Monday, October 29, 2007
Can you believe it!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Dawn Eden at St. Paul's Cathedral
Dawn Eden, Director of the Love and Responsibility Program at the Cardinal Newman Society, will give a talk at St. Paul's Cathedral entitled Preventing Teen Pregnancy: The Catholic Approach: What Holy Cross Could Have Done to Address This Critical Problem in response to Holy Cross hosting a Teen Pregnancy conference which features presentations by Planned Parenthood. The talk will be on Oct. 23 at 7pm, the night before the conference at Holy Cross.
Update: Bishop McManus has especially asked young people to attend the talk as a sign of solidarity with the Church. If you are able, please attend the talk and show your support for the bishop as he engages in this battle to preserve our Catholic identity.
Update: Bishop McManus has especially asked young people to attend the talk as a sign of solidarity with the Church. If you are able, please attend the talk and show your support for the bishop as he engages in this battle to preserve our Catholic identity.
Labels: Holy Cross
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Holy Cross battle continued
Dr. Jeff Mirus at CatholicCulture.org notes the battle between The College of the Holy Cross and Bishop McManus of Worcester.
Happily one of the critics is the local ordinary, Bishop Robert J. McManus, who issued a statement on October 10th warning Holy Cross that “it is my pastoral and canonical responsibility to determine what institutions can properly call themselves ‘Catholic’.” The bishop urged the administration of the College to “unequivocally disassociate itself from the upcoming conference…so that the college can continue to be recognized as a Catholic institution.” However, Fr. McFarland has thus far defied even Bishop McManus.
Mirus goes on to question whether or not Bishop McManus has the heart for the prolonged battle that may ensue from his confrontation with Fr. McFarland and Holy Cross. From one who has had the chance to see Bishop McManus at work up close, believe me - he does.
Happily one of the critics is the local ordinary, Bishop Robert J. McManus, who issued a statement on October 10th warning Holy Cross that “it is my pastoral and canonical responsibility to determine what institutions can properly call themselves ‘Catholic’.” The bishop urged the administration of the College to “unequivocally disassociate itself from the upcoming conference…so that the college can continue to be recognized as a Catholic institution.” However, Fr. McFarland has thus far defied even Bishop McManus.
Mirus goes on to question whether or not Bishop McManus has the heart for the prolonged battle that may ensue from his confrontation with Fr. McFarland and Holy Cross. From one who has had the chance to see Bishop McManus at work up close, believe me - he does.
Labels: Holy Cross
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Will Holy Cross still be able to call itself a Catholic college?
The College of the Holy Cross is causing controversy once again in Worcester. This time they are hosting the 2007 Teen Pregnancy Institute. The problem is that the Institute includes 3 workshops by Planned Parenthood, included one entitled "Learn the latest and greatest of protection methods." In addition, pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage Governor Deval Patrick is scheduled to give a talk to the participants and will receive a "Leadership Award." Fr. Michael McFarland, president of Holy Cross, responded to complaints by claiming that since the conference had been booked over a year before it could not be canceled.
Here is the statement from Bishop McManus:
STATEMENT FROM MOST REVEREND ROBERT J. MCMANUS
BISHOP OF WORCESTER
A controversy has arisen at the College of the Holy Cross that has resulted from the College's renting space for a conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. The conference involves workshops presented by members of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Both organizations promote positions on artificial contraception and abortion that are contrary to the moral teachings of
the Catholic Church.
I have received numerous complaints from people who are shocked and outraged that a Catholic institution like Holy Cross would have anything to do with such groups. They have appealed to me to ask Father Michael McFarland, president of the College of the Holy Cross, to revoke the College's agreement to rent space to the Massachusetts Teen Alliance. I have done so.
As Bishop of Worcester, it is my pastoral and canonical responsibility to determine what institutions can properly call themselves Catholic. This is a duty that I do not take lightly since to be a Catholic institution means that such an institution conducts its mission and ministry in accord with Catholic Church teaching, especially in cases of faith and morals.
The moral teaching of the Catholic Church on respect for life at all stages of its development is manifestly clear. Life is a fundamental good that must be protected and respected from the moment of fertilization to natural death. This teaching is so basic and important that it provides the foundation upon which much of the Church's moral and social doctrine rests. It is beyond modification and compromise.
Both Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice are notorious for their policies and practices that directly reject the Church's teaching on artificial contraception and abortion. The College of the Holy Cross should recognize that any association with these groups can create the situation of offering scandal understood in its proper theological sense, i.e., an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil.
Certainly it is understandable how people of good will could interpret the college's allowing presentations to be made by such groups as truly scandalous.
I strongly contend that the confusion and upset to the Catholic faithful and others that flow from the perception that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross supports positions contrary to the fundamental moral teaching of the Church must be avoided. To deny Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice a forum in which to present their morally unacceptable positions is not an infringement of the exercise of academic freedom but a defensible attempt to make unambiguously clear the Catholic identity and mission of the College of the Holy Cross.
It is my fervent wish that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross will unequivocally disassociate itself from the upcoming conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy so that the college can continue to be recognized as a Catholic institution committed to promoting the moral teaching of the Roman Catholic church.
Here is the statement from Bishop McManus:
STATEMENT FROM MOST REVEREND ROBERT J. MCMANUS
BISHOP OF WORCESTER
A controversy has arisen at the College of the Holy Cross that has resulted from the College's renting space for a conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. The conference involves workshops presented by members of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Both organizations promote positions on artificial contraception and abortion that are contrary to the moral teachings of
the Catholic Church.
I have received numerous complaints from people who are shocked and outraged that a Catholic institution like Holy Cross would have anything to do with such groups. They have appealed to me to ask Father Michael McFarland, president of the College of the Holy Cross, to revoke the College's agreement to rent space to the Massachusetts Teen Alliance. I have done so.
As Bishop of Worcester, it is my pastoral and canonical responsibility to determine what institutions can properly call themselves Catholic. This is a duty that I do not take lightly since to be a Catholic institution means that such an institution conducts its mission and ministry in accord with Catholic Church teaching, especially in cases of faith and morals.
The moral teaching of the Catholic Church on respect for life at all stages of its development is manifestly clear. Life is a fundamental good that must be protected and respected from the moment of fertilization to natural death. This teaching is so basic and important that it provides the foundation upon which much of the Church's moral and social doctrine rests. It is beyond modification and compromise.
Both Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice are notorious for their policies and practices that directly reject the Church's teaching on artificial contraception and abortion. The College of the Holy Cross should recognize that any association with these groups can create the situation of offering scandal understood in its proper theological sense, i.e., an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil.
Certainly it is understandable how people of good will could interpret the college's allowing presentations to be made by such groups as truly scandalous.
I strongly contend that the confusion and upset to the Catholic faithful and others that flow from the perception that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross supports positions contrary to the fundamental moral teaching of the Church must be avoided. To deny Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice a forum in which to present their morally unacceptable positions is not an infringement of the exercise of academic freedom but a defensible attempt to make unambiguously clear the Catholic identity and mission of the College of the Holy Cross.
It is my fervent wish that the administration of the College of the Holy Cross will unequivocally disassociate itself from the upcoming conference sponsored by the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy so that the college can continue to be recognized as a Catholic institution committed to promoting the moral teaching of the Roman Catholic church.
Labels: Holy Cross, pro-life
Monday, October 08, 2007
For Friday
Lately, I've become addicted to logic problems from a book entitled England's Best Logic Problems,102 Logic Puzzles Imported From England. Here's one I came across yesterday:
Three Men in Five Boats
The Malt Shovel is a rather nice pub on the bank of Ringworth Broad, one of the Norfolk Broads; it's much favoured by the sailing fraternity, and the last time I was there five sailing dinghies tied up at the pub's landing stage, crewed by three men and two women and each also carrying a dog. From the clues below, can you work out the name of each dingy, the name of the person sailing it, and the name and breed of the dog on board?
NB: Men are Colin Beatty, Edmund Drake and Gavin Fisher, and women are Gillian Hood and Moira Nelson.
Dinghies are Dolphin, Goblin, Nomad, Rebecca, and Wild Goose.
Dogs are named Boodie, Fido, Joey, Prince, and Sparky and are a bulldog, corgi, fox terrier, labrador, and whippet.
1. Boodie the whippet was a passenger in the dinghy sailed by one of the men.
2. Gillian Hood's dinghy was called the Dolphin; while I was chatting to her, her dog played with the fox terrier.
3. Edmund Drake's canine companion was a corgi.
4. Gavin Fisher's dog was called Prince.
5. The Nomad wasn't Colin Beatty's dinghy, and Joey wasn't the labrador.
6. Fido travelled in the Goblin, which wasn't Moira Nelson's sailing dinghy.
7. It was the bulldog that arrived at the Malt Shovel with the man on the Wild Goose.
Three Men in Five Boats
The Malt Shovel is a rather nice pub on the bank of Ringworth Broad, one of the Norfolk Broads; it's much favoured by the sailing fraternity, and the last time I was there five sailing dinghies tied up at the pub's landing stage, crewed by three men and two women and each also carrying a dog. From the clues below, can you work out the name of each dingy, the name of the person sailing it, and the name and breed of the dog on board?
NB: Men are Colin Beatty, Edmund Drake and Gavin Fisher, and women are Gillian Hood and Moira Nelson.
Dinghies are Dolphin, Goblin, Nomad, Rebecca, and Wild Goose.
Dogs are named Boodie, Fido, Joey, Prince, and Sparky and are a bulldog, corgi, fox terrier, labrador, and whippet.
1. Boodie the whippet was a passenger in the dinghy sailed by one of the men.
2. Gillian Hood's dinghy was called the Dolphin; while I was chatting to her, her dog played with the fox terrier.
3. Edmund Drake's canine companion was a corgi.
4. Gavin Fisher's dog was called Prince.
5. The Nomad wasn't Colin Beatty's dinghy, and Joey wasn't the labrador.
6. Fido travelled in the Goblin, which wasn't Moira Nelson's sailing dinghy.
7. It was the bulldog that arrived at the Malt Shovel with the man on the Wild Goose.
Labels: Quiz
Sunday, October 07, 2007
One down, two to go
The Red Sox handily dispatched of the Angels to win the American League Division Series. Next up - the winner of the Cleveland/New York series. I really have no idea who to root for in that series. Either way, I hope it goes 5. I'm watching game 3 of Indians/Yankees right now and I just realized something: all 4 teams in the AL post season have at least one member of the 2004 championship team.
PS. I just want to state that I got 3 out of 4 pitchers for the trivia question Friday night (I was pretty proud of myself!) - Name the 4 pitchers to have a 17 win season and a 38 save season (I think those were the numbers). Do you know?
Labels: baseball
Our Lady of the Rosary
The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was originally established as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory by Pope Pius V in 1572. The Feast was established to commemorate the victory of the Christian forces, under the command of Don Juan of Austria, over the Turkish forces in the Battle of Lepanto. This was the first decisive naval victory of the Christian forces over the Turks and prevented the Turks from taking full control of the Mediterranean. Perhaps the biggest effect of the victory was the confidence it gave Christians that Turkish victory in battle was not inevitable. 
The victory in the Battle of Lepanto is attributed to the intercession of Our Lady. Pope Pius V urged all Christians to pray the rosary for success in battle. This paining by Paolo Veronese depicts the saints imploring Mary for victory. EWTN gives these details:Knowing that the Christian forces were at a distinct material disadvantage, the holy pontiff, St. Pope Pius V called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory. We know today that the victory was decisive, prevented the Islamic invasion of Europe, and evidenced the Hand of God working through Our Lady. At the hour of victory, St. Pope Pius V, who was hundreds of miles away at the Vatican, is said to have gotten up from a meeting, went over to a window, and exclaimed with supernatural radiance: "The Christian fleet is victorious!" and shed tears of thanksgiving to God.
What you may not know is that one of three admirals commanding the Catholic forces at Lepanto was Andrea Doria. He carried a small copy of Mexico's Our Lady of Guadalupe into battle. This image is now enshrined in the Church of San Stefano in Aveto, Italy. Not many know that at the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Spain, one can view a huge warship lantern that was captured from the Moslems in the Battle of Lepanto. In Rome, look up to the ceiling of S. Maria in Aracoeli and behold decorations in gold taken from the Turkish galleys. In the Doges' Palace in Venice, Italy, one can witness a giant Islamic flag that is now a trophy from a vanquished Turkish ship from the Victory. At Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome, close to the tomb of the great St. Pope Pius V, one was once able to view yet another Islamic flag from the Battle, until 1965, when it was returned to Istanbul in an intended friendly token of concord.
Labels: Feast Day
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
The Prayer of Saint FrancisO Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, harmony;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light, and
Where there is sorrow, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand; to be loved
as to love; for it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Labels: Feast Day
Rockies/Phillies
I'm watching the Rockies/Phillies game 2 right now. It's nice to hear Don Orsillo (the voice of the Red Sox) calling the game.
Labels: baseball
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Feast of the Guardian Angels
My good Angel, Thou comest from heaven; God has sent thee to take care of me.
Oh, shelter me under thy wings.
Lighten my path, direct my steps.
Do not leave me, stay quite near me
and defend me against the spirit of evil.
But above all come to my help in the last struggle of my life.
Deliver my soul so that with thee it may praise,
love and contemplate the goodness of God forever and ever.
Amen
Labels: Feast Day
Back on track
While I've been settling into my new job and finally getting my life back to some sort of routine, blogging has been slow - actually practically non-existent - and I've missed some major feast days such as the Feast of the Archangels on September 29, which also happens to be the beginning of the Lepanto Novena. The Lepanto Novena ends on October 7, the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto and the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary because it was through her intercession that the battle was won. The Blue Boar, a neat blog devoted to G.K. Chesterton, our Lady, home brewing, inns, Distributism, good literature, the lost art of Catholic drinking, and other crucial elements of Catholic culture, has the details:Nine days from now is October 7, the anniverary of the Battle of Lepanto, fought on October 7, 1571, in which a Catholic fleet commanded by Don John of Austria defeated a Turkish fleet bent on invading the Italian peninsula. It was one of the most significant naval battles in history, and the victory of the Catholic Holy League has always been attributed to the intercession of our Lady. Every man in the Holy League was issued a rosary, which they prayed fervently. And in the churches of Rome and throughout Italy, at the behest of Pope St. Pius V, thousands of Catholics gathered to pray their rosaries for deliverance from the Turk threat.
Our lady heard their prayers, and the Christians won the day. In honor of that, October 7 is commemorated as the feast of the Holy Rosary. And we in the Chestertonian community mark the nine days from today to October 7 with a novena, in which we offer thanksgiving for our Lady's intercession and, this year, pray for the intention of the defeat of the powers of darkness.
The blog is also reproducing Chesterton's great poem Lepanto. Check The Blue Boar for ongoing coverage of the Novena and other great posts.
h/t Fumare
Labels: Feast Day
Monday, October 01, 2007
Bella Sneak Peek
"There comes a time in everyone's life when something happens that changes them forever and their life will never be the same. If it hasn't happened to you yet...it will. BELLA is a true love story that shows how one day in New York City changed three people's lives forever. Powerful, passionate and always unpredictable, BELLA reminds us of the surprises that await us in each new day and that sometimes it takes no more than a moment to transform our lives forever."
I was invited to a private showing of the movie Bella last night. This movie has generated quite a buzz due to it's pro-life content and surprise People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. The background of the movie is fascinating. The movie's star, Eduardo Verástegui, started in a boy band before becoming famous in Mexico as a soap opera star. But, he knew that there was something deeper inside of him, so he left the path he was following to join with Alejandro Monteverde and Leo Severino, both of whom have similar stories, to start Metanoia films. Eduardo also tells an amazing story about preparing for his character in Bella. Because his character spends much of the film listening, and because they didn't yet have an actress with whom he could rehearse, Eduardo decided to go to an abortion clinic for research. He had never been to an abortion clinic before. At the abortion clinic, he was overwhelmed by the sight of young women entering the clinic. He joined a group who was praying and was soon approached by a woman who wondered if he would speak to a couple who didn't speak any English. Not knowing what to say, but wanting to help, he agreed and ended up spending nearly an hour talking to the couple. Several months later, after returning home from filming Bella, Eduardo received a call from the man. They had a son and wanted permission to name him Eduardo.
The mission of Metanoia films is to "entertain, engage, and inspire," and they've started out with a bang in their first film. Bella is the story of two people who are hurting and are able to open up to each other. Nina is a waitress who discovers she is pregnant. José is a chef at his brother's restaurant who has closed up following tragedy. Together they discover the healing and hopeful power of love. This is a love story, but not a romance. It's about the love of family and the love of friendship. It's about risking everything for someone else.
The producers of the movie have made a conscious decision not to market the movie as a pro-life movie. They've made this movie for all the Nina's of the world, and they're hoping that not emphasizing the pro-life message in the advertising will enable them to get the movie out to mainstream audiences to touch those Nina's. Unfortunately, the movie isn't opening in Boston. The closest theater will be New York. But, I hear that Cardinal O'Malley will be hosting a screening.
I was invited to a private showing of the movie Bella last night. This movie has generated quite a buzz due to it's pro-life content and surprise People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. The background of the movie is fascinating. The movie's star, Eduardo Verástegui, started in a boy band before becoming famous in Mexico as a soap opera star. But, he knew that there was something deeper inside of him, so he left the path he was following to join with Alejandro Monteverde and Leo Severino, both of whom have similar stories, to start Metanoia films. Eduardo also tells an amazing story about preparing for his character in Bella. Because his character spends much of the film listening, and because they didn't yet have an actress with whom he could rehearse, Eduardo decided to go to an abortion clinic for research. He had never been to an abortion clinic before. At the abortion clinic, he was overwhelmed by the sight of young women entering the clinic. He joined a group who was praying and was soon approached by a woman who wondered if he would speak to a couple who didn't speak any English. Not knowing what to say, but wanting to help, he agreed and ended up spending nearly an hour talking to the couple. Several months later, after returning home from filming Bella, Eduardo received a call from the man. They had a son and wanted permission to name him Eduardo.
The mission of Metanoia films is to "entertain, engage, and inspire," and they've started out with a bang in their first film. Bella is the story of two people who are hurting and are able to open up to each other. Nina is a waitress who discovers she is pregnant. José is a chef at his brother's restaurant who has closed up following tragedy. Together they discover the healing and hopeful power of love. This is a love story, but not a romance. It's about the love of family and the love of friendship. It's about risking everything for someone else.
The producers of the movie have made a conscious decision not to market the movie as a pro-life movie. They've made this movie for all the Nina's of the world, and they're hoping that not emphasizing the pro-life message in the advertising will enable them to get the movie out to mainstream audiences to touch those Nina's. Unfortunately, the movie isn't opening in Boston. The closest theater will be New York. But, I hear that Cardinal O'Malley will be hosting a screening.
The Extraordinary Form of the Mass
Because our CCD classes run from 7:30-12:15 on Sunday mornings, my choices for Sunday Mass are limited. I could go on Saturday afternoons, but I really don't want to do that on a regular schedule because not going to Mass on Sunday itself makes it harder for me to keep Sunday, especially when I'm working for part of it. I could also attend Sunday evening Mass, but I'm not really a fan of late Mass on Sunday because it seems to be the Mass attended by everyone who put off that "obligation" until the last minute. So, all things considered, my best option seems to be the 12:30 1962 Mass at a parish down the street. The Mass goers are reverent and the church is as nice a church as I've found in Northern Virginia. There are beautiful statues and it's smaller than many which gives it a more intimate feel.
It's going to take me a little while to get used to the extraordinary form of the Mass, though. The problem isn't the Latin - I've attended the Novus Ordo in Latin since I was young - the problem for me is the silence. It's a bit disconcerting, when you are used to hearing all the prayers of the Mass, to not be able to hear a word of the Eucharistic prayer except for the words of consecration themselves. It's also strange to not make any responses, but just to sit silent for the most part. A co-worker explained to me that the silence is intended to shroud the actions of the Mass in mystery. Just as in the Eastern Church the mysteries are hidden visually, so in the Roman Church the mysteries are hidden in silence. He said that he thought it was better that way. I'm not convinced - I like knowing what's going on and it's a lot easier for thoughts to wander when you can't tell what's happening. Maybe I'll get used to it - looks like I'll be attending this Mass for quite a while.
It's going to take me a little while to get used to the extraordinary form of the Mass, though. The problem isn't the Latin - I've attended the Novus Ordo in Latin since I was young - the problem for me is the silence. It's a bit disconcerting, when you are used to hearing all the prayers of the Mass, to not be able to hear a word of the Eucharistic prayer except for the words of consecration themselves. It's also strange to not make any responses, but just to sit silent for the most part. A co-worker explained to me that the silence is intended to shroud the actions of the Mass in mystery. Just as in the Eastern Church the mysteries are hidden visually, so in the Roman Church the mysteries are hidden in silence. He said that he thought it was better that way. I'm not convinced - I like knowing what's going on and it's a lot easier for thoughts to wander when you can't tell what's happening. Maybe I'll get used to it - looks like I'll be attending this Mass for quite a while.
Labels: Mass
Feast Day of St. Thérèse of Liseux
Prayer In honour of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face and to beg favours through her intercession.
O Father in Heaven, Who through St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, dost desire to remind the world of the Merciful Love that fills Thy Heart, and the childlike trust we should have in Thee, humbly we thank Thee for having crowned with so great glory Thine ever faithful child, and for giving her wondrous power to bring unto Thee, day by day, innumerable souls who will praise Thee eternally.
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, remember thy promise to do good upon earth, shower down thy roses on those who invoke thee and obtain for us from God the graces we hope for from His infinite goodness.
(here mention your requests)
Labels: Feast Day
