This should give us all cause for concern about this so-called pandemic

BELL TOLLING for the Swine Flu (CAMPANAS por la gripe A) subtitled from ALISH on Vimeo.

And then today, reported by MSNBC...

Never mind the Yankees!

This health care debate is far more interesting!

 

My two ‘olders’ preferred to watch C-SPAN over iPod or Wii or sports or just about any other leisure activity.  I could not be a prouder father or American…

Fort Hood

Please pray for those affected by the shootings at the Ft. Hood installation in Killeen, TX.

 

I used to live about 20 minutes away from the army post and have visited on a number of occasions. 

 

I wonder if this will mean the end to the ‘open base’ philosophy it has maintained for these many, many years.

Stay focused

I should adopt a little nickname for myself much as St. Escriva and St. Francis before him.

 

I get lazy too often and slip in my daily tasks.  Perhaps lazy ass?  ;)

Second source of income...

I am considering some part time work…perhaps I can tutor kids and adults in the basics of guitar?  Soccer skills?

 

You know…after almost 39 years of life experience one would think that I would possess more skills…

 

Meditate on this…I will.

Tea, Earl Grey, Hot.

This morning, yours truly is feeling like a starship captain of renown.  Might I recommend a beverage?  Yes? 

 

Engage!

EWTN.com - Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for November

Because, well, you should know!

EWTN.com - Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for November

VATICAN CITY, 30 OCT 2009 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for November is: "That all the men and women in the world, especially those who have responsibilities in the field of politics and economics, may never fail in their commitment to safeguard creation".

His mission intention is: "That believers in the different religions, through the testimony of their lives and fraternal dialogue, may clearly demonstrate that the name of God is a bearer of peace".

My Company Has Made The List!

Well, not a very good list…

 

Great.  But, of course, the article does not tell me what I can do about it.

 

I've had it! No more 'YA-TA!'

No more ‘Heroes’ for me.  Last night’s episode has revealed once and for all that Satan has triumphed.  The only hero is this leviathan anti-hero.  Why, do you ask?  Well, the LGBT agenda has not only crept in but has thrown the door open wide allowing all manner of lesser imps and demons through.

 

That’s too bad.  Haydn P. was really gorgeous.  Now when I look upon her, I only get nauseous.

 

I shall pray for her, her cast mates, crew, writers and producers of that now ill-fated show.

Law & Order's 'Dignity'

I would like to encourage everyone to watch this fantastic and extraordinarily brave episode. Kudos to NBC team for airing this particular episode.

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Demon-worshipping hackers!

Ugh.  I just found out that one of the forums/blogs I have been following appears to receive frequent intrusions in their RSS feeds.  These ‘posts’ are anything but Catholic.  In fact, these entries are downright impure and evil.  I hope that no one who has visited this blog has made the mistake of clicking on any of the links related to Catechetics Online.  I have since removed them as a ‘Blog that I follow’.

 

May the Lord have mercy on the soul or souls who are responsible for this banal material.  May the Lord convert their hearts so that they cease their malicious work or may He destroy them altogether.  And that goes for all purveyors of pornography. 

 

Convert or burn, says I!

Finally, a 'Law & Order' episode that actually gives the pro-life movement a fair hearing.

Catholic Busy Bodies

Some of the sacrifices I and my family have had to make after taking on the immense responsibility of raising a large Catholic group of blessings were extra-curricular activities.

 

I can maintain healthy perspective on what I can commit myself, my wife and my children to simply because I do not have the time or treasure to do so.  This sacrifice is really a blessing in that we no longer have to feel obligated for the tendency many modern Catholic families seem to have to over commit their time, kids and resources.

 

I am astonished that many of my friends though they have more than an average number of children are unrelenting in their desire to do much more outside of the home than is absolutely necessary, i.e. group sports, music lessons, Knights of Columbus, Sodality, Fall Festival volunteering, All Hallow’s Eve party planning, et cetera, ad infinitum.

 

Take a breath, guys.  Take the time to raise saints…not busy bodies…

I could not have written this process any better…

Here is the following’s original link.

Here is how Satan spreads his lies.

1. Natural Law is ignored, undermined or made to look stupid by particular instances where it does not apply.
2. Relativism is therefore introduced. That is a gradual understanding that 'there are no black and white rules' that apply to all people at all times.
3. Individualism is the next step. 'I guess I have to decide what is right for me in my situation.'
4. Sentimentalism: People who live in a sinful situation demand that they not be judged. They deserve compassion and understanding. They are nice people really...Who are you to judge?
5. Dialogue is demanded. "You need to listen to us and to our stories. Then you will understand we are just like you."
6. Equal rights are expected by those who are acting against God's law. "We are not asking you to approve us. We are simply asking you to tolerate a difference of opinion. Simply allow us to be who we are!"
7. Equal rights are demanded. Legislation and lobbying and protests are now in order. The pressure group for sin starts to get aggressive. They do so out of 'hurt' and 'woundedness.' Once they get their 'rights' they will be happy and won't be so aggressive.
8. Tolerance being won, they will not stop. They now demand not only that you tolerate, but that you approve. As Thomas More was not allowed to remain silent on the King's 'great matter' but had to approve, so the presssure group insists on approval.
9. What was once tolerated now becomes mandatory. Society must integrate the new morality into every level--right down to schools and churches and scout groups. Everyone must adopt the new morality or suffer.
10. Persecution of those who resist.

This process happens on an individual level, a family level, a community level and a societal level. The bigger the level the longer it takes, and for it to take effect at the societal, community and family level it must first work on the individual level.

This means you and I must watch for the signs in our own moral life and be alert. Any of us can go down this path, and any of us may be victims of those who are already well down the path of evil and darkness.

"America has too often been selective in its promotion of democracy"?

The speech Mr. Obama made today at the United Nations, quite honestly, is baffling. Too selective? Just what does he mean? Historically, the United States has been the most vocal proponent of furthering the cause of democracy world wide. We, as a nation, have encouraged all nations to adopt a system wherein all citizens have a say in how their federal governing body takes care of the affairs of their respective countries. Selective? Does this 'admission' betray the president's thoughts on how America should now approach the 'gospel' of representative government? Perhaps he believes that democracy should only be promoted and encouraged for some countries and discouraged for others. One can only guess.

An Awesome Quote from our Holy Father

Straight out of his latest encyclical, Charity in Truth:

 

“Deeds without knowledge are blind, and knowledge without love is sterile”

 

 

A Sign of Things to Come in America?

This, my friends, is chilling.

 

We need to arm ourselves spiritually and unite ourselves ever more closely to Christ else we find ourselves in a position shared by first century Christians in Rome and Jerusalem, the 12^th and 13^th century Christians in the Levant, the 18^th century Christians during the Reign of Terror and those Christians of today persecuted by modern philosophies and governmental systems harmful to all walks of life.

 

The more things change, the more they stay the same…

Charity in Truth and U.S. Health Care Reform

I would like to encourage the reading of this.

 

Particularly helpful is the content related to the argument that because Christ wants us to help the sick then all Christians should be for the current legislation to provide socialized medicine.  Does Christ truly recommend H.R. 3200?

 

In short, caring for the sick is certainly a commandment of love, but that love should be founded upon truth and further that its source should originate from those of us who can witness the need and personalize it.  In this way, conscience and kindness shall meet and kiss, like justice and mercy on the cross.

The Best.Broadway.Tune.Ever!



Lift up your head
Wash off your mascara
Here, take my Kleenex
Wipe that lipstick away
Show me your face
Clean as the morning
I know things were bad
But now they're okay

Suddenly Seymour
Is standing beside you
You don't need no makeup
Don't have to pretend
Suddenly Seymour
Is here to provide you
Sweet understanding
Seymour's your friend

[AUDREY]
Nobody ever
Treated me kindly
Daddy left early
Mama was poor
I'd meet a man and
I'd follow him blindly
He'd snap his fingers
Me, I'd say "sure"

Suddenly Seymour
Is standin' beside me
He don't give me orders
He don't condescend
Suddenly Seymour
Is here to provide me
Sweet understanding
Seymour's my friend

[SEYMOUR]
Tell me this feeling lasts till forever
Tell me the bad times are clean washed away

[AUDREY]
Please understand that it's still
Strange and frightnin'
For losers like I've been
It's so hard to say

Suddenly Seymour

[SEYMOUR]
Suddenly Seymour
He purified me
He purified you
[AUDREY]
Suddenly Seymour showed me I can
[SEYMOUR]
Suddenly Seymour showed you you can

[BOTH]
Learn how to be more
The girl that's inside me (you)
With sweet understanding

St. Thomas Aquinas on Assurance of Salvation

St. Thomas Aquinas on Assurance of Salvation

An excellent observation of what the Angelic Doctor has written on a Catholic's Assurance of Salvation.

My Life According to The Cranberries

I could not help but respond to this particular MEME circulating on the Facebook.  It seemed easy enough to complete without much time.

Using only songs from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. You can't use the artist I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "My Life According to (__)"


Pick Your Artist:
The Cranberries


Are you male or female?
Zombie


Describe yourself:
Ridiculous Thoughts


How do you feel?
Daffodil Lament


Describe where you currently live:
Dreams


If you could go anywhere, where would you go?:
Stars


Your favorite form of transportation:
Paparazzi on Mopeds


Your best friend is:
Woman Without Pride


Your favorite color is:
Electric Blue


What is the weather like?
Forever Yellow Skies


Favorite time of day:
Dreaming My Dreams


If your life was a T.V. show, what would it be called:
The Picture I View


What is life to you?
Ode To My Family


Your relationships:
Sweetest Thing


Your fear:
Everything I Said


What is the best advice you have to give?
Go Your Own Way

If you could change your name, you would change it to?:
War Child


Thought for the day:
Time Is Ticking Out


How I would like to die:
Wanted


My soul's present condition:
Salvation


My Motto:
 God Be With You

Blogged with the Flock Browser

The Trouble with HR3200, A Catholic Perspective

Again, I am feeling rather justified in my skepticism towards the health care reform bill currently being deliberated over.

Dr. Jeff Mirus over at Catholic Culture has written an excellently reasoned article on the reservations we should hold as Catholic citizens. I highly encourage its reading.

Begun the Dark Times Has...

No.  I am not referring to the current political, cultural and economic state in which the United States finds herself.  The children and I have embarked upon an adventure set in the Star Wars period that lies between the Rise of the Empire and the Rebellion periods.  Not much is known about this period of fictional history, however, my children are eager to blaze their own trail in an unwritten time frame.  We look forward to this time together of role-playing.  In addition to satisfying my need to play the game, I get to enjoy watching and listening to how my children interact with each other as team mates and how they react to the obstacles and moral challenges I place in their way.

This is exactly what I am feeling on this matter of U.S. Health Care reform. It is good to know that I am on the right path.

The latest from the Catholic League:

July 31, 2009

CRITICS LOVE VAMPIRE PRIEST FILM

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the filmmaker and movie reviewers of “Thirst,” which opened today in select theaters:



This movie, the work of a Korean ex-Catholic, Park Chan-wook, is about a Roman Catholic priest turned vampire. It is strewn with blood and gore, but that hasn’t stopped film critics from loving it.



The Los Angeles Times commended Park for “constructing beautifully composed images of aestheticized violence.” Too bad Mel Gibson didn’t study under Park: when “The Passion of the Christ” was released, the L.A. Times blasted it for its “overwhelming level of on-screen violence.”



The San Francisco Chronicle admitted that “Park dwells on disgusting images, from the priest’s throbbing boils to his sucking of victims’ blood through medical tubes, to gory vomiting and various scenes of bone-smashing violence.” But, wait, “There’s a sense of glee in all the mayhem that helps mitigate the shock effects—at least a bit.” This same newspaper found no glee in Mel’s classic, labeling the violence “numbing.”



Stephen Whitty of the Newark Star-Ledger liked the “giddily surreal stuff” of Park’s violence, but saw no fun in “The Passion”: he slammed it for showing the crucifixion of Christ in “literally nauseating detail.”



A.O. Scott of the New York Times praised Park for his “undeniable knack for choreographing bloody, sensual set pieces.” Moreover, Scott noted the “elegantly presented servings of sex and gore.” But he chided Mel, saying that he “exploited the popular appetite for terror and gore.” That’s right—Mel never learned how to serve his violence with elegance.



Finally, V.A. Musetto of the New York Post predicted that the “windbags at the right-wing Catholic League” would call the film “Catholic bashing.” Not really. It’s actually junk designed to seduce guys like him into thinking it’s art.

A thought or two on the U.S. Health Care Reform


As I reflect more on my feelings concerning the 'right to medical care' I realize that I am not against this right. I am against how the Democratic party in the United States wishes to take action on this right. They have apparently written into the bill a provision that would lead to euthanasia. Further, as is evident in today's news reports, explicitly excluding abortion from the reform apparently is just too much to ask of our representatives in the House.

Yes, medical care is a right but I ask myself, at what cost? Does my right to universal health care supersede the right of the unborn to be birthed? Who am I to impose this belief on those who are the least among us?

I'm Back!


I need an outlet for my many and varied thoughts.

For instance, is medical care a right? The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes that matter quite plain.

2211 The political community has a duty to honor the family, to assist it, and to ensure especially:

- the freedom to establish a family, have children, and bring them up in keeping with the family's own moral and religious convictions;

- the protection of the stability of the marriage bond and the institution of the family;

- the freedom to profess one's faith, to hand it on, and raise one's children in it, with the necessary means and institutions;

- the right to private property, to free enterprise, to obtain work and housing, and the right to emigrate;

- in keeping with the country's institutions, the right to medical care, assistance for the aged, and family benefits;

- the protection of security and health, especially with respect to dangers like drugs, pornography, alcoholism, etc.;

- the freedom to form associations with other families and so to have representation before civil authority.

Then why am I resistant to this idea? Hmmm...I will have to explore my feelings on this matter.

I'm Lost

Recently, a close relative of mine said that I was lost for not desiring to attend my sister's union even though it is not going to be a sacramental marriage.  Is it not my sister who has lost her way?  A colleague of mine wondered if I was being too judgmental though it was she who has judged that our faith was not worthy enough to be invited to her union.  It was she who judged the faith once delivered to the saints as unfitting to her tastes and desires.  It was she who judged the faith of her mother, who worked hard to deliver to her throughout her childhood on into adulthood, as undesirable.

I wonder at times, at the judgment of modern man.

Today, my eldest son and I went 'plinking'. Ah, it was good to get out my frustrations on a paper target and some Mr. Pringles' cans. They never knew what hit them.

It feels like this sometimes when I hear 'Obamites' gathering...

Please contact the Smithsonian today.

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Hee-hee!

Surprised?

I always knew that I could be destined for greatness! ;)

Your result for The Presidential Capacity Test...

Presidential Success!

68% Values, 74% Charisma and 100% Judgment!

"In America, anyone can become president. That's one of the risks you take." -Adlai E. Stevenson

Congratulations! You encapsulate everything that a successful candidate should encapsulate.

Crack open the whiskey and break out the celebratory cigar. You are destined for success in the Presidential Campaign. You exude confidence and charisma. You exhibit true leadership abilities and demonstrate the ability to make snap judgement calls if the need arises. You are well-respected for your strong values and your steadfast stance on honesty and loyalty.

The USA needs a President like you. You are one of a select few deserving of the influence and recognition commanded by the Presidential title. Congrats!

Other possibilities:

http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-presidential-capacity-test">Take The Presidential Capacity Test at

Fight, America! Fight!

The holy mass!

At saint thomas aquinas

Heavy Equipment on the UD Campus

Dear Lord, build up your youth in the way of righteousness!

Vote your conscience! Your Catholic conscience!



H/T: RobK

Happy Birthday Mama Mary!

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. / For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

Has risen, as he said, alleluia. / Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. / For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Palin's Church doing the unthinkable!

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Does the left really think that they can use this against the governor? They must be really desperate.

Shame on Fox for making this into some kind of 'worthy' news story.

"It is time to write a new chapter in American history"...one in which abortion is outlawed!