Friday, January 12, 2007
Changes to CVSTOS FIDEI
I just wanted to inform my avid readers that there are some small changes that have occurred or will occur on this blog. One is that I have gotten rid of the "My Postings" section of the blog. It just highlighted the most recent postings and I just got bored and saw no usefulness in it (Tony at Catholic Pillow Fight will like this change). Gerald over at Cafeteria is Closed seems to like it but it doesn't work for me.
Another change, or not really change, but non-occurrence is that my two guest bloggers haven't blogged anything at all. Matt has decided to open another new blog of his own and Handmaiden is to timid to post at all. But that's ok, when they get their nerve up it will be worth reading. In the meantime I will have a little surprise sometime in February that will show up in my blog that I think you all will enjoy.
Also I decided to dump my "Millstone" awards for now. It's to depressing to have to blog about, besides, God is the final arbitrator of such matters.
In much happier news I've completely changed over to Blogger Beta, which it seems to be just Blogger now since it looks like they are dumping the 'Beta' part.
Finally I want to thank you all for even reading my blog. Suggestions, constructive feedback, accolades, and non-sequitors are much appreciated, plus just simply commenting would also be nice.
God bless and Godspeed!
Tito
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
My Canadian Adventure
I’ve been up here in Canada on a work assignment for several months and it has been a fun adventure to say the least. I've got to say that Kathy Shaidle has it good up here in Toronto. Beyond learning and adding new business skills to my résumé I’ve met a lot of great people, visited many beautiful areas, and have had wonderful (and not so wonderful) experiences of the country; Some of the not-so-wonderful experiences is to remember to use your credit card when renting a vehicle in Canada, they don’t use debit cards up here. I’ve come away with some wisdom that I would like to share with my avid readers if you were ever to travel up north.
1. Don’t respond to a French-speaking Canadian Customs Agent with ‘No hablá español’.
2. Don’t refer to a Canadian Customs Agent as a ‘Canuck’ (or a Canucki for that matter).
3. Don’t explain to the Canadian Customs Agent what the ‘F’ in N.A.F.T.A. is defined as when they ask you to pay for a ‘work visa’ in order to ‘work freely in Canada’. They’ll take offense to that.
4. Don’t refer to Canadian money as ‘pesos’. Especially when asking “how many Canadian pesos will it be for the free work visa”.
5. Don’t ask the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), when they’re interrogating you for your ‘F’ explanation, “where is your horse”.
6. Don’t take pictures of Canadian Airport Police as they intimidate passengers that are complaining about a flight that was cancelled after it was delayed for 13 ½ hours at midnight on Christmas Eve. Apparently it’s illegal to take photographs of them beating up on passengers at the gate.
7. Don’t refer to Indian food such as Chicken Curry wrapped in Nan bread as a “very spicy chicken burrito”.
8. Don’t ask the Sikh luggage security personal at the airport to “stop yapping and start checking my baggage”; they just might throw their turban at you.
9. Remember to check to see if you are carrying cash-money BEFORE ordering coffee and donuts at Tim Horton’s.
10. And lastly, remember when ordering ‘Canadian beer’ in Canada, they just call it ‘beer’.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus Has Resigned
Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Stanislaw Wielgus.
(Hat Tip: RORATE CÆLI)
To read the RORATE CÆLI posting click here.
To read the news release click here.
To read the latest Google news on his resignation click here.
Post Mortem: Now if only Cardinal Mahony and other notorious bishops in the United States would take the archbishops lead.My opinion, again, is that he is sorry for his communist contacts. Plus there was no harm done to any of his colleagues while he informed on them. But primarily that he asked for forgiveness. I wish he hadn't resigned. (and I'm a staunch anti-Communist)
Archbishop Stanislaw Wielgus To Resign?
According to the BBC, Polish media is reporting that the installation of Stanislaw Wielgus may not go ahead.
Polish and Vatican officials held talks overnight on the fate of Stanislaw Wielgus, at the centre of communist-era spying row, the reports said.
. . . The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says preparations are still taking place for a service at 1000 GMT, but that the installation ceremony may be replaced by a Mass of thanksgiving for the archbishop's predecessor, Jozef Glemp. Commentators say a decision to stop the installation at this late stage would be unprecedented.
. . . In one survey, two-thirds of people asked, said Archbishop Wielgus should resign. His admission came after a Church commission acknowledged he had collaborated with the communist secret police.
What a mess. Personally, if he didn't hurt anyone and regrets working in conjunction with communist spy's then he's ok to be the archbishop. Especially if Pope Benedict XVI had full knowledge prior to his appointment.
To read the rest of the article click here.
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Matt Travels to Europe
My buddy Matt is taking time off from work and travelling to Europe for January. He resides here in Houston but is originally from Canada. He is a Catholic blogger who hasn't much blogged about anything since April and is yet to post on my blog. But he is starting up again at his new blog about his travels in Europe. I persuaded him to purchase a digital camera and log his journey since he will be visiting many Catholic sites. He has taken this idea and decided to start this new blog: Matt's Travel Blog (http://matts-travel.blogspot.com/).
He arrived in Rome this (Saturday, January 6) morning and is settled down. He will attend Mass at the Sistine Chapel with Pope Benedict XVI, if they let him. During his trip in Europe he will keep notes and pic on his blog.
So for your enjoyment, take a look at his blog.
In the photo below our Rosary prayer group is in front of an abortion mill in Houston. Matt is the one farthest to the right.
CVSTOS FIDEI's 2007 New Year's Resolution
Last year I wanted to read the Holy Bible cover to cover. I failed, though I did read the Bible more than any other time in my life. I'd like to give you all my New Year's resolution but that is a private affair.
So I'll give my blogs New Year's resolution.
1. This year I will attempt to post more on positive items than on negative items.
2. This year I will attempt to be more charitable in my postings.
3. This year I will offer more Houston based Catholic events than in the past.
I think stopping at three (3) is a good number don't you all think? Besides I can't think of anything else.
So here we go entering a brave new year as Christians practicing our Catholic faith and being a witness of our Catholic faith to the fallen world.
God bless you all.
Tito
Friday, January 5, 2007
The Denver Blizzard & Hurricane Katrina
This comment was left on the Small Dead Animals blog under the "As The Ice Caps Melt" posting. Basically someone was spouting off how the contrasts between how Denver deals with a natural disaster to New Orleans. The following is the comment.
WEATHER BULLETIN
Up here, in the "Mile-Hi City", we just recovered from a Historic event--- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.
FYI:
George Bush did not come.
FEMA did nothing.
No one howled for the government.
No one blamed the government.
No one even uttered an expletive on TV.
Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.
Our Mayor did not blame Bush or anyone else.
Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else, either.
CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC did not visit -- or report on this category 5 snowstorm.
Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.
No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.
No one looted.
Nobody -- I mean Nobody demanded the government do something.
Nobody expected the government to do anything, either.
No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera.
No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found.
Nope, we just melted the snow for water.
Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars.
The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny.
Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snowbound families.
Families took in the stranded people -- total strangers.
We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns.
We put on extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die".
We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.
Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early, we know it can
happen and how to deal with it ourselves.
In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North
Latitude, 90% of the world's social problems evaporate.*
It does seem that way, at least to me.
I hope this gets passed on.
Maybe SOME people will get the message. The world does Not owe you a living.
***
* Dude's never been to Canada... (or western Europe - Tito)
Kathy Shaidle adds:
Nobody, presumably, blamed global warming, either.
Post Mortem: I myself have been in a horrendous hurricane while growing up in Hawaii and my experience of it was vastly different from the what happened in New Orleans. Simply, I am disgusted at the way the people of New Orleans dealt with their circumstances as well as the media hype that followed.
I'd like to see the people of New Orleans deal with the aftermath of my experience where most of the residents of Kauai didn't have a home with a roof, no running water, and electricity for weeks if not months. None of us complained, none of us ran up to tv news trucks at every opportunity (in fact, there were barely any coverage at all), and there were no rapes, shootings, deaths, or any other type of malcontent activities.
We treated each other as Christians and went about reconstruction with barely a whisper being mentioned about Hurricane Iwa after it hit. That's my diatribe for the day.
For the original comment click here.
For Kathy Shaidle's posting click here.
For Hurricane Iwa click here.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Another Blog Bites the Dust?
Now that Evangelical Catholicism is not going anywhere I see that A Catholic Life may have to close down because Moneybags is entering the seminary soon. This sounds familiar when friend of mine entered the North American Seminary his blog went down within days.
Nonetheless Moneybags isn't going to close it down permanently, just only while he's attending his seminary during the Fall and Spring.
Today I read from several other people that seminarians at the seminary I will be attending are not allowed to have blogs or use forums online. I was extremely disappointed, but I will do whatever I must to live in obedience to my superiors. I plan on keeping this blog on the Internet forever. I have worked and put months worth of hours into this blog. I hope that it is a source of information for months while I am not blogging. Specifically, the "Catholic Categories" has very valuable information. I do, however, hope to post on this blog throughout the summer. So, starting in Fall 2007, I will be unable to post for a significant amount of time - probably until Summer 2008. However, I will be able to email people, so I will remain in touch with my readers. I have grown so close to many readers that it will be very difficult to stop blogging for those months. I pray that I will be able to do whatever is required of me.Well, he is joining tens of thousands of other Catholics that are part of the Pope John Paul II generation of vocations. I'd rather see Moneybags become a priest rather than blogging, which I believe you all to agree would be the best thing if it finally comes to that. Good luck and Godspeed Moneybags! Tito To view Moneybags latest posting click here.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Catholic Devotions Meme
Jean from Catholic Fire just meme'd me...
1. Favorite devotion or prayer to Jesus? Prayer of Fatima.
2. Favorite Marian devotion or prayer? The Rosary.
3. Do you wear a scapular or medal? No. But I do wear a Benedictine Crucifix.
4. Do you have holy water in your home? Yes. And when I'm on the road (which is often).
5. Do you 'offer up' your sufferings? Always.
6. Do you observe First Fridays and First Saturdays? First Fridays only. But probably First Saturdays in the future.
7. Do you go to Eucharistic Adoration? Not as often as in the past.
8. Are you a Saturday evening Mass person or Sunday morning Mass person? I am a Sunday morning person. I used to be a Sunday evening person, but circumstances changed.
9. Do you say prayers at mealtime? Always.
10. Favorite Saint(s)? St. Michael the Archangel, St. Gabriel the Archangel, St. Raphael the Archangel, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Gianna, among some.
11. Can you recite the Apostles Creed by heart? Yes.
12. Do you usually say short prayers (aspirations) during the course of the day? Yes.
13. Bonus Question: When you pass by an automobile accident or other serious mishap, do you say a quick prayer for the folks involved? Sometimes, try to always but keep forgetting.
I tag Bill Cork, Jeff Miller, Gerald Augustinus, Kat & Michael, Kathy Shaidle, Vir Speluncae Catholicus, Alan Phipps, Amy Welborn, Quintero, Tony, Paul that guy, Dad29, WICatholic, Fr. Philip, OP, and Fr. Joe.
Evangelical Catholicism Calling it Quits?
While I was reading the latest posting by Katerina Marie over at her (along with Michael Joseph) blog named Evangelical Catholicism, I read in the comments sections that they are going to 'cancel' the blog. I guess that's one way to say 'goodbye'. Nonetheless both Katerina and Michael have been deciding whether to continue or not for quite awhile now.
For a little background, these two exploded into the Catholic blogosphere in late July. I stumbled across these two while reading Moneybags blog, A Catholic Life. Moneybags posted a "Why am I Catholic" video that he viewed on their blog. I came away quite impressed. Reading further on their blog it seems that Katerina is quite the Catholic social doctrine aficionado while her boyfriend is a philosophy intellect. Quite an impressive combination to say the least. And to go with that, they both know how to blog. Which makes for incredible reading.
Now back to 'cancelling' their blog. It's been mentioned several times in various comments on their blog that they are getting disillusioned with the Catholic blogosphere. Apparently they have been knocking heads with some of the biggest names in the Catholic blogosphere. From Gerald over at the Cafeteria is Closed to the American Papist. From what I could discern they have been questioning the charitableness and obedience of several posters and bloggers. To be fair they never intended to do so when posting comments, it just evolved that way.
I haven't been reading all of these 'debates' and for the record I generally post on secular current affairs through the eyes of a Catholic on my own blog. I have zero philosophy knowledge and my depth of Catholic social doctrine is somewhat bare. So I can't really state whether who is right or who is wrong, but it is clear to see that these 'debates' have been taking a toll on these two. I myself have had a lively 'debate' with these two, but not to the extent I have been reading around the other Catholic blogs.
Nonetheless, from my perspective, they clearly should remain blogging because they add a different dimension that the Catholic blogosphere lacks and that is a highly intellectual context of Catholic social causes that goes beyond 'life' issues, such as poverty and materialism. The philosophical dimension can be found elsewhere, but not with the unique combination that Katerina brings to the table to complement Michael's philosophy background.
Many may not agree with me on what I'm writing, but you have to agree that these two make you think twice about what a complete Catholic can be or maybe should be. For me they have helped to reinforce what I already knew by studying documents such as Pacem in Terris, Quadragesimo Anno, Rerum Novarum, rereading Deus Caritas Est, Centesimus Annus, and rereading Gaudium et Spes just to name a few.
While they may bring this topic up of 'cancelling' pretty often you can say that this posting of mine is a preemptive strike to ask them 'not to cancel' their fine blog. Yes, I do disagree on a couple of points with these two, but they have stoked the fires of debate that can only be beneficial for them as well as I.
So Kat and Michael, don't cancel your blog. Even if you're kidding around. I've had to see Seattle Catholic, Anathema Sit, and College Catholic call it quits. What next? Relapsed Catholic and The Curt Jester?!
Nancy Pelosi Scandalizes Catholic Church
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi the new Speaker of the House from the Democratic Party which she represents from the 8th district of San Francisco is engaging in a series of week long activities to celebrate her taking the Speaker of the House position. One of these activities includes a Mass at Trinity University. This is especially scandalous.
Why?
When this congresswoman declares herself not only a Catholic, but a pro-life Catholic, yet takes each and every opportunity to shoot down pro-life legislation and vote for every pro-choice (pro-abortion) legislation, this causes a scandal within the Catholic Church. To make it worse, she will be attending a high-profile Mass in Washington, DC. This is simply outrageous and makes it even more scandalous.
Someone needs to take her aside and explain to her that her actions speak louder than words, especially in a high profile position that is the Speaker of the House position. Someone needs to point out to her what the late Pope John Paul II said in Evangelium Vitae:
. . . the fact of the destruction of so many human lives still to be born or in their final stage extremely grave and disturbing, but no less grave and disturbing is the fact that conscience itself, darkened as it were by such widespread conditioning, is finding it increasingly difficult to distinguish between good and evil in what concerns the basic value of human life. (Evangelium Vitae, #4)What Speaker Pelosi has is an inconsistent Life Ethic. You cannot be pro-life and still vote anti-life (pro-abortion/pro-choice).
The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights—for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture—is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination (Christifideles Laici, no. 38).Then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote a letter titled "Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion," which explained in great detail the difference in moral weight between a wage increase and abortion:
"Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage way, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia." (Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion)Which brings us back to the 'gratuitous' Mass that Speaker Pelosi will be attending this week. She brings scandal by her actions which don't support her words of holding Catholic teachings to heart. Is Speaker Nancy Pelosi worthy to receive Holy Communion. The simple and correct answer is "no". For a great article by Judie Brown of Human Events about Mrs. Pelosi click here. For another great article about Catholic politicians by Mark Brumley of Ignatius Insight click here. For the Evangelium Vitae Encyclical by Pope John Paul II click here. For a previous posting of mine related to Mrs. Nancy Pelosi and other 'alleged' Catholic politicians click here.
(photo: AP / 7 News Boston)
Monday, January 1, 2007
Catholic Blogosphere Roundup for Jan 1
I'm working on a couple of postings that is eating up my free time. So I don't have much time to blog about many other topics that I see making the rounds of the Catholic blogosphere. But I do read many of my favorite Catholic blogs so here's a round up of some of the more noteworthy postings that I have enjoyed today.
Former Swedish Lutheran (Augustinian Monk of all things) Tells His Story - RORATE CÆLI
-I enjoy reading conversion stories and this one was very insightful.
-How the Catholic bishop in Sweden told him not to convert to Catholicism.
-Excellent interview.
-Studying at St. Mary's College in St. Mary's, Kansas.
-Unfortunately, he is studying to be a SSPX priest; great interview nonetheless.
-Excellent insight into false ecumenism
Rudy Youngblood of Apocalypto is not really an Indian - Built On A Rock
-Same guy who outed 'Iron Eyes Cody' of the crying Indian fame in the 1970s commercial, outs Rudy.
-link to BOAR is acting up so go to the blog itself.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - A Catholic Mom in Hawaii
-On January 1, the Church commemorates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God- the greatest title of Mary.
There's more, but I need to get going. God bless you all.
G.K. Chesterton and 2007 Anno Domini
"The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. Unless a man starts on the strange assumption that he has never existed before, it is quite certain that he will never exist afterwards. Unless a man be born again, he shall by no means enter into the Kingdom of Heaven."
- G. K. Chesterton
Today's quote of the Day.
(Hat Tip: American Papist)
(Photo: AP via National Post)
Vatican Ariel View
As God looks down on His Church we all pray for a blessed and peaceful new year.
(Hat Tip: The Daily Brief)
Felix Sit Annus Novus
FELIX SIT ANNVS NOVVS.
That's Latin for Happy New Year!
I wish all of my avid readers a blessed and happy new year!
Tito
(I'm up here on assignment in the eastern time zone, so yes, I'm an hour ahead of Houston)
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