tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68810542024-03-18T15:44:25.359-05:00Happy Catholic*Not always happy but always happy to be Catholic.Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.comBlogger9900125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-29119045608503269352024-03-18T08:42:00.001-05:002024-03-18T08:42:00.119-05:00Part 1 - The Wedding At Cana and the Passion of Christ<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsXQMcE5t_GucpTN8o-BLnbTI1MIHILGIDSkpryAPc6oTRxL9tQbGsv7WITtA3HRosRTjMZtxPRR9uxS-NlwxtogPFbF9dbARnhdRNH4mHlE2aSZunm-VXEgBytrfo57kLUp0/s1600-h/steen21.JPG"><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321605720648544306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsXQMcE5t_GucpTN8o-BLnbTI1MIHILGIDSkpryAPc6oTRxL9tQbGsv7WITtA3HRosRTjMZtxPRR9uxS-NlwxtogPFbF9dbARnhdRNH4mHlE2aSZunm-VXEgBytrfo57kLUp0/s400/steen21.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 306px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jan Steen. </span><a href="http://www.abcgallery.com/S/steen/steen21.html" style="font-style: italic;">The Marriage Feast at Cana.</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> c. 1665/70.<br />
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Fulton Sheen makes some wonderful connections between the wedding at Cana and Christ's Passion, death, and resurrection in his excellent </span>Life of Christ<span style="font-style: italic;">. Next week is holy week so I'm posting these for our contemplation ahead of time.</span><br />
<blockquote>
There were, in His life, two occasions when His human nature seemed to show an unwillingness to take on His burden of suffering. In the Garden, He asked His Father if it be possible to take away His chalice of woe. But He immediately afterward acquiesced in His Father's will: "Not My will, but Thine be done." The same apparent reluctance was also manifested in the face of the will of His mother. Cana was a rehearsal for Golgotha. He was not questioning the wisdom of beginning His Public Life and going to death at this particular point in time; it was rather a question of submitting His reluctant human nature to obedience to the Cross. There is a striking parallel between His Father's bidding Him to His public death and His mother's bidding Him to His public life. Obedience triumphed in both cases; at Cana, the water was changed into wine; at Calvary, the wine was changed into blood.<br />
<br />
He was telling His mother that she was virtually pronouncing a sentence of death over Him. Few are the mothers who send their sons to battlefields; but here was one who was actually hastening the hour of her Son's mortal conflict with the forces of evil. If He agreed to her request, He would be beginning His hour of death and glorification. To the Cross He would go with double commission, one from His Father in heaven, the other from His mother on earth.<br />
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;">Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen</span></div>
</blockquote>
Part 2 will be tomorrow.Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-80742121068691174302024-03-17T08:00:00.001-05:002024-03-17T08:00:00.126-05:007th Sunday of St. Joseph<i>Reflecting on St. Joseph on the seven Sundays leading up to his solemnity is an old tradition.</i> <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz9QzAPyP5TnRFtU2oF2Nn4vWsthbHMVfDRMscWaZrBc2zVfl41OWGHKGUtgj7i_ptD4uF6oDK14EE6N2cXQ_97ky-StrxZqC7bFNXOd3LMm9G3Ibp_AHIyKq8ihBX4KRsuoH/s1600/Coronacio%CC%81n_de_San_Jose%CC%81_Valde%CC%81s_Leal).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz9QzAPyP5TnRFtU2oF2Nn4vWsthbHMVfDRMscWaZrBc2zVfl41OWGHKGUtgj7i_ptD4uF6oDK14EE6N2cXQ_97ky-StrxZqC7bFNXOd3LMm9G3Ibp_AHIyKq8ihBX4KRsuoH/s400/Coronacio%CC%81n_de_San_Jose%CC%81_Valde%CC%81s_Leal).jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Coronation of Joseph, Valdés Leal, c, 1670</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">
The Fatherly Intercession of St. Joseph</span></h3>
The fatherly intercession of Saint Joseph in the Church is a prolongation of the authority he exercised over Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, and Mary, Mother of the Church. This is the reason why Saint Joseph has been declared Patron of the Universal Church. That home in Nazareth contained all the elements of the nascent Church. It is fitting that <i>Joseph care for the Church in the same holy manner in which he watched over the Holy Family in Nazareth.</i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Pope Leo XIII)</span> ...<br />
<br />
Saint Joseph's mission extends to the end of time. His fatherhood applies to each one of us. Saint Teresa of Avila has written: Would that I could persuade all men to have devotion to this glorious Saint; for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain for us from God. I have never known any one who was really devoted to him, and who honored him by particular services, who did not visibly grow more and more in virtue; for he helps in a special way those souls who commend themselves to him. It is now some years since I have always on his feast asked him for something and I have always received it. If the petition be in any way amiss, he directs it aright for my greater good.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">In Conversation with God: Volume Six: Special Feasts: January - June</span></i></div>
</blockquote>
Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-40424627065228233732024-03-16T08:30:00.005-05:002024-03-16T08:30:00.120-05:00Top o' the Mornin' to Ya: Happy St. Patrick's Day<i>This and that for St. Patrick's optional memorial — which would really be tomorrow but that's Sunday which is reserved for celebrating Jesus. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Note - optional memorials are not celebrated during Lent, so technically St. Patrick's Day is never celebrated in the Church. Except wherever it isn't optional, such as in Ireland where it is a solemnity and national holiday.<br /><p>Just a little something to keep in mind. But be of good cheer! The Solemnity of St. Joseph is coming in a few days and that calls for a big celebration! </p></i><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6068/395/1600/stpatrick2.jpg" style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6068/395/400/stpatrick2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px;" width="214" /></a></div>St. Patrick is more <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>a saint for our modern times</b></span> than you might think. He dealt with pagans and arguing Christians — sound familiar?<br /><blockquote><div>Time and again Patrick's life was in danger from various quarters, principally from his mortal enemies the Druids; that he managed to survive them all was due to his own shrewdness and, on more than one occasion, to the special intervention of divine Providence. However, Patrick always regarded his greatest trial to be the opposition to his mission which originated within the circle of his fellow Christians in Britain and Gaul, who circulated so many scurrilous stories about him that he felt called upon to defend himself in writing; thanks to this we are fortunate enough to have his <i>Confession</i>, which is the main source of the details about his life.<br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i>Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God: Special Feasts January - June</i></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>===========</b></span><br /></p><p>
We think of green beer for St. Patrick's Day so this linking of beer and the saints is fun.<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;"> <br /></span><span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">"It is my design to die in the brew-house; let ale be placed to my mouth when I am expiring so that when the choir of angels come they may say: 'Be God propitious to this drinker.'"</span><a href="https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/beer-quotations/" target="_blank">So said St. Columbanus</a>.<br />
</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>===========</b></span><br /></p><p>
A bit of <span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">St. Patrick's Confession</span> which you may read it its entirety <a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/patrick/confession.ii.html" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
</p><blockquote>
1. I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a priest, of the settlement [vicus] of Bannavem Taburniae; he had a small villa nearby where I was taken captive. I was at that time about sixteen years of age. I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts, for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts, nor were we obedient to our priests who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought down on us the fury of his being and scattered us among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I, in my smallness, am now to be found among foreigners.<br />
<br />
2. And there the Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief, in order that, even so late, I might remember my transgressions and turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my insignificance and pitied my youth and ignorance. And he watched over me before I knew him, and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil, and he protected me, and consoled me as a father would his son.<br />
<br />
3. Therefore, indeed, I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favours and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven. ...</blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>===========</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">St. Patrick's Breastplate</span> ... the confession above is exactly the sort of thing you'd expect to have led to the glory that is this prayer.<br />
</p><blockquote>
I arise today, through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the threeness, through confession of the oneness, of the Creator of Creation.<br />
<br />
I arise today, through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism, through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial, through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension, through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.<br />
<br />
I arise today, through the strength of the love of the Cherubim, in obedience of angels, in the service of archangels, in the hope of the resurrection to meet with reward, in the prayers of patriarchs, in prediction of prophets, in preaching of apostles, in faith of confessors, in innocence of holy virgins, in deeds of righteous men.<br />
<br />
I arise today, through the strength of heaven; light of sun, radiance of moon, splendor of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, depth of sea, stability of earth, firmness of rock.<br />
<br />
I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me: God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak to me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to save me, from the snares of devils, from temptations of vices, from every one who shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a multitude.<br />
<br />
I summon today, all these powers between me and those evils, against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul, against incantations of false prophets, against black laws of pagandom, against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry, against spells of women and smiths and wizards, against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.<br />
<br />
Christ to shield me today, against poisoning, against burning, against drowning, against wounding, so there come to me abundance of reward. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me, Christ in the eye of every one that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.<br />
<br />
I arise today, through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the threeness, through confession of the oneness, of the Creator of Creation.<br />
<i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (The full text of what has come to be known as St. Patrick's Breast Plate. While it's not known for sure, ancient tradition has ascribed the prayer to Patrick himself. This is an older translation.)</span></i></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>===========</b></span><br /></div><div>
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">For Celebrating:</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Make some <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Irresistible-Irish-Soda-Bread/Detail.aspx" target="_blank">Irish Soda Bread</a>. (For other Irish recipes, check <a href="http://southernfood.about.com/cs/stpatricks/a/irish_recipes.htm" target="_blank">here</a> ... I'm not into corned beef at all, but lamb? Oh yeah ...)</li><li>If you can't go dancing or to the pub then watch <a href="https://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2012/07/a-movie-you-might-have-missed-31.html" target="_blank">The Quiet Man</a>. <br /></li>
<li>I love the idea of <a href="http://www.ceolas.org/dance/" target="_blank">Irish dancing</a>. See, that's how you use up all that alcohol in the Guiness (you <i>are</i> drinking Guiness today aren't you?) ... leaping and twirling?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>We foot it all the night,</i><br />
<i>Weaving olden dances,</i><br />
<i>Mingling hands and mingling glances</i><br />
<i>Till the moon has taken flight;</i><br />
<i>To and fro we leap</i><br />
<i>And chase the frothy bubbles,</i><br />
<i>While the world is full of troubles</i><i><br />
</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">WB Yeats, The Stolen Child</span></div>
</li>
</ul><p style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>===========</b></span> <br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Irish Heritage:</span> </p><p>I have been asked if I am Irish and yes I am. I believe it was my great-great-grandfather who was named Reeves. That then lead to some thought that the surname was actually an occupation as well, which I hadn't thought of. And so it was, according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reeve" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> at any rate.<br />
</p><blockquote>
Reeve may refer to:<br />
<ul>
<li>High-reeve, a title taken by some English magnates during the 10th and 11th centuries</li>
<li>Reeve (England), an official elected annually by the serfs to supervise lands for a lord</li>
<li>Reeve (Canada), an elected chief executive in counties</li>
<li>Shire reeve, an office position that originated the term Sheriff</li>
</ul>
</blockquote><p>
So I come from a proud line of middle managers. Ah, tradition ...</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gN-MLh2PqdBRQizOZpkaGhVL4ltvbANdC0uqcpTIJasqPbsj1i0FJr9V8wb386qxlnEDiNWF_GZhACsCQPHTRL_8DmvUmSeZDczELncMlmwsYAxstp-mD-J0GdmrNo4XMp3TAA/s1503/Saint_Patrick_Catholic_Church_%2528Junction_City%252C_Ohio%2529_-_stained_glass%252C_Saint_Patrick_-_detail.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gN-MLh2PqdBRQizOZpkaGhVL4ltvbANdC0uqcpTIJasqPbsj1i0FJr9V8wb386qxlnEDiNWF_GZhACsCQPHTRL_8DmvUmSeZDczELncMlmwsYAxstp-mD-J0GdmrNo4XMp3TAA/s320/Saint_Patrick_Catholic_Church_%2528Junction_City%252C_Ohio%2529_-_stained_glass%252C_Saint_Patrick_-_detail.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div><a class="mw-redirect">Stained-glass window of </a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick" target="_blank">St. Patrick</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-65269175071111190352024-03-15T08:30:00.014-05:002024-03-15T08:30:00.132-05:00Why fasting, almsgiving, and prayer go all the way back to the beginning<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ2oWi4X8fjbzXvcDjKh9e86DeSshiMapv2KW41be2O2jkN-5Piqj0ZCjXUJfribmDoEXux_YegLtwD86EBPryCElHlQAe3M2B8bxpITkrzX9sEzODDM1xjcS_lQuTXV6cw-avLjq7sFcGmwKZNS1MlRWd2gNV82UnmaNBkIgxJszKoHY7Ck/s1920/1920px-Temptations_of_Christ_(San_Marco).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ2oWi4X8fjbzXvcDjKh9e86DeSshiMapv2KW41be2O2jkN-5Piqj0ZCjXUJfribmDoEXux_YegLtwD86EBPryCElHlQAe3M2B8bxpITkrzX9sEzODDM1xjcS_lQuTXV6cw-avLjq7sFcGmwKZNS1MlRWd2gNV82UnmaNBkIgxJszKoHY7Ck/w640-h400/1920px-Temptations_of_Christ_(San_Marco).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temptations of Christ, 12th-century mosaic in St Mark's Basilica, Venice<br />
(<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temptation_of_Christ#/media/File:Temptations_of_Christ_%28San_Marco%29.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">click through</a> to see a bigger image)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This is for anyone who ever felt as if the Church's prescription of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are picked out of a hat simply as hard things to do. Au contraire, the combination of John Bergsma' commentary with Joe Heschmeyer's observations show how fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are completely logical prescription from the Church during this time.</p><p>First, let's look at the nature of temptation. <br /></p>
<blockquote><p>The classic scriptural formulation of the nature of temptation is found in 1 John 2:15-16 (RSV2CE):</p>
<blockquote>Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the <i>lust of the flesh</i> and the <i>lust of the eyes</i> and the <i>pride of life</i> is not of the Father but is of the world.</blockquote>
<p>In the Christian tradition, this threefold love of the world—lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life—is known as the three-fold concupiscence and lines up roughly with the sins of (physical) lust, avarice (greed), and pride.</p>
<p>We see this threefold pattern at work when Eve gives in to temptation: The woman saw that the tree was (1) good for food, (2) pleasing to the eyes, and (3) desirable for gaining wisdom.</p>
<p>"Good for food"—this is physical lust. "Pleasing to the eyes"—this is avarice, the desire to have more, to possess things for their beauty or value. "Desirable for gaining wisdom"—this is pride because her purpose for gaining wisdom is to make herself equal because her purpose for gaining wisdom is to make herself equal to god. As the serpent says, "You will be like God" (v. 5, RSV2CE).<br />
</p><p style="text-align: right;"><i>John Bergsma, The Word of the Lord Year A, <br />
First Sunday of Lent, commentary on Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7</i><br /></p></blockquote><p>Bergsma goes on to draw the connection between Eve giving into the three temptations and Jesus rejecting all three in turn. He rejects lust of the flesh when he will not turn stones into bread to break his 40-day fast. He rejects the pride of life when he rejects the temptation to throw himself from the temple and let the angels save him. (It never occurred to me that this would have been quite a publicity stunt until reading this commentary.) Finally, Jesus rejects lust of the eyes when he is shown all the kingdoms of the world and rejects the act of worship that would make them his.</p><p>The Lenten disciplines are intended to help us overcome the temptation to the same sins. Fasting combats lust of the flesh. Almsgiving combats lust of the eyes. Prayer combats pride because we must acknowledge our dependence on God.<br /></p>
<p><b>Helping Our Relationships in the World </b><br /></p><p>Joe Heschmeyer in his Shameless Popery podcast points out that these three forms of sin not only hurt us but others. He begins with the Catechism, paragraph 1434:</p>
<blockquote>The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. "</blockquote>
<p>He then points out that the pattern of the three temptations hurts our relationships - with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with God. Lust of flesh hurts us and fasting is a form of self mastery to help combat it. Lust of the eyes damages our relationship to others (our neighbors) because we desire their goods so almsgiving (giving to our own goods away) is an appropriate correction. Pride of life means we put ourselves in the place of God and obviously prayer is a way to correct our relationship with him.</p><p><b>This was a brand new connection for me and one that has added a deeper meaning to my fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. It is a way to help fix the damage that our sin has done in the world. Simply amazing.</b><br /></p><p>Heschmeyer's commentary is best listened to, however I pulled this from the episode transcript for those who want a quick excerpt.
</p><blockquote>Now, there’s a cool connection that [the Catechism] just made there because the point is this, in sin, we hurt our relationship to ourself, we hurt our relationship with God, we hurt our relationship with our neighbor.
<p> So if you are struggling with lust of the flesh, you have a disordered relationship with yourself. Okay, well, what’s the tool that combats that, the relationship with ourself? Well, fasting, it’s a form of self mastery.
</p><p>Or I’ve got pride of life. I am putting myself in the place of God and I’m desiring these worldly things and I’m getting puffed up. Well, what’s the cure for that? Prayer.</p>
<p>Or I’ve damaged my relationship to others, I’m being greedy. I’m dominating those around me. I’m trying to get my neighbors goods, covetousness, all of that stuff. Well, what’s the cure for that? Almsgiving. That these worldly goods that maybe I really want will give that money away. And so rather than damaging your relationship to your neighbor by getting richer and richer while your poor neighbor languishes, you give to your neighbor. </p>
<p>So you can see this is hopefully very clear that the damaged relationship to myself is related to lust of the flesh. The damaged relationship to my neighbor is related to lust of the eyes. My damaged relationship to God is related to pride of life. </p>
<p>... Therefore fasting, which works on myself, prayer which works on my relationship with God, almsgiving works on my relationship with my neighbor, are especially kind of calibrated.<br />
</p><p style="text-align: right;"><i>Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery, <br /><a href="https://www.catholic.com/audio/sp/the-3-spiritual-traps-and-6-spiritual-weapons-of-lent" target="_blank">
The 3 Spiritual Traps (and 6 Spiritual Weapons) of Lent</a></i></p></blockquote>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-73235760537722127302024-03-15T08:30:00.013-05:002024-03-15T08:30:00.133-05:00Brittany Boats<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXTgFupvI87v9VjQ0y6XTyFkTWSO5TxASyYgYbY-ZyD4_9axbsMaPARlCOGj17RxlwpQ_GWcgRKI5O10g7dYra52UrlViY9I13o73599jPS0D7MNe5B8Y3XZp1-uOyjLSy1kRkTDMI2cxS6GuIpMfvI-RVkusjOm3oN2Xa-Ax_-GDlS2LeUhhoA/s1024/1024px-Edgar_Alwyn_Payne_Brittany_Boats.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1024" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXTgFupvI87v9VjQ0y6XTyFkTWSO5TxASyYgYbY-ZyD4_9axbsMaPARlCOGj17RxlwpQ_GWcgRKI5O10g7dYra52UrlViY9I13o73599jPS0D7MNe5B8Y3XZp1-uOyjLSy1kRkTDMI2cxS6GuIpMfvI-RVkusjOm3oN2Xa-Ax_-GDlS2LeUhhoA/w640-h482/1024px-Edgar_Alwyn_Payne_Brittany_Boats.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Edgar Alwyn Payne, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Paintings_of_boats_by_Edgar_Payne#/media/File:Edgar_Alwyn_Payne_Brittany_Boats.jpg" target="_blank">Brittany Boats</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-90051924658421079952024-03-14T08:30:00.002-05:002024-03-14T08:30:00.340-05:00The Lion of the tribe of Judah<i>The author here is using the fifth chapter of the book of Revelation as a commentary on the Passion read during Good Friday. </i><blockquote>He has conquered! This is the news the sage was charged to make re-echo in the Church, just as the Church must make it re-echo throughout the world for all time: the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered! (The "Lion of the tribe of Judah" is the Messiah, so-called by Jacob in the book of Genesis 49:9, when he was blessing his son Judah). The Long-awaited event that gives meaning to everything has taken place. History can never go back. ...<br /><br />
That simple verb <i>enikesen</i>—"he has conquered"—contains the very principle that gives history a kind of absoluteness. It gives eternal and universal value to an event that took place at a given point in time and space. ... It represents for history what the principle of noncontradiction represents for metaphysics. It is impossible to go back to the previous state of things. Nothing and no one in the world, no matter how hard they might try, can change what happened—that is, that Jesus Christ died and rose again, that we are redeemed, that the Church was founded, the sacraments instituted, the kingdom of God established.<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><i>Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, The Power of the Cross</i></div></blockquote>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-10101990724306714572024-03-14T08:30:00.001-05:002024-03-14T08:30:00.340-05:00Desert Sky<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSHBD-V9CXw9kBS1k87Vfigwz6N_fUB2skQLXq8mXf2Suc0zdUVywwMaC0h7wnyANoHUEHiy0RhadI_jCroy_QWGAr4GYlS6iHK4RjH1TvFWldnImk_BhPeafIYCtSZxiLaxzqvaUX_e-8Y1b1VG2671CQS1EUUSfBxYAb71qM_he-3sBFH4RgQ/s1024/1024px-Edgar_Payne_Desert_Sky.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSHBD-V9CXw9kBS1k87Vfigwz6N_fUB2skQLXq8mXf2Suc0zdUVywwMaC0h7wnyANoHUEHiy0RhadI_jCroy_QWGAr4GYlS6iHK4RjH1TvFWldnImk_BhPeafIYCtSZxiLaxzqvaUX_e-8Y1b1VG2671CQS1EUUSfBxYAb71qM_he-3sBFH4RgQ/s600/1024px-Edgar_Payne_Desert_Sky.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Paintings_by_Edgar_Payne#/media/File:Edgar_Payne_Desert_Sky.jpg" target="_blank">Desert Sky</a> by Edgar Alwyn Payne</i></td></tr></tbody></table>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-73202515441431423472024-03-13T08:30:00.037-05:002024-03-13T08:30:00.141-05:00Lent: Who Do You Say I Am?<span style="font-style: italic;">From a long ago insert I wrote for our church bulletin. </span><br />
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Who Do You Say I Am?</span></div>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. ...</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Luke, chapter 4</span></span></div>
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span>The common practice today is to measure the Bible against the so-called modern worldview, whose fundamental dogma is that God cannot act in history—that everything to do with God is to be relegated to the domain of subjectivity. And so the Bible no longer speaks of God, the living God; no, now we alone speak and decide what God can do and what we will and should do. And the Antichrist, with an air of scholarly excellence, tells us that any exegesis<span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span> that reads the Bible from the perspective of faith in the living God, in order to listen to what God has to say, is fundamentalism; he wants to convince us that only his kind of exegesis, the supposedly purely scientific kind, in which God says nothing and has nothing to say, is able to keep abreast of the times.<br />
<br />
The theological debate between Jesus and the devil is a dispute over the correct interpretation of Scripture, and it is relevant to every period of history. The hermeneutical<span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span> question lying at the basis of proper scriptural exegesis is this: What picture of God are we working with? The dispute about interpretation is ultimately a dispute about who God is. Yet in practice, the struggle over the image of God, which underlies the debate about valid biblical interpretation, is decided by the picture we form of Christ: Is he, who remained without worldly power, really the son of the living God? ...<br />
<br />
The point at issue is revealed in Jesus’ answer, which is also taken from Deuteronomy: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Deut 6:16). ... The issue, then, is the one we have already encountered: God has to submit to experiment. He is “tested,” just as products are tested. He must submit to the conditions that we say are necessary if we are to reach certainty. If he doesn’t grant us now the protection he promises in Psalm 91,<span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span> then he is simply not God. He will have shown his own word, and himself, too to be false.<br />
<br />
We are dealing with the vast question as to how we can and cannot know God, how we are related to God and how we can lose him. The arrogance that would make God an object and impose our laboratory conditions upon him is incapable of finding him. For it already implies that we deny God as God by placing ourselves above him, by discarding the whole dimension of love, of interior listening; by no longer acknowledging as real anything but what we can experimentally test and grasp. To think like that is to make oneself God. And to do that is to abase not only God, but the world and oneself, too.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Joseph Ratzinger<span style="font-size: x-small;">4</span>,<span style="font-size: 85%;"></span> Jesus of Nazareth</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
-------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span>We are quite used to thinking of Jesus’ struggle with temptation as a scenario of the devil offering worldly methods which Jesus spurns while worshiping God. This often leads to us considering what we must struggle with or deny in order to follow Jesus.This is valid, however, we have seen this piece of scripture presented so many times that it can be easy to miss levels of meaning aside from struggle with physical desires and denial.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6881054" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Therefore, it is startling to see Joseph Ratzinger boldly state that Jesus’ verbal battle with the devil is one of Biblical interpretation. It brings us down to earth with a thump. Moving to this different level of understanding scripture offers challenges to our easy doubts of God’s presence in our lives and in our world.<br />
<br />
It is easy to doubt and to fall back on the well worn phrase “trust but verify.” Indeed, we have been taught this lesson by the world, where business and politics, to name merely two influences, have given us much reason to be wary, cynical and doubtful of claims we cannot see, touch, or prove scientifically.<br />
<br />
However, we cannot use these criteria when it comes to friends, loves, children, spouses, or, most importantly, God. With these cherished relationships, we must learn in a way that cannot be quantified. We must release our need to control. We must listen. We must remain open. We must learn. We must trust.<br />
<br />
We may not know what questions to ask in order to learn to love God better. Jesus came to bring us the answers before the questions were spoken. We can find them by being open to God’s living word and listening.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
-------------------------------------------------------<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">1 Critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">2 The theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of scriptural text.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">3 Psalm 91 is a prayer of someone who has taken refuge in the security of the temple. Verses 11-12 state, “For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” Read the entire psalm to see the statement of God’s promises therein.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">4 Pope Benedict XVI wrote Jesus of Nazareth under his own name, Joseph Ratzinger.</span></span></span></blockquote>
Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-77785601723538696262024-03-13T08:30:00.012-05:002024-03-13T08:30:00.142-05:00Feeding Time<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ls5eZ6eygG5CiqvaXNxn5gPjs9q_XUaH2EqjAMREWzwDWJcW6ZaST5VmEZcrCoiLZi0R92bq9blCAXpieq6UUgCaT2RaMTGykgGBj4jMCmx6K8Q-wlP8TUDxPKTgRYS12sacI3Iq_j030ejg8DLmi-8c4xB7m7jDJ4dsbNR_eNfuRhsdmqC6jg/s2048/feeding%20time.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ls5eZ6eygG5CiqvaXNxn5gPjs9q_XUaH2EqjAMREWzwDWJcW6ZaST5VmEZcrCoiLZi0R92bq9blCAXpieq6UUgCaT2RaMTGykgGBj4jMCmx6K8Q-wlP8TUDxPKTgRYS12sacI3Iq_j030ejg8DLmi-8c4xB7m7jDJ4dsbNR_eNfuRhsdmqC6jg/w640-h480/feeding%20time.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1764193667303048&set=a.1022453258143763" target="_blank">Feeding Time</a> by Hans Andersen Brendekilde</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-86574100399489352732024-03-12T09:00:00.000-05:002024-03-12T09:58:20.236-05:00A Movie You Might Have Missed #94 — A Tale of Two Cities (1935)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD27O4y6UlfRBOvn0OII4H59Rc1rfwofbYhP9YYRJTZgDn8N0se1_19jgIjl8vNTcCpf_UuQymdvx0cWkdlC7PjVy403hf9ddvmr7IkPYzEYvZGYUAmnjL_HUhjjwxJVK2KtthzV6BBWhJcgv4Zj6NhGbxYnjseSSqF7Ab4yzb60iOhf-rFX_Ww/s305/p1538_p_v8_af.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="206" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD27O4y6UlfRBOvn0OII4H59Rc1rfwofbYhP9YYRJTZgDn8N0se1_19jgIjl8vNTcCpf_UuQymdvx0cWkdlC7PjVy403hf9ddvmr7IkPYzEYvZGYUAmnjL_HUhjjwxJVK2KtthzV6BBWhJcgv4Zj6NhGbxYnjseSSqF7Ab4yzb60iOhf-rFX_Ww/w270-h400/p1538_p_v8_af.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><blockquote>THE IMMORTAL STORY OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION!<br /><br />
The exciting story of Dr. Manette, who escapes the horrors of the infamous Bastille prison in Paris. The action switches between London and Paris on the eve of the revolution where we witness ‘the best of times and the worst of times’ - love, hope, the uncaring French Aristocrats and the terror of a revolutionary citizen’s army intent on exacting revenge.</blockquote><p>This was the final movie in our 1937 <a href="https://letterboxd.com/julied/list/oscar-winners-and-selected-nominees/" target="_blank">Oscar winner/nominees viewing</a>. </p><p>We saved the best for last, without realizing it. What a fantastic movie! I have to admit that my reaction is colored by the fact that I love the book. They did such an excellent job of telling the story that I am going to have to reread the book very soon. </p><p>
However, my mother didn't know the story and couldn't quit talking about it, saying the next morning, "That movie simply blew me away." So it isn't just Dickens fans who liked it.</p><p>
Wikipedia says:<i> The film is generally regarded as the best cinematic version of Dickens' novel and one of the best performances of Colman's career.</i> I believe it. I've never seen Ronald Colman in anything but he was simply terrific. With his somewhat disheveled look and his subtle acting style, he seemed very modern. They say that he was so determined to play this role that he agreed to shave off his mustache. Wise choice. </p><p>The movie that won in 1937 was <a href="https://letterboxd.com/julied/film/the-great-ziegfeld/" target="_blank">The Great Ziegfeld</a>. Until now we were ready to call that a good choice. No longer.</p><p>This is the movie that should have won the Oscar.</p>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-53075780649961549742024-03-12T08:30:00.014-05:002024-03-12T08:30:00.134-05:00At a Book<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgizeX3npK0px3NsXWtMHwfCGzMGKltv9dxdQA2CXmNIl37LESyftqCTDnVmpdezfc3zeT3kZwVUL6hhjwbnDWmgyhqfr0J8lNT1QLrC0Sa1cfQ1NwcqWEQV5CA73tC595ovCqPBuu8EG2Th-5xwV_LBUcp4WmuAPP6nVnmnuGnYgVeUx4UeuHw/s847/88395995_1279278639127889_3906624144166354944_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgizeX3npK0px3NsXWtMHwfCGzMGKltv9dxdQA2CXmNIl37LESyftqCTDnVmpdezfc3zeT3kZwVUL6hhjwbnDWmgyhqfr0J8lNT1QLrC0Sa1cfQ1NwcqWEQV5CA73tC595ovCqPBuu8EG2Th-5xwV_LBUcp4WmuAPP6nVnmnuGnYgVeUx4UeuHw/w604-h640/88395995_1279278639127889_3906624144166354944_n.jpg" width="604" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1279278635794556&set=a.1022453258143763" target="_blank">At a Book</a> by Marie Bashkirtseff</i></td></tr></tbody></table>I mean, my hair isn't that elegant, but otherwise this is how I spend a lot of my time. Obviously!Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-71627343177399992342024-03-11T10:50:00.000-05:002024-03-11T10:50:16.984-05:00Guide to Catholic Devotions<p> This is a really complete guide to <a href="https://waterloocatholics.org/catholic-devotions" target="_blank">Catholic devotions</a>, ranging to Lent and Advent to more obscure things like chaplets and devotion to the Sacred Heart. </p>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-36615200380885726442024-03-11T08:30:00.036-05:002024-03-11T08:30:00.135-05:00If the whole of Scripture were to start talking at once ...<blockquote>Jesus suffered and died freely, out of love—not by chance, not out of necessity, not because of some hidden catalyst or misunderstanding that took him unawares or against his will. To assert such would be to nullify the Gospel, to remove its soul, because the Gospel is nothing other than the good news of God's love in Christ Jesus. Not only the gospel but the entire Bible is nothing other than the news of God's mysterious, incomprehensible love for people. If the whole of Scripture were to start talking at once, if by some miracle the written words were transformed into speech, that voice would be more powerful than the waves of the sea, and it would cry out: "God loves you."<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><i>Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, The Power of the Cross</i></div></blockquote>I'm reading this book during Lent, and it is a powerhouse of reflection. He has been the papal preacher for three different popes over 4 decades. This is a collection of his Good Friday homilies, 43 of them from 1980 - 2022. It is truly amazing to see how many different topics are found in the same collection of readings every year.Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-24963112243769443132024-03-11T08:30:00.013-05:002024-03-11T08:30:00.135-05:00Onions and Oleanders<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii-gSdmJo0H0MbGr5zoYCFcIbnP1ErMlEgvcIvHzTBLdkuL2XROR-ER3hmxOYwtlzawrAVJA11zd7nBzCnxQDFwQgdyEPtk8bbakQgd9bMNKgnzcoAF9L-MG5LrEimqFNmwx-lUw8nQ8SvceRBGveYSLz1ApfAe7J_jP2xj2LW5BP_E-P94oWSw/s1080/431253373_962223365905324_3855513486440516922_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1080" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiii-gSdmJo0H0MbGr5zoYCFcIbnP1ErMlEgvcIvHzTBLdkuL2XROR-ER3hmxOYwtlzawrAVJA11zd7nBzCnxQDFwQgdyEPtk8bbakQgd9bMNKgnzcoAF9L-MG5LrEimqFNmwx-lUw8nQ8SvceRBGveYSLz1ApfAe7J_jP2xj2LW5BP_E-P94oWSw/w640-h522/431253373_962223365905324_3855513486440516922_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=962223369238657&set=a.519092446885087" target="_blank">Onions and Oleanders</a> by Wada Eisaku</i></td></tr></tbody></table>No special reason for this one except that I love it.<p></p>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-6705504431598741662024-03-10T08:00:00.001-05:002024-03-10T08:00:00.126-05:006th Sunday of St. Joseph<i>Reflecting on St. Joseph on the seven Sundays leading up to his solemnity is an old tradition.</i> <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFQBfkRKR3NEhifZjge0cLbsoc6vZqrSrJyRAJLMjOIZ1mQkNPvLNVLb4C3wQGoV5bisdk81CNq4ph5LpBkzZ9dmgQZalJH5LtfNKHzlOi_52aG6-bTe-l4c_qUtarr1t1Jji/s1600/482px-Vitrail_Florac_010609_02_Mort_de_Joseph.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFQBfkRKR3NEhifZjge0cLbsoc6vZqrSrJyRAJLMjOIZ1mQkNPvLNVLb4C3wQGoV5bisdk81CNq4ph5LpBkzZ9dmgQZalJH5LtfNKHzlOi_52aG6-bTe-l4c_qUtarr1t1Jji/s400/482px-Vitrail_Florac_010609_02_Mort_de_Joseph.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Death of Joseph, St. Martin's at Florac</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Death and Glorification of Saint Joseph</span></h3>
</div>
It is perfectly fitting that Saint Joseph has been proclaimed the <i>Patron of a Good Death</i>. Certainly no one can ever have experienced a more serene departure from this life than Joseph's in the physical presence of Jesus and Mary. Let us go to Saint Joseph whenever we are helping someone to prepare for death. Let us ask this help when our time arrives to go to the House of the Father. Joseph will lead us by the hand to Jesus and Mary.<br />
<br />
After Our Lady, Saint Joseph enjoys the greatest glory accorded to a creature <span style="font-size: 85%;">(cf B. Llamera, Theology of St. Joseph)</span>. This is only fitting considering his holiness on earth. Joseph gave his entire life to the care of the Son of God and his blessed Mother. <i>Since Jesus honoured Joseph as his father during his earthly life, sincerely calling him "father," He would certainly want to exalt Joseph in heaven after his death <span style="font-size: 85%;">(Isidoro de Isolano, The Gifts of St. Joseph)</span>.</i><br />
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=as2&path=ASIN/0906138256&amp;amp;amp;amp;tag=happycatholic-20&camp=1789&creative=9325">In Conversation with God, Vol. 6: Special Feasts: January to June</a></span></div>
</blockquote>
Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-19515385285108333572024-03-08T13:46:00.003-06:002024-03-08T13:48:44.119-06:00Baked Salmon with Horseradish Mayonnaise<p> This is our family's favorite way of having salmon and perfect for a Friday in Lent! Pick it up at <a href="https://hcrecipes.blogspot.com/2005/03/baked-salmon-with-horseradish.html" target="_blank">Meanwhile Back in the Kitchen</a>.</p><p>Also, I didn't share the link for last week's recipe, which is another one we enjoy on many Fridays during the year. My mother's <a href="https://hcrecipes.blogspot.com/2005/02/moms-creamed-tuna.html" target="_blank">Creamed Tuna</a>. The nutmeg, Parmesan and walnuts raise it a bit above the usual recipe.</p>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-55512243521591056182024-03-08T08:30:00.000-06:002024-03-08T08:30:00.123-06:00China Trade and Concourse — Two Mysteries by S.J. Rozan<i>I first read these in 2016 where they wound up on my <a href="https://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2017/01/best-of-2016-books.html" target="_blank">Best Books list</a> for the year. I was browsing my "Best" lists and picked them up to try again. They were still very pleasing and I recommend them to you!</i><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2blf8sSqFQANxXwXWTLMTDMBJPYlN5v2XPv-7JyOIEevHlgCfW7qMjb41OYHhFgumDDVaueSL9ea7zHafo_QmkZ68XCzG8q-d9qrh5rKzIZyvjHLRWMbpWrQteyHvGeKjKQ82jA/s1600/china.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2blf8sSqFQANxXwXWTLMTDMBJPYlN5v2XPv-7JyOIEevHlgCfW7qMjb41OYHhFgumDDVaueSL9ea7zHafo_QmkZ68XCzG8q-d9qrh5rKzIZyvjHLRWMbpWrQteyHvGeKjKQ82jA/w194-h320/china.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Lydia Chin & Bill Smith, #1)</span></span></h3><blockquote><i>"Lydia. You're still like that, huh?" He shook his head, smiling. "You're still like that."<br /><br />I wasn't completely sure what it was I was still like, but I knew I was still like that.</i></blockquote><div>Lydia Chin is an ABC (American Born Chinese) living in New York's Chinatown with her mother. She's also a private investigator and we follow her on a case tracking down stolen porcelain from a small, private Chinese museum. Thus we get first-person insight into life in Chinatown, Chinese gangs, Chinese mothers (and brothers) and many other details of daily life in this unique environment. <br />
<br />
Lydia often partners with Bill Smith who provides both brains and muscle to complement Lydia's own particular skills. The partnership contrasts work well both for mystery solving and as a story telling device.<br />
<br />
I thoroughly enjoyed this and was interested to see that the next book is one of Bill Smith's cases, told from his point of view. So I dove right in.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XZW6e7kQG-oBafP2YhIhs_IVFt-LyRzWWkRveBXwHQn_EGHDHyjyiMtVqo27Y1q_JFLBRTW4mi9abykwZFKNJavWriB_-fsCdsfmlI7wz5WjL5yVTTqYpId1HodnQJ7KMtLjiw/s1600/Concourse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XZW6e7kQG-oBafP2YhIhs_IVFt-LyRzWWkRveBXwHQn_EGHDHyjyiMtVqo27Y1q_JFLBRTW4mi9abykwZFKNJavWriB_-fsCdsfmlI7wz5WjL5yVTTqYpId1HodnQJ7KMtLjiw/w195-h320/Concourse.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">(Bill Smith & Lydia Chin, #2)</span></h3>
<blockquote><i>"Dealing with him was distasteful," she said. "He was similar to some of our donors. Outwardly quite charming, but I don't value charm. There are other qualities I value, such as perseverance and honesty." My face must have changed. She smiled again. "You have a right to disbelieve that, after what you've heard, but honesty is a complicated virtues."
"I always thought it was one of the simpler ones."<br /><br />
"None of the virtues are simple," Margaret O'Connor told me. "Only the sins."</i></blockquote></div></div>
I now understand why people say that the first book about Lydia Chin and Bill Smith was good but this one blew their socks off. Yes. It is a powerfully written book, from Bill Smith's point of view this time, and one that somehow has a different feel and style. The mystery is similarly labyrinthine, it is filled with interesting characters (some we loathe and some we love), and it held my interest the entire way through.<br />
<br />
When Bobby Moran's son is killed working in his security firm, Bobby hires Bill Smith to investigate. Bobby was Bill's mentor and Bill knew the victim growing up so this one's personal. The murder was during a run-of-the-mill assignment at an elegant retirement home that is in the middle of a badly deteriorated neighborhood. With Lydia Chin working backup, Bill wades through the clues while additional murders pile up.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, we get a nuanced look at urban blight which ranges from the victims to the exploiters to the non-profits trying to help. Not what I expected from investigating a murder in a senior community, but it was really well done.<div><br /></div><div>Scott and I discussed this in<a href="https://agoodstoryishardtofind.blogspot.com/2016/11/good-story-147-concourse-by-s-j-rozan.html" target="_blank"> episode 147</a> of A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast.</div>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-64188707575925511752024-03-07T08:15:00.000-06:002024-03-07T08:15:00.130-06:00A man came up to the window to ask for money. I know there are those who do this as a scam. So what should you do?<p><span style="font-style: italic;">This is a post I've been running occasionally for over a decade. </span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Today I'm running it because it is perfect for reflection during Lent. As you can see below, St. John Vianney was a major influence in changing my heart and mind toward the poor. Not that I don't still struggle with the issue, but every time I come back to the quote I feature I am reminded of what matters. </span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">St. John Vianney, pray for us!</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">===================<br />
<br />
When I was talking to my sister about this some time ago, she had the short answer. "Pull out your wallet and give them money."</span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">I don't tend to have cash but I have begun carrying Subway gift cards for $15. Subway shops are everywhere and they can get at least couple of good meals with that. <br />
<br />
For the longer, more anecdotal version, and the answer to the question "what if it is a scam," just keep on readin' ...</span><br />
<br />
</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbIiOpjFmcyClBOXo_oFbFTL2ZEzUuQ72-DS3x0JjDdef2i8SEz2ng46iEW6o4v7P-t5fwPfOTXys2mBGsaoX5ETfprZg_zQid1DGVaHSgRqwBqQB8srIoDgc5kbQJyTJn4Ce/s1600-h/BeggarsinBarcelona.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060793166779460322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbIiOpjFmcyClBOXo_oFbFTL2ZEzUuQ72-DS3x0JjDdef2i8SEz2ng46iEW6o4v7P-t5fwPfOTXys2mBGsaoX5ETfprZg_zQid1DGVaHSgRqwBqQB8srIoDgc5kbQJyTJn4Ce/s400/BeggarsinBarcelona.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo from </span><a href="http://barcelonaphotoblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/begging-in-downtown-barcelona.html" style="font-style: italic;">Barcelona Photoblog</a></span></div><br />
As my long-suffering husband well knows, from the fact that when he gave a handful of change to an Australian man sitting outside a London tube station years ago ... the man shouted after our family, "God bless you mate! Thank you!" My husband muttered, under his breath, "Don't thank me, thank <i>her</i>; I had nothing to do with it" as I gave him a thank you hug. This didn't compare to later on when he would be driving with three people in the car all urging him to roll down the window and hand out granola bars.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">GIVING TO THE HOMELESS, FACE TO FACE</span></div>The first time I ever saw a beggar was in Paris, 18 years ago. She was across the street and Tom said, "Don't look at her." Of course, I did and she began screaming invective and shaking her fist at me. It's a good thing my French wasn't very fluent or I'm sure my ears would have burned. Everywhere we went there were beggars. It was deeply troubling for someone like me who had never seen such a thing before. Tom, whose family lived in London for several years, was more blasé. He taught me to ignore them and that they were making plenty of money off of the population at large. I did make him give to a couple of WWII veterans who were playing music for their coins but at least they had sacrificed something for their country ... they had done <i>something</i> to deserve our charity.<br />
<br />
I wasn't Christian then; I wasn't even sure if God existed. Nothing other than popular thought occurred to me in those situations. That was saved for 15 years later in 2001 when we went back to Paris and London with the girls. I had converted by then, we attended Mass weekly, and they went to Catholic school with religion lessons every day. It was fairly common to see the homeless on street corners but we were insulated by the car and traffic flow. These up close encounters with beggars in Europe were different. Tom and I gave the standard "making money off the crowd" explanation but it didn't sit very well, especially with the Christian precepts that had taken hold by then.<br />
<br />
Then, one evening, I read this quote.<br />
<blockquote>There are those who say to the poor that they seem to look to be in such good health: "You are so lazy! You could work. You are young. You have strong arms."<br />
<br />
You don't know that it is God's pleasure for this poor person to go to you and ask for a handout. You show yourself as speaking against the will of God.<br />
<br />
There are some who say: "Oh, how badly he uses it!" May he do whatever he wants with it! The poor will be judged on the use they have made of their alms, and you will be judged on the very alms that you could have given but haven't.<br />
<div align="right"><i>St. John Vianney</i></div></blockquote>You certainly couldn't get much clearer than those words. St. John Vianney covered pretty much every objection I ever thought of for giving to the poor. That was my wake-up call and the end of ignoring beggars. We were supplied with handfuls of coins that were distributed at large as we went through the subway stations.<br />
<br />
When I got home I stocked the car with granola bars and bottles of water. I passed them out at every street corner we stopped at. I never have any cash on me and they almost always had signs saying "Will work for food" so it seemed a good match.<br />
<br />
Then Dallas passed a law against any panhandling on street corners and, for the most part, the homeless disappeared from sight. I had gotten used to being on the lookout for people to give my granola bars to and now the corners seemed very empty.<br />
<br />
About that time, I was the leader of a Catholic women's group that met weekly. One evening our discussion became a debate over two strategies of giving to the homeless. One group believed in giving to people as they were encountered. The other countered with stories of scam artists and believed in giving to organizations who would distribute goods and cash in the most beneficial way to the needy. Two things stuck with me after that meeting though. The first was that my friend, Rita, said she was troubled by those who didn't want to give face to face because "they don't know what blessings they may be depriving <i>themselves</i> of." Once again I remembered St. John Vianney's quote.<br />
<br />
I also thought about the very day before when I encountered a <a href="http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2005/02/just-one-more-angel-story.html">homeless man</a>, gave him some cash, and later was extremely glad that I did ... because I'm still not sure who it was that I gave that cash to.<br />
<br />
The second thing occurred to me as I listened to the debate. Jesus never said anything about helping the poor by giving to the local temple or soup kitchen. He said:<br />
<blockquote>"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me."<br />
<br />
Then the righteous will answer him and say, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?"<br />
<br />
And the king will say to them in reply, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."<br />
<i></i><br />
<div align="right"><i>Matthew 25: 35-40</i></div></blockquote>Tom and I <i>do</i> support organized charities and I know they reach farther than I ever could personally. This is not an argument against those organizations. However, I think that we cannot rest with those contributions. I believe that if we have a personal encounter with the needy it is because they have been sent to us for their good and our own. If we turn them away, then we are turning Christ Himself away and what blessings are we sending away with Him?<br />
<br />
This was reinforced for me during a retreat I attended later. Somehow the debate over how to give to the homeless came up along those old familiar lines, not just once but <i>twice</i>. Each time I trotted out my St. John Vianney quote. Then my friend, Mauri, said that when she looked at those unfortunates she saw people she knew. For instance, she has a schizophrenic nephew who doesn't want to take his meds so he has been found wandering only in his boxers in a Chicago suburb. A confused old lady at the bank reminded her of her mother and Mauri found a discreet way to help her while preserving her dignity. She reminded me of the worth and dignity of each of these people. She later sent me this story which is the perfect example of looking past the surface to the real person that is there in front of us.<br />
<blockquote>Today at the post office I saw this man going through the garbage -- I think looking for food as he was going through a discarded fast food bag and picked out left over bun from the bag, emptied the bag of the other garbage, and then used the bag to neatly wrap up the left over bun and then placed it in his satchel. You could tell that he still had his pride as he looked well kept, although worn and a bit "dusty". He was not begging in any way. Just walking through the strip center where the post office was.<br />
<br />
I wanted to help as I sensed that he was hungry, but he was not asking for help and he did not approach me in anyway. I was so worried to bruise his pride, but could not stand the thought of him only having the leftover bun for food. I got out of my car with $5 and asked him if he was hungry. He said he was fine but hesitantly. I gave him the money and told him that there were many times when I was hungry but didn't have the cash on me to go through McDonalds or grab a sandwich. I told him to take it for when he might need it. I don't think I hurt his pride. His eyes were so kind.<br />
<br />
I only wish I had asked his name ... He looked like he might have been mid 60s. I should have given him more money. I can't get him out of my mind. He could have been someone's grandfather, father, etc.</blockquote>I am so grateful to Mauri for bringing me to this phase in my awareness of the homeless. Each of them was some mother's baby, a tiny toddler learning to walk, a laughing boy or girl at school. We must remember that when we are looking at these people who can seem so frightening or strange or manipulative. I pray that someday I can look at these people and find my vision is perfect ... I hope that someday I can look at a homeless person and see Jesus Himself. In this quest I think we can not do better than to take the advice of someone who achieved perfect vision and sought out her beloved Jesus in the homeless.<br />
<blockquote>Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.<br />
<div align="right"><i>Blessed Teresa of Calcutta</i></div></blockquote>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-65648174717643382902024-03-06T08:40:00.000-06:002024-03-06T08:40:00.126-06:00Litany for LentFrom a <a href="http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/litanies/p03454.htm">spot</a> that has many good litanies to offer.<br />
<blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Litany for Lent</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lord Jesus, you have come to save us from our sins.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, have mercy.</span><br /><br />
You fasted to encourage us to do penance.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, have mercy.</span><br /><br />
You suffered temptation to give us strength.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, have mercy.</span><br /><br />
You were transfigured to give us hope.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, have mercy.</span><br /><br />
You suffered insults to bring us salvation.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, have mercy.</span><br /><br />
You accepted death to bring us life with you.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, have mercy.</span></div>
</blockquote>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-1122316657347306592024-03-06T08:30:00.001-06:002024-03-06T08:30:00.118-06:00Notes on Mark: Tempted in the Wilderness<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbwbRCrd5gEqiyHA_5s1M-eGk-xrD7mfClVMdmkDOjh8wJoJwSty9goO1c97wpCPc_QB2svIy2JR2fsb2OjPikzNF-zIA-F5K3XTqvQb338gtFNNr4J1aBWVaWG4nTuc3Qgn9Qze5_1ySoOAeU2e4hWUhywVe4xdJwfv2dxFFZiBYUZN4KMaGug/s4000/Christ_in_the_Wilderness_-_Ivan_Kramskoy_-_Google_Cultural_Institute.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3507" data-original-width="4000" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbwbRCrd5gEqiyHA_5s1M-eGk-xrD7mfClVMdmkDOjh8wJoJwSty9goO1c97wpCPc_QB2svIy2JR2fsb2OjPikzNF-zIA-F5K3XTqvQb338gtFNNr4J1aBWVaWG4nTuc3Qgn9Qze5_1ySoOAeU2e4hWUhywVe4xdJwfv2dxFFZiBYUZN4KMaGug/w400-h351/Christ_in_the_Wilderness_-_Ivan_Kramskoy_-_Google_Cultural_Institute.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temptation_of_Christ#/media/File:Christ_in_the_Wilderness_-_Ivan_Kramskoy_-_Google_Cultural_Institute.jpg" target="_blank">Christ in the Wilderness</a> by Ivan Kramskoy, 1872</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>
MARK 1:12-13<br />
<blockquote>
Jesus faces the same ordeal that Adam and Israel endured in the OT (CCC 538-540). He is thus tempted by Satan among the wild beasts, as the first Adam was tempted amid the beasts in paradise. He likewise retraces the steps of Israel, being led into the wilderness by the Spirit and tested for forty days as the Israelites marched in the desert for 40 years of testing. In the end, Jesus succeeds where Adam and Israel failed by resisting the devil and proving his filial love for the Father. This initiates an extended campaign against demons, death, and disease throughout the Gospel (1:25, 31, 34; 2:11; 3:5; 5:13, 39-41).<br />
<br />
<i>Morally:</i> (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in Matt. 13), Jesus endured temptation to train his disciples how to overcome the devil. No one should be surprised, then, that after our own Baptism the tempter assails us more aggressively than before. Victory is assured if, like Jesus, we commit ourselves to fasting, wait upon the Lord with patience, and have no desire for things beyond our need.<br />
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0898708184/qid=1122314649/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-9292982-9176856?v=glance&s=books">The Gospel of Mark</a><br />
(The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible)<br />
by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch</span></div>
</blockquote>
I just love all those parallels between Jesus' temptation and the Old Testament. So obvious when pointed out but so hard to see when I am just reading along.<br />
<br />
Also it is a good reminder that if Jesus suffered from temptation, so then will I. It is much easier to take when we see what is pointed out here.<br />
<blockquote>
No sooner was the glory of the hour of the Baptism over than there came the battle of the temptations. One thing stands out here in such a vivid way that we cannot miss it. It was the <i>Spirit</i> who thrust Jesus out into the wilderness for the testing time. The very Spirit who came upon him at his baptism now drove him out for his test.<br />
<br />
In this life it is impossible to escape the assault of temptation; but one thing is sure -- temptations are not sent to to us to make us fall; they are sent to strengthen the nerve and the sinew of our minds and hearts and souls. They are not meant for our ruin, but for our good. They are meant to be tests from which we emerge better warriors and athletes of God.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0664241026/qid=1122921463/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl14/102-6388827-6407340?v=glance&s=books&n=507846" style="font-style: italic;">The Gospel of Mark</a> </span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;"><br />
(The Daily Bible Series*, rev. ed.)</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;"><br />
by William Barclay</span></div>
</blockquote>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">* Not a Catholic source and one which can have a wonky theology at times, but Barclay was renowned for his authority on life in ancient times and that information is sound.</span></i><div><br /></div><div> ===== </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2014/01/mark-bible-study-index.html" target="_blank">Sources and Notes Index</a></div>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-67329378588322003782024-03-04T08:39:00.000-06:002024-03-04T08:39:00.123-06:00Lent: A Preparation for New Life<span style="font-style: italic;">This is from a series of bulletin inserts I wrote for our church, waaaaay back in 2008. </span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">It's good for reflection now that Lent is underway and my initial fervor may have flagged. I'm just sayin' ... it could be that I need a Lenten booster!</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Lent: A Preparation for New Life</span></div>
<blockquote>
1430 Jesus’ call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance.<span style="font-size: 85%;">23</span>1431 Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life, with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called <span style="font-style: italic;">animi cruciatus</span> (affliction of spirit) and <span style="font-style: italic;">compunctio cordis</span> (repentance of heart)....<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6881054" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
1439 The process of conversion and repentance was described by Jesus in the parable of the prodigal son, the center of which is the merciful father:<span style="font-size: 85%;">37</span> the fascination of illusory freedom, the abandonment of the father’s house; the extreme misery in which the son finds himself after squandering his fortune; his deep humiliation at finding himself obliged to feed swine, and still worse, at wanting to feed on the husks the pigs ate; his reflection on all he has lost; his repentance and decision to declare himself guilty before his father; the journey back; the father’s generous welcome; the father’s joy — all these are characteristic of the process of conversion. The beautiful robe, the ring, and the festive banquet are symbols of that new life — pure worthy, and joyful — of anyone who returns to God and to the bosom of his family, which is the Church. Only the heart of Christ who knows the depths of his Father’s love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Catechism of the Catholic Church</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-------------------------------------------------------</div>
Most of us do not look forward to these 40 days of penance. Perhaps this is why the Church, in Her wisdom, mandates it for us. We would never seek this on our own.<br />
<br />
A time of deprivation. A time of suffering. A long, gray, dreary time of doing without the little things that make life worthwhile ... coffee, chocolate, a favorite television show. This is all too often the attitude of dread that we bring to Lent.<br />
<br />
The Church also strongly recommends that we do something additional during this time to show penance. Prayer, fasting, and service to others are among the recommended activities that we may resolve to take on. These also do not sound very attractive and often are dropped during the 40 days.<br />
<br />
Yet it is that very attitude that is skewed from reality, as we see if we read the Catechism about interior penance. We are going about it all backwards if we merely focus on the outward sign, on what we are “giving up” or “adding on.”<br />
<br />
This is not about outward signs and empty gestures. Lent’s purpose is to deepen our knowledge of ourselves and of what we need to come closer to a more loving relationship with God. This is the hunger that should be propelling us into Lent. This is the true change of heart and new life which God longs for us to have. The outward signs should be merely the visible supports to our inward changes.<br />
<br />
With this in mind, we can examine our Lenten plans while asking God what He would like us to do to come closer to him. He knows our hearts better than we do ourselves. He will guide us in how to link our “giving up” and “adding on” to help us gain the interior knowledge we need.<br />
<br />
Perhaps instead of giving up coffee altogether, we can give up the daily morning visit to Starbucks. The fifteen minutes that is saved, could be spent in prayerful reading of scripture, for which we would usually never have time. Possibly we may give up watching our favorite television show and spend the time with our families playing a game, reading aloud, or just talking. Maybe we feel called to volunteer to spend time with those in need. In that case, giving up surfing the internet may allow us to do other tasks in order to have the needed time later on.<br />
<br />
Regardless of the outward signs, let us be sure to take full advantage of this opportunity to dig deeper, change our hearts, and grow closer to God.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
-------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Footnotes</div>
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">23 Cf. Joel 2:12-13; Isa 1:16-17; Mt 6:1-6; 16-18.</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">24 Cf. Council Of Trent (1551): DS 1676-1678; 1705; Cf. Roman Catechism, II,V,4.</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">37 Cf. Lk 15:11-24.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">The Catechism of the Catholic Church </span><a href="http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM" style="font-style: italic;">can be found online</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-23968008462154224912024-03-03T07:36:00.001-06:002024-03-03T07:36:00.124-06:005th Sunday of St. Joseph<i>Reflecting on St. Joseph on the seven Sundays leading up to his solemnity is an old tradition.</i> <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC3OjCIk2Xd4OLdPbDaFGcq05ZvUOxD0ZR2VL6Tnqww7bpjUuaIvWkN0a-Ns5eAUnuuTcCHnZLxbKIUIPZnf4nMNDEoM5PMuVyJDqQNMaqBPu7XgKnUhcrkMi7y5Z1KZ9izce/s1600/Giotto_-_Scrovegni_-_-20-_-_Flight_into_Egypt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC3OjCIk2Xd4OLdPbDaFGcq05ZvUOxD0ZR2VL6Tnqww7bpjUuaIvWkN0a-Ns5eAUnuuTcCHnZLxbKIUIPZnf4nMNDEoM5PMuVyJDqQNMaqBPu7XgKnUhcrkMi7y5Z1KZ9izce/s400/Giotto_-_Scrovegni_-_-20-_-_Flight_into_Egypt.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Flight to Egypt, Giotto, 14th c.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Joys and Sorrows - II</span></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
[Fifth Sorrow and Joy]</h4>
</div>
Having at last found a place for themselves in Bethlehem, the Holy Family received the unexpected homage of the Magi with their precious gifts for the divine Child. <i>But when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, saying, "Arise, and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell thee. For Herod will seek the child to destroy him." (Matt 2:13)</i><br />
<br />
Joseph's great joy at the visit of the Magi did not last long. He had to abandon his new-found home and business to flee to a foreign land. Herod wanted to kill the Child. Joseph's joy was changed to dread. Once again, God was testing him. Joy and sorrow are never far from one another in souls that love God.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
[Sixth Sorrow and Joy]</h4>
</div>
<i>But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." (Matt 2:19)</i><br />
<br />
... At first, he [Joseph] thought they would be going to Judaea, most probably to Bethlehem. Once again on this occasion God did not spare his faithful servant anxiety and difficulty. On their way out of Egypt Josph learned that Archelaus, Herod's wicked son, had assumed the throne in Judaea. Joseph guarded too great a treasure to expose it to this sort of danger. <i>He was afraid to go there.</i> While reflecting on what would be best for Jesus, Joseph was told in a dream to continue onward to Galilee. We take note that Jesus is always at the centre of Jospeh's concerns. Upon their arrival in Nazareth, the Holy Family renewed their acquaintance with relatives and old friends. At long last, this family could settle into a home.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h4>
[Seventh Sorrow and Joy]</h4>
</div>
In this final sorrow and joy we contemplate the time when Jesus was lost, and found in the Temple...<br />
<br />
<i>Perhaps worst of all was the apparent silence of God. She, the Virgin, was the Father's favourite daughter. He, Joseph, had been chosen to care for the two of them, and he too had experienced God's intervention in human affairs ... How is it that on this occasion there was no one to advise him? How, after two days of crying out to heaven, of incessant searching and with ever-mounting anxiety for the child, could God remain deaf to his supplication and his suffering? (F. Suarez, Joseph of Nazareth)</i> ...<br />
<br />
On the third day, when every possibility had been exhausted, suddenly they found Jesus. We can only imagine the wave of joy which must have swept over Mary and Joseph when they discovered him.<br />
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=as2&path=ASIN/0906138256&amp;amp;amp;tag=happycatholic-20&camp=1789&creative=9325">In Conversation with God, Vol. 6: Special Feasts: January to June</a></span></div>
</blockquote>
Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-52159804099726314972024-03-02T08:30:00.001-06:002024-03-02T08:30:00.120-06:00Happy Texas Independence Day!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2HopyOQlyVWKDLGX3Y5X_WjLvqqhKyt8_W_MTes9bkRHGSCCGfHvrmAmC1izwg02H1BGKWNKaaiC1If-oeH_4w8Ab-n2Dk2LfoG0jffKVEizEcbX4SQYxcAq38L39eZzvhbA/s1600-h/texas-flag-day_Lg.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037415983640644226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2HopyOQlyVWKDLGX3Y5X_WjLvqqhKyt8_W_MTes9bkRHGSCCGfHvrmAmC1izwg02H1BGKWNKaaiC1If-oeH_4w8Ab-n2Dk2LfoG0jffKVEizEcbX4SQYxcAq38L39eZzvhbA/s400/texas-flag-day_Lg.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Celebrating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Revolution">Texas Independence</a>.</div>
<br />
Let us raise our margarita glasses high in tribute to the brave heroes of the Texas Revolution.<br />
<br />
Let's all celebrate with that classic Texan dish, Cheese Enchiladas. You can get it at <a href="http://hcrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/06/texas-enchilada-casserole.html" target="_blank">Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen</a> where there is a recipe for classic style or casserole style.<br />
<br />
Below is a wonderful commentary on Texan distinctiveness which I love to read every year when this holiday comes around.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO9Zwtx4iDhX4C9-kmic4-DTWUNfPM0NandxRBZyWypHgYaQEEYbbZ-nY6cehowO4EHMZIH1N_1DBQo-rb2ED0DjjxqiffUT2FFosN7RmloEwXqVsPBDU3r6KeowzfMc7U9EA/s1600/Texas_Declaration_of_Independence.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO9Zwtx4iDhX4C9-kmic4-DTWUNfPM0NandxRBZyWypHgYaQEEYbbZ-nY6cehowO4EHMZIH1N_1DBQo-rb2ED0DjjxqiffUT2FFosN7RmloEwXqVsPBDU3r6KeowzfMc7U9EA/s1600/Texas_Declaration_of_Independence.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote>
The Republic of Texas was an ephemeral empire. Like the spring bluebonnets, it bloomed, blossomed, and blanched with the sands of time. But also like the state flower, its scent lingers in the hearts and imaginations of every Texan. A moment ago I referred to Texas nationalism. Many outside the state would, no doubt, find that remarkably pretentious, but those who live here understand the truth of it. Texas existed as a nation for ten years; Texans got used to the idea; and nationalism is a difficult habit to break. The novelist John Steinbeck perhaps said it best:<br />
<blockquote>
Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Above all, Texas is a nation in every sense of the word.</blockquote>
March 2 is a day to celebrate Texas distinctiveness. Now I'm not saying that Texans are better that other folks, but I am saying that we're different. And if a people consider themselves different, they are. March 2 should be to Texans what St. Patrick's Day is to the Irish. But what if you are a Tejano. Should you want to celebrate the day that Texas separated itself from Mexico. You bet! Even as early as 1835 Tejanos were distinctive from other Mexicans. The ranching culture that developed in Texas produced its own clothing, its own music, its own customs, and its own food. Gringos call it "Mexican food," but all one has to do to put the lie to that assertion is to eat the food in the interior - or try to. It is rather bland and not nearly as good as the Tejano food (we might as well call it what it really is) right here at home. We sometimes call it Tex-Mex, but in truth, it's all Tex and precious little Mex. It is found nowhere else on earth. How many things might we say that of? Tejano music is not Mexican; it is not American. It is Texan and is found nowhere else on earth. Tejanos also speak a variety of Spanish called Tex-Mex. But try using it in Mexico City, or worse yet, in Seville. Again, it is a unique language and is found nowhere else on earth. Truth is if you're a Texan - be you brown, black, white, yellow, or red - you don't rightly belong anywhere else. Steinbeck nailed that too. "A Texan outside of Texas is a foreigner," he observed. That applies to Tejanos as much as, probably more than, other Texans. After all, whose family has lived here the longest?<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Dr. Stephen L. Hardin,<br />
<a href="http://www.texianlegacy.com/march2.html" target="_blank">March 2, 1836: The Myth and Meaning of Texas Independence</a></i></div>
</blockquote>
Preach it! Be sure to go to the link and read the entire article if the subject of Texas Independence interests you. It's far from simple and Dr. Hardin writes about it very well.<br />
<br />
Other recommended activities:<br />
<ul>
<li>Read <a href="http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2004/06/struggle-for-texas-independence.html">Lone Star Nation</a></li>
<li>Watch <a href="http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2004/05/alamo.html">The Alamo</a></li></ul>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-85010093750356150242024-03-01T08:30:00.019-06:002024-03-01T08:30:00.139-06:00The novel and the truth<blockquote>He asked her what book she was reading.<br /><br />
"The Idiot, do you know it."<br /><br />
"No. What's it about?"<br /><br />
"It's a novel."<br /><br />
"I'd rather read the truth," he said.<br /><br />
"It is the truth."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><i>Bernard Malamud, The Assistant</i></div>
</blockquote><p>I came across this in the Kindle sample of The Novel, Who Needs It? by Joseph Epstein. I now can't wait to read it except the library doesn't have a copy. Which I find really surprising. It seems as if every library would automatically want several copies of this one.</p>Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881054.post-55832305918238501692024-03-01T08:30:00.001-06:002024-03-01T08:30:00.139-06:00Art Critics<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCScdo5RqtosHQcrKeNYTvuNfPHi8QP0FEq-qYiyocqZdbFNlIGhFZhULkMXPp9YJj2TAePV7yT9oHPeMplji4udsPqmDb4SlCA5Ua9YE4ysrmrkDh3l4I1PSd2dFaGt5JmdLyw/s1600/67428307_1083429852046103_283474339821518848_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="960" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCScdo5RqtosHQcrKeNYTvuNfPHi8QP0FEq-qYiyocqZdbFNlIGhFZhULkMXPp9YJj2TAePV7yT9oHPeMplji4udsPqmDb4SlCA5Ua9YE4ysrmrkDh3l4I1PSd2dFaGt5JmdLyw/s640/67428307_1083429852046103_283474339821518848_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Art Critics by Michael Ancher, via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JRsArtplace/posts/1083435502045538" target="_blank">JR's Art Place</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Painters Laurits Tuxen and P. S. Krøyer discussing an artwork in Krøyer's studio at the artists' colony in Skagen, Denmark.Julie D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08384291674560438678noreply@blogger.com0