Today is the Feast Day of St Valentine, though which St. Valentine is open to debate. The early Church acknowledged two martyred priests named Valentinius and there is a fairly decent article about the facts/legends/customs and practices surrounding these two saintly Catholics that may be read here.
For someone like me, St Valentine's Day is a kind of mixed bag of horror and silliness. I have been known, in the not too distant past, to send myself flowers just so other people would not feel sorry for me. However, I got so embarrassed about having to go to Confession because of that particular lie that I was freed from that sin really fast. Besides, it is too expensive to pretend to have a boyfriend.
As I grew in both sobriety and Faith, I realized that I have a wonderful Bridegroom in Christ Jesus and I have an amazing single life due to my 12 step program. However, just between you, me and the Internet, it would be nice to get some flowers from SOMEBODY that isn't obligated to love me because we are related. Shoot, it would be nice to get a CARD from somebody I AM related to - but you know what? They let me know every day that I am loved and so it is a little difficult to work up too much steam over no roses or candy on February 14.
Anyway, I can't eat candy now because of the Gastric Sleeve surgery. This morning I weighed less than I did when I got married 25 years ago. Yes, I was a fat bride but that's beside the point. Stop bursting my bubble, will you?
The Obama Administration gave a little on the horrible HHS mandate regarding forcing religious institutions (not just The Catholic Church but ANY religious institutions) to purchase a product and provide a service that flies in the face of their religious teachings. However, it is not enough and I have a feeling his little group up there in Washington is amazed at the reaction. Catholics on both sides of the aisle, even the not-so-good Catholics like our VP, have hammered the POTUS on this issue.
So the media has retaliated by printing stories of 'intrigue and scandal' at the Vatican - let's distract the general population with the age old argument: The Catholic Church is full of sinners; therefore Her Teachings must be corrupt, outdated and ridiculous.
That is like saying, of course, that because the off ramp has a speed limit on it of 25 miles per hour but the majority of the people exiting take it at 35 that the 25 MPH must be wrong. And listen, there are those who would argue that quite forcefully and then flip their tiny little NannyGovernmentWigs when some idiot teenage flips Mommy's SUV and kills their passenger while taking the exit at 35 MPH on a rainy day.
And I am amazed that no one cares that the medicines (and I use that term lightly) the Left want made available to women on demand are full of poison; they cause blood clots, cancer, high blood pressure and have been linked to increased instances of infertility. Nope, don't address THAT part of the issue. You see, if you take these drugs you can have sex without consequences (babies) young lady and THAT is the ONLY way you will ever be FREE.
What a load of ridiculousness.
Well, I am glad today is the Feast of St Valentine under the OLD Roman Calendar. Both of them were martyrs to the Truth, defending the Faith when the government tried to wipe it out and blame us for every ill their own poor management and dissolute lifestyle had created.
The Church grows from the blood of Martyrs...and people like me, who have found Truth once the fog of drugs and alcohol had lifted, may have to be willing to say, "Go ahead. Take your best shot. Jesus, here I come".
St Valentine (both of you), pray for US!!!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Being a Virtuous Person
"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters". Benjamin Franklin
Once again I am out of step with the popular culture. The ninth circuit court of appeals upheld the overturning of Proposition 8 in California, something I thoroughly expected them to do in light of past decisions, the political climate of the day and the powers that be du jour (how's that for a nifty turn of phrase?). And, unlike many Catholics, I do not see this as one more example of how Satan has gotten our society on the ropes; rather, I see it as a natural outgrowth of the idea that no one can claim to know Truth, that everything is fluid in terms of beliefs and norms and there is no such thing as reasonable anymore. To my way of thinking, this particular battle is lost. Marriage will be redefined as a contract between consenting adults. The word will be dumbed down for everyone except those who know Truth - that Marriage is a Covenant between God and two people - a man and a woman - and that it is a Sacrament. It is not a contract. It is not about quid pro quo or property rights or inheritance. Sure that is a PART of it, but it is not the foundation of the term.
At any rate, my concern is shifting more firmly to how an eventual legalization of 'marriage' between people of the same sex or multiple persons is going to affect our priests and (ultimately) our Church. I am concerned about people like Sean and others - people so frosted with hatred that they are now hell bent (yes, I said it) on destroying anything Christian. I have no doubt there will be homosexual couples showing up at Catholic Churches demanding to be 'married' - and when our priests say, 'No', we will be sued.
I believe there is a way out of this; I believe we could easily separate the secular from the religious by allowing for all couples to register with the government, much like it is done in Europe, and then take that piece of paper to whatever religious denomination they wish and request the Sacrament of Matrimony. The government can require its citizens to register with them, thereby taking care of all their tracking needs for taxation and property rights etc. The Church and all other religious institutions can administer the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Well, I have said it before this - I do not believe the government has the right to license a Sacrament so calling that piece of paper a Marriage License is ridiculous. But that's me. There are people who believe religions do not have the sole right to the word 'marriage' - well of course they don't as you can talk about the marriage of concepts, the marriage of rights, the marriage of countries, etc. BUT when it comes to PEOPLE, the word has never been used EVER outside the concept of a religious ceremony, Christian or Non-Christian, Ancient or Modern.
However, reason seems to have fled the area. We are all so hell bent (yup, I said it again) on each other's destruction and bettering the other in fights that we have forgotten what it is like to stand firm and yet acknowledge other people's rights to behave however they wish. Those people who do want to behave however they want, without consequence, now see that desire as a civil rights issue and rage against those of us who say, "Go ahead - but it is not right and I do not recognize what you are doing as a Sacrament".
It will be at least another year or so before Homosexuals are allowed to get married in California. Who knows what will happen? What I know is I can pray for their conversion and pray for the healing of their hearts because I know how horrible it feels to be unwanted or be disdained. What I would hope all people know is that Jesus
Christ and His Church does not reject or disdain, it guides and it protects. We love all.
No matter what they think of us.
Once again I am out of step with the popular culture. The ninth circuit court of appeals upheld the overturning of Proposition 8 in California, something I thoroughly expected them to do in light of past decisions, the political climate of the day and the powers that be du jour (how's that for a nifty turn of phrase?). And, unlike many Catholics, I do not see this as one more example of how Satan has gotten our society on the ropes; rather, I see it as a natural outgrowth of the idea that no one can claim to know Truth, that everything is fluid in terms of beliefs and norms and there is no such thing as reasonable anymore. To my way of thinking, this particular battle is lost. Marriage will be redefined as a contract between consenting adults. The word will be dumbed down for everyone except those who know Truth - that Marriage is a Covenant between God and two people - a man and a woman - and that it is a Sacrament. It is not a contract. It is not about quid pro quo or property rights or inheritance. Sure that is a PART of it, but it is not the foundation of the term.
At any rate, my concern is shifting more firmly to how an eventual legalization of 'marriage' between people of the same sex or multiple persons is going to affect our priests and (ultimately) our Church. I am concerned about people like Sean and others - people so frosted with hatred that they are now hell bent (yes, I said it) on destroying anything Christian. I have no doubt there will be homosexual couples showing up at Catholic Churches demanding to be 'married' - and when our priests say, 'No', we will be sued.
I believe there is a way out of this; I believe we could easily separate the secular from the religious by allowing for all couples to register with the government, much like it is done in Europe, and then take that piece of paper to whatever religious denomination they wish and request the Sacrament of Matrimony. The government can require its citizens to register with them, thereby taking care of all their tracking needs for taxation and property rights etc. The Church and all other religious institutions can administer the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Well, I have said it before this - I do not believe the government has the right to license a Sacrament so calling that piece of paper a Marriage License is ridiculous. But that's me. There are people who believe religions do not have the sole right to the word 'marriage' - well of course they don't as you can talk about the marriage of concepts, the marriage of rights, the marriage of countries, etc. BUT when it comes to PEOPLE, the word has never been used EVER outside the concept of a religious ceremony, Christian or Non-Christian, Ancient or Modern.
However, reason seems to have fled the area. We are all so hell bent (yup, I said it again) on each other's destruction and bettering the other in fights that we have forgotten what it is like to stand firm and yet acknowledge other people's rights to behave however they wish. Those people who do want to behave however they want, without consequence, now see that desire as a civil rights issue and rage against those of us who say, "Go ahead - but it is not right and I do not recognize what you are doing as a Sacrament".
It will be at least another year or so before Homosexuals are allowed to get married in California. Who knows what will happen? What I know is I can pray for their conversion and pray for the healing of their hearts because I know how horrible it feels to be unwanted or be disdained. What I would hope all people know is that Jesus
Christ and His Church does not reject or disdain, it guides and it protects. We love all.
No matter what they think of us.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Lord, Open My Lips - Losing a Friend
Those who follow this blog may be a bit disconcerted by the post left by Sean, a former Catholic/Orthodox Christian who now is either a Buddhist or a follower of another religion which utilizes natural substances as part of the liturgy. These substances are, from what I understand, ingested as a drink which allows the partaker to 'work on an Astral Plane'.
Sean, erroneously, is under the impression that because I do not advocate for a complete and total legalization of all drugs currently considered illegal in the United States I am a persecutor of his religion. I do not agree. He now hates all Christians and so, because I believe the latest ruling by the Obama Administration is a form of religious persecution, I am a hypocrite. You may read his post and the foul language he uses. I am so sorry he has chosen to end our friendship but I do not approve of this type of behavior and I will not tolerate this type of abuse from men or women.
Sean made a very nasty accusation against me - that I compared the practice of his religion to the practices of Warren Jeffs, the leader of the FLDS currently in prison for having sex with minors. I did not. In order to make it clear to my readers what I did say, I have chosen to copy and paste the message I sent to Sean on Facebook.
This is a response I made to a message Sean sent to me.
It is:
You accused me of deleting a post which I did not do. You stated that as a fact.
You read into one thing I wrote something I did not intend and stated it as fact.
You painted me with a broad brush of "Prohibitionist" which I am NOT and stated THAT as fact.
Those are the same tactics people like Brad and Wayne use and I am SHOCKED that you would do the same.
Let me make myself VERY clear. To think that we, as Americans, cannot honor each others religions without protecting us from horrible people that might try to exploit the law in the name of religion is ridiculous. I have NEVER supported laws that do not allow indigenous people to use natural substances such as peyote as a sacrament. I am unfamiliar with your religion but if you use a natural substance or substances in a sacramental manner then you should be allowed to do so.
However, I do believe safeguards against bogus prophets and/religions or people who wish to exploit children in the name of religion need to be in place. There is no reason that you cannot practice your sacraments AND someone like Warren Jeffs can go to prison for having sex with 12 year old girls - he is also yelling persecution. In his religion his practices of bedding and impregnating children is essential for him to get his own planet some day and become a god.
The fact that I think your religion is a false religion does not influence my belief that you should be allowed to practice it. And I would HOPE that the fact that YOU think MY religion is false would not influence YOUR belief that I should be allowed to practice it. If I am wrong then we are farther apart than simply having different religions.
And I am shocked that anyone would argue that that it is on to tolerate persecution because they don't happen to like the people being persecuted. That, in my opinion, is flat out evil.
******************************
It is quite clear that I did not equate his religion with the practices of Warren Jeffs. Rather, I stated that I believe there needs to be some sort of safeguards in place because there will always be bogus, mean and exploitative people who claim religious persecution as a way to cover up crimes. In other words, Original Sin has given us a fallen nature. There are those people who have given into that fallen nature. They will pretend to be Shepherds when they are wolves (sort of a bad borrowing of Christ's original metaphor there but you should be able to understand what I mean).
I am so sorry Sean has decided to hate people like me and others who follow Truth. However, I absolutely defend his right to hate me. What he does NOT have a right to do is lie and malign and to persecute. Hate away, but keep it to yourself.
Today's Lauds begins with:
Lord, open my lips And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Come let us worship Christ, the King of martyrs.
Since it appears we have entered into an age of martyrdom, we better get used to the kind of reaction I got from Sean. Let's hold these people up in prayer and especially pray that the fires of their Baptisms be rekindle so that they may return to Holy Mother Church.
Amen.
Sean, erroneously, is under the impression that because I do not advocate for a complete and total legalization of all drugs currently considered illegal in the United States I am a persecutor of his religion. I do not agree. He now hates all Christians and so, because I believe the latest ruling by the Obama Administration is a form of religious persecution, I am a hypocrite. You may read his post and the foul language he uses. I am so sorry he has chosen to end our friendship but I do not approve of this type of behavior and I will not tolerate this type of abuse from men or women.
Sean made a very nasty accusation against me - that I compared the practice of his religion to the practices of Warren Jeffs, the leader of the FLDS currently in prison for having sex with minors. I did not. In order to make it clear to my readers what I did say, I have chosen to copy and paste the message I sent to Sean on Facebook.
This is a response I made to a message Sean sent to me.
It is:
You accused me of deleting a post which I did not do. You stated that as a fact.
You read into one thing I wrote something I did not intend and stated it as fact.
You painted me with a broad brush of "Prohibitionist" which I am NOT and stated THAT as fact.
Those are the same tactics people like Brad and Wayne use and I am SHOCKED that you would do the same.
Let me make myself VERY clear. To think that we, as Americans, cannot honor each others religions without protecting us from horrible people that might try to exploit the law in the name of religion is ridiculous. I have NEVER supported laws that do not allow indigenous people to use natural substances such as peyote as a sacrament. I am unfamiliar with your religion but if you use a natural substance or substances in a sacramental manner then you should be allowed to do so.
However, I do believe safeguards against bogus prophets and/religions or people who wish to exploit children in the name of religion need to be in place. There is no reason that you cannot practice your sacraments AND someone like Warren Jeffs can go to prison for having sex with 12 year old girls - he is also yelling persecution. In his religion his practices of bedding and impregnating children is essential for him to get his own planet some day and become a god.
The fact that I think your religion is a false religion does not influence my belief that you should be allowed to practice it. And I would HOPE that the fact that YOU think MY religion is false would not influence YOUR belief that I should be allowed to practice it. If I am wrong then we are farther apart than simply having different religions.
And I am shocked that anyone would argue that that it is on to tolerate persecution because they don't happen to like the people being persecuted. That, in my opinion, is flat out evil.
******************************
It is quite clear that I did not equate his religion with the practices of Warren Jeffs. Rather, I stated that I believe there needs to be some sort of safeguards in place because there will always be bogus, mean and exploitative people who claim religious persecution as a way to cover up crimes. In other words, Original Sin has given us a fallen nature. There are those people who have given into that fallen nature. They will pretend to be Shepherds when they are wolves (sort of a bad borrowing of Christ's original metaphor there but you should be able to understand what I mean).
I am so sorry Sean has decided to hate people like me and others who follow Truth. However, I absolutely defend his right to hate me. What he does NOT have a right to do is lie and malign and to persecute. Hate away, but keep it to yourself.
Today's Lauds begins with:
Lord, open my lips And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Come let us worship Christ, the King of martyrs.
Since it appears we have entered into an age of martyrdom, we better get used to the kind of reaction I got from Sean. Let's hold these people up in prayer and especially pray that the fires of their Baptisms be rekindle so that they may return to Holy Mother Church.
Amen.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Call to Catholic Action
Catholic Bishops are calling upon all the Faithful to stand up and be counted.
The Obama Administration has decided that Catholic Institutions will be required to provide Health Care Benefits that fly in the face of Catholic Teaching. There will not be any kind of 'opting out' for reasons of conscience, which not only is a horrible way to run this country but absolutely tramples upon the meaning behind the idea of separation of Church and State. We have, from the beginning, tried not to foster any whiff of theocracy in our government; however, the real worry has never been that the Church will impose their will upon the Government. Rather, it has been that the GOVERNMENT will impose its will upon the CHURCH.
You would think that well-educated people would recoil from this decision based on past historical experiences. The Church has never, and will never, be destroyed. Whether it is Roman Emperors demanding that little children offer pagan sacrifices to false gods, Muslim Imams demanding that Catholics abandon the Eucharist to follow a false religion or idiotic politicians demanding that everyone enter into private contracts for health care, persecutions of The Church have never worked. In fact, persecutions have always backfired on those trying to destroy us. We are made stronger by the blood of the martyrs and it does not matter if that blood is real or symbolic....push me around and my Faith grows deeper.
I read on Facebook where someone was OUTRAGED and so glad they had not grown up Catholic because Bishops preaching about this latest governmental injustice is WRONG. My response was to gently remind her that no one minds when our Holy Bishops speak out against injustices against immigrants. No one minds when our priests and nuns get hit with fire hoses while marching for civil rights in Selma, Alabama. No one minds when our priests preach that denying someone a fair wage based on their sex or sexual orientation is a sin. THAT is fine - it is only when we disagree with the government policy YOU agree with that we should keep our mouths shut.
Well....in all charity, may I simply say, "Stick a sock in it, Sister. We ain't shuttin' up".
The fact that large universities will probably stop providing health care if this decision is allowed to stand never seems to hit anyone. They would still be viable and still be competitive in the workplace. They would simply give their employees more money and the employee would have to get their own health care...and those Catholics who believe in separation of Church and State would not be forced to support something that is morally reprehensible to them. We will be allowed to want to go to heaven more than we want to be politically correct in a corrupt and ridiculous world.
I am proud to be an American. I am a proud Army Auntie. What I will tell you all - if you value your freedom you will stand with Catholics and demand that your representatives support a bill that allows for religious exemption.
When they came for the Jews, you didn't say anything. When they came for the homosexuals, you didn't say anything. When they came for the Catholics, you didn't say anything. When they came for the Protestants, you did not say a word. When they came for the Muslims, you said nothing. When they came for the atheists, you looked around and realized no one was left that would stand up for you...because those of us who are used to shouting directly into the face of tyranny and saying, "We love you, but this is WRONG" were already gone.
The Church will weather this, of course, because the gates of hell will never overtake Her. America? We need to stand up...and stop being concerned only with the next techno toy.
St Michael the Archangel, DEFEND US IN BATTLE.
The Obama Administration has decided that Catholic Institutions will be required to provide Health Care Benefits that fly in the face of Catholic Teaching. There will not be any kind of 'opting out' for reasons of conscience, which not only is a horrible way to run this country but absolutely tramples upon the meaning behind the idea of separation of Church and State. We have, from the beginning, tried not to foster any whiff of theocracy in our government; however, the real worry has never been that the Church will impose their will upon the Government. Rather, it has been that the GOVERNMENT will impose its will upon the CHURCH.
You would think that well-educated people would recoil from this decision based on past historical experiences. The Church has never, and will never, be destroyed. Whether it is Roman Emperors demanding that little children offer pagan sacrifices to false gods, Muslim Imams demanding that Catholics abandon the Eucharist to follow a false religion or idiotic politicians demanding that everyone enter into private contracts for health care, persecutions of The Church have never worked. In fact, persecutions have always backfired on those trying to destroy us. We are made stronger by the blood of the martyrs and it does not matter if that blood is real or symbolic....push me around and my Faith grows deeper.
I read on Facebook where someone was OUTRAGED and so glad they had not grown up Catholic because Bishops preaching about this latest governmental injustice is WRONG. My response was to gently remind her that no one minds when our Holy Bishops speak out against injustices against immigrants. No one minds when our priests and nuns get hit with fire hoses while marching for civil rights in Selma, Alabama. No one minds when our priests preach that denying someone a fair wage based on their sex or sexual orientation is a sin. THAT is fine - it is only when we disagree with the government policy YOU agree with that we should keep our mouths shut.
Well....in all charity, may I simply say, "Stick a sock in it, Sister. We ain't shuttin' up".
The fact that large universities will probably stop providing health care if this decision is allowed to stand never seems to hit anyone. They would still be viable and still be competitive in the workplace. They would simply give their employees more money and the employee would have to get their own health care...and those Catholics who believe in separation of Church and State would not be forced to support something that is morally reprehensible to them. We will be allowed to want to go to heaven more than we want to be politically correct in a corrupt and ridiculous world.
I am proud to be an American. I am a proud Army Auntie. What I will tell you all - if you value your freedom you will stand with Catholics and demand that your representatives support a bill that allows for religious exemption.
When they came for the Jews, you didn't say anything. When they came for the homosexuals, you didn't say anything. When they came for the Catholics, you didn't say anything. When they came for the Protestants, you did not say a word. When they came for the Muslims, you said nothing. When they came for the atheists, you looked around and realized no one was left that would stand up for you...because those of us who are used to shouting directly into the face of tyranny and saying, "We love you, but this is WRONG" were already gone.
The Church will weather this, of course, because the gates of hell will never overtake Her. America? We need to stand up...and stop being concerned only with the next techno toy.
St Michael the Archangel, DEFEND US IN BATTLE.
Friday, January 27, 2012
DFW - A Fabulous program comes to an end
DFW has been a stop over R&R station for our returning soldiers for over seven years. Because of the draw down of American troops in Afghanistan, the US Army says the busy airport will no longer serve as a stop over station.
Now, that's kind of a good thing - it means our boys and girls in uniform are coming home.
That's not the story - the story is the incredible volunteer program put together by the women and men of Dallas/Fort Worth area. On their own time, and on their own dime, they put together a Texas style welcome for every group that came through the doors at DFW. My soldier was one of them, and he shared with us that their plane was met with a Water Canon Salute, a crowd of people with waving flags and lots of goodies to share, and the kind of 'We Love You because You Did the Deal' attitude that our soliders deserve when they are returning from the war.
I know that war is hell. I know we have lost so many of our best and brightest, that some horrible things have happened to our young men and women and that they have seen, heard and participated in a side of life no right-thinking person wants for their children. I also know that we cannot ever let them feel that their efforts and work is not appreciated. They deserve support - medical, emotional, scholastically, financially, and most of all spiritually. They MUST never forget that WE have not forgotten...for me, I can never forget.
SO read the article. It is fabulous. Makes me proud to be 'Half Texan'.
Now, that's kind of a good thing - it means our boys and girls in uniform are coming home.
That's not the story - the story is the incredible volunteer program put together by the women and men of Dallas/Fort Worth area. On their own time, and on their own dime, they put together a Texas style welcome for every group that came through the doors at DFW. My soldier was one of them, and he shared with us that their plane was met with a Water Canon Salute, a crowd of people with waving flags and lots of goodies to share, and the kind of 'We Love You because You Did the Deal' attitude that our soliders deserve when they are returning from the war.
I know that war is hell. I know we have lost so many of our best and brightest, that some horrible things have happened to our young men and women and that they have seen, heard and participated in a side of life no right-thinking person wants for their children. I also know that we cannot ever let them feel that their efforts and work is not appreciated. They deserve support - medical, emotional, scholastically, financially, and most of all spiritually. They MUST never forget that WE have not forgotten...for me, I can never forget.
SO read the article. It is fabulous. Makes me proud to be 'Half Texan'.
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