You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June 2008.
Thanks to Seminarian Matthew for sharing this video. Also read this post of his about the much-maligned pope.
Please share this video with others.
In the past, as much as I may have hated the Catholic Church, I never bought into the whole “Hitler’s Pope” myth. I heard it plenty of times, and my response was always: “For cryin’ out loud, people, put yourself in his shoes for half a second, and then tell me you could have done better!” It’s awfully easy to be smug and sling mud decades after the fact.
I hope to see Pope Pius XII canonized one day soon.
I don’t know about you, but I can always use help with this virtue! I love all these quotations, and find them very inspiring.
“The power of obedience! The lake of Gennesareth had denied its fishes to Peter’s nets. A whole night in vain. Then, obedient, he lowered his net again to the water and they caught ‘a huge number of fish.’ Believe me: the miracle is repeated each day.”
– St. Josemaria Escriva
“I often thought my constitution would never endure the work I had to do, (but) the Lord said to me: ‘Daughter, obedience gives strength.’”
– St. Teresa of Avila
“On each occasion I say: ‘Lord, thy will be done! It’s not what this or that one wants, but what You want me to do.’ This is my fortress, this is my firm rock, this is my sure support.”
– St. John Chrysostom
“The Devil doesn’t fear austerity but holy obedience.”
– St. Francis de Sales
“Obedience is servility only to those who have not understood the spontaneity of love.”
– Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
“Obedience unites us so closely to God that in a way transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His. If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.”
– St. Thomas Aquinas
“He who is his own master is a scholar under a fool.”
– St. Bernard
I think that last one is my favorite of all, though! :)
The voting results for The Catholic Summer Reading Program are in, and the three lucky books are:
I am delighted that The Diary of a Country Priest made it to the top three! I read it last year and found it wonderful. It’s not the easiest book to read; it is a bit dense sometimes and contains some obscure historical and political references. But it is very rewarding! The film version by Robert Bresson is excellent too, both in its own right as a film and in the fine way it evokes the novel.
I think he might have learned that from me. Or from any number of other Texans/Southerners.
I can’t recommend this strip highly enough for anyone who is a librarian, library-lover, and/or book-lover!
Catholic Exchange has just launched its new Theology of the Body Channel.
It promises to be a very comprehensive resource with something for everyone: men, women, young adults, singles, spouses, priests and religious. It also has a special section about natural family planning (NFP) and one on freeing oneself from pornography. There are many different columnists, from different states of life, who contribute.
Go check it out!
I am a little over half-way through Brideshead Revisited. What a masterpiece! What a shame I didn’t discover it sooner. But I think I have discovered it at just the right time. Up until not very long ago, I don’t think I could have appreciated it as I do now. And even now, I probably am not appreciating it fully! I think it’s a book I shall have to re-read regularly.
I have been so good for the last month or so when it comes to not spending money on books. I’ve been checking things out from the library and/or reading things I actually already own!
My fortitude and self-mastery have lately been rewarded, thanks to the excellent folk of First Things and to Seminarian Matthew of A Catholic Life! First Things sent me a copy of The Courage to be Catholic by George Weigel as a free gift with my new subscription. I’ve been wanting to subscribe forever–but throw in a free book, and I’m done for! <– Remember this should you ever have occasion to ask me for anything, LOL! That’s a book I’ve really been wanting to read, so you know I’m completely over the moon about it! :D And now, Seminarian Matthew is going to send me a copy of the book to which he’s given a glowing review, Greater Than You Think by Father Thomas D. Williams.
Now, if I can get my own books done. :/ But I feel there shall be help for that as well! This weekend we begin celebrating the Year of St. Paul! I love St. Paul to begin with, but among the many things he is, St. Paul also happens to be a Patron Saint of Writers! So, I think this coming year may be a very auspicious time for writing! And more reading… St. Paul’s letters are some of my all-time favorite reading material.
For me, the main trick is choosing one writing project… and sticking to it. With writing, as with most things, my brain just tends to go in a hundred different directions! What to do? What to do?
My Patron Saints for 2008 are Sts. Martha and Mary, the devoted disciples of Jesus and sisters of Lazarus. From what I’ve seen, however, St. Martha is the only sister recognized as a Patron Saint. Her patronage includes: cooks, dieticians, domestic servants, homemakers, hotel-keepers, laundry workers, servers, single laywomen, and travelers. I like keeping Martha and Mary together, however, as they represent active life (Martha) and contemplative life (Mary)–which, as I’ve mentioned, are two necessary aspects of Dominican life and Christian life in general.
When I was first given Sts. Martha and Mary, along with the exhortation to pray for homemakers, I was a bit puzzled. I scarcely considered myself a homemaker, and found it a little hard to identify with, or feel any special sympathy for homemakers, whom I tended to identify with married women and mothers. But eventually, as I opened myself up to a relationship with these saints and to think more about homemakers and homemaking, things began to change.
First of all, I discovered that St. Martha is Patron Saint of Single Laywomen–that is me! That made me feel more “at home” with her and her sister Mary. It made me feel like one of the sisters! And I gradually began to look at myself and my home differently. I’d never considered my little apartment to be a home–but I became intent on making it a home! After all, I thought to myself, I am a dignified, educated, professional lady! Maybe I’ve suffered some hard times and some losses and some unfairness in my life. Maybe I’m not exactly where I would like to be right now. But God, and life in general, has been good to me, and who am I to complain?! All I have to do is make the best of it–and I’ve got a lot to work with.
I’ve never been the most “domestic” person on earth. But I found myself having more and more energy and desire to work around my home, cleaning, decorating, de-cluttering. Making it comfy, orderly, and pleasant. To my great delight, I found that putting my home in shape made everything better! I found it easier to relax, easter to read and study, and easier to pray! I found myself praying while I worked, and remembering that God is part of my life and my home. I’m not just working for me, I’m also working for Him. I felt that I was pleasing Him by my work.
Currently, I am getting restless to get into cooking! I’ve always been a bit discouraged by cooking–it’s really hard to cook when it’s just you, and there’s nobody to cook for. But now I think that cooking could be a great way to express myself and be creative! Not to mention eat more healthily! Considering I haven’t been cooking for myself, I have been doing pretty well with eating–I’ve lost about 15 pounds since the beginning of the year–pounds that I needed to lose. (Actually, I give most of the credit to drinking lots and lots of water!) Also, I think my improved domestic life has provided me extra energy to exercise more too.
I have to say, Sts. Martha and Mary have been quite devoted friends to me. They have “coincidentally” shown up in some important places in my life. The biggest example being my admission into the Dominican Order. March 9, 2008. The Gospel reading of that day was–believe it or not–the story of Jesus raising 
Lazarus from the dead! And St. Martha proclaiming her faith that Jesus was the Messiah. I swear I didn’t plan it that way–it just happened! :D
A couple weeks later, I was writing up things about the Triduum, illustrated by Bl. Fra Angelico works. I discovered that Sts. Martha and Mary are seated at the lower right-hand corner of Bl. Fra Angelico’s Agony in the Garden, seen at right! :D I probably never would have noticed that before!
So… all in all, it’s been an interesting and beneficial year so far! I look forward to the second half of it. I foresee cooking in my near future… buying more furniture and decorations for the apartment… getting in better physical shape… continuing to find a good balance between action and contemplation… deepening in my faith and in my friendship with the Lord Jesus… being at reasonable peace with my status as a single laywoman, and using this time to prepare myself for possible future wife- and motherhood… 2008 might be the best year ever! :D
Finally, I can’t close this post without saying: I definitely pray for homemakers now! I have the utmost respect for them! Whenever I’m tempted to be lazy or uncheerful at my own modest attempts at homemaking, I just think: If I can’t take care of myself, 2 cats, and a tiny apartment, how on earth will I ever keep up with a husband and who knows how many children?! But you know, a husband and family is what I want in my life more than anything in the world–so, it’s really great motivation!
OH–and if you would like to receive your own Patron Saint for 2008, I think it is not too late! It looks like the dear ladies at this site are providing them year-round! On the right sidebar, if you scroll down a little, there is an email link where you can request your Patron Saint. Go ahead! Enjoy your second half of 2008 with a special friend in Heaven! Of course, you may find they’ve been with you through the first half too!
From the Catholic Pro-Life Committee of North Texas:
Late-term abortion center in Dallas to close
Aaron Women’s Health Center performed abortions up to 23 weeks. Last day for abortions is reported to be Saturday, June 28th. Statement of the CPLC
- In addition to the CPLC’s regular prayerful presence and sidewalk counseling there, Aaron’s was the site of Dallas’ first 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil – the 2nd one held in the nation, from December 12, 2004 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) - January 22, 2005 (anniversary of tragic Roe v Wade decision) when it was remodeling to do late-term abortions
- Rumored to have been sinking financially
- Mass of Thanksgiving and Prayer Service tentatively set for Saturday, June 28th.
- 1 down, 5 to go. Last abortion center in Dallas closed in May of 2001.
Deo gratias! May the others follow suit in quick succession!
HT: Happy Catholic
“The virtue of obedience is an exalted virtue, eminently reasonable; it is not in the least servile or blind, but requires on the contrary the greatest freedom of spirit and the strongest discernment.”
–Jacques Maritain
I have learned the truth of this quotation time and time again, especially while struggling with Church teachings. Being obedient, especially to the Church, is so counter-cultural that you really do have to exert yourself, your freedom, your reason, your will. Always keeping in mind that freedom does not mean doing what is easy or what makes you feel good, but rather what is right. If you can’t exercise freedom, you will be more likely to just go with the flow. That is servile and blind! And the flow does not lead to God!
Obedience is eminently reasonable because it is about basing yourself on something much greater than your own weak, limited abilities, experiences, and perspectives. Any honest, sane person knows that they are not the be all and end all of anything. Why leave yourself to your own devices when you can rely on something much more solid, much more time-tested, like the Church?
Ultimately, obedience takes humility–seeing yourself as you really are, acknowledging that you’re pretty small. At the same time it also takes great strength and striving–realizing that you are capable of much more than just going with the flow and settling for the lowest common denominators. We are small, but we are also capable of great things. That is one of the wonderful mysteries of being human!
(Note: I received this, and many other excellent quotations, via Women of Grace Daily GraceLines. You can sign up to receive them too at that site.)
Julie at Happy Catholic has posted some capital commentary about the contretemps surrounding the new translation of our liturgical texts.
For my part, I’ve been too nonplussed by the whole kerfuffle to comment cogently.
I think I’ve hinted at my feelings about the new translations, but just in case: I want them done splendidly, and I want them done posthaste. And if they include words to stimulate and captivate my mind and spirit, that shall be more than copacetic!
Recent Comments