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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 521

by Jeffrey Miller September 5, 2024September 5, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

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

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week, from 30 August 2024 to 5 September 2024.

Angelus

  • 1 September 2024 – Angelus, 1st September 2024

Homilies

  • 5 September 2024 – Apostolic Journey to Indonesia’ Holy Mass in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (Jakarta)

Messages

  • 30 August 2024 – Message of the Holy Father to the Youth of the Amalfi Coast on the occasion of the Meeting ‘Instruments of Peace’ in Scala (Salerno)

Speeches

  • 30 August 2024 – To Participants in the Plenary of the Dicastery for Evangelization
  • 31 August 2024 – To Directors and employees of the ‘Terna’ Group
  • 31 August 2024 – To Participants in the General Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
  • 4 September 2024 – Apostolic Journey to Indonesia’ Meeting with Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Consecrated Persons, Seminarians and Catechists in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Jakarta)
  • 4 September 2024 – Apostolic Journey to Indonesia’ Meeting with the Authorities, Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps in the Istana Negara Presidential Palace Hall (Jakarta)
  • 5 September 2024 – Apostolic Journey to Indonesia’ Meeting with beneficiaries from Charitable Organizations in the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference Headquarters (Jakarta)
  • 5 September 2024 – Apostolic Journey to Indonesia’ Interreligious Meeting in the Istiqlal Mosque (Jakarta)

Papal Instagram

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 520

by Jeffrey Miller August 29, 2024August 29, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

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

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week, from 17 July 2024 to 28 August 2024.

Angelus

  • 25 August 2024 – Angelus

General Audiences

  • 28 August 2024 – General Audience – Catechesis. Sea and desert

Messages

  • 17 July 2024 – Message of the Holy Father to mark the XVII Inter-Christian Symposium
  • 1 August 2024 – Message of the Holy Father to the Catholic Guide and Scout Association of Italy (AGESCI) (1st August 2024)
  • 3 August 2024 – Message of the Holy Father for the National Eucharistic Congress in Madagascar
  • 21 August 2024 – Message of His Holiness Pope Francis, signed by the Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on the occasion of the 74th National Liturgical Week [Modena, 26–29 August 2024]
  • 21 August 2024 – Message of the Holy Father to the participants in the European Forum Alpbach

Speeches

  • 24 August 2024 – To the Participants in the meeting promoted by the International Catholic Legislators Network
  • 26 August 2024 – To the General Chapter of the Oblates of Saint Joseph
  • 26 August 2024 – To Families of the Victims of the Beirut Port Explosion (Lebanon, 2020)
  • 28 August 2024 – To Participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions (C.E.L.R.A.)

Papal Instagram

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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 519

by Jeffrey Miller August 22, 2024August 22, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

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

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week, from 19 July 2024 to 21 August 2024.

Angelus

  • 18 August 2024 – Angelus

General Audiences

  • 21 August 2024 – General Audience – Cycle of Catechesis. The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope. 6. ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me’. The Holy Sp

Messages

  • 19 July 2024 – Message of His Holiness Pope Francis, signed by the Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on the occasion of the 45th Meeting for Friendship among Peoples [Rimini, 20–25 August 2024] (19 July 20

Papal Instagram

  • Franciscus
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Other

A Rightly Considered Adventure

by Jeffrey Miller August 17, 2024August 17, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller

A lovely morning today and I was out and about riding my bike. I was quite enjoying my ride and looked forward to the part that takes me across Ortega Rivers Bridge, a draw bridge built in 1927. The bridge is so excited to see even modest boats that it raises its bascule leaves in salute and stands at attention until the boat passes. On this occasion, as I approached the bridge, I saw a line of cars indicating it was raised. As luck would have it the bridge had just lowered and the barrier lifted as I approached without having to stop. I thought this was a nice omen for that day.

It was only a couple miles later that I was hoping the sound I was hearing was the rougher grade of road I was riding on. Pulling off the road I saw that I had a flat tire. So much for nice omens.

bikeflat
My poor bike!

It was not long until I had taken the tire off, and a bit longer to replace the inner tube with a new one.

While I was repairing my bike, I was thinking of the G.K. Chesterton quote:

An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.

I was thankfully calm about this annoyance and had some gratitude about the nice summer day and just being capable of going out on long rides in the first place. This GKC frame of mind was aided since I was listening to Ian Ker’s Chesterton biography.

My bike was all put back together and I was pumping up the tire, seemingly to no avail. Portable bike pumps do take quite a while and it seemed each stroke produced the amount of air the Big Bad Wolf would exude if he had asthma. I soon knew something was up and that I had a bad valve or hole in the new inner tube which had been scrunched into a bike pouch for over a year.

On this scenic route that I take headed to downtown Jacksonville, I knew there was a bike shop about a mile ahead of me. It turned out to be a pleasurable route, while walking my bike, that takes me into an area with a bunch of small shops and crowds of people enjoying the day.

I am appreciative of a small local shop and they soon had me back to my day’s adventure. There was indeed a hole in my replacement tube.

My next stop took me adjacent to the St. John’s river and a park and then downtown to the Riverside Arts Market where each Saturday you can find food trucks, live music, and lots of booths selling food, paintings, and other crafts.

Before my ride back home, I stopped for some Filipino Meat on a Stick. In the Philippines, us sailors would call this affectionally and jokingly as Dog on a Stick, as we bought them from street vendors.

My ride back home was uneventful in the meaning that there were no more mishaps on the way back. Yet quite eventful as in meaning, full of events of scenery and signs of life continuing on. My longer than expected morning to afternoon ride had kept me from being home earlier and missing the time I could have spent in doom scrolling social media and news. My bike had a flat, but life is not flat and I need reminders of this and to just live in the moment.

August 17, 2024August 17, 2024 0 comment
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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 518

by Jeffrey Miller August 15, 2024August 15, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

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

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week, from 29 June 2024 to 15 August 2024.

Angelus

  • 11 August 2024 – Angelus
  • 15 August 2024 – Angelus, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Messages

  • 29 June 2024 – Message of the Holy Father to participants in the Youth Festival (Mladifest) [Medjugorje, 1 – 6 August 2024]

Speeches

  • 12 August 2024 – To Participants in the General Chapters of’ Dominican Missionary Sisters of Saint Sixtus, Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sisters of the Presentation of Mary Most Holy in the Temp

Papal Instagram

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Punditry

The Weekly Francis – Volume 517

by Jeffrey Miller August 8, 2024August 8, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

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

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week, from 17 July 2024 to 7 August 2024.

Angelus

  • 4 August 2024 – Angelus

General Audiences

  • 7 August 2024 – General Audience – Cycle of Catechesis. The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope. 5. Incarnate by the work of the Holy Spirit, from th

Homilies

  • 5 August 2024 – Celebration of Vespers on the occasion of the anniversary of the Dedication of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major and the Solemnity of Mary of the Snows

Letters

  • 17 July 2024 – Letter of the Holy Father on the Role of Literature in Formation

Speeches

  • 3 August 2024 – To the Seminarians of the Major Seminary of Getafe, Spain
  • 7 August 2024 – To the Afghan Community Association in Italy

Papal Instagram

  • Franciscus
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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 516

by Jeffrey Miller August 1, 2024August 1, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

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

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week, from 27 June 2024 to 30 July 2024.

Angelus

  • 21 July 2024 – Angelus
  • 28 July 2024 – Angelus

Messages

  • 27 June 2024 – Message of the Holy Father for the Olympic Games

Speeches

  • 30 July 2024 – To Participants in the XIII International Pilgrimage of Altar Servers to Rome

Papal Instagram

  • Franciscus
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Humor

Sacramental Disposal, LLC

by Jeffrey Miller July 18, 2024July 18, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller

Many people who have been Catholic for a length of time come to have a similar problem. Just what do you do with all the blessed sacramentals you have accumulated that have seen better days?

You have worn a scapular so long that you can no longer tell which image is the front or the back or it has become so tattered that it is basically now a string.

Your cat or your own clumsiness has knocked over a statue so many times that the hands, arms, and even the head are reattached multiple times with superglue.

You have a drawer full of rosary parts from broken rosaries you are going to get around to fix one day.
Or perhaps the crucifixes broken and now accidentally a Tau cross and you’re not a Franciscan. Or the ones where, apparently, Jesus answered the mocking Pharisees by coming down from the Cross.

Then there are the tarnished and corroded religious medals that you’re keeping around or will clean up later.

So exactly what do you do about this?

Eventually, sacramentals wear down. Crucifixes break, as do rosaries. Candles burn out, and scapulars tear. If a sacramental reaches a state where it is beyond repair or its effective use, the object should be disposed of properly. Even in a tattered state, the object has been blessed by the Church and should be treated correctly, even in private possession.

The proper way to dispose of a sacramental is to burn it or bury it. Not only do these methods of disposal show the correct reverence, but they prevent the sacramental from falling into the wrong hands and from desecration—the loss of a particular quality of sacredness. Sacramentals are desecrated by abusive behavior, crude use, or destruction to the point of being unusable. Even desecrated sacramentals, to maintain the reverence due to them, should be disposed of in the ways laid out above. Shaun McAfee, Catholic Answers magazine

Not everyone has the property to bury blessed sacramentals or burning a large amount of them might require a bonfire not allowed by your apartment manager or HOA.

That is why we here at Sacramental Disposal, LLC have developed the perfect product for Catholics serious about their faith with a serious amount of blessed sacramentals to be disposed.

Introducing the “My Mount Doom” the ultimate burning solution for all your toughest blessed sacramentals. Inspired by the legendary forge of the One Ring, this compact, high-powered device brings unparalleled melting capabilities.

My Mount Doom

Key Features:

Extreme Heat Generation

• Capable of reaching temperatures up to 5,000°C, My Mount Doom can burn virtually any material, including metal, plaster, and even certain ceramics. Even those beads of uncertain material!

Compact and Portable

• Designed for convenience, this device is lightweight and easily transportable, making it perfect for both clergy and lay use. Its compact size allows for easy storage and handling.

User-Friendly Interface

Even if you have been on a long dangerous trek with your best friend and are not only sleep-deprived and almost despairing, you can operate the intuitive digital control panel to adjust and monitor sacramental disposal in real time.

Safety First

Our advanced finger detection technology will make sure you don’t lose a finger trying to dispose of an item. If an accident occurs, press the Gondor Emergency Button (Pat. Pend) to have Great Eagles dispatched to your location.

Available Now

Accept no substitutes or other inferior products and order your My Mount Doom today at your local Catholic Book Store. Plus, while you are there, you can pick up replacement sacramentals to have blessed later.

July 18, 2024July 18, 2024 0 comment
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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 515

by Jeffrey Miller July 18, 2024July 18, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

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

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week, from 29 June 2024 to 15 July 2024.

Angelus

  • 7 July 2024 – Pastoral Visit to Trieste’ Angelus
  • 14 July 2024 – Angelus

Homilies

  • 7 July 2024 – Pastoral Visit to Trieste’ Eucharistic Concelebration

Messages

  • 29 June 2024 – Message of the Holy Father to mark the 1500th anniversary of the cult of the venerated image of Saint Mary in Portico (Romanae Portus Securitatis)

Speeches

  • 7 July 2024 – Pastoral Visit to Trieste’ Address of the Holy Father
  • 15 July 2024 – To the Participants in the Chapters of’ Clerics of Saint Viator, Clerics Regular Minor, Minims, Augustinian Sisters of Divine Love, Reparatrix Sisters of the Sacred Heart and in the Provincial Chapter

Papal Instagram

  • Franciscus
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The Weekly Francis

The Weekly Francis – Volume 514

by Jeffrey Miller July 11, 2024July 11, 2024
written by Jeffrey Miller
pope-francis2-300x187

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

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week, from 24 June 2024 to 10 July 2024.

Apostolic Letter

  • 1 July 2024 – Statutes of the ‘Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network’ Vatican Foundation (1st July 2024)

Messages

  • 29 June 2024 – Message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the IV Centenary of the discovery of the Relics of Saint Rosalia
  • 10 July 2024 – Message of the Holy Father to the Participants in the ‘AI Ethics for Peace’ Gathering [Hiroshima, 9–10 July 2024]

Speeches

  • 24 June 2024 – To the Members of the ‘Circolo San Pietro’
  • 26 June 2024 – To a delegation from the Bologna Mosque

Papal Instagram

  • Franciscus
July 11, 2024July 11, 2024 0 comment
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Newer Posts
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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 8

  • 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 7

  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 6

  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 5

  • The Weekly Leo – Volume 4

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

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Endorsements

  • 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

Archives

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.
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

Meta

I also blog at Happy Catholic Bookshelf Twitter
Facebook
Entries RSS
Entries ATOM
Comments RSS 2.0" >RSS
Email: curtjester@gmail.com

What I'm currently reading

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Archives

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