When the going gets tough, Catholic on!
Archive for the Lent Category
Ash Wednesday – Little Black Mark on Your Head Today
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Faith, Holy Spirit, In a nutshell, Lent with tags Ash Wednesday, ashes, Catholic, Culture, Lent, Religion, Spiritual, Video on February 22, 2012 by JoannaGolgotha of Jasna Gora
Posted in Art, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Faith, Lent, Spirituality, The Cross, Tradition with tags Art, Ash Wednesday, Catholic, cross, crucifixion, golgotha, Illustration, Jerzy Duda Gracz, Jesus, Lent, life, Poland, priests, The Passion on February 21, 2012 by Joanna
St. Bridget’s 15 Prayers
Posted in Lent, My Journal with tags 15 prayers, Cathoic, Christian, St. Bridget on March 18, 2011 by JoannaScriptural 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 Joanna
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
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 JoannaJimmy 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 JoannaToday, 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 Joanna
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
Golgotha of Jasna Gora
Posted in Art, Catholic, Lent with tags Art, Catholic, cross, crucifixion, golgotha, Illustration, Jerzy Duda Gracz, Jesus, Lent, life, painting, priests, Religion on April 2, 2010 by JoannaWonderful St. Michael Prayer
Posted in Catholic, Christian, devotion, Lent, Prayer with tags Catholic, Christian, Communion of Saints, consecration, devotion, Lent, Prayer, protection, St. Michael on March 31, 2010 by JoannaAct of Consecration to St. Michael
Oh, most Noble Prince of the Angelic Hierarchies, valorous warrior of Almighty God, and zealous lover of His glory, terror of the rebellious Angels, and love and delight of all the just, my beloved Archangel Saint Michael, desiring to be numbered among thy devoted servants, today I offer and consecrate myself to thee, and place myself, my family and all I possess under thy most powerful protection.
I entreat thee not to look at how little I, as thy servant have to offer, being only a wretched sinner, but to gaze rather with favorable eye at the heartfelt affection with which this offering is made, and remember that if from this day onward I am under thy patronage, thou must during all my life assist me and procure for me the pardon of my many grievous offenses and sins, the grace to love with all my heart my God, my dear Saviour Jesus, and my Sweet Mother Mary, and obtain for me all the help necessary to arrive to my crown of glory.
Defend me always from my spiritual enemies, particularly in the last moments of my life.
Come then oh glorious Prince and succour me in my last struggle, and with thy powerful weapon cast far from me into the infernal abysses that prevaricator and proud Angel that one day thou didst prostrate in the celestial battle.
Accompany me then to the throne of God to sing with thee, Archangel Saint Michael and all the Angels, praise, honour and glory to the One Who reigns for all eternity. Amen.
When We Were Dead In Sin
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Lent, Lenten Reading with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, cross, Jesus, Lent, Lenten Reading, Reflections, savior, sin, St. Basil on March 30, 2010 by JoannaFrom the book On the Holy Spirit by Saint Basil, bishop
By one death and resurrection the world was saved
When mankind was estranged from him by disobedience, God our Saviour made a plan for raising us from our fall and restoring us to friendship with himself. According to this plan Christ came in the flesh, he showed us the gospel way of life, he suffered, died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. He did this so that we could be saved by imitation of him, and recover our original status as sons of God by adoption. Read more »
Tears For the Feet of Jesus
Posted in Art, Lent, Lenten Reading, Music, The Cross with tags Art, faults, Lent, Lenten Reading, mercy, Music, sin, tears, The Cross, Timeless Treasures, vengence on March 30, 2010 by JoannaDrop, drop, slow tears, and bathe those beauteous feet,
which brought from heaven the news and Prince of Peace.Cease not, wet eyes, his mercies to entreat;
to cry for vengeance sin doth never cease.In your deep floods drown all my faults and fears;
nor let his eye see sin, but through my tears.Words: Phineas Fletcher (1582-1650)
Making a Palm Cross
Posted in Lent, The Cross, Tradition, Video with tags cross, glass, Lent, palm, Sunday, The Cross, Tradition, Video on March 28, 2010 by JoannaI’ve watched a bunch of these videos and here are two that are pretty clear and easy to follow.
Mazel tov!
or
or for the ambitious, try it in glass!
Who Are You In The Passion of Christ?
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Faith, Lent, Lenten Reading, People with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, Faith, Joanna, John, Joseph of Arimathea, Judas, Lent, Lenten Reading, Magdalen, Nicodemus, passion, People, Pilate, Reflections, story, thief on March 27, 2010 by JoannaFr.Celsus repeatedly and passionately asked, “Who are you in the story?”
He said that if you are church and this is your story, you must be in it. Who are you? Are you Pilate, who knows the truth and yet rejects it out of fear to chose and serve the world? Are you the good thief on the cross, condemned for sins you really did commit? Are you John, the Beloved Disciple, standing with Mary, the Mother of Jesus? Who are you in the story?
From a homily by Saint Gregory Nazianzen,
We are soon going to share in the Passover
We are soon going to share in the Passover, and although we still do so only in a symbolic way, the symbolism already has more clarity than it possessed in former times because, under the law, the Passover was, if I may dare to say so, only a symbol of a symbol. Before long, however, when the Word drinks the new wine with us in the kingdom of his Father, we shall be keeping the Passover in a yet more perfect way, and with deeper understanding. He will then reveal to us and make clear what he has so far only partially disclosed. For this wine, so familiar to us now, is eternally new.
It is for us to learn what this drinking is, and for him to teach us. He has to communicate this knowledge to his disciples, because teaching is food, even for the teacher.
So let us take our part in the Passover prescribed by the law, not in a literal way, but according to the teaching of the Gospel; not in an imperfect way, but perfectly; not only for a time, but eternally. Let us regard as our home the heavenly Jerusalem, not the earthly one; the city glorified by angels, not the one laid waste by armies. We are not required to sacrifice young bulls or rams, beasts with horns and hoofs that are more dead than alive and devoid of feeling; but instead, let us join the choirs of angels in offering God upon his heavenly altar a sacrifice of praise. We must now pass through the first veil and approach the second, turning our eyes toward the Holy of Holies. I will say more: we must sacrifice ourselves to God, each day and in everything we do, accepting all that happens to us for the sake of the Word, imitating his passion by our sufferings, and honoring his blood by shedding our own. We must be ready to be crucified.
If you are a Simon of Cyrene, take up your cross and follow Christ. If you are crucified beside him like one of the thieves, now, like the good thief, acknowledge your God. For your sake, and because of your sin, Christ himself was regarded as a sinner; for his sake, therefore, you must cease to sin. Worship him who was hung on the cross because of you, even if you are hanging there yourself. Derive some benefit from the very shame; purchase salvation with your death. Enter paradise with Jesus, and discover how far you have fallen. Contemplate the glories there, and leave the other scoffing thief to die outside in his blasphemy.
If you are a Joseph of Arimathea, go to the one who ordered his crucifixion, and ask for Christs body. Make your own the expiation for the sins of the whole world. If you are a Nicodemus, like the man who worshipped God by night, bring spices and prepare Christs body for burial. If you are one of the Marys, or Salome, or Joanna, weep in the early morning. Be the first to see the stone rolled back, and even the angels perhaps, and Jesus himself.
Purification in the Paschal Mystery
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Constitution, Faith, Lent, Lenten Reading with tags Catholic, Christian, Church, Constitution, document, Faith, family, human, Lent, Lenten Reading, purification, transformation, values, Vatican on March 20, 2010 by JoannaFrom the pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world of the Second Vatican Council
(Gaudium et spes, nn. 37-38)
All human activity is to find its purification in the paschal mystery
Holy Scripture, with which the experience of the ages is in agreement, teaches the human family that human progress, though it is a great blessing for man, brings with it a great temptation. When the scale of values is disturbed and evil becomes mixed with good, individuals and groups consider only their own interests, not those of others.
The result is that the world is not yet a home of true brotherhood, while the increased power of mankind already threatens to destroy the human race itself.
If it is asked how this unhappy state of affairs can be set right, Christians state their belief that all human activity, in daily jeopardy through pride and inordinate self-love, is to find its purification and its perfection in the cross and resurrection of Christ.
Man, redeemed by Christ and made a new creation in the Holy Spirit, can and must love the very things created by God. For he receives them from God, and sees and reveres them as coming from the hand of God.
As he gives thanks for them to his Benefactor, and uses and enjoys them in a spirit of poverty and freedom, he enters into true possession of the world, as one having nothing and possessing all things. For all things are yours, and you are Christs, and Christ is Gods.
The Word of God, through whom all things were made, himself became man and lived in the world of men. As perfect man he has entered into the history of the world, taking it up into himself and bringing it into unity as its head. He reveals to us that God is love, and at the same time teaches us that the fundamental law of human perfection, and therefore of the transformation of the world, is the new commandment of love.
He assures those who have faith in Gods love that the way of love is open to all men, and that the effort to restore universal brotherhood is not in vain. At the same time he warns us that this love is not to be sought after only in great things but also, and above all, in the ordinary circumstances of life.
He suffered death for us all, sinners as we are, and by his example he teaches us that we also have to carry that cross which the flesh and the world lay on the shoulders of those who strive for peace and justice.
Constituted as the Lord by his resurrection, Christ, to whom all power in heaven and on earth has been given, is still at work in the hearts of men through the power of his Spirit. Not only does he awaken in them a longing for the world to come, but by that very fact he also inspires, purifies and strengthens those generous desires by which the human family seeks to make its own life more human and to achieve the same goal for the whole world.
The gifts of the Spirit are manifold. He calls some to bear open witness to the longing for a dwelling place in heaven, and to keep this fresh in the minds of all mankind; he calls others to dedicate themselves to the service of men here on earth, preparing by this ministry the material for the kingdom of heaven.
Yet he makes all free, so that, by denying their love of self and taking up all earths resources into the life of man, all may reach out to the future, when humanity itself will become an offering acceptable to God.
Loved This!
Posted in In a nutshell, Lent with tags failure, Faith, grace, In a nutshell, Lent on March 18, 2010 by JoannaH/T the Anchoress:
Priest: ‘I think I’ve lost my faith.’ Cardinal Cushing: ‘Don’t flatter yourself; you’re just bored.’ — Sermon
“We are not meant to ’succeed’ at Lent, but to fail and know our dependence upon Grace.”
TotusTuus – St. Louis De Montfort
Posted in Catholic, Christian, devotion, Lent, Mary, Mother of God, Video with tags Catholic, Christian, cosecration, devotion, From My Solitude, Lent, Mary, Mother of God, St. Louid Marie de Montfort, totus tuus, Video on March 12, 2010 by JoannaExplanation of Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary:
