I first saw this great photo at American Papist the other day. But today it dawned on me how appropriate it is. After all our first Pope wrote in 1st Peter “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. ” Our Pope knocks the roaring lion down to a more appropriate size.
Actor Gary Graham (Alien Nation, Enterprise) writes a powerful piece on his going from pro-abortion to pro-life. Hat Tip Barbara Nicolosi.
It’s not easy being me let me tell you. I went to a silent retreat. Turns out it was a regular retreat, just nobody wanted to talk to me. I can’t get no respect.
When I was a child I was possessed by a Demon. When my bed lifted up in the air my mother told the Demon to hold it up there while she got the dust mop. I didn’t even spew pea soup, more like Cambell’s Chicken Noodle. Turned out I was possessed by a very minor Demon who couldn’t even get his Latin declensions right and ran at the sight of Holy Water. No respect I tell you.
When I received Confirmation the Bishop slapped me. I asked him “I thought we didn’t do that anymore?” He told me in my case he made an exception.
My parents used to read me stories from the Desert Fathers every night. I thought this was great until I got a one way ticket to the Sahara on my birthday. I tell you it’s hard being me.
When I received the Precious Blood via the chalice they didn’t wipe it off afterward, they retired it. I just can’t get no respect.
I once went to a retreat house of a progressive order of nuns. They sent me to a prayer labyrinth. Took me 5 days to get out of there. No respect. Later they gave me directions to protest the missiles at the local military base, turns out it was during a live firing.
I went to confession and told the priest my typical laundry list of sins. He said “I have just heard the confession of a child – Damien from the Omen.” No respect and he have me 1500 Hail Marys to boot.
I finally got a spiritual director. He told me that I must follow his direction exactly and not question his advice. He asked me if I could do that. I said yes and he said “Good, then leave and never come back.” I tell you it is really hard being me.
I thought I might have a vocation to the priesthood. I met with 30 different vocations director and they all said I had a vocation to be a hermit. No respect, though one of them was nice enough to give me directions to a local cave.
After that I considered that I wanted to be a Cistercian monk and follow in the footsteps of Thomas Merton. The Cistercian novice master sent me to a hotel room in Thailand and told me to plug in the fan. I offer it up I tell you, but it ain’t easy being me.
So maybe I was called to the married life. I signed up with an online Catholic dating service. I filled out the profile honestly. The next day I got an email on details on becoming a consecrated virgin. Well Jesus got no respect either, so who am I to complain?
I went on pilgrimage to Lourdes. After waiting in line all day they told me to come back when the lines died down. Well Mary told St. Bernadette she wouldn’t be happy in this life, I just hope I can get some respect in the next one.
I have a devotion to St. Therese the Little Flower. I was praying to her to intercede for me and I asked for a sign. Sure enough next day somebody gave me some Rose stems.
You think you have it hard? Well try to be me. I went to a Protestant Bible study. They told me to come back later. I asked when, they said when they get to Maccabees. No respect even from my separated brethren.
It ain’t easy being me and I thank God for the Psalms so that I can commiserate with that King David guy. Jonah had plenty of off days also. Now can someone point me to a parish where they don’t make me sit in the cry room?
Damian Thompson on Twitter tweeted “You have to wonder – what do you have to be on to write a song called Alleluia Ch-Ch.” The song by Paul Inwood is even worse than the title indicated. If you are looking for a severe penance for Lent here goes. We have enough crappy liturgical song writers here so OCP does not have to import one from England.
Fr. Cory Sticka tweeted in reply “You know, it might make a great test for hiring music ministers: if they think it’s good, NEXT”
Congratulations to Patrick of the Seize the Dei blog who has been hired by Catholic Answers full-time to replace Jerry Usher.
It has come to our attention that Bishop Richard Williamson, a member of our Society, granted an interview to a Swedish network. In this interview, he also commented on historical issues, especially on the genocide of Jews by the National-Socialist regime. It is obvious that a bishop speaks with religious authority solely on matters of faith and morals. Our Society claims no authority over historical or other secular matters.
The mission of the Society is the offering and restoration of authentic Catholic teaching, as reflected in the traditional dogmas. We are known, accepted and appreciated worldwide for this.
We view this matter with great concern, as this exorbitance has caused severe damage to our religious mission. We apologize to the Holy Father and to all people of good will for the trouble it has caused.
It must remain clear that those comments do not reflect in any way the attitude of our community. That is why I have forbidden Bishop Williamson to issue any public opinion on any political or historical matter until further notice.
Hopefully that also includes doing film reviews.
Or will he split off from the SSPX and for the SSSPX (Son of SSPX)?
Ian at Aquinas & More Catholic goods has now setup a Catholic Store Finder
You can now do a search for stores all over the United States using our map, zip codes or store name. You can also search for stores outside the United States by postal code or name. Our details on stores outside of North America is very limited but we will be expanding as information is provided.
The store finder currently shows store contact information, a map and any trade group affiliations and also will note if the store guarantees the faithfulness of its products to the Magesterium and also if the store doesn’t carry products from China.
Once again we get such words of wisdom from our Catholic Speaker of the House. And yeah I know every other Catholic pundit has already posted on this.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?
PELOSI: Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children’s health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those – one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So no apologies for that?
PELOSI: No apologies. No. We have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy.
Well at least she did not give a Patristic reason for this like she previously tried to do with St. Augustine. A comment like this really leaves you flabbergasted. She has expanded Satre to “Hell is other person’s children.” Yes those economy destroying children that are just going to use government resources. So let us just work toward preventing them. A hysterectomy or vasectomy in every pot. In fact if we nuke some of the more populated cities we can really reduce cost. We should at least license pregnancy to ensure that too many drains on the economy aren’t born. It is your patriotic duty not to have children in this economy. A downturn in the economy requires a downturn in family size. Wow just think about how this will help the baby goods market! We must contracept ourselves into economic growth. Hey I guess that makes sense. If we can spend our way into prosperity we can contracept into a Bull market.
Of course I wonder how they plan to pay for the “stimulus” plan which our children and grandchildren are going to get stuck with the bill if they aren’t there to help pay it? They should be all for population growth to support the Ponsi scheme called Social Security and the tons of debt they are incurring.
The whole argument is so silly, but it becomes much more annoying when a Catholic (who received Communion during the Pope’s visit) says this. Though I guess Speaker Pelosi is in a large company of Catholics who say no to the truth of Church teaching on contraception. Since Humanae Vitae we pretty much have let every one from those in the pew to theologians have a pass when dissenting on this issue. “Just follow your conscience” has been the cry from so many who were suppose to be helping in forming consciences.
I would hope that her Bishop Archbishop George H. Niederauer would say something about her promotion of a intrinsic evil. Her last foolish comments were a teaching moment that a score of bishops used to actually teach. One thing you can say about Speaker Pelosi is that he creates plenty of teachable moments. As American Papist reminds us it has been a 143 days since Speaker Pelosi accepted the invitation to speak to her bishop. I guess she can find no time for her bishop since she has Malthusian plans to unfold. Maybe she is wondering “What does a girl have to do to get herself denied Communion?” Vote for abortion over many years and praise contraception and I guess you are still not obstinately persisting in manifest grave sin. Gee I guess Nancy Pelosi’s soul is just not all that important.
A reader sent me a link to this creepy video.
At the 40th anniversary celebration of Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, attendees were asked to write about a time when Planned Parenthood made a difference in their lives or in someone else’s. Sean Lukasik and Rhonda Morton then created an improvised soundscape from the writings.”
The operatic “My first pelvic exam, my first birth control” is especially creepy. Plus with a typical Sarah Palin bash.
Via Cranky Catholic
Carl E. Olson and Sandra Miesel discuss the NBC mini-series “The Last Templars” which starts tonight. It is based on the book of the same name and is in the mode of Da Vinci Code tripe. Their discussion focuses on the actual history and the abrupt end of the Templars. As always with these two authors it is an excellent and informative conversation. [Go here to download MP3 file]
Chance that I will watch this mini-series is zero.