Hello all,
This post has, unfortunately, been a long time in coming. I don't really want to go into all the details, as it involves others. Speaking for myself, I can say that the period of time beginning with my last semester of graduate school and continuing to the present - a period that, as of next month, will have encompassed three years - have easily been the most stressful and most frustrating of my life. I am painfully aware of the fact that God often puts these trials in our lives to test our faith and our fortitude; and with each passing day, I feel an ever-growing strain on both. There are many, many factors that go into what I am feeling and suffering right now, but they can be roughly divided into three categories: work, home life, and parish life (or lack thereof). The combined strain of living and working in a secular environment very hostile to the Catholic faith, being made to feel like a spiritual outcast in my own "culturally Catholic" family because of that same faith, experiencing the onset of financial and health problems that have made it difficult to move on with my life, and the fact that I have been afforded very few opportunities to put my degree to use in service to the Church has been a constant in my life these last few years, but the strain has become particularly pronounced in the past few months, and especially in the last few weeks.
I would ask that anyone reading this please offer up the following intentions: for the conversion of certain people who are very important to me but whose spiritual and emotional immaturity prevent them from seeing the truth (and which often lands them in easily avoidable trouble); that I may find a job that is not only less hostile to the Catholic faith, but which might even allow me to put my theology degree to better use; that I may find reliable transportation, which will afford me more opportunities to work my way out of my present predicament (not to mention regular access to my spiritual director); that my health and financial problems do not become an obstacle to the fulfillment of God's will in my life; and that my faith and my fortitude will not falter as I bear these crosses that God has seen fit to give me.
Please know that this is a two way street. I would not ask for your prayers if I was not willing to offer my own in return. If you would like me to offer up any prayer requests please feel free to e-mail me, or you can feel free to leave a comment with your prayer requests if you would like others to pray as well. Thank you ahead of time for your prayers. God bless!
In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald
P.S. I know the Rosary Reflection for the 3rd Joyful Mystery is a bit overdue; I promise to have it out soon.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
More News From the Culture of Death: Obama Names A Eugenicist "Science Czar"
I know I promised no more political posts for a while. This, however, goes well beyond politics.
Avowed enemy of the unborn and President-elect Barack Obama has just named Harvard physicist John Holdren as the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Holdren is, like so many other self-proclaimed scientific experts, convinced that man is causing the world to get warmer and that this trend spells climactic doom for the Earth. And, like most global warming zealots, he advocates population control as a solution to this alleged problem, clearly implying that man is a parasite on the planet. The Powerline blog has a good overview of the sheer hypocrisy of this selection and some of the potential dangers this selection poses here.
An often overlooked aspect of the "global warming" agenda is how nicely it dovetails with the aims of the eugenicists, especially where "population control" is concerned. Sometime soon, I plan to devote a lengthier blog post to this highly disturbing issue. Suffice it to say, I see any advocate of policies that address the "global warming" problem as either being counterproductive to the aims of the culture of life (at best) or as a handmaiden of the culture of death (at worst). The global warming cult has become the last refuge of the eugenicist movement, and those who rise in opposition to the alleged "consensus" of global warming deserve our support on this critical issue.
Let us remember this Christmas season exactly who and what Jesus Christ came to save, because it is no coincidence that the global warming cult has set itself up as a false savior that seeks to depose the real Savior in the minds and hearts of mankind. God bless!
Avowed enemy of the unborn and President-elect Barack Obama has just named Harvard physicist John Holdren as the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Holdren is, like so many other self-proclaimed scientific experts, convinced that man is causing the world to get warmer and that this trend spells climactic doom for the Earth. And, like most global warming zealots, he advocates population control as a solution to this alleged problem, clearly implying that man is a parasite on the planet. The Powerline blog has a good overview of the sheer hypocrisy of this selection and some of the potential dangers this selection poses here.
An often overlooked aspect of the "global warming" agenda is how nicely it dovetails with the aims of the eugenicists, especially where "population control" is concerned. Sometime soon, I plan to devote a lengthier blog post to this highly disturbing issue. Suffice it to say, I see any advocate of policies that address the "global warming" problem as either being counterproductive to the aims of the culture of life (at best) or as a handmaiden of the culture of death (at worst). The global warming cult has become the last refuge of the eugenicist movement, and those who rise in opposition to the alleged "consensus" of global warming deserve our support on this critical issue.
Let us remember this Christmas season exactly who and what Jesus Christ came to save, because it is no coincidence that the global warming cult has set itself up as a false savior that seeks to depose the real Savior in the minds and hearts of mankind. God bless!
Planned Parenthood President Upset Bush Protects Doctors From Forced Abortions
Surprise, surprise. And tomorrow, she'll continue to insult our intelligence with more B.S. about being "pro-choice."
Not the best segue into Christmas, I know; but it is a good reminder that neither the devil nor his minions ever takes a holiday (and we certainly can't expect them to observe a truce during holy days).
Link to Article
Not the best segue into Christmas, I know; but it is a good reminder that neither the devil nor his minions ever takes a holiday (and we certainly can't expect them to observe a truce during holy days).
Link to Article
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Advent Reflection: The Second Joyful Mystery - The Visitation
Note: This is the second in my series of Rosary Reflections.
This Second Joyful Mystery, more than any other, is truly the Mystery of the Advent season. Like the Blessed Mother, like Elizabeth, and like the unborn John the Baptist, we wait with joyful anticipation for the coming birth of Our Lord.
The account of The Visitation, which immediately follows the account of the Annunciation in Luke's Gospel, brings us our first narrative account after the event of the Incarnation, the first narrative in which Our Lord is physically present - body, blood, soul, and divinity - as true God and true man. The first thing that immediately strikes me about the following passage, taken from Luke 1:39-56, is the amazing effect the unborn Son of God has on all who are near Him. Indeed, all creatures rejoice at his presence - even the unborn child in Elizabeth's own womb - and the one who bears Him in her womb is given a special place of honor by virtue of His presence inside of her. The account, once again from the Douay Rheims Bible, is as follows:
"39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.
40 And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
51 He hath showed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house."
The wording of the opening verses of this account is absolutely beautiful. The reaction of the unborn child stands in stark contrast to the all-too-familiar present-day denigration of the humanity of the unborn child. It was the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who came over Elizabeth, that inspired this response from the child. And it was the greeting of the pregnant Mother of God - fittingly, the patroness of the unborn - which served as the catalyst for this prompting of the Holy Spirit. As Mary herself says in her subsequent Magnificat, she is merely a vessel whose soul magnifies the Lord. Indeed, her greeting to Elizabeth - as with her greeting to countless others throughout the history of the Church - not only serves as the prelude to direct divine action, it prepares the one being greeted for that action by making her more receptive. We often think of the Blessed Mother as an intercessor only in the sense that she brings our petitions before God, but we often forget that her role as intercessor also includes preparing us for God's response to those petitions.
The actions of Elizabeth and her unborn child also have parallels in our liturgical life. As the first vessel to carry Jesus Christ body, blood, soul, and divinity, Mary was the first and holiest of tabernacles. Elizabeth's words to Mary - which, like the words of the angel Gabriel, are repeated in prayer by millions worldwide each and every day - show that she understands the divine nature of the presence inside of Mary. Elizabeth adopts a prayerful, worshipful tone in the presence of her Lord, and proclaims her unworthiness to be in the presence of the Mother of her Savior (her status as an elder kinswoman to Mary notwithstanding). What we are seeing, then, is the first recorded act of adoration of the Word made flesh.
Elizabeth also makes it a point to thank Mary - as we all should - for believing the words of the angel Gabriel, and for consenting to let it be done unto her according to God's word. Elizabeth is the first to acknowledge the importance not only of Mary's status as the Mother of God, but of the significance of Mary consenting to this. For it was not until she said "yes" that the words of the angel were fulfilled, and it was through that "yes" that Our Savior entered into the world.
Mary, of course, makes it clear who the recipient of that adoration should be. She acknowledges that all generations will call her blessed, but only by virtue of what God did to and through her. And she does so in the form of one of the most beautiful prayers recorded in the written Word, one that has parallels to the Beatitudes that Jesus would later share in one of His most famous sermons. Both attest to the fact that the greatest shall become the least and - much like the poor young virgin from Galilee - the least shall become the greatest.
In keeping with that theme, Elizabeth is attended to in the final three months of her pregnancy by the Mother of her God. And thus does Mary help provide prenatal care for the one who would prepare the way for the coming of her divine Son. Then she goes back to her own home and, like the rest of us, awaits the joyous day when a Savior shall be born unto the world.
May you continue to have a joyous Advent season, and God bless!
In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald
This Second Joyful Mystery, more than any other, is truly the Mystery of the Advent season. Like the Blessed Mother, like Elizabeth, and like the unborn John the Baptist, we wait with joyful anticipation for the coming birth of Our Lord.
The account of The Visitation, which immediately follows the account of the Annunciation in Luke's Gospel, brings us our first narrative account after the event of the Incarnation, the first narrative in which Our Lord is physically present - body, blood, soul, and divinity - as true God and true man. The first thing that immediately strikes me about the following passage, taken from Luke 1:39-56, is the amazing effect the unborn Son of God has on all who are near Him. Indeed, all creatures rejoice at his presence - even the unborn child in Elizabeth's own womb - and the one who bears Him in her womb is given a special place of honor by virtue of His presence inside of her. The account, once again from the Douay Rheims Bible, is as follows:
"39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.
40 And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
51 He hath showed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house."
The wording of the opening verses of this account is absolutely beautiful. The reaction of the unborn child stands in stark contrast to the all-too-familiar present-day denigration of the humanity of the unborn child. It was the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who came over Elizabeth, that inspired this response from the child. And it was the greeting of the pregnant Mother of God - fittingly, the patroness of the unborn - which served as the catalyst for this prompting of the Holy Spirit. As Mary herself says in her subsequent Magnificat, she is merely a vessel whose soul magnifies the Lord. Indeed, her greeting to Elizabeth - as with her greeting to countless others throughout the history of the Church - not only serves as the prelude to direct divine action, it prepares the one being greeted for that action by making her more receptive. We often think of the Blessed Mother as an intercessor only in the sense that she brings our petitions before God, but we often forget that her role as intercessor also includes preparing us for God's response to those petitions.
The actions of Elizabeth and her unborn child also have parallels in our liturgical life. As the first vessel to carry Jesus Christ body, blood, soul, and divinity, Mary was the first and holiest of tabernacles. Elizabeth's words to Mary - which, like the words of the angel Gabriel, are repeated in prayer by millions worldwide each and every day - show that she understands the divine nature of the presence inside of Mary. Elizabeth adopts a prayerful, worshipful tone in the presence of her Lord, and proclaims her unworthiness to be in the presence of the Mother of her Savior (her status as an elder kinswoman to Mary notwithstanding). What we are seeing, then, is the first recorded act of adoration of the Word made flesh.
Elizabeth also makes it a point to thank Mary - as we all should - for believing the words of the angel Gabriel, and for consenting to let it be done unto her according to God's word. Elizabeth is the first to acknowledge the importance not only of Mary's status as the Mother of God, but of the significance of Mary consenting to this. For it was not until she said "yes" that the words of the angel were fulfilled, and it was through that "yes" that Our Savior entered into the world.
Mary, of course, makes it clear who the recipient of that adoration should be. She acknowledges that all generations will call her blessed, but only by virtue of what God did to and through her. And she does so in the form of one of the most beautiful prayers recorded in the written Word, one that has parallels to the Beatitudes that Jesus would later share in one of His most famous sermons. Both attest to the fact that the greatest shall become the least and - much like the poor young virgin from Galilee - the least shall become the greatest.
In keeping with that theme, Elizabeth is attended to in the final three months of her pregnancy by the Mother of her God. And thus does Mary help provide prenatal care for the one who would prepare the way for the coming of her divine Son. Then she goes back to her own home and, like the rest of us, awaits the joyous day when a Savior shall be born unto the world.
May you continue to have a joyous Advent season, and God bless!
In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald
Friday, December 19, 2008
A Favor Gladly Fulfilled
I was pleasantly surprised a few days ago to receive an e-mail from a representative of the communications office for the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), the wonderful Catholic television apostolate founded by Mother Angelica, which has brought the Word of God to millions of viewers worldwide for 27 years. How someone affiliated with EWTN came to learn of the existence of my blog is one of those wonderful, mysterious little blessings I have learned over the years not to question. At any rate, I was asked if I would be willing to share occasional press releases concerning EWTN programming and events. How could I say no? The first such release can be found below. I pray everyone is having a wonderful Advent season, and that all are preparing their hearts for the birth of Our Lord. God bless!
In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald
EWTN
PRESS RELEASE
December 15, 2008
For Information, Please Contact:
Michelle Johnson
Director of Communications
EWTN Global Catholic Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale, Alabama 35210-2198 USA
(205) 795-5769 – Office
(205) 441-6248 – Cell
(205) 795-5781 – Fax
mjohnson@ewtn.com
EWTN's Christmas Specials To Include
"The Star of Bethlehem" Documentary from
"The Passion of the Christ" Producer
Irondale, AL (EWTN) – Christmas specials on EWTN Global Catholic Network this year include a new documentary proving the existence of the Star of Bethlehem from the producer of "The Passion of the Christ") as well as classics with stars such as Loretta Young, Christopher Plummer, Frankie Avalon, Snooky Larson, June Valli, Mario Lanza, and Rosalind Russell. There is literally something for everyone. Highlights include: (All times below are U.S. Eastern Time.)
"The Star of Bethlehem"
From "The Passion of the Christ" Producer Stephen McEveety comes a documentary that proves the existence of the Star of Bethlehem, whose existence has been debated for centuries by historians, scientists and scholars. "Either they believe the Star is true or they think it was made up by the early Church," says Texas A&"M Professor Rick Larson. "I took a different approach in my research and treated the Star as a mystery or puzzle, looking at the Bible and comparing the facts of Scripture with facts from science and history." (10 a.m. Dec. 21, 11 p.m. Dec. 25, 8 p.m. Dec. 27, 3 a.m. Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 29, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 31)
"The San Juan Children's Choir Presents: Siempre Navidad (Always Christmas)"
This festive concert, with music from around the world, displays the joyful spirit of Christmas in Puerto Rico. (30-minute version: 9 a.m. Dec. 20. 60-minute version: 6 p.m. Dec. 22 and 4 p.m. Dec. 27)
"The Story of the Selfish Giant"
A grandfather uses Oscar Wilde's timeless tale to unlock the true meaning of Christmas for his granddaughter. This is a charming story with a strong Christian message about the meaning of love and sacrifice. It is bound to become one of your Christmas favorites.
(10:30 a.m. Dec. 20 and 4 p.m. Dec. 26).
"The Chimes"
Written by Charles Dickens and narrated by Derek Jacobi, this is the story of a poor and discouraged 19th Century porter. Chiming church bells magically transport him to the future where his hope is renewed. (4 p.m. Dec. 23 and 6 a.m. Dec. 27)
"Loretta Young: 3 & 2 Please"
Academy Awarding Winning Actress Loretta Young starts as "Sister Ann," a nun who brightens the lives of patients in a Catholic hospital at Christmas. (6:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 11 a.m. Dec. 23, 2:30 a.m. Dec. 26, and 2:30 a.m. Dec. 27)
"The First Christmas"
Narrated by Christopher Plummer, this colorful animated production tells the traditional story of the birth of Jesus. (4:30 p.m. Dec. 24, 11 a.m. Dec. 25, and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 27)
"The Promise"
A 1967 dramatization of the Annunciation and Nativity, followed by a brief discussion of the film by Father Patrick Peyton and Frankie Avalon. (2:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 3:30 a.m. Dec. 24, 5:30 a.m. Dec. 27, 3 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 29)
"Christopher Close-Up: Christopher Classic Christmas"
Christopher Founder Father James Keller, M.M. celebrates Christmas with stars of yesteryear, including Snooky Larson, June Valli, Mario Lanza, Rosalind Russell and more. (6:30 a.m. Dec. 21, 9 p.m. Dec. 22, and 3 a.m. Dec. 24)
"Catholic University of America Christmas Concert"
This annual concert presents a brilliant blend of angelic voices and the wonderful sounds of the Christmas season. (11 p.m. Dec. 23 and 2 p.m. Dec. 25)
"The World is Born: Christmas with the Louisville Chorus"
The Louisville Chorus celebrates the sounds of the season in this special presentation of Christmas favorites. The choir performs in the historic St. Martin of Tours Church in Louisville, Kentucky. (10 p.m. Dec. 23, 2 p.m. Dec. 27, and 11 a.m. Jan. 1)
"Dana: Our Family Christmas"
Join Dana, her family and friends as they present an old-fashioned family Christmas. Hear the meaning of many traditional customs, and gather new ideas for you and your family. (9 a.m. Dec. 24 and 4:30 a.m. Dec. 27)
"Solemn Mass at Midnight with Pope Benedict XVI (Live from Rome)"
Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord: Midnight Mass with the Holy Father from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. (6 p.m. Dec. 24 (live), 8 a.m. Dec. 25, and 4 p.m. Dec. 25)
"Choral Meditations and Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Live from Washington, D.C.)"
From the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, USA. (10 p.m. Dec. 24 (live))
"Urbi et Orbi from Rome: Pope Benedict's Christmas Message to the World (Live)"
From St. Peter's Square. Join the Holy Father for his inspiring Christmas Day message to the world on the celebration of Christ's birth. (6 a.m. (live) Dec. 25, 10 p.m. Dec. 25, 3 a.m. Dec. 26, and 5 p.m. Dec. 26)
EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 27th year, is available in over 148 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.
In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald
EWTN
PRESS RELEASE
December 15, 2008
For Information, Please Contact:
Michelle Johnson
Director of Communications
EWTN Global Catholic Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale, Alabama 35210-2198 USA
(205) 795-5769 – Office
(205) 441-6248 – Cell
(205) 795-5781 – Fax
mjohnson@ewtn.com
EWTN's Christmas Specials To Include
"The Star of Bethlehem" Documentary from
"The Passion of the Christ" Producer
Irondale, AL (EWTN) – Christmas specials on EWTN Global Catholic Network this year include a new documentary proving the existence of the Star of Bethlehem from the producer of "The Passion of the Christ") as well as classics with stars such as Loretta Young, Christopher Plummer, Frankie Avalon, Snooky Larson, June Valli, Mario Lanza, and Rosalind Russell. There is literally something for everyone. Highlights include: (All times below are U.S. Eastern Time.)
"The Star of Bethlehem"
From "The Passion of the Christ" Producer Stephen McEveety comes a documentary that proves the existence of the Star of Bethlehem, whose existence has been debated for centuries by historians, scientists and scholars. "Either they believe the Star is true or they think it was made up by the early Church," says Texas A&"M Professor Rick Larson. "I took a different approach in my research and treated the Star as a mystery or puzzle, looking at the Bible and comparing the facts of Scripture with facts from science and history." (10 a.m. Dec. 21, 11 p.m. Dec. 25, 8 p.m. Dec. 27, 3 a.m. Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 29, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 31)
"The San Juan Children's Choir Presents: Siempre Navidad (Always Christmas)"
This festive concert, with music from around the world, displays the joyful spirit of Christmas in Puerto Rico. (30-minute version: 9 a.m. Dec. 20. 60-minute version: 6 p.m. Dec. 22 and 4 p.m. Dec. 27)
"The Story of the Selfish Giant"
A grandfather uses Oscar Wilde's timeless tale to unlock the true meaning of Christmas for his granddaughter. This is a charming story with a strong Christian message about the meaning of love and sacrifice. It is bound to become one of your Christmas favorites.
(10:30 a.m. Dec. 20 and 4 p.m. Dec. 26).
"The Chimes"
Written by Charles Dickens and narrated by Derek Jacobi, this is the story of a poor and discouraged 19th Century porter. Chiming church bells magically transport him to the future where his hope is renewed. (4 p.m. Dec. 23 and 6 a.m. Dec. 27)
"Loretta Young: 3 & 2 Please"
Academy Awarding Winning Actress Loretta Young starts as "Sister Ann," a nun who brightens the lives of patients in a Catholic hospital at Christmas. (6:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 11 a.m. Dec. 23, 2:30 a.m. Dec. 26, and 2:30 a.m. Dec. 27)
"The First Christmas"
Narrated by Christopher Plummer, this colorful animated production tells the traditional story of the birth of Jesus. (4:30 p.m. Dec. 24, 11 a.m. Dec. 25, and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 27)
"The Promise"
A 1967 dramatization of the Annunciation and Nativity, followed by a brief discussion of the film by Father Patrick Peyton and Frankie Avalon. (2:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 3:30 a.m. Dec. 24, 5:30 a.m. Dec. 27, 3 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 29)
"Christopher Close-Up: Christopher Classic Christmas"
Christopher Founder Father James Keller, M.M. celebrates Christmas with stars of yesteryear, including Snooky Larson, June Valli, Mario Lanza, Rosalind Russell and more. (6:30 a.m. Dec. 21, 9 p.m. Dec. 22, and 3 a.m. Dec. 24)
"Catholic University of America Christmas Concert"
This annual concert presents a brilliant blend of angelic voices and the wonderful sounds of the Christmas season. (11 p.m. Dec. 23 and 2 p.m. Dec. 25)
"The World is Born: Christmas with the Louisville Chorus"
The Louisville Chorus celebrates the sounds of the season in this special presentation of Christmas favorites. The choir performs in the historic St. Martin of Tours Church in Louisville, Kentucky. (10 p.m. Dec. 23, 2 p.m. Dec. 27, and 11 a.m. Jan. 1)
"Dana: Our Family Christmas"
Join Dana, her family and friends as they present an old-fashioned family Christmas. Hear the meaning of many traditional customs, and gather new ideas for you and your family. (9 a.m. Dec. 24 and 4:30 a.m. Dec. 27)
"Solemn Mass at Midnight with Pope Benedict XVI (Live from Rome)"
Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord: Midnight Mass with the Holy Father from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. (6 p.m. Dec. 24 (live), 8 a.m. Dec. 25, and 4 p.m. Dec. 25)
"Choral Meditations and Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Live from Washington, D.C.)"
From the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, USA. (10 p.m. Dec. 24 (live))
"Urbi et Orbi from Rome: Pope Benedict's Christmas Message to the World (Live)"
From St. Peter's Square. Join the Holy Father for his inspiring Christmas Day message to the world on the celebration of Christ's birth. (6 a.m. (live) Dec. 25, 10 p.m. Dec. 25, 3 a.m. Dec. 26, and 5 p.m. Dec. 26)
EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 27th year, is available in over 148 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Some Meaningful Dates
Before these last 7 days pass us by, I'd like to just acknowledge some dates that have special significance for me that have occurred during this recent stretch.
December 8, of course, was the feast of the Immaculate Conception, one of the central feast days honoring Our Lady. It seems fitting that there is such a focus on Our Lady during the Advent season, and that the two big feast days honoring her - to say nothing of the one big upcoming feast day honoring Our Lord - focus on the sanctity of life from the moment of conception.
December 12 is twice blessed in my family, both as the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - patroness of the Americas, patroness of the unborn, and the single biggest reason why Latin America is predominantly Catholic (and has not completely succumbed to the intellectually and spiritually corrosive effects of liberation theology). This past December 12 also marked the 5th birthday of the younger of my precious little nieces, who was fittingly baptized Jessenia Guadalupe Lamb.
December 14 carries a more somber note. My father, who died of complications stemming from a 19 year bout with multiple sclerosis during my senior year of high school, would have been 61 years old yesterday. I continue to offer up prayers for the repose of his soul, and would welcome any prayers you can find your way to offering up on his behalf.
Today, December 15, marks the 10th birthday of my oldest niece, Jessica Marie Lamb. She is something of a miracle child, as a stroke suffered at birth due to labor complications has thankfully not resulted in any lasting ill effects. She was also named under circumstances that...Richard, let's just say that I have NOT forgotten! :-) (You can see a photo of my nieces, along with my brother, by clicking here).
Well, that's all for now. Just wanted to mark those dates before too much time had passed. Look for my meditation on the Second Joyful Mystery in the coming days. God bless!
In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald
December 8, of course, was the feast of the Immaculate Conception, one of the central feast days honoring Our Lady. It seems fitting that there is such a focus on Our Lady during the Advent season, and that the two big feast days honoring her - to say nothing of the one big upcoming feast day honoring Our Lord - focus on the sanctity of life from the moment of conception.
December 12 is twice blessed in my family, both as the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - patroness of the Americas, patroness of the unborn, and the single biggest reason why Latin America is predominantly Catholic (and has not completely succumbed to the intellectually and spiritually corrosive effects of liberation theology). This past December 12 also marked the 5th birthday of the younger of my precious little nieces, who was fittingly baptized Jessenia Guadalupe Lamb.
December 14 carries a more somber note. My father, who died of complications stemming from a 19 year bout with multiple sclerosis during my senior year of high school, would have been 61 years old yesterday. I continue to offer up prayers for the repose of his soul, and would welcome any prayers you can find your way to offering up on his behalf.
Today, December 15, marks the 10th birthday of my oldest niece, Jessica Marie Lamb. She is something of a miracle child, as a stroke suffered at birth due to labor complications has thankfully not resulted in any lasting ill effects. She was also named under circumstances that...Richard, let's just say that I have NOT forgotten! :-) (You can see a photo of my nieces, along with my brother, by clicking here).
Well, that's all for now. Just wanted to mark those dates before too much time had passed. Look for my meditation on the Second Joyful Mystery in the coming days. God bless!
In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Advent Reflection: The First Joyful Mystery - The Annunciation
OK, enough politics for now. I will continue to follow the political landscape because I am a masochist. But you, my dear readers, deserve better than to hear me vent about a wholly forgettable election cycle.
Instead, as we enter into the season of Advent and the new liturgical year, I'd like to do something different. From now until the end of the Easter season, I'd like to offer reflections on the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary. As the Advent and Christmas seasons have come to be associated with the Joyful Mysteries, Ordinary Time with the Luminous Mysteries, Lent with the Sorrowful Mysteries, and Easter with the Glorious Mysteries, it seems a perfect time to begin this series of reflections, which is something I've given a lot of thought to these last few years. As I present these, I will introduce a new category for Rosary Reflections, and will frequently link to that category to encourage readers to revisit what has been written. I will also post these as notes on my Facebook page. I welcome any and all feedback and comments you may have to offer. My aim is simple: I want anyone I can reach to develop a deeper appreciation of the Rosary, to understand just how deeply the Rosary is immersed in the life, liturgy, and theology of the Church. These reflections are by no means comprehensive, nor will I claim them to be the product of original thinking. As I have stated many, many times before, there is nothing new under the sun; and I guarantee you that everyone in the history of the Church who bears the bears the abbreviation "St." before their name has contemplated the mysteries of the Rosary far more than I have, as have countless holy men and women throughout the ages and in the present day. That said, these are the things that most strike me when I contemplate these beautiful mysteries; and if they can be of any benefit to anyone, I gladly offer them.
We should always bear in mind that the prayers of the Rosary, though chiefly invoking the intercession of our beautiful Lady, are at their core Christocentric prayers. It is no coincidence that the very first of the mysteries begins with the event of the Annunciation of the Incarnation of Our Lord, an event so important in the history of man that all of Western Civilization, with all its varying degrees of belief, makes it the basis upon which its system of historical dating rests (thanks in large part to the efforts of St. Bede the Venerable). The account of the Annunciation is recorded in the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38. The text is recounted here (unless otherwise noted, all verses are quoted from the Douay Rheims Bible):
"26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."
St. Gabriel, often identified as one of the seven angels who stands before the throne of God, came to visit a young virgin, and his greeting immediately suggests that there is something special about the young woman he greeted: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." (As an aside, the angel's very greeting is repeated daily by millions upon millions worldwide, thus fulfilling the prediction Mary subsequently makes in her Magnificat that all generations will call her blessed). Mary knew enough to know that this was not a typical greeting from an angel, hence her puzzlement. The angel's language, his entire demeanor towards her, is one of deference. Yet, in the Scriptures she had likely been taught growing up, when angels greeted men they spoke in a way that indicated that they expected to be feared and respected. To be called full of grace by an angel, to say nothing of being called blessed among women, is truly unheard of. And her reaction to such deference is not one of satisfaction and swollen pride that so many in today's day and age would likely feel; instead, she is troubled and puzzled, humbled from beginning to end.
The narrative also establishes her betrothal, of which she was surely aware; and it establishes the lineage of her future husband as that of the House of David. Though it is not mentioned here, Mary was also of the House of David, so that God's promise that the long awaited King would be of the House of David was fulfilled. Yet she hails from Nazareth, in the region of Galilee, long derided by people of the time as a place from which nothing good came. The theme of humility - of the lowly being raised up and those in high places being laid low - is established early and often in the Gospels, and it begins with the Word Incarnate and the one who would be called blessed among women coming from humble origins despite their royal lineage.
The angel announces to Mary that she will conceive and bear a son. Mary wonders how this can happen, since she does not know man, and the angel proceeds to explain how it will come about. This exchange reveals two very important things, both of which are essential to the development of the Church's doctrine regarding the Blessed Mother. The first is this: why would a woman who was betrothed to marry a man wonder how she could conceive and bear a son? It is vital to note that the angel did not mention when the conception would take place (and there was certainly nothing in the account to indicate that Mary knew it would happen that very night), so the natural assumption here is that the conception would happen in natural course. Mary's response reveals that she knows how babies are conceived, yet she still seems confused as to how she can bear a child. Some may say that she was barren, but she is never referred to as such (even as her cousin Elizabeth - who also conceives miraculously - is called barren twice in the same chapter of the Gospel) and it would have been impossible in those days to know whether a physically healthy girl was barren until she was no longer a virgin and many years had passed. So if Mary was not barren, knew how babies were conceived, and was soon to marry (and presumably begin engaging in the activity by which conception took place), why would she be puzzled by the angel's announcement? Her confusion only makes sense if she never intended to physically consummate her marriage. And the angel's response indicates that he saw nothing unusual about Mary's response. It was only when Gabriel explained the conception in a way that safeguarded Mary's virginity that she consented to becoming the Mother of God.
The second thing to take from this exchange is this: the angel showed no sign of anger, no hint of frustration, at having his proclamation questioned by the young virgin. Yet a few verses prior to the account of the Annunciation, Gabriel announces the conception of John the Baptist to John's father Zachary. Zachary is a respected priest of the Temple and identified as an upright man. He questions how his aged and barren wife could conceive a child, and there is nothing in Zachary's tone to indicate disrespect towards the angel. Yet for questioning the angel's word, Gabriel strikes Zachary mute for six months. So a respected priest of the Temple questions the angel's proclamation and is struck mute, while a young virgin similarly questions another of the angel's proclamations only to be rewarded with a thorough explanation. It seems that Gabriel was well aware of his place relative to the priest and the young virgin, which speaks volumes about the place of honor the young virgin even then occupied.
When the angel mentions that the Holy Spirit would come upon Mary and that the power of the most high would overshadow her, scholars of the day would have immediately noticed the parallels to the Exodus account of the pillar cloud that hovered over the tabernacle at the tent of meeting during the Israelites' period of exile (references to the cloud appear throughout all of Exodus, but the most explicit mention of the cloud and the tabernacle appears in Exodus 40:32-36). The presence of the cloud was known to be a sign of the presence of God, and the shadow cast by the cloud was always acknowledged as sacred space. Now, in the Gospel of Luke, this sacred shadow would come upon a virgin, and once again the presence of God would ensue.
The account concludes with Mary's proclamation that she is a handmaid of the Lord, and consenting to what the angel announced. Her humble proclamation is also echoed in the life of the Church, particularly during the Sacred Liturgy. To proclaim herself as a handmaid was to proclaim her lowliness, her unworthiness, to receive the Most High into her womb, into her very being. Her humble proclamation and gesture of faith prefigures that of the Roman centurion, who approaches Jesus in Matthew chapter 8 with a request to heal his servant. Jesus agrees to come to the centurion's home, but in verse 8 the centurion replies: "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof: but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed." This proclamation, reminiscent of the Blessed Mother's own proclamation of unworthiness, is the proclamation that we make at every Mass during the Eucharistic rite. And like the Blessed Mother, if we are in a state of grace we are rewarded for our proclamation by immediately receiving the Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord into ourselves.
From start to finish, the Rosary is a very Eucharistic prayer, a prayer that pervades every aspect of the Church. As I progress through these reflections, this theme will become increasingly more pronounced. Everyone have a Blessed Advent season, and God bless!
In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald
Instead, as we enter into the season of Advent and the new liturgical year, I'd like to do something different. From now until the end of the Easter season, I'd like to offer reflections on the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary. As the Advent and Christmas seasons have come to be associated with the Joyful Mysteries, Ordinary Time with the Luminous Mysteries, Lent with the Sorrowful Mysteries, and Easter with the Glorious Mysteries, it seems a perfect time to begin this series of reflections, which is something I've given a lot of thought to these last few years. As I present these, I will introduce a new category for Rosary Reflections, and will frequently link to that category to encourage readers to revisit what has been written. I will also post these as notes on my Facebook page. I welcome any and all feedback and comments you may have to offer. My aim is simple: I want anyone I can reach to develop a deeper appreciation of the Rosary, to understand just how deeply the Rosary is immersed in the life, liturgy, and theology of the Church. These reflections are by no means comprehensive, nor will I claim them to be the product of original thinking. As I have stated many, many times before, there is nothing new under the sun; and I guarantee you that everyone in the history of the Church who bears the bears the abbreviation "St." before their name has contemplated the mysteries of the Rosary far more than I have, as have countless holy men and women throughout the ages and in the present day. That said, these are the things that most strike me when I contemplate these beautiful mysteries; and if they can be of any benefit to anyone, I gladly offer them.
We should always bear in mind that the prayers of the Rosary, though chiefly invoking the intercession of our beautiful Lady, are at their core Christocentric prayers. It is no coincidence that the very first of the mysteries begins with the event of the Annunciation of the Incarnation of Our Lord, an event so important in the history of man that all of Western Civilization, with all its varying degrees of belief, makes it the basis upon which its system of historical dating rests (thanks in large part to the efforts of St. Bede the Venerable). The account of the Annunciation is recorded in the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38. The text is recounted here (unless otherwise noted, all verses are quoted from the Douay Rheims Bible):
"26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."
St. Gabriel, often identified as one of the seven angels who stands before the throne of God, came to visit a young virgin, and his greeting immediately suggests that there is something special about the young woman he greeted: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." (As an aside, the angel's very greeting is repeated daily by millions upon millions worldwide, thus fulfilling the prediction Mary subsequently makes in her Magnificat that all generations will call her blessed). Mary knew enough to know that this was not a typical greeting from an angel, hence her puzzlement. The angel's language, his entire demeanor towards her, is one of deference. Yet, in the Scriptures she had likely been taught growing up, when angels greeted men they spoke in a way that indicated that they expected to be feared and respected. To be called full of grace by an angel, to say nothing of being called blessed among women, is truly unheard of. And her reaction to such deference is not one of satisfaction and swollen pride that so many in today's day and age would likely feel; instead, she is troubled and puzzled, humbled from beginning to end.
The narrative also establishes her betrothal, of which she was surely aware; and it establishes the lineage of her future husband as that of the House of David. Though it is not mentioned here, Mary was also of the House of David, so that God's promise that the long awaited King would be of the House of David was fulfilled. Yet she hails from Nazareth, in the region of Galilee, long derided by people of the time as a place from which nothing good came. The theme of humility - of the lowly being raised up and those in high places being laid low - is established early and often in the Gospels, and it begins with the Word Incarnate and the one who would be called blessed among women coming from humble origins despite their royal lineage.
The angel announces to Mary that she will conceive and bear a son. Mary wonders how this can happen, since she does not know man, and the angel proceeds to explain how it will come about. This exchange reveals two very important things, both of which are essential to the development of the Church's doctrine regarding the Blessed Mother. The first is this: why would a woman who was betrothed to marry a man wonder how she could conceive and bear a son? It is vital to note that the angel did not mention when the conception would take place (and there was certainly nothing in the account to indicate that Mary knew it would happen that very night), so the natural assumption here is that the conception would happen in natural course. Mary's response reveals that she knows how babies are conceived, yet she still seems confused as to how she can bear a child. Some may say that she was barren, but she is never referred to as such (even as her cousin Elizabeth - who also conceives miraculously - is called barren twice in the same chapter of the Gospel) and it would have been impossible in those days to know whether a physically healthy girl was barren until she was no longer a virgin and many years had passed. So if Mary was not barren, knew how babies were conceived, and was soon to marry (and presumably begin engaging in the activity by which conception took place), why would she be puzzled by the angel's announcement? Her confusion only makes sense if she never intended to physically consummate her marriage. And the angel's response indicates that he saw nothing unusual about Mary's response. It was only when Gabriel explained the conception in a way that safeguarded Mary's virginity that she consented to becoming the Mother of God.
The second thing to take from this exchange is this: the angel showed no sign of anger, no hint of frustration, at having his proclamation questioned by the young virgin. Yet a few verses prior to the account of the Annunciation, Gabriel announces the conception of John the Baptist to John's father Zachary. Zachary is a respected priest of the Temple and identified as an upright man. He questions how his aged and barren wife could conceive a child, and there is nothing in Zachary's tone to indicate disrespect towards the angel. Yet for questioning the angel's word, Gabriel strikes Zachary mute for six months. So a respected priest of the Temple questions the angel's proclamation and is struck mute, while a young virgin similarly questions another of the angel's proclamations only to be rewarded with a thorough explanation. It seems that Gabriel was well aware of his place relative to the priest and the young virgin, which speaks volumes about the place of honor the young virgin even then occupied.
When the angel mentions that the Holy Spirit would come upon Mary and that the power of the most high would overshadow her, scholars of the day would have immediately noticed the parallels to the Exodus account of the pillar cloud that hovered over the tabernacle at the tent of meeting during the Israelites' period of exile (references to the cloud appear throughout all of Exodus, but the most explicit mention of the cloud and the tabernacle appears in Exodus 40:32-36). The presence of the cloud was known to be a sign of the presence of God, and the shadow cast by the cloud was always acknowledged as sacred space. Now, in the Gospel of Luke, this sacred shadow would come upon a virgin, and once again the presence of God would ensue.
The account concludes with Mary's proclamation that she is a handmaid of the Lord, and consenting to what the angel announced. Her humble proclamation is also echoed in the life of the Church, particularly during the Sacred Liturgy. To proclaim herself as a handmaid was to proclaim her lowliness, her unworthiness, to receive the Most High into her womb, into her very being. Her humble proclamation and gesture of faith prefigures that of the Roman centurion, who approaches Jesus in Matthew chapter 8 with a request to heal his servant. Jesus agrees to come to the centurion's home, but in verse 8 the centurion replies: "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof: but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed." This proclamation, reminiscent of the Blessed Mother's own proclamation of unworthiness, is the proclamation that we make at every Mass during the Eucharistic rite. And like the Blessed Mother, if we are in a state of grace we are rewarded for our proclamation by immediately receiving the Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord into ourselves.
From start to finish, the Rosary is a very Eucharistic prayer, a prayer that pervades every aspect of the Church. As I progress through these reflections, this theme will become increasingly more pronounced. Everyone have a Blessed Advent season, and God bless!
In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald
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