Pope Speaks About Recent Vatican Events

For those who missed it, this is what the Pope had to say, after today’s general audience, about the recent events involving the Vatican.

The Horrors People Are Capable Of

The subject of euthanasia is popping up more frequently as more and more people seek to legalise a persons “right to die” if a person chooses to do so. Of course, the advocates of euthanasia claim that they want this only for exceptional circumstances, such as when there is clear medical evidence that a person is going to die anyway, but that person does not want to endure the pain and loss of dignity that may precede this inevitable death. 

Is Deepening Our Faith The Answer?

Picture: Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (CNA)

Yesterday I wrote about true friendship and how sometimes true friends, turn out to be only “fair weather friends”. I related this also to our friendship with our Lord, asking whether we are true friends of our Lord or just “fair weather friends”. Are we Catholic because we were born Catholic; are we Catholic because it is part of our culture; or are we Catholic because we have come to know and love our Lord?

Fair Weather Friends

Photo: Sweetfrand Blog

The expression “fair weather friends” is one that most of us are able to relate to. It refers to those friends or acquaintances who, when times are good, are always there for us. They visit us, invite us to visit them, call us to see how we are, remember our birthday and anniversary, and generally make us feel that we belong and that we are not alone. Sadly these “fair weather friends” are never there when times are tough and they soon reveal that they are really not true friends.

About Today: Pentecost – The Fiftieth Day

The name “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word meaning “fiftieth.” Like Easter, it is tied to a Jewish feast. 49 days (7 weeks, or “a week of weeks”) after the second day of Passover, the Jews celebrated the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot).

"I Am A Racist" She Rants

I thought I knew how to really rant. In fact, I have been accused of being the master at ranting. Today someone sent me a link to an article on the News 24 website titled, “I am a racist”. It is ancient history because it was published on May 23, 2012 already. Having now read it, I must graciously acknowledge that, when it comes to ranting, I am clearly an absolute amateur.

About Today: Saint Philip Neri (1515 - 1595)

St Philip Neri

Universalis provides interesting information about each day of the Liturgical Calendar. It is worthwhile to use it as a reference in preparation for Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours for each day. This is their information for today, the memorial of St Philip of Neri. Enjoy!

Are Bishops Who Oppose Same Sex Marriage Belligerent?

This week’s editorial in The Southern Cross addresses the subject of same sex marriage and claims that many bishops are considered to be belligerent in upholding the teaching of the Church in this regard. The editorial also, in my opinion, seems to subtly favour the concept of same sex marriage. The editor says that the traditional marriage that is taught by the Church “is not being embraced by the faithful.” “It is apparent”, writes the editor, “that the Church is failing to persuade the faithful of its case.”[i]

Meaning and Hope - Christianity’s place in Modern Britain by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor

“St. Paul said, caritas Christi urget nos – the love of Christ urges us on. That is Christ’s witness, His example, His way in good times and in bad. It must also be ours.” These are the words with which Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor ends a lecture, titled “Meaning and Hope - Christianity’s place in Modern Britain”, that he gave at Leicester Cathedral on May 15, 2012. It is one of those must reads for all Catholics today. You can download it using the link at the end of the page or read it below. I would recommend that it be downloaded, printed and then savoured after lunch on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Sex Threatens Religious Freedom

Helen M. Alvare, law professor at George Mason University. Credit: CNA    

There is an absolute must read article titled “Law Professor Says Flawed View Of Sex Threatens Religious Freedom” by the Catholic News Agency. The article, written by Michelle Bauman, discusses the views of Helen Alvaré, a law professor who believes that the threats to religious freedom are due to new strong government views on sexuality. This government view holds that sex is unrelated to procreation or the union of man and woman, but is simply about “expressing oneself” and forming one’s identity through various sexual acts, she explained.

Read more there »

Beauty Is A Profession Of The Creator

Buffalo

I have just returned from a magnificent seven-night get away. I was fortunate to get to see some magnificent wild life. One of the highlights of the trip was a pair of Fish Eagles who graced us with a 10-minute overhead display.

Tit Bits III: The Blessed Virgin Mary's Message For Our Time

The Church approved Marian apparition of Lourdes, France.
Our Lady of Lourdes appeared to St Bernadette Soubirous on February 11, 1858.

Joe writes:  

Question: Why should I bother with apparitions and Mary's messages when I have the Bible?

Mother's Day 2012

Joe writes:    This year Mothers' Day falls on the 13th of May, which happens to be the 95th anniversary of the first apparition of Fatima, Portugal. It has been 95 years since Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the three shepherd children Lucia, Franscesco and Jacinta. The month of May has also been dedicated to the Blessed Mom and we keep the devotion through the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary.

Did you know that the Rosary was given to St Dominic during his fight against the Albigensian heresy? It is a weapon to fight ignorance of Sacred Scripture and ignorance of Church Teaching.

The Blessed Virgin Mary: She Really Is Your Mother

The Blessed Virgin Mary; the simple, poor and humble virgin of Nazareth who accepted
the role of mother of Jesus Christ and became mother of all He redeemed (Rev 12:17.)

Joe writes:    Among the most misunderstood teachings of the Church is ‘this thing about Mary’. A lot of people find it hard to accept her and many accusations are levelled at the Catholics for ‘inventing’ a goddess and use Mary’s name. Some say, Catholics confuse Jesus with Mary. In the latter accusation people cite such things as “*Immaculate conception”, “*Core-redemptrix and *Mediatrix of all graces”, “Mother of God” and “*The Hail Mary prayer – The Ave”.

Cardinal Dolan Responds To Obama Gay Marriage Support

ABC News

AP

This news headline caught my eye today: “Obama Gay Marriage Support Seen as World Precedent”. I have included below the response from Cardinal Dolan as posted on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website:

Churches Helped Ban Same-Sex Marriage

Here is some great news! It is particularly great news because I can also use an article from the National Catholic Newspaper to spread the word. I know that this will really annoy the bulk of its readership who appear to be in favour of gay marriage. The newspaper reports: “North Carolina became the 31st state and final Southern state to amend its constitution to ban same-sex marriage.” The newspaper reports further that: “Amendment One does not just deny gay couples the right to enter into a domestic union, but it also denies rights to all domestic partnerships and to children of these partnerships.”

Read more »

Cardinal Napier And Our Bishops On Twitter

One of my favourite Bloggers, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, recently posted a list of Cardinals who are on Twitter and ranked them in the order of which Cardinal has the most followers. I was very pleased to see a familiar name in position number ...

In The World, Not Of The World

I have on numerous occasions on this Blog mentioned my absolute disappointment and utter annoyance at the fact that The Southern Cross has repeatedly failed to publish anything significant regarding the HHS mandate in the US, which requires Catholic institutions in the US to pay for contraceptives, including those that are abortifacients. You can read my posts here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Tit Bits II: Prayer

Joe writes:    
Question: What is prayer and why do I have to pray?

Tit Bits I: Freewill

Joe writes:    
Question 1: Can the blessed in Heaven sin?

What is the Church?

The glory and riches of the Catholic Church, the gift of Almighty God to His human family. 

Joe writes:    In the just ended ecclesia effort by the Church in South Africa to catechise its members, we witnessed the coming into fruition of a ‘not so new concept’, which teaches that we are Church. May be it would be good at this point to examine why the doctrines and dogmas and even liturgy cannot be changed. 

Should Catholic Editors Read Inter Mirifica Again?

The National Catholic Reporter has again got its readers up in arms. This time it is over a statement that was made by a priest during a Mass in which a number of Catholic children received their first Holy Communion.