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I had another late night last night. But I got a chance to see the magnificent Dog Star, Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris), the brightest star in the night sky. Its light was dancing radiantly over the tree tops, mostly blue and white, but with flashes of gold. A gorgeous fire!
The “Dog Star” is special to me. Why? Because I’m one of the Domini canes (“The Lord’s dogs”)!
I saw some other stars scattered about, but don’t know which. I’ll have to reacquaint myself with the star charts.
After that, I slept well! Seeing stars is like seeing old friends!
Wow. Our bishops keep outdoing themselves! Here is the latest from Bishop Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, who has already issued a number of powerful statements (with my emphases):
Warriors with Our Eyes Fixed on Heaven
Last Saturday I had the privilege of consecrating the restored church of Old St. Patrick. This is the oldest existing Catholic church in Kansas City. It will serve as the Oratory for the Latin Mass community which first began here under Bishop John Sullivan, and for many years has shared the parish of Our Lady of Sorrows.
One of the beauties of the Traditional Latin High Mass that I celebrated is that it highlights a most profound aspect of the Mass, namely our participation with the Communion of Saints. The high altar, multiple candles, incense and Gregorian chant, collectively give us a striking image of the Heavenly Jerusalem which is our ultimate home. Every Mass celebrates this reality, but I must admit that the traditional Mass captured this magnificent expression of the ultimate hope and goal of Christians in a powerful way. We should reflect on this often, because the ultimate goal of everything we do is to get ourselves to heaven and bring with us as many as we can.
The month of November begins with the two great celebrations: All Saints day (November 1) and the Commemoration of All Souls (November 2). These feasts celebrate our communion with the “Church triumphant” in heaven, and the “Church suffering” in purgatory. Today I would like to share a few brief comments about what we have sometimes called the “Church militant,” the Church here on earth.
We, the Church on earth, have a very special challenge as participants in the grace and life of Jesus Christ to “fight” against the enemies of Christ’s justice and truth and light and life. We must be attentive to the demands of this daily “battle” in a peaceable but serious manner.
I am sometimes amazed at the casual manner with which Christians, Catholics included, take up our life within what Pope John Paul II rightly called the “culture of death.” The Church, by comparison, reminds us that we are engaged – by reason of our Baptism and Confirmation – in a battle, “not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities and powers, with the rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in heaven.” (Eph 6:12) Jesus Christ has won the ultimate battle, but we, in the course of our human life must make our choice, determining on whose side we will live and die. Whose side will you choose?!
What is at stake in this battle is our immortal soul, our salvation. My responsibility as bishop is with the eternal destiny of those entrusted to my care. My total energies must be directed to the well being of those who otherwise may come under the spell of a radically flawed and fundamentally distorted moral sense, at odds with what our Mother the Church teaches. There are objective and transcendent truths. There is such a thing as right and wrong. There is a legitimate hierarchy of moral evils, and the direct willful destruction of human life can never be justified; it can never be supported. Do you believe this firm teaching of the Church?
Did you know that in Canada priests and Christian ministers have already been brought before tribunals for preaching and teaching in support of marriage? They are charged with “hate speech” against homosexuality. In light of the tyranny of choice growing each day in our own beloved country, we ought to be ready for similar attacks on religious freedom. We must not fail to preach the Gospel. We can not withhold the truth of our faith. That is why I will never be silent about human life. It is why I am proud of so many others – bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laity – who are not afraid to speak out about the values that matter most. What about you?!
Our Lord told His apostles that they would be hated by the world, just as He was. Nearly all of them died a martyr’s death. As warriors in the Church militant, we must never resort to violence. But we must stand up fearlessly against the agents of death, the enemies of human life. Human beings are not Satan, but we know too well that they can come under his spell. They can become willing agents of death, numbed and poisoned in this culture of death. What about you?!
As we begin this month of November, the month of the Church, let us call upon the Saints to inspire us, befriend us, and pray for us. Let us offer many prayers and sacrifices for the poor souls who have gone before us. They need our meritorious suffrages to help them reach heaven.
And let us resolve to be warriors of the Church militant; warriors with our eyes fixed on heaven. Let us ask God’s mercy and strength to persevere in our call – individual and collective – to holiness. Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for us!
AMEN and AMEN!!! What a bracing and exciting letter! As Catholics, does it not lift our spirits and give us courage to hear a bishop address us members of the Church Militant? More bishops and priests need to talk to their flocks this way! Call us to greatness! Call us to strength! Call us to courage! Call us to loyalty! Keep us focused on our objectives! Be our generals in the battle!
I love the way Bishop Finn directs pointed questions each of us. “What about you?!” “Whose side will you choose?!” “Do you believe…?” Each and every one of us has a choice and a responsibility. We each have to answer these questions, and answer definitively. No fence-sitting, no hemming and hawing. We’re accountable for our answers and for how we bear them out. Our immortal souls, and possibly those of others, rely on it.
God bless Bishop Finn and the other bishops who have spoken faithfully and mightily!
I am amazed by what I saw out my window a few minutes ago. It’s been so long! I–I got teary-eyed. First a familiar blue-white twinkle. Then, nearby, a familiar reddish twinkle. And then, there it was–the tell-tale 3 stars in a row! I knew I was seeing my favorite constellation: Orion the Hunter! With the bright blue-white star, Rigel (top right), and the large red star, Betelgeuse (bottom left), and that “belt” of stars, he’s quite a stunning sight.
At first, I was shocked to see any constellation, period. I’ve caught only the rarest glimpses of stars since I’ve been living in the big city. I guess it’s thanks to the cool, clear weather we’re in right now.
To think… I once took seeing stars for granted. I grew up in a town not far from here. Back then, it was so far out in the country that you could see everything in the night sky. Even the Milky Way itself. I had such a tremendous love for the stars.
Although I’ve always wanted to be a librarian, being an astronomer was one of my big dreams too. I wanted to know everything about the stars and the other wonders of the sky. I was always at such peace being out under the night sky, picking out constellations, peering toward the center of the galaxy. When I got older, of course, I came to the dismal understanding that astronomy involves a lot of math… and if there’s anything that’s never, ever been my forte… it’s math. That pretty much sapped the life out of my desire to be an astronomer.
Since moving to the big city, I’ve taken not seeing stars for granted. Which is far more tragic. I always had my face turned toward the heavens. And now… I could never have imagined that such a thing could happen to me–me not looking at the stars!
It’s actually a rather painful realization. It almost makes me want to move back out into the country. These days, of course, the town where I grew up is just another sector of massive suburban sprawl. You can’t see many stars there any more. Definitely not the glow of the Milky Way. I imagine I’d have to go a long way out to rediscover those dark, vibrant skies. It really is heartbreaking what we’ve lost, and what we keep on losing more and more.
But I’m just glad I had those nights of my childhood. I suppose I’m more fortunate than some. And I’m most glad that tonight I was able to remember and reclaim a little glimmer of them! I’m having trouble settling down… I think I’ll turn of the computer and the lamp and go look at the stars some more.
Thomas Peters has unveiled his new video project to highlight the latest Catholic news headlines and issues: American Papist News! Yes, we can now find one of our favorite and most indispensable Catholic bloggers on YouTube! I think it’s a wonderful idea and a great way to reach a wider audience. He plans to also keep up his written blog, so no worries there!
Here are the two pilot segments:
Looks like this “vlogging” project is off to a good start! I look forward to seeing more!
We’re down to the wire. The last I heard, the presidential race was still extremely close.
I’m beginning a Rosary novena to run through Election Day to Our Lady of Victory–she whose intercession helped save Europe from Turkish invasion at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. We in the United States need her intercession now more than ever. We have no stronger weapon than the Rosary! Together, let us take our beads in hand and fight!
If you’re rusty or unfamiliar with the Rosary, or you have difficulty with it, check out this site. It taught me how to pray the Rosary after my reversion to the faith.
Or, if the Rosary simply isn’t your “thing,” the Catholic Pro-Life Committee here in Dallas has lots of other ideas on how to wage your Prayer Campaign for Life.
[Update]
Catholic Vote also has a prayer campaign starting today.
And, as I’ve mentioned previously, there is also Fast for Hope.
Even if you can’t get started today, don’t let that stop you from jumping in whenever you can!
I caught a first glimpse of Autumn the other day on campus! This little tree has begun to turn beautiful shades of gold and orange.
Tonight, the wind is howling as a cold front passes. I have some windows open, and it’s whistling through the screens. I love the sound and the feeling of the breeze!
Before long, there will be the smell of fireplaces and the tastes of pecan pies and cranberry sauce.
I love Autumn because everything looks, feels, sounds, smells, and tastes so beautiful, refreshing, and comforting. Autumn always makes me think of home, family, and warmth. I can’t wait to head up to Pennsylvania on Thanksgiving to spend time with my parents!
Meanwhile, we’re approaching Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day… bittersweet days when we remember our invisible families who have gone before us to our Heavenly homeland. Tucked in the middle is my birthday, when I get to thank God for giving me one more year! I’ve always found it sort of poetic that I was born at a time when we remember our dead.
Autumn is so full of gifts, and it reminds you of all the many gifts already in your life. Gifts you might take for granted during the year. It reminds you how very good and generous God is!
Can you tell this is my favorite time of year?
A glorious and blessed Autumn to everyone! :D
On SMU’s campus:
Yes. Apparently a hideous Borg Cube crashed in the middle of campus. And it came dangerously close to landing right on top of a beautiful old library:
Now I ask you, of all these buildings, which one looks the most tired and dated? So much for “Modernism.”
I know, it could be worse. It could be a Borg Cube-shaped church. Sadly, I wouldn’t rule such a thing out. *shudder*
I early voted. As far as I’m concerned, the election is over. It’s in God’s hands now. May the best men and women win.
I’m surprised by how much better I feel after only one day of my little retreat!
I feel like I’ve had a nice, full, yet peaceful day! I didn’t even get surly when I had to sit in a long meeting immediately after arriving at work! (Given that meetings tend to suck the life and joy right out of me, that says a lot!) Most impressive was that I was able to climb 4 stories of stairs without losing my breath! I think that was a first! I had to take my exercise indoors because of the rain. The stairs usually wear me out; sometimes I have to stop at the third floor. But not today!
It hasn’t been all easy. I didn’t get that much sleep last night. I got up before sunrise. It was difficult for me to wake up, but I just sat for a while, then did Morning Prayer. By the time I was finished with that, I felt pretty good! It’s never easy for me to get up early, but once I do, I enjoy the morning very much. As I said in my last post, there’s is just such a deep, lovely serenity to the early morning!
Much harder than getting up early was avoiding the election and, generally, all the news. I didn’t realize how addicted I had gotten! Of course, it’s extremely difficult to avoid to begin with–it’s on the TV, the radio, the Web–everywhere! You really have to work at not getting drawn into it. It’s a maelstrom! But I did manage pretty well.
I just can’t take any more election business. It’s been such a distress.
The evening has been just as peaceful as the morn. Prayed Evening Prayer and the Rosary. Watched a little TV while eating. Did a little reading on the blogosphere. Here are a couple of good finds from some of my Dominican brothers:
The good chaps at Godzdogz have been sharing their thoughts and reflections on what the Rosary means to them. They’re very lovely and touching!
Father Philip Powell of Hanc Aquam reminds us that the Church is not Wal-Mart. If we’re honest, even the best of us occasionally needs that reminder.
Must get to bed!
Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test…
Conscientious, Fulfilled, and Spiritual
26 Renaissance, 16 Islamic, 20 Ukiyo-e, -35 Cubist, -42 Abstract and 20 Impressionist!
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life. Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence affected literature, philosopy, religion, art, politics, science, and all other aspects of intellectual enquiry. Renaissance artists looked at the human aspect of life in their art. They did not reject religion but tended to look at it in it’s purest form to create visions they thought depicted the ideals of religion. Painters of this time had their own style and created works based on morality, religion, and human nature. Many of the paintings depicted what they believed to be the corrupt nature of man.
People that like Renaissance paintings like things that are more challenging. They tend to have a high emotional stability. They also tend to be more concientious then average. They have a basic understanding of human nature and therefore are not easily surprised by anything that people may do. They enjoy life and enjoy living. They are very aware of their own mortality but do not dwell on the end but what they are doing in the present. They enjoy learning, but may tend to be a bit more closed minded to new ideas as they feel that the viewpoint they have has been well researched and considered. These people are more old fashioned and not quite as progressive. They enjoy the finer things in life like comfort, a good meal, and homelife. They tend to be more spiritual or religious by nature. They are open to new aesthetic experiences.
Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy
A pretty accurate reading, if I say so myself!
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