an abundance of pubs and bars in the greater South Bend community. The betting odds at London's infamously Green Street firm has the odds of finding a 'Catholic' still at 325-1. I hear the odds would be higher, but the confusion arises from the portrait of Jesus throwing up his hands towards heaven on a school building, technically He counts as a Jew and not a Catholic, which is lost among the Anglican betting establishment pervasive all over England.
For this young intrepid Catholic I will continue my journey of faith knowing some day that I will be able to root for the Fighting Irish once again with pride and joy. But until that day arrives, BYU will be the closest thing to a Catholic university (my old college roommates family lives in Salt Lake City, which technically makes BYU more Catholic than the University of Notre Dame, my roommate being Catholic of course).
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Iran Loses More Than a World Cup Game
In World Cup soccer play in Germany today Iran fell to Mexico, 3 to 1.
Interesting to see a semi-nominal Christian nation as Mexico beating up a self-avowed militant Islamic caliphate such as Iran. I wonder if the Ayatollah is rolling over in his grave, better yet adding more fuel to his fire of hatred while he roasts in Hell.
Speaking of hatred of all things non-Islamic, Islamic courts in Iran today have shut down all coverage of World Cup play, including today's game between Mexico and Iran. This gave way to riots nationwide in protesting the ban. Muslim gunmen were deployed by these Islamic courts to enforce the ban of anything western, especially the World Cup.
But many multiculturalist-zealots and guilty-white liberals proclaim that this is a local matter that has absolutely nothing to do with the War on Terror or the 'alleged' phenomenon of militant Islam, also known as Islamo-Fascism to the astute world observer. How can the Religion of Peace be so... un-peaceful?
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Catholics Wanting To Procreate Large Families
My normal Saturday morning routine is to attend Mass at 8:00 am then head over to the local Planned Parenthood clinic on Fannin street and pray all the Mysteries of the Rosary with a group of young adult Catholics. Well, today after were done praying we headed out to 59 Diner for breakfast at around 10:15 am and we got into a conversation about families. Not to my surprise the young ladies in our group want large families if and when they marry and are blessed with children.
I'm finding myself more and more involved with my Catholic circle of friends seeing that there are many orthodox practicing Catholics out there. It's nice to be among Catholics that I can share my faith with and learn from as well.
Which also brings to mind, "how do I evangelize if I'm constantly around my own?"
Well, what I quickly thought of was work. Once I find a job I could engage with other non-Catholics and develop friendships there. Which sooner or later my faith would come to the surface. That was one idea.
Do any of you have any other ideas?
I think the workplace will be enough. Of course there will be other situations, but if you practice your Catholic faith, each time you step out of your home, you are evangelizing; whether you realize it or not.
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Arizona 8, Northwestern 0
I am an alumni of the University of Arizona. A well respected academic institution second only to Stanford and UC-Berkeley out west. We're also know for astronomy and our men's basketball program.
Well, we are also known for our softball program. We have won six (6) NCAA national titles in the Women's College World Series, two of which I was involved with as marketing director for the Athletic Department.
Nonetheless, this posting has nothing to do with my faith, but everything to do with my second love, sports! I am a big sports fan and participate in the PACCO softball leagues here in Houston and I run in my off time (currently I am incapacitated because of a lingering knee injury).
Anyways, tonight is game two between my Arizona Wildcats and Northwestern University. We lead NU 1-0 and need only one more win. So tonight on ESPN2(?) I will be watching my SoftballCats (hopefully) crush the LadyCats of Northwestern!
BEAR DOWN!
For more information about the WCWS click here and here.
Changes On My Blog
Because of my changing situation and prior reasons for changing my blog name to Conde, I am now going to return to what my loving family and many friends call me by, Tito. My reasons for changing to Conde have altered and I thank you all for respecting these changes.
For personal reasons that I do not want to state, neither positive nor negative, I will now blog under the name Tito.
Conde is an old family name dating back to Reconquista Spain from my mother's side. It is a long and proud family heritage that has come down through Venezuela, Mexico, and now here in these United States.
Along with this cosmetic change my blog will continue to reflect my personal growth as a Christian, ie, Catholic. I haven't been blogging as much of late due to other reasons attributing to my spiritual growth. I will continue to blog more about Christian topics in relation to Houston much more than I have in the past. I will be including more personal experiences, but not enough to reveal too much of myself. The rest is for God to know only.
I enjoy blogging and will continue to do so. I'm sure you all picked up my orthodox leanings as well as my love of history. All touched with a bit of humor, others call it sarcasm, but all in good naturally fun. With a few exceptions, I hope to contribute to my readers learning enjoyment.
Thank you again for respecting my wishes.
God bless.
Monday, June 5, 2006
Papal Quote Of The Day
The Truth is absolute. That is one of my favorite quotes from our German shepherd, Pope Benedict XVI.
Personally, the worst thing anyone can do to me is lie. I don't know why, but that above anything else really perturbs me.
Nonetheless, I came across this little gem of a quote from our late Pope.
Enjoy.
An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded. --Pope John Paul II
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Martin Luther's Fruits
Any vestiges of respect that I have for Lutherism is quickly reaching one of contempt a la the Episcopal church. Wiccan and other pagan rituals and ceremonies are beginning to creep into the ELCA to the point of absurdity.
I'm sure Martin Luther had this in mind when he 'protested' against the Church's excesses. What a dolt. He, along with King Henry VIII, Zwingili, and his other Protestant cohorts are responsible for the rampant human secularism that has infested western Europe. These 'protestors' have contributed to the French Revolution, two world wars, and hideous totalitarian systems that is communism and Nazism.
Because of our lack of unity and 'sola scriptura', personal revelations and bequeathed moral relativism.
Thanks Martin Luther.
People will know you for the fruits of your labors.
(H/T The cafeteria is closed.....)
To view the 'goddess rosary' and prayer click here.
Papal Visit Ignites Blair Conversion Speculation
Good 'ole Uncle Tony, Prime Minister Blair to you all, is visiting Pope Benedict XVI today. Along with his charming wife Cherie and children, Tony Blair will be adding further speculation to rumors that he may convert to Catholicism.
That would be pretty neat considering that the Anglican church is the official church of England and the Prime Minister makes appointments to their bishoprics. Many on his cabinet are Catholics, which includes Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Ruth Kelly, who is a member of Opus Dei.
Reading through the article I came away with the quote that Cherie Blair is a 'devout' Catholic. If I'm not mistaken, isn't she pro-choice? An advocate for killing babies, I mean abortion?
Regardless, it's a nice step to see an British PM convert to Catholicism ever since King Henry VIII couldn't keep his hormones in his trousers because of that decrepit Ann Bolyn.
Radical Islam Reaches America's Northern Border
The multi-cultural claptrap that all cultures are equal and the same to the core has begun to blow up in the liberals face. 17 Islamic terrorists have been arrested in Toronto, Canada as of today.
Over 400 Canadian officers converged on these Muslims and seized three (3) tons of ammonium nitrate. More than three (3) times the number of explosives that were used to blow up the Murrow Federal building in Oklahoma City that Timothy McVeigh used.
Plans were discovered to attack several economic and cultural building throughout southern Ontario.
More arrests are said to occur.
When will the liberals in America stop calling Islam the religion of peace (and that includes our President Bush as well)?
Some day the call to prayer will be called from the top of the Toronto needle for all Muslims to attend Friday prayers in the new Caliphate of Canada.
Canadian Kathy Shaidle of + + relapsed catholic + + has an excellent posting on these tragic developments on her blog; for the article click here. To learn more about the latest developments from north of the border click here. To learn more about the religion of peace click here. To view previous postings about the religion of peace click here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Allah's Warriors Caught!
I wonder why the major media outlets are not calling these guys an 'Islamic terror cell'. Could it be that they haven't been identified? Here are the names of those arrested earlier today in Toronto:
1. Fahim Ahmad, 21, of Robinstone Drive, Toronto, Ontario;
2. Zakaria Amara, 20, of Periwinkle Crescent, Mississauga, Ontario;
3. Asad Ansari, 21, of Rosehurst Drive, Mississauga, Ontario;
4. Shareef Abdelhaleen, 30, of Lowville Heights, Mississauga, Ontario;
5. Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 43, of Montevideo Road, Mississauga, Ontario;
6. Mohammed Dirie, 22, Kingston, Ontario;
7. Yasim Abdi Mohamed, 24, Kingston, Ontario;
8. Jahmaal James, 23, of Trudelle Street, Toronto, Ontario;
9. Amin Mohamed Durrani, 19, of Stonehill Court, Toronto, Ontario;
10. Steven Vikash Chand alias Abdul Shakur, 25, of Treverton Drive, Toronto, Ontario;
11. Ahmad Mustafa Ghany, 21, of Robin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario;
12. Saad Khalid, 19, of Eclipse Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario.
Here's a little "poem" one of 'em wrote:
I'll always be a contenderYes,
I know my bones are very tender
And by Allah you won't see me surrender
Look at my eyes?
You'll see no butterflies
My home is filled with cries...
due to all the lost lives
But I swear by Allah I'll never compromise
I'll still throw the stones even with my broken bones
Why can't I hear from you, don't you have any phones?
Ya I forgot, your not on the chase, try it out and put your self in my place
Soon I'll return to my lord , the one that deserves every grace
Oh you don't have to worry cause of me you'll find no trace
It really is to late, why did you wait?
You could have sent me at least one dinner plate
I guess it is my fate
And La Ilaha Illa Allah is my mate.
(Major H/T to + + relapsed catholic + +)
Thursday, June 1, 2006
Black Tuesday, The Last Day Of The World
On Tuesday, May 29, 1453 AD, Sultan Mehmet II of the Ottoman Empire sacked the great city of Constantinople. Mehmet and his Muslim forces murdered innocent women and children without mercy while rampaging down the city streets and corridors and desecrated every church they could find by defiling the altar and stripping each church of their sacred treasures. When they reached the Hagia Sophia, Christendom’s greatest Church, they murdered on the spot every person in the great church and ransacked it. Throughout the day Muslims raped women and children (including young boys) in rape camps, killed all able bodied men they encountered, and whoever survived were sold into slavery. Thusly the religion of peace manifested the teachings of the Koran as set by their prophet Muhammad faithfully for the entire day.
The Greek Orthodox Church would never recover from such a devastating and hateful act that was the sacking of Constantinople. Throughout the years Muslims would do everything in their power to destroy one of Christendom’s greatest cities through excessive taxing of Christians, forced conversions, enslavement of young boys to the janissaries, for the lustful pleasures of rich Muslim merchants, and hard labor, and the enslavement of young girls as concubines and prostitutes. They have renamed the city as Istanbul, seized many more churches and turned them into mosques and virtually have made it difficult for conversions, repairs of old churches, and operating daily activities for churches. Even today, liberals want to prop modern Turkey as the 'successful' secular democracy to promote their weak hypothesis that Islam can operate as such.
The day Constantinople fell became known as Black Tuesday, the Last Day of the World. Today liberals don't want to even recite such history as to destroy their elaborate faux history of the 'religion of peace' and Christianity that is all encompassing evil. We as Catholic Christians need to remember the plight of our fellow Orthodox brothers their emasculated history and help restore their churches, especially the Hagia Sophia, to them.
For an article by Robert Spencer commemorating this most sad day click here.
To learn more about Islam, the religion of peace, click here, here, here, here, here, and here.
To learn more of the plight of Christians amongst Muslims click here, here, here, and here(Spanish).
To learn more of our elder brothers the Jews plight living amongst Muslims click here.
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