Glorious Scriptural Mysteries - Podcast
Archive for April, 2010
Scriptural Rosary Podcast – Glorious Mysteries
Posted in audio, Catholic, Christian, devotion, Prayer, Religion with tags audio, Catholic, Christian, devotion, Glorious, Just Praying Out Loud, mysteries, Peace Place, podcast, Prayer, Religion, Rosary on April 12, 2010 by JoannThe Spiritual Passover
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Religion, Spiritual, Tradition with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, Easter, homily, Passover, Peace Place, Pseudo-Chrysostom, reflection, Religion, Spiritual, Tradition on April 12, 2010 by JoannFrom an ancient Easter homily by Pseudo-Chrysostom
The spiritual Passover
The Passover we celebrate brings salvation to the whole human race beginning with the first man, who together with all the others is saved and given life.
In an imperfect and transitory way, the types and images of the past prefigured the perfect and eternal reality which has now been revealed. The presence of what is represented makes the symbol obsolete: when the king appears in person no one pays reverence to his statue.
How far the symbol falls short of the reality is seen from the fact that the symbolic Passover celebrated the brief life of the firstborn of the Jews, whereas the real Passover celebrates the eternal life of all mankind. It is a small gain to escape death for a short time, only to die soon afterward; it is a very different thing to escape death altogether as we do through the sacrifice of Christ, our Passover.
Correctly understood, its very name shows why this is our greatest feast. It is called the Passover because, when he was striking down the firstborn, the destroying angel passed over the houses of the Hebrews, but it is even more true to say that he passes over us, for he does so once and for all when we are raised up by Christ to eternal life.
If we think only of the true Passover and ask why it is that the time of the Passover and the salvation of the firstborn is taken to be the beginning of the year, the answer must surely be that the sacrifice of the true Passover is for us the beginning of eternal life. Because it revolves in cycles and never comes to an end, the year is a symbol of eternity.
Christ, the sacrifice that was offered up for us, is the father of the world to come. He puts an end to our former life, and through the regenerating waters of baptism in which we imitate his death and resurrection, he gives us the beginning of a new life. The knowledge that Christ is the Passover lamb who was sacrificed for us should make us regard the moment of his immolation as the beginning of our own lives. As far as we are concerned, Christ’s immolation on our behalf takes place when we become aware of this grace and understand the life conferred on us by this sacrifice. Having once understood it, we should enter upon this new life with all eagerness and never return to the old one, which is now at an end. As Scripture says: We have died to sin—how then can we continue to live in it?
Scriptural Rosary Podcast – Luminous Mysteries
Posted in Prayer, Religion with tags audio, Just Praying Out Loud, Luminous, Marian, mysteries, Peace Place, podcast, Prayer, Religion, Rosary, Scripture on April 11, 2010 by JoannDivine Mercy Sunday
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Religion with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, Communion of Saints, Divine Mercy, Divine Mercy Sunday, Hour of Mercy, Jesus, Peace Place, Religion, St. Faustina on April 11, 2010 by JoannHow great are the gifts of God? How great is His Mercy? How great is the gift of faith?! May all the world come to know Him and the reign of His Mercy.
Nuclear Posturing, Obama-Style
Posted in American with tags American, anthrax, biological, chemicals, deterrence, nuclear, Politics, threats, war, weapons on April 10, 2010 by JoannCharles Krauthammer : Nuclear Posturing, Obama-Style – Townhall.com.
Under President Obama’s new policy, however, if the state that has just attacked us with biological or chemical weapons is “in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),” explained Gates, then “the U.S. pledges not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against it.”
Imagine the scenario: Hundreds of thousands are lying dead in the streets of Boston after a massive anthrax or nerve gas attack. The president immediately calls in the lawyers to determine whether the attacking state is in compliance with the NPT. If it turns out that the attacker is up-to-date with its latest IAEA inspections, well, it gets immunity from nuclear retaliation. (Our response is then restricted to bullets, bombs and other conventional munitions.)
However, if the lawyers tell the president that the attacking state is NPT noncompliant, we are free to blow the bastards to nuclear kingdom come.
This is quite insane. It’s like saying that if a terrorist deliberately uses his car to mow down a hundred people waiting at a bus stop, the decision as to whether he gets (a) hanged or (b) 100 hours of community service hinges entirely on whether his car had passed emissions inspections.
Apart from being morally bizarre, the Obama policy is strategically loopy. Does anyone believe that North Korea or Iran will be more persuaded to abjure nuclear weapons because they could then carry out a biological or chemical attack on the U.S. without fear of nuclear retaliation?
The naivete is stunning. Similarly the Obama pledge to forswear development of any new nuclear warheads, indeed, to permit no replacement of aging nuclear components without the authorization of the president himself. This under the theory that our moral example will move other countries to eschew nukes.
Read all here.
Easter Gift in Song
Posted in Christian with tags celebrate, Christian, Easter, gift, lyrics, offering garageband, song on April 10, 2010 by JoannSt_Joseph_Catholic_Church_Choir-The_Jesus_Gift
The Jesus Gift
Shall I gather emeralds
Shall I bring Him gold
Shall I shower diamonds
White hard, bright cold
Shall I spangle jewels
Like stars above
Give Him laughter
Bring peace filled laughter
Offer him warm laughter and loveShall we gather emeralds
Shall we bring Him gold
Shall we shower diamonds
White hard, bright cold
Shall we spangle jewels
Like stars above
Give him laughter
Bring peace filled laughter
Offer him warm laughter and loveSimplest of gifts
Gentlest of hearts
Kindness He’ll use as He leads
So give him these gifts
Hand Him your heart
Honor His birth and you’ll need noEmeralds nor rubies
Silver nor gold
Neither bright diamonds
White hard, bright cold
Spangle not rich jewels
Like stars above
You’ll have laughter
Sweet peace filled laughter
Simple warm laughter and loveSimple warm laughter and love
Simple warm laughter and love
Lyrics by Gilbert M. Martin (1941
Solid Potato Salad
Posted in Video with tags backbone, dancing, singers, song, spineless, Video on April 8, 2010 by JoannWhen life was simpler and having a backbone wasn’t a problem.
Patriotic Blessing
Posted in American, People, Photography with tags American, blessing, flag, patriot, People, Photography on April 8, 2010 by Joann
The little boy in this photo carried this American flag with him up to communion at this morning’s Mass. What a blessing!
Scriptural Rosary Podcast
Posted in audio, Catholic, Lent, Our Lady, Prayer with tags audio, Catholic, Glorious, Joyful, Just Praying Out Loud, Lent, Luminous, Our Lady, podcast, Prayer, Rosary, rosary mysteries, Scripture, sorrowful, Timeless Treasures on April 6, 2010 by Joann
Joyful Scriptural Mysteries - Podcast
Luminous Scriptural Mysteries - Podcast
Sorrowful Scriptural Mysteries Pt.1
Sorrowful Scriptural Mysteries Pt. 2
Glorious Scriptural Mysteries - Podcast
by Joann Nelander
Rabbi Yehuda Leven – Abortion
Posted in Anti-abortion, Pro-life, Video with tags Anti-abortion, choice, moral, Pro-life, Video on April 5, 2010 by JoannThe Easter Praise of Christ
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Faith with tags Catholic, Christ, Faith, ransom, Redemption, reflection, resurrection on April 4, 2010 by JoannFrom an Easter homily by Melito of Sardis, bishop
The Easter praise of Christ
We should understand, beloved, that the paschal mystery is at once old and new, transitory and eternal, corruptible and incorruptible, mortal and immortal. In terms of the Law it is old, in terms of the Word it is new. In its figure it is passing, in its grace it is eternal. It is corruptible in the sacrifice of the lamb, incorruptible in the eternal life of the Lord. It is mortal in his burial in the earth, immortal in his resurrection from the dead.
The Law indeed is old, but the Word is new. The type is transitory, but grace is eternal. The lamb was corruptible, but the Lord is incorruptible. He was slain as a lamb; he rose again as God. He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, yet he was not a sheep. He was silent as a lamb, yet he was not a lamb. The type has passed away; the reality has come. The lamb gives place to God, the sheep gives place to a man, and the man is Christ, who fills the whole of creation. The sacrifice of the lamb, the celebration of the Passover, and the prescriptions of the Law have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Under the old Law, and still more under the new dispensation, everything pointed toward him.
Both the Law and the Word came forth from Zion and Jerusalem, but now the Law has given place to the Word, the old to the new. The commandment has become grace, the type a reality. The lamb has become a Son, the sheep a man, and man, God.
The Lord, though he was God, became man. He suffered for the sake of those who suffer, he was bound for those in bonds, condemned for the guilty, buried for those who lie in the grave; but he rose from the dead, and cried aloud: Who will contend with me? Let him confront me. I have freed the condemned, brought the dead back to life, raised men from their graves. Who has anything to say against me? I, he said, am the Christ; I have destroyed death, triumphed over the enemy, trampled hell underfoot, bound the strong one, and taken men up to the heights of heaven: I am the Christ.
Come, then, all you nations of men, receive forgiveness for the sins that defile you. I am your forgiveness. I am the Passover that brings salvation. I am the lamb who was immolated for you. I am your ransom, your life, your resurrection, your light, I am your salvation and your king. I will bring you to the heights of heaven. With my own right hand I will raise you up, and I will show you the eternal Father.
Greatest Story – They Keep Coming
Posted in Religion with tags homily, miracle, Reflections, Religion, sermon on April 4, 2010 by JoannFrom the Easter Vigil homily of Deacon Greg Kandra:
Here, and now, we are seeing the ongoing miracle of not just any story, but the Greatest Story Ever Told. You and I are a part of it. The seven people who are candidates and catechumens in our church tonight, about to join our faith, they are a part of it. Over a billion people around the world are a part of it.
The statistics are staggering. In 2008, 19 million people entered the Church. That’s 2,169 every hour. 36 every second. And the numbers just keep growing.
We could speculate why that’s so. But ultimately, it comes to this: they are drawn by hope. It is a hope that is stronger than despair… a truth that towers over a world of falsehood… the Light of the World that scatters every darkness.
That, in all its greatness and mystery and wonder, is our faith.
Read Deacon Greg’s homily here.
Easter “Praises of God”
Posted in Art, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Faith, Prayer, Religion with tags Art, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Easter, Empty Tomb, Faith, God, Jesus Christ, meditation, painting, praises, Prayer, Religion, Victory on April 4, 2010 by Joann
Praises of God
- You are encircling Love.
- You are abiding strength
- You are the constant “Hound of Heaven”
- You are my Spouse, my Love.
- You are my All-in-All.
- You are my surrounding Presence.
- You are the joy of my life.
- You are my dearest Friend.
- You are my “nudger” when I am weak.
- You are my encouraging companion.
- You fill my life with purpose and meaning.
- You are gentle, caring and compassionate.
- Your are beauty, sweet unction for my soul.
- You are impregnating Presence filling all life.
- You are my precious guide and protector.
- You are my Counselor, my Lover, My Friend.
- You are Wisdom, Truth and Peace.
- You are so human and so divine.
- You are mystery, urging us on.
- You draw us to Your Father and give us Your Life-giving Spirit.
- You keep showing us Your Mother to also honor and love.
- You are filled with amazing surprises.
- You mend our broken hearts, mind and body.
- You are water for the thirsty.
- You are bread for the hungry.
- Your are Creator, Redeemer, Risen Lord.
- You enflesh us with Your image and likeness, Your very life-giving breath.
- You are healing when we humbly acknowledge our brokenness.
- You are forgiving when we fail.
- You sense our needs before we know them.
- You are the hand that holds us close to Your Heart.
- You are the Indwelling Presence that makes us special.
- You are the Light that illumines our darkness.
- You are peace for longing, agonizing hearts.
- You are the flower that perfumes our life.
- Your are the smile that brings acceptance.
- You are the most precious friend that we cannot so without.
Amen! Amen!
by Sister La Donna Pinkelman, OSF Sylvania, Ohio
Happy Easter! In Appreciation “Take & Eat”
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Communion of Saints, Culture, Darkness/Light, Easter, Fr. Dan Butler, gratitude., Jesus, Prayer, Priesthood, priests, RIP, sacrament on April 4, 2010 by JoannHappy Easter Everyone!
This glorious morning, we will celebrate the Mass of Easter. After hearing the sermons and summonings of Lent, after fulfilling our “Easter Duty,”and after a week of holy preparation and solemn Liturgies, Easter is splendidly here. It is Jesus , Who has been at the center of our preparation. Jesus, the Christ, our Lord!
Throughout this time,who else has enabled us to fulfill the mandate of Christ, “Take and eat!” Who is it that have heard our confessions and blessed us in His Name, and in His Person? It is those upon whom He breathed His peace, empowered to forgive and sent forth with His authority, His holy priests, ministering His holy sacraments.
Thank you holy Fathers, faithful Fathers, faith-filled Fathers! It is into your care that Jesus entrusted His flock. We. a flawed People, yet a royal priesthood, a kingly, and prophetic People, thank you, our flawed in your humanity, and yet gloriously appointed and anointed Priesthood. Happy, holy Easter, dear Fathers. May you be forever blessed!
What’s Hot – What’s Not
Posted in Just Thinking Out Loud with tags Just Thinking Out Loud, thingies, tips on April 3, 2010 by JoannSomebody stop me! or Obama Cures Insomnia: just ask him anything. ……..a la Wahington Post
How Hungry Can A Little Black Hole Be? - a question for Switzerland and the Large Hadron Collider folks……….a la Another Think
…..a la Glenn Reynolds
Update: Gathering His Chicks
Posted in Music with tags ducks, Elmo, family, lyrics, Music, Video fun on April 3, 2010 by JoannUpdate: Gathering His Chicks : H/T Lizard Queen for an updated version of the Little Ducks song (Now Elmo’s Ducks and lyrics)
Elmo had four ducks (quack quack quack quack)
four birds of a feather (quack quack quack quack)
to waddle with (quack quack quack quack)
and quack together. (quack quack quack quack)
But then one day… one swam away
Oh gosh oh gee… Elmo just had three.Elmo had three ducks (quack quack quack)
three birds of a feather (quack quack quack)
to waddle with (quack quack quack)
and quack together (quack quack quack)
But then one day… one went achoo!
And off he flew… so Elmo just had two. Read more »
Jimmy Akin: Evil Monster Update
Posted in Lent, News with tags abuse, clergy, Darkness/Light, Jimmy Akin, Lent, Media Bias, News, NYT attack piece, scandal, You Would Think on April 3, 2010 by JoannJimmy Akin follows up:
I’d like to thank The Anchoress and Andrew Sullivan for linking my previous piece on Cardinal Ratzinger and the Murphy case, and for the kind things they said about it.
There is more to say about the story. Quite a bit, actually. In particular, I’ll be responding to Sullivan, and I’ll be able to report on the German story, but first there are some additional facts to get on the table regarding the Wisconsin one.
Let’s start with a piece by Fr. Thomas Brundage (pictured), who writes:
I was the Judicial Vicar for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee from 1995-2003. During those years, I presided over four canonical criminal cases, one of which involved Father Lawrence Murphy. Two of the four men died during the process.
Interesting that Brundage says two of the four men died during the process. Contrary to what you would think from press reports, Murphy appears to be one of the two, given what shortly will become clear.
In any event, a 50% death rate seems to indicate aggressive prosecution of men even when they are quite old or in ill health. So already a picture is forming of Brundage as presiding over a vigorous court.
He has not been pleased with the New York Times’ (and other outlets’) reportage on the Murphy case:
As I have found that the reporting on this issue has been inaccurate and poor in terms of the facts, I am also writing from a sense of duty to the truth.
The fact that I presided over this trial and have never once been contacted by any news organization for comment speaks for itself.
Yeowch!
In 1996, I was introduced to the story of Father Murphy, formerly the principal of St. John’s School for the Deaf in Milwaukee. It had been common knowledge for decades that during Father Murphy’s tenure at the school (1950-1974) there had been a scandal at St. John’s involving him and some deaf children. The details, however, were sketchy at best.
Courageous advocacy on behalf of the victims (and often their wives), led the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to revisit the matter in 1996.
“Courageous advocacy” suggests that there was a struggle requiring courage to get the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to act, presumably this involved the argument that Fr. Murphy’s crimes were committed long ago and that he was no longer in the diocese. Nevertheless . . . Read more »
Why I Remain Catholic
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Lent, Priesthood, Religion with tags Anchoress, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, holiness, Lent, life, NPR, priest, Priesthood, Reflections, Religion, scandal, sexual abuse, sin on April 3, 2010 by JoannToday, On Good Friday, Here’s Why I Remain Catholic
Though the ill aspects of the Catholic Church have recently been highlighted in the news, commentator Elizabeth Scalia says the good aspects have never gotten enough attention.
Published: April 02, 2010
by Elizabeth Scalia
Elizabeth Scalia is a contributing writer to First Things Magazine as the blogger known as The Anchoress.
The question has come my way several times in the past week: “How do you maintain your faith in light of news stories that bring light to the dark places that exist within your church?”
When have darkness and light been anything but co-existent? How do we recognize either without the other?
I remain within, and love, the Catholic Church because it is a church that has lived and wrestled within the mystery of the shadow lands ever since an innocent man was arrested, sentenced and crucified, while the keeper of “the keys” denied him, and his first priests ran away. Through 2,000 imperfect — sometimes glorious, sometimes heinous — years, the church has contemplated and manifested the truth that dark and light, innocence and guilt, justice and injustice all share a kinship, one that waves back and forth like wind-stirred wheat in a field, churning toward something — as yet — unknowable.
The darkness within my church is real, and it has too often gone unaddressed. The light within my church is also real, and has too often gone unappreciated. A small minority has sinned, gravely, against too many. Another minority has assisted or saved the lives of millions.
But then, my country is the most generous and compassionate nation on Earth; it is also the only country that has ever deployed nuclear weapons of mass destruction.
My government is founded upon a singular appreciation of personal liberty; some of those founders owned slaves.
My family was known for its neighborliness and its work ethic; its patriarch was a serial child molester.
Read the complete essay here.
Surprise – Sin Abounds!
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Faith, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent with tags Catholic, Christian, Church, Faith, forgiveness, grace, Just Thinking Out Loud, Lent, perfection, Reflections, romans, sin on April 2, 2010 by Joann
It should be no surprise; Sin abounds! The human race is awash with, riddles with, mired in and drowning under, Sin. It is our natural state of being without a Savior. From the day we are born, leaving Eden, so to speak, we become the star of our universe, maybe, more like a Black Hole. We can’t help trying to draw all things to ourselves. With myiads of rationalizations and excuses to suit our ages and pretensions, the event horizon is approached and we are doomed. Sin in its rational disguises is irrational and drives us like a madman. It is the Dark, clouding out the true Sun.
The real surprise in life is that where sin abounds grace abounds all the more! It can be stated that God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. Romans 5:20.
Our Savior comes still today to save us. Being “churched” does not perfect us; God does, in His own time. If we open our hearts in repentance, Jesus gives us His forgiveness and cancels the debt against us. Perfect comes later, sometimes, much later.
The euphemistic blessing, “May you live in interesting times.” is said to be the least severe of three curses, the others being:
- “May you come to the attention of those in authority.”
“May you find what you are looking for.”
Fortunately, for us, the Living, we live in glorious times. Sin abounds and we are saved! God for His part has done the work, we need but claim the Victory. The offer is always at hand in nail-pierced hands. Grace abounds all the more! Alleluia!
Must Read: Why I Remain A Catholic
by Elizabeth Scalia The Anchoress
