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The Curt Jester

"It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it." GKC

The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 349 – 17 February 2021

by Jeffrey Miller February 17, 2021May 26, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

pope-francis2-300x187

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 11 November 2020 to 17 February 2021.

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

Angelus

  • 14 February 2021

Homilies

  • 17 February 2021 – Holy Mass, Blessing and Imposition of the Ashes

Messages

  • 11 November 2020 – Lent 2021: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem” (Mt 20:18). Lent: a Time for Renewing Faith, Hope and Love
  • 12 February 2021 – Message of the Holy Father, signed by Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relation with States of the Holy See, on the occasion of the virtual event promoted by the FAO for “World Pulses Day”
  • 15 February 2021 – Video Message of the Holy Father in memory of the Coptic Martyrs killed in Libya

Speeches

  • 12 February 2021 – To a Delegation from the European Institute of International Studies, in Stockholm

Papal Tweets

  • “Through the intercession of #OurLadyOfLourdes, patroness of the sick, let us ask the Lord to grant health of soul and body to all those who suffer due to illness and the current pandemic. May He give strength to those who assist them in this time of trial.” @Pontifex 11 February 2021
  • “On the #WorldDayOfTheSick special attention goes toward those who are ill and to those who assist them. I think especially of those who suffer the consequences of the #coronavirus pandemic. I express my nearness to everyone, especially to the poorest.” @Pontifex 11 February 2021
  • “Those who put arms into the hands of children instead of food, books and toys commit a crime not only against the little ones, but against all of humanity. #ChildrenNotSoldiers” @Pontifex 12 February 2021
  • “#Radio has this beautiful trait: it carries the word to the most distant places #WorldRadioDay” @Pontifex 13 February 2021
  • “Each of us might experience wounds, failure, suffering, selfishness that make us close ourselves off from God and others. In the face of all this, Jesus draws near with compassion and touches our life to heal it. #GospelOfTheDay” @Pontifex 14 February 2021
  • “May the intercession of Saints Cyril and Methodius, evangelizers of the Slavic people, help us find new ways to communicate the Gospel and that the Christian churches grow in their desire to walk toward full unity while respecting differences.” @Pontifex 14 February 2021
  • “We are created to love and through the conjugal union of a man and a woman, this vocation is lived reciprocally and in complete and definitive communion of life. On this memorial of St Valentine, I accompany engaged and married couples with my prayer.” @Pontifex 14 February 2021
  • “May the Lord inspire everyone to draw near to those who suffer, especially children, and to put the weakest in first place. I entrust the doctors and all sick children to the Virgin Mary so that with her mother affection she might look after them. #ICCDay” @Pontifex 15 February 2021
  • “To understand God’s plan for our lives better, let us seek to strengthen our relationship with Him through #Prayer. Thus we will discover that God is a compassionate Father who always takes care of us” @Pontifex 15 February 2021
  • “Let us pray together today in memory of twenty-one Coptic Martyrs: may they intercede for us all before the Father. Video Message” @Pontifex 15 February 2021
  • “This haste, this everything right now, does not come from God. If we get worked up about the right now, we forget what remains forever: we follow the passing clouds and lose sight of the sky.” @Pontifex 16 February 2021
  • “During this season of #conversion, let us renew our faith, draw from the “living water” of hope, and receive with open hearts the love of God, who makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. #Lent
    Message” @Pontifex 17 February 2021
  • “We are now embarking on our #LentenJourney, which opens with the words of the prophet Joel. They point out the path we are to follow. We hear an invitation that arises from God: “Return to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12). Lent is a journey of return to God.” @Pontifex 17 February 2021
  • “Today we bow our heads to receive #ashes. #Lent is a humble descent both inwards and towards others. It is about realizing that salvation is not an ascent to glory, but a descent in love. It is about becoming little. Homily” @Pontifex 17 February 2021
  • “Let us return to the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, to the Fire that resurrects our #ashes. Let us pray once more to the Spirit and rediscover the fire of praise, which consumes the ashes of lamentation and resignation. #Lent” @Pontifex 17 February 2021

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Fish Sandwich Insurance
Humor

Fish Sandwich Insurance

by Jeffrey Miller February 16, 2021May 26, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is offering “insurance” for its flounder sandwich. If the flounder doesn’t suit customers’ palates, then they can replace it with chicken. The Cajun-seasoned flounder filet, which will be a contestant on our upcoming fish sandwich review, is expected to be a staple of the Popeyes menu for the six weeks leading up to Easter.

The insurance option is only available on Thursday, February 18 (and only when purchased through the Popeyes app). The idea is that those who are going meatless on Friday can test out the flounder on Thursday. Since no one would want a fish sandwich replaced with chicken on an abstinence day, they are only offering the promotion for one day. The insurance costs 15 cents, which should still keep the sandwich under $5.

Source: Aleteia

More proof that Popeyes is pronounced “Pope Yes”

February 16, 2021May 26, 2021 1 comment
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Sacramental Delivery Service
The Weekly Francis

Sacramental Delivery Service

by Jeffrey Miller February 13, 2021May 26, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

Sacramental Delivery Service

Canadian diocese offering ‘take home’ containers for Ash Wednesday

After seeing this story I am thinking of getting into the sacramental delivery business. A business where people could have sacramentals such as ashes delivered directly to their homes.

I will call it DoorAsh.

February 13, 2021May 26, 2021 1 comment
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Punditry

The Weekly Francis – Volume 348 – 10 February 2021

by Jeffrey Miller February 10, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 4 February 2021 to 10 February 2021.

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

Angelus

  • 7 February 2021

General Audiences

  • 10 February 2021

Messages

  • 4 February 2021 – Video Message of the Holy Father of the Holy Father to mark the celebration for the first International Day of Human Fraternity and the presentation of the winners of the first Zayed Prize 2021 for Human Fraternity
  • 4 February 2021 – Video message of the Holy Father to the participants in the Fourth International Conference on music, promoted by the Pontifical Council for Culture
  • 8 February 2021 – Video Message of the Holy Father to the participants in the World Day of Prayer, Reflection and Action Against Human Trafficking

Speeches

  • 6 February 2021 – To participants in the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement
  • 8 February 2021 – To the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See

Papal Tweets

  • “There is no time today for indifference. Either we are brothers and sisters, or everything will fall apart. Fraternity is the new frontier for humanity on which we need to build; it is the challenge of our century. @alimamaltayeb #HumanFraternity Message” @Pontifex 4 February 2021
  • “Social friendship and universal fraternity necessarily call for an acknowledgement of the worth of every human person, always and everywhere. #FratelliTutti” @Pontifex 5 February 2021
  • “In the spirit of human fraternity, I invite everyone not to forget the most vulnerable populations, and to give particular attention to neglected tropical diseases that affect the poorest people. Let us promote the necessary treatments so that no one will be left behind.” @Pontifex 6 February 2021
  • “Let us to allow Jesus to heal us – we always need this, everyone – so that we might in our turn be witnesses to God’s healing tenderness. #GospelOfTheDay” @Pontifex 7 February 2021
  • “Once again I would like to assure my spiritual closely and solidarity to the people of Myanmar. And I am praying so that all those with leadership responsibilities in the country might make themselves sincerely available to serve the common good.” @Pontifex 7 February 2021
  • “I would like to make an appeal in favor of unaccompanied minors, those who find themselves on the so called ”Balkan route“ and those on all the other ”routes“. May they not lack the care they deserve or the and preferential humanitarian channels because of us.” @Pontifex 7 February 2021
  • “Let us ask for the grace that our eyes might see the drama of our brothers and sisters who are the victims of trafficking in persons, and for the courage to act so that our communities will be free of slavery. #PrayAgainstTrafficking” @Pontifex 8 February 2021
  • “The wounds of our brothers and sisters exploited by human trafficking cry out to us. They are victims of an economic system that, by maximizing profit, causes ”the human person to be commotidized“. Let us all be committed to a just and solidary economy. #PrayAgainstTrafficking” @Pontifex 8 February 2021
  • “The International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking encourages us to not stop praying and fighting together so that every person who is enslaved might be restored to freedom. #PrayAgainstTrafficking Message” @Pontifex 8 February 2021
  • “#Fraternity is the true cure for the pandemic and the many evils that have affected us. Along with vaccines, fraternity and hope are, as it were, the medicine we need in today’s world. Speech” @Pontifex 8 February 2021
  • “All of us are responsible for the communications we make, for the information we share, for the control that we can exert over fake news by exposing it. All of us are to be witnesses of the truth. #SaferInternetDay” @Pontifex 9 February 2021
  • “The person who prays is like someone in love with the beloved in his or her heart wherever they go. So we can pray at any moment, and during what happens every day: on the street, in the office, on public transportation, through words and in the silence of our hearts. #Prayer” @Pontifex 10 February 2021
  • “I express my closeness to the victims of the calamity that happened in #India where part of a glacier separated itself provoking violent flooding that devastated two power plants. I pray for the workers who died, for their families and for all those who were wounded.” @Pontifex 10 February 2021

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Punditry

The Weekly Francis – Volume 347 – 03 February 2021

by Jeffrey Miller February 3, 2021February 3, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 6 January 2021 to 3 February 2021.

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

Angelus

  • 31 January 2021

Homilies

  • 2 February 2021 – Holy Mass on the 25th World Day For Consecrated Life

Messages

  • 6 January 2021 – Message for World Mission Day 2021
  • 19 January 2021 – Video message of the Holy Father to the participants in the national Meeting of Bishops and Priests of Venezuela
  • 2 February 2021 – Message of the Holy Father to the organisers and participants at the Fifth Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum
  • 2 February 2021 – XXV World Day for Consecrated Life – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Speeches

  • 29 January 2021 – Inauguration of the Judicial Year of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota
  • 30 January 2021 – To Participants in the meeting promoted by the national Catechetical Office of the Italian Episcopal Conference
  • 1 February 2021 – To a Delegation from the “Catholic News Service”

Papal Tweets

  • “The words of the Sacred Scripture were not written to remain imprisoned on papyrus, parchment or paper, but to be received by a person who prays, making them blossom in his or her heart. #Prayer #WordOfGod” @Pontifex 28 January 2021
  • “The history of evangelization began with the Lord’s own passionate desire to call and enter into friendly dialogue with everyone, just as they are (Jn 15:12–17). Message” @Pontifex 29 January 2021
  • “The culture of life is the heritage that Christians want to share with everyone. Every human life, unique and unrepeatable, is priceless. This must be courageously proclaimed ever anew through word and action” @Pontifex 29 January 2021
  • “The Lord looks for us where we are, he loves us as we are, and he patiently walks by our side. With his word, he wants to change us, to invite us to live fuller lives and to put out into the deep together with him.” @Pontifex 30 January 2021
  • “When we read the Gospel by ourselves with an open heart, a little of its light and beneficial power always reaches us, enlightening, healing, consoling. #GospelOfTheDay Mk 1:21–28” @Pontifex 31 January 2021
  • “The pandemic has confirmed how necessary it is to protect the right to health for the weakest: I hope that the leaders of the nations may unite forces to cure those who are ill with Hansen’s disease and for their inclusion in society.” @Pontifex 31 January 2021
  • “Grandparents are the uniting link between generations to transmit to the young the experience of life and faith. Therefore, I have decided to institute the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly which will be held annually on the fourth Sunday of July.” @Pontifex 31 January 2021
  • “Video” @Pontifex 1 February 2021
  • “Let us contemplate God’s patience and implore the trusting patience of Simeon (Lk 2:25). In this way, may our eyes, too, see the light of salvation and bring that light to the whole world.” @Pontifex 2 February 2021
  • “The Lord does not call us to be soloists, but to be part of a choir that can sometimes miss a note or two, but must always try to sing in unison. #ConsecratedLife” @Pontifex 2 February 2021
  • “The Church evangelizes and is herself evangelized through the beauty of the Liturgy.Let us ask the grace of a personal and authentic encounter with the living Christ in the liturgical celebration,so that our lives might become a spiritual sacrifice offered to God.#GeneralAudience” @Pontifex 3 February 2021
  • “Tomorrow we will celebrate the first #HumanFraternityDay. Let us pray and work each and every day so that everyone might live fraternally together in our world and in peace.” @Pontifex 3 February 2021
  • “I would like to congratulate the UN Secretary General António Guterres, and Latifah Ibn Ziaten, Foundress of the Imad Association for Youth and Peace, winners of the 2021 #ZayedAward for #HumanFraternity. I thank both of you for your witness.” @Pontifex 3 February 2021

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Punditry

The Weekly Francis – Volume 346 – 27 January 2021

by Jeffrey Miller January 27, 2021January 27, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 3 December 2020 to 27 January 2021.

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

Angelus

  • 24 January 2021

General Audiences

  • 27 January 2021

Homilies

  • 24 January 2021 – Holy Mass on the occasion of the Sunday of the Word of God
  • 25 January 2021 – Solemnity of the Conversion of Saint Paul – Celebration of Second Vespers

Letters

  • 3 December 2020 – Letter sent by the Holy Father to Bernice King on the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr. Day [18 January 2021]

Messages

  • 23 January 2021 – LV World Communications Day, 2021 – “Come and See” (Jn 1:46). Communicating by Encountering People Where and as They Are

Papal Tweets

  • “Each one of us Christians is a branch of the one vine which is Jesus; and all of us together are called to bear the fruits of this common membership in Christ. #Prayer #ChristianUnity” @Pontifex 21 January 2021
  • “I strongly encourage all States and all people to work decisively toward promoting conditions necessary for a world without nuclear weapons, contributing to the advancement of #peace and multilateral cooperation which humanity greatly needs today.” @Pontifex 22 January 2021
  • “During this time of serious hardship, this #Prayer is even more necessary so that unity might prevail over conflicts. Our good example is fundamental: it is essential that Christians pursue the path toward full visible unity. #ChristianUnity” @Pontifex 22 January 2021
  • “I would like to devote this Message for World Communications Day this year to the invitation to “come and see” (Jn 1:46). In order to tell the truth we need to go and see, listen to people and confront reality. #WCD Message” @Pontifex 23 January 2021
  • “The #WordofGod took on a face. The invisible God let Himself be seen, heard and touched (see 1 Jn 1:1–3). The word is effective only if it is “seen”, if it engages us in experience, in dialogue. Thus, the invitation to “come and see” was, and continues to be, essential.” @Pontifex 23 January 2021
  • “The #WordOfGod consoles and encourages us. At the same time it summons us to conversion, challenges us, frees us from the bondage of our selfishness. For His word has the power to change our lives and to lead us out of darkness into the light.” @Pontifex 23 January 2021
  • “Jesus speaks of God to everyone, wherever they find themselves: he speaks “walking along the shore”,to fishermen who were “casting their nets” (Mk 1:16).He speaks to people in the most ordinary times and places. Here we see the universal power of the Word of God. #SundayOfTheWord” @Pontifex 24 January 2021
  • “Prior to every word of ours about God, there is his word to us, his Word who continues to tell us: “Do not be afraid, I am with you. I am at your side and I will always be there”. #SundayOfTheWord Homily” @Pontifex 24 January 2021
  • “May the Word of God sown in the soil of our hearts, lead us in turn to sow hope through closeness to others. Just as God has done with us. #SundayOfTheWord” @Pontifex 24 January 2021
  • “Let us not ignore God’s word! It is a love letter, written to us by the One who knows us best. In reading it, we again hear his voice, see his face and receive his Spirit. #SundayOfTheWord” @Pontifex 24 January 2021
  • “I wish to thank all those who, during this Week, have prayed and will continue to pray for #ChristianUnity.” @Pontifex 25 January 2021
  • “We are branches of the same vine, we are communicating vessels: the good and the bad each one does is poured out on the others. To the extent that we remain in God we draw closer to others, and to the extent that we draw closer to others we remain in God. #ChristianUnity” @Pontifex 25 January 2021
  • “Today we celebrate #RemembranceDay. To remember is an expression of humanity; it means being attentive because these things can happen again, starting with ideological proposals that are intended to save a people and end up destroying humanity.” @Pontifex 27 January 2021

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Punditry

The Weekly Francis – Volume 345 – 20 January 2021

by Jeffrey Miller January 20, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

Angelus

  • 10 January 2021
  • 17 January 2021

General Audiences

  • 13 January 2021
  • 20 January 2021

Letters

  • 10 January 2021 – Letter of the Holy Father to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding access of women to the ministries of Lector and Acolyte

Messages

  • 20 December 2020 – 29th World Day of the Sick 2021
  • 20 January 2021 – Message of the Holy Father to the 46th President of the United States of America Joseph R. Biden

Unknown

  • 10 January 2021 – Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio Spiritus Domini, modifying Canon 230 §1 of the Code of Canon Law regarding access of women to the ministries of Lector and Acolyte

Speeches

  • 20 January 2021 – To the soccer team of the city of La Spezia

Papal Tweets

  • “I extend my affection to the brothers and sisters of the Oriental Churches, Catholic and Orthodox, who celebrate the Nativity of the Lord today. To them, I wish them a Holy Christmas in the light of Christ our peace and our hope!” @Pontifex 7 January 2021
  • “May the Child of Bethlehem help us, then, to be generous, supportive and helpful, especially towards those who are vulnerable, the sick, those unemployed or experiencing hardship.” @Pontifex 8 January 2021
  • “Christmas is passing. But we must return to family life, to work, transformed, we must return glorifying and praising God for all that we have heard and seen. We must bring the good news to the world: Jesus is our saviour.” @Pontifex 9 January 2021
  • “This is the great meaning of #Christmas: God becomes man so that we can become children of God.” @Pontifex 10 January 2021
  • “The Father says to each one of us, as He did to Jesus: “You are my beloved Son”. We are God’s beloved children. This is our deepest identity. It is the first point of the spiritual life and we are reminded about it by Jesus first public gesture. #BaptismoftheLord” @Pontifex 10 January 2021
  • “Today I could not celebrate Baptisms in the Sistine Chapel, as is customary. I am praying for all the children who at this time are receiving Baptism, the Christian identity, the grace of forgiveness and of redemption.” @Pontifex 10 January 2021
  • “It is striking that the Lord spent most of his time on Earth living an ordinary life, without standing out. It is a beautiful message that reveals the greatness of daily life, the importance in God’s eyes of every gesture and moment of life, even the most simple.” @Pontifex 11 January 2021
  • “A society is all the more human to the degree that it cares effectively for its most frail and suffering members, in a spirit of fraternal love. Message” @Pontifex 12 January 2021
  • “We possess a great wealth that depends on what we are: the life we have received, the good within us, the indelible beauty God has given us by making us in his image. All these things make each of us precious in his eyes, each one of us is priceless and unique in history.” @Pontifex 12 January 2021
  • “n difficult and dark moments let us find the courage to say: ”Blessed are you, Lord“. Let us praise the Lord: this will be so good for us. #Prayer #GeneralAudience” @Pontifex 13 January 2021
  • “God overcomes the world’s evil by taking it upon himself. This is also how we can lift others up: not by judging, not by suggesting what to do, but by becoming neighbours, empathizing, sharing God’s love” @Pontifex 14 January 2021
  • “In each act of service, in every work of #mercy we perform, God manifests Himself; God sets His gaze upon the world.” @Pontifex 15 January 2021
  • “We are always on a journey in life. Let us choose the path of God! We will discover that there are no unexpected events, no uphill path, and no night that cannot be faced with Jesus.” @Pontifex 16 January 2021
  • “The design that God has for each one of us is always a design of love. And the greatest joy for every
    believer is to respond to that call, offering one’s entire being to the service of God and the brothers and sisters. #Angelus” @Pontifex 17 January 2021
  • “Let us pray together for our brothers and sisters of Sulawesi, in Indonesia, hit by a strong earthquake. May the Lord console and sustain the efforts of all those who are engaged in bringing aid. Let us also pray for the victims of the airplane accident in Indonesia.” @Pontifex 17 January 2021
  • “Today The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins. This year, the theme refers to Jesus’s counsel: “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit” (cf. Jn 15:5–9). #PrayTogether” @Pontifex 18 January 2021
  • “Jesus invites us to abide in Him so as to bear much fruit (see Jn 15:5–9). Abiding in the Lord means finding the courage to step outside of ourselves to take care of others’ needs and give a Christian witness in the world. #Prayer #UnityOfChristians” @Pontifex 19 January 2021
  • “After the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for His own, “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21). This means that we are not able to achieve unity with our own strength. Above all, unity is a gift, it is a grace to be requested through #prayer. #ChristianUnity” @Pontifex 20 January 2021
  • “The world’s faith depends on #ChristianUnity; in fact, the Lord asked that we be one “so the world might believe” (Jn 17:21). The world will not believe because of our convincing arguments, but because we have borne witness to that love that unites us and draws us near. #Prayer” @Pontifex 20 January 2021

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G.K. Chesterton on Satire
HumorPunditry

G.K. Chesterton on Satire

by Jeffrey Miller January 17, 2021May 26, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

“It may seem a singular observation to say that we are not generous enough to write great satire. This, however, is approximately a very accurate way of describing the case. To write great satire, to attack a man so that he feels the attack and half acknowledges its justice, it is necessary to have a certain intellectual magnanimity which realizes the merits of the opponent as well as his defects. This is, indeed, only another way of putting the simple truth that in order to attack an army we must know not only its weak points, but also its strong points. England in the present season and spirit fails in satire for the same simple reason that it fails in war: it despises the enemy.”

(Pope and the Art of Satire – Twelve Types 1903)

This is quintessential Chesterton who indeed lived this intellectual magnanimity. What we now most often have is just pure snark delivered in a point-scoring manner.

Reading Chesterton for me is like a daily examen of conscience.

From the same essay:

“Have we really learnt to think more broadly? Or have we only learnt to spread our thoughts thinner?”


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My Scripture Game
Punditry

My Scripture Game

by Jeffrey Miller January 17, 2021January 17, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

I have a game I compete against myself with.

At bedtime I try to recall the Gospel read at Mass each day. The reason I started to do with that I became rather annoyed how quickly I would forget what the readings were at Mass that day. That obviously the amount of attention I was paying to them was something I was only willing to save to short term memory.

At first when trying this I could rarely bring to mind what was the Gospel read that day was.

So now when I wake up I am pre-reading the daily readings and then try to give some time to mental prayer hopefully fueled by this. It does seem to help anchor prayer for me in that while distractions will always be part of the prayer life, this scriptural anchor can provide a fixed point to keep from drifting as much as I otherwise would.

Now playing this game each night the majority of the time I can rememberer at least the Gospel – not word-for-word, the general outline.

What is cool is that sometimes the day’s reading will come to me throughout the day.

Next maybe I will work on remembering the homily five minutes after hearing it. Possibly an impossible goal.

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The Leper and the Deadened Conscience
Punditry

The Leper and the Deadened Conscience

by Jeffrey Miller January 8, 2021January 8, 2021
written by Jeffrey Miller

Today’s Gospel involves the Leper who prostrates himself before Jesus and proclaims that Jesus can heal him if he so wills. The spiritual themes of leprosy have been explored throughout history as a parallel to sin and being unclean morally.

Today in the homily I heard an interesting take from a priest who is a convert and a retired Navy doctor.

He explored how in Hansen’s disease that the bacteria deadens the nerve endings to such a degree that the sense of touch or pain is lost in the members affected. He then went on to talk about how sin in our life can deaden our conscience such that we become seemingly immune to those sins in our life.

I thought this an interesting parallel which also got me thinking along the same lines. That even though we can deaden our conscience, God is still giving us the grace to break through this. We might go on for years being morally blind in an area and then start feeling pricks of conscience. While we easily might try once again to ignore such insights given to us, we also might start to cooperate with this grace received and to see our need for salvation and in particular a savior.

At least, this is how I see it and my own testimony in being given the grace to respond to God’s love in my own life. While my response is quite imperfect, it is much better than the paths I was on. It is quite gratifying to know that in my continuing prayer for God’s will for me to be made clean that Jesus will reply “I will, be clean”.

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About Me

Jeff Miller is a former atheist who after spending forty years in the wilderness finds himself with both astonishment and joy a member of the Catholic Church. This award-winning blog presents my hopefully humorous and sometimes serious take on things religious, political, and whatever else crosses my mind.

Conversion story

  • Catholic Answers Magazine
  • Coming Home Network

Appearances on:

  • The Journey Home
  • Hands On Apologetics (YouTube)
  • Catholic RE.CON.

Blogging since July 2002

Recent Posts

  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 16

  • Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle

  • Gratitude and Generosity

  • “The Heart and Center of Catholicism”

  • Post-Lent Report

  • Stay in your lane

  • Echoing through creation

  • Another Heaven

  • My Year in Books – 2024 Edition

  • I Have a Confession to Make

  • A Mandatory Take

  • Everybody is ignorant

  • Sacramental Disposal, LLC

  • TL;DH (Too Long;Didn’t Hear)

  • A Shop Mark Would Like

  • The Narrow Way Through the Sacred Heart of Jesus

  • Time Travel and Fixing Up Our Past

  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 15

  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 12

  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 10

  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 9

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Jeff Miller is a former atheist who after spending forty years in the wilderness finds himself with both astonishment and joy a member of the Catholic Church. This award winning blog presents my hopefully humorous and sometimes serious take on things religious, political, and whatever else crosses my mind.
My conversion story
  • The Curt Jester: Disturbingly Funny --Mark Shea
  • EX-cellent blog --Jimmy Akin
  • One wag has even posted a list of the Top Ten signs that someone is in the grip of "motu-mania," -- John Allen Jr.
  • Brilliance abounds --Victor Lams
  • The Curt Jester is a blog of wise-ass musings on the media, politics, and things "Papist." The Revealer

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I also blog at Happy Catholic Bookshelf Twitter
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Email: curtjester@gmail.com

What I'm currently reading

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Podcasts

•Catholic Answers Live Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•Catholic Underground Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•Catholic Vitamins Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•EWTN (Multiple Podcasts) Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•Forgotten Classics Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•Kresta in the Afternoon Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•SQPN - Tons of great Catholic podcasts Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•The Catholic Hack Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•The Catholic Laboratory Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•The Catholics Next Door Subscribe to Podcast RSS
•What does the prayer really say? Subscribe to Podcast RSS

Archives

Catholic Sites

  • Big Pulpit
  • Capuchin Friars
  • Catholic Answers
  • Catholic Lane
  • Crisis Magazine
  • New Evangelizers
  • Waking Up Catholic

Ministerial Bloghood

  • A Jesuit’s Journey
  • A Shepherd’s Voice
  • Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
  • Adam’s Ale
  • Archbishop Dolan
  • Bonfire of the Vanities
  • Cardinal Sean’s Blog
  • Da Mihi Animas
  • Domine, da mihi hanc aquam!
  • Father Joe
  • Fr. Roderick
  • Godzdogz
  • Laus Crucis
  • Omne Quod Spirat, Laudet Dominum
  • Orthometer
  • Priests for Life
  • Servant and Steward
  • Standing on My Head
  • The hermeneutic of continuity
  • This Week at Vatican II
  • Waiting in Joyful Hope
  • What Does The Prayer Really Say?

Bloghood of the Faithful

  • A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars
  • A Catholic Mom in Hawaii
  • A Long Island Catholic
  • A Wing And A Prayer
  • Acts of the Apostasy
  • Ad Altare Dei
  • AdoroTeDevote
  • Against the Grain
  • Aggie Catholics
  • Aliens in this world
  • Always Catholic
  • American Chesterton Society
  • American Papist
  • Among Women
  • And Sometimes Tea
  • Ask Sister Mary Martha
  • auntie joanna writes
  • Bad Catholic
  • Bethune Catholic
  • Big C Catholics
  • Bl. Thaddeus McCarthy's Catholic Heritage Association
  • Catholic and Enjoying It!
  • Catholic Answers Blog
  • Catholic Fire
  • Catholic New Media Roundup
  • Charlotte was Both
  • Christus Vincit
  • Confessions of a Hot Carmel Sundae
  • Cor ad cor loquitur
  • Courageous Priest
  • Creative Minority Report
  • CVSTOS FIDEI
  • Dads Called to Holiness
  • Darwin Catholic
  • Defend us in Battle
  • Defenders of the Catholic Faith
  • Disputations
  • Divine Life
  • Domenico Bettinelli Jr.
  • Dominican Idaho
  • Dyspectic Mutterings
  • Ecce Homo
  • Ecclesia Militans
  • Eve Tushnet
  • Eye of the Tiber
  • feminine-genius
  • Five Feet of Fury
  • Flying Stars
  • For The Greater Glory
  • Get Religion
  • GKC’s Favourite
  • God’s Wonderful Love
  • Gray Matters
  • Happy Catholic
  • Ignatius Insight Scoop
  • In Dwelling
  • In the Light of the Law
  • InForum Blog
  • Jeff Cavins
  • Jimmy Akin
  • John C. Wright
  • La Salette Journey
  • Laudem Gloriae
  • Lex Communis
  • Life is a Prayer
  • Man with Black Hat
  • Maria Lectrix
  • Mary Meets Dolly
  • MONIALES OP
  • Mulier Fortis
  • Musings of a Pertinacious Papist
  • My Domestic Church
  • Nunblog
  • Oblique House
  • Open wide the doors to Christ!
  • Over the Rhine and Into the Tiber
  • Patrick Madrid
  • Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate
  • Recta Ratio
  • Saint Mary Magdalen
  • Sonitus Sanctus
  • Southern-Fried Catholicism
  • St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association
  • Stony Creek Digest
  • Testosterhome
  • The Ark and the Dove
  • The B-Movie Catechism
  • The Crescat
  • The Daily Eudemon
  • The Digital Hairshirt
  • The Four Pillars
  • The Inn at the End of the World
  • The Ironic Catholic
  • The Lady in the Pew
  • The Lion and the Cardinal
  • The New Liturgical Movement
  • The Pulp.it
  • The Sacred Page
  • The Sci Fi Catholic
  • The Scratching Post
  • The Weight of Glory
  • The Wired Catholic
  • Two Catholic Men and a Blog
  • Unam Sanctam Catholicam
  • Video meliora, proboque; Deteriora sequor
  • Vivificat
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