Letters From a Young Catholic

Goodbye, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

2007-08-14T00:47:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years I have thoroughly enjoyed posting on this blog, however the time has come to bring my blogging to an end. The experience of blogging and reading other Catholic blogs has helped me to grow in knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Faith, provided me with a forum to seek answers to many questions, and helped me come to a deeper realization and appreciation of the universality of the Catholic Church.

In many ways, the blogs I have been reading have inspired me to seek Christ more fervently and given me wonderful examples of what it means to be a faithful Catholic in this world, whether as a stay at home mom, a student, a doctor, a priest, or a religious sister. . . the list could go on. . .

To all those whom I have come in contact with over the past couple of years through blogging, I thank-you for your encouragement, your friendship, and example. Most of all, thank-you for being instruments of God's grace in my life.

May God bless you and protect you from all evil. May our Blessed Mother watch over you and lead you always nearer to her son, Jesus Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, may you always seek Christ with sincerity of heart. Place all your confidence in His love for you and always trust in His infinite mercy.

As I leave the world of St. Blog's I will continue to be united with you in prayer and the Eucharist. If you are able, and remember, please keep me in your prayer intentions as well.

I will leave this blog up for the next few weeks, although I will be disabling comments. You can still reach me for the time being, at dilexitprior@gmail.com, although comments made via e-mail will not be published either.

Back from Holidays

2007-08-13T23:59:00.000-07:00

I've just returned to work after a week of holidays in my hometown. I fit in a wonderful backpacking trip with my dad. Blogging has been a little slow. No wireless access up in the mountains. No cell phone reception either. For that matter, our hand held radio wouldn't even pick up the coast guard station. But there sure were a lot of mosquitos.

I learned a few important lessons on this trip.

1. No matter how ridiculous the mosquito hood looks, keep it on at all times unless you want to be inhalling the cloud of black flies and mosquitos that is swarming around your head. It may look silly, but the mosquito hood is your new best friend.

2. Continuing to eat food, even after you're stuffed full, is not gluttony but rather an act of charity when on a backpacking trip. Remember in moral theology that it's always a pretty safe bet to go with the most charitable course of action (although, discerning what is the most charitable course of action is the hard part). When backpacking, it's clear that the most charitable thing to do is to consume the excess food that is being carried no matter how full you may feel.

3. The tree stump that from 200 meters away looks like a cougar (mountain lion) is not necessarily a cougar. It's a tree stump.

4. If there's thunder and lightening in the sky chances are it's going to pour down rain. Head for the base camp. Preferably before you're soaking wet.

Bless the Lord

2007-08-07T16:44:00.001-07:00

Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.

Home, sweet home...

2007-08-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

The Simple Things

2007-08-04T21:25:00.001-07:00

Sometimes it's the simple things. . . those little miracles of every day life, that can really reaffirm your trust and confidence in God and seem to be neon signs indicating his real presence in the midst of the chaos of life. For instance, today I was travelling home to visit my family for a week of holidays. It's a long weekend here, with Monday being a statutory holiday, and so the ferry line-ups were very busy. To get to my hometown requires travelling by ferry. In fact two ferries.

Despite arriving at 5:45am for a 7:20am sailing, I almost did not make it on the first ferry because it was so busy. I was among the last dozen cars let on the ferry and they left almost a full ferry load behind sitting in the parking lot. Relieved to have made this ferry, I knew the next one would also be busy.

When I arrived at the second ferry at 9:45am for a 10:30am sailing the person directing the cars at the terminal told me that I would not be making the sailing. That would mean waiting in the parking lot (in literally, the middle of nowhere) until the next sailing which would be leaving around 1:00pm. Sitting in a parking lot for over three hours didn't sound like my idea of fun, but there wasn't much I could do about it. As they began to load for the 10:30am ferry again I was told I wouldn't make it on. Then they directed my lane down into the lower portion of the lot. Again I was told I wouldn't make it on. Then I started praying.

I was tired, and just wanted to get home. I didn't want to waste my whole day "travelling" (actually, sitting in a parking lot at a ferry terminal). If I made it on I would be able to have lunch with my family and get to a Mass that was being celebrated in the early afternoon at the parish. I really wanted to make it on the ferry. But I was told that I wouldn't. So I figured, the only way the ferry people's insistance that I wouldn't be making the ferry could be overturned, is by divine providence. And so I prayed, "Jesus, if it is your will, please get me on this ferry. You know I really just want to get home, don't want to be sitting in the parking lot, and I would love to be able to get to Mass today."

Guess what? I got on. I was the last car on a ferry that holds probably around two hundred cars. They stuck me on somehow at the back of the ferry. It was just one of those simple things, an obvious answer to a sincere prayer, that reassured me once again of God's active presence in my life.

Anyways, I'm home for the week.

Cathedral Under Siege

2007-08-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

The media always seems to do a fine job of catching our attention with the headlines. This time, apparently Holy Rosary Cathedral is under siege. Well, it's not quite under siege, but this is actually quite a sad story.

An elderly parishoner was mugged by a panhandler as he was leaving Holy Rosary Cathedral, after he had already given the panhandler money (and had been giving him money on a regular basis for quite some time).

I went to Mass at the Cathedral earlier this week. I didn't get mugged, but there were indeed panhandlers around.

Rather than giving money to the panhandlers, I would encourage people to support those Catholic charities operating downtown who specifically work with the poor. There is Covenant House, which takes in youth off the street and provides them with a home, counseling, job skills, education, and tries to help them get back on their feet. There is the Door is Open which is a soup kitchen run by the Archdiocese. There is also the Catholic Charities Men's Shelter located in the same building as the chancery offices. Supporting this organizations you'll be sure that your financial resources support those most in need (and if it matters to you, you can also receive a tax-deductible receipt for your donations to these organizations).

Beautiful

2007-08-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Ora pro nobis!

Holy Rosary Cathedral

2007-07-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

Holy Rosary Cathedral (yesterday evening)

Kitty Lauds?

2007-07-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

Blogging has been a little slow because I'm house sitting (and that includes taking care of half a dozen animals...).

I had started Lauds the other day when the kettle started boiling. I got up to turn off the kettle and turned around and look what I found! Honestly, a totally unplanned photo op.

Total Love

2007-07-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

"Love him totally
who gave himself totally
for your love."
- St. Clare of Assisi

Authentic Ecumenism

2007-07-25T18:10:00.000-07:00

Vatican Official: Ecumenism Needs Truth

ARANJUEZ, Spain, JULY 25, 2007 (Zenit.org).

The secretary of the Vatican's doctrinal congregation emphasized again that the dicastery's recent document on the doctrine of the Church is an aid to ecumenism.

Salesian Archbishop Angelo Amato of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith spoke with journalists Tuesday in Spain, before giving a conference on Benedict XVI's book, "Jesus of Nazareth."

The archbishop said that "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church," as the document was called, is "very positive" for ecumenism because it gives a "precise identity to the Catholic Church."

"Ecumenism is based on truth and the identity of the interlocutors," he affirmed.

The prelate denied that Protestants were "vexed" by the document: "They know that this is our identity and it is not the first time that the congregation has made these affirmations."

The archbishop observed that the document repeats what the Second Vatican Council had already said. He further recalled the 2000 document, "Dominus Iesus," which also detailed the same doctrine.

"The Church of Christ exists in history," he added. "It is a concrete historical reality, which searches for unity, through ecumenical dialogue, with all the other expressions."

Ebay

2007-07-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Search "thurible" on ebay and under "Related Guides" they list "The Tools of Witchcraft" and "Wicca/Witchcraft". This is definitely not my intention in searching for a thurible.

Fear

2007-07-24T07:59:00.001-07:00

Words of the wise I've been pondering...

"Fear nothing but sin."

Catholic Church Supplies

2007-07-17T11:24:00.001-07:00

This question is for the priests (or anyone else out there in the know). I'm looking to get some chalice veils, chalice pall, and perhaps a thurible for the chapel at a local Catholic college. Does anyone know of where to look for these at a reasonable price? Suggestions? (Or if you have extras lying around. . . even better. . .). You can post your suggestions here or e-mail me at dilexitprior@gmail.com .

Back from Camping

2007-07-15T21:52:00.001-07:00

Rock climbing anyone?

Yummmy...fresh bannock cooked on an open fire for breakfast!

The view from my tent "door". Seriously.

And the canoe waiting to be taken out for a ride.

Happy Camper

2007-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Late tonight I decided to go camping for the weekend. Yipeee... It was a spur of the moment decision to join some friends who were planning on going into the woods for a few days. I decided that since I only live once I should seize the moment (accept God's providence?) and go. After all, I've been lamenting the fact that being stuck in suburbia for the summer I am missing out on all that a summer in beautiful British Columbia has to offer.

And so, as soon as I get off work tomorrow (or rather today now, since it's past midnight), I'm heading off with some friends to an unknown lake (or at least unknown to me) in the middle of nowhere to go camping / swimming / hiking / canoeing / and so much more. . . I'll put on plenty of sunscreen, stop complaining about the heat, jump in the water, and have some fun.

Don't expect to hear from me for the next little while.

Yippppeeee. . . off to camping we go. . .

Can you tell I'm excited?! God is so good. He truly knows the desires of our heart. He knows I don't like being in the city (no offense to the city) and would really rather be outdoors enjoying the summer. Ask and ye shall receive. Deo gratias!

Defending St. Alphonsus

2007-07-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

Fr. Tim Finigan has posted a defense of St. Alphonsus Liguori, one of my favourite saints and key intercessors. It's well worth a read.

Random Thought of the Day

2007-07-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

Here is the random thought of the day, taken from this morning's homily, which has been bouncing around inside my head:

Christ didn't choose the Apostles because of who they were, but because of who he knew they were capable of becoming.

Too Hot

2007-07-11T18:34:00.000-07:00

It's way too hot today. . . and no air conditioning.

40 degrees celcius (102 fahrenheit)

All time record high for the local area.

All I want to do is jump into a lake.

Latin Refresher Challenge

2007-07-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

My former Latin professor has issued a challenge to me. Memorize (or at least ponder for a day) and parse one key Latin phrase from the Gospel each day to savor the Latin.

For today:
Confide, filia; fides tua te salvam fecit.

And while we're at it, for tomorrow:
Videns autem turbas, misertus est eis, quia erant vexati et iacentes sicut oves non habentes pastorem.

Anyone want cookies?

2007-07-09T19:43:00.001-07:00

Yummy...cookies. I tried a new recipe tonight. It used plain yogurt instead of eggs. They turned out well. Taste yummy too.

If you come pray the rosary you can have some. Really. You can. There's a bunch of us 20-something year olds in the area who get together one evening a week to pray a scriptural rosary (a verse of scripture relating to the particular mystery is read before each Hail Mary is prayed...) and then we typically follow this up with some good ol' fashion fellowship. That's where the cookies come into play.

Old Lives of the Saints

2007-07-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

I've been working on cataloging books recently at a local Catholic college. I came across a 1894 edition of Butler's Lives of the Saints today. My patron saint was only four years old in 1894! Speaking of which, it was her feast day Friday. No, I didn't forget, but I was celebrating in ways exceedingly better than blogging.

What does man live on?

2007-07-08T16:08:00.001-07:00

"Man lives on truth and on being loved:
on being loved by the truth."

- Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth

Five Things I Love About Jesus

2007-07-08T14:01:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Fr. Daren Zehle over at Servant and Steward with the Five Things I Love About Jesus meme.

Here are the Rules:

Those tagged will share 5 things they "love" about Jesus.
Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers.
Those tagged will provide a link in the comments section here with their name so that others can read them.

1. His superabundant personal love for every single person.

Really, every other point is covered by point 1.

2. His mercy.
3. His Eucharistic Presence (the source and summit of my life).
4. His love, humility, obedience, and faithfulness to God the Father (ok, I'm kind of squeezing them in, but really these points are inseparable) which draws us into the life of the Trinity.
5. The mystery of His divine will.

And obviously the list could continue.

I'll tag Antonia from Antonia's World, Gabriel from Et in Arcadia Ego, Laura from ...and if not..., T.O. from LAMLand, and Fr. Dwight Longenecker from Standing on My Head. However, none of these need to feel obliged to respond and anyone else who is interested, consider yourselves tagged.

Jesus of Nazareth Study

2007-07-05T22:38:00.000-07:00

Does anyone out there who has read, is currently reading, or would like to read the Holy Father's new book, Jesus of Nazareth, want to do an online study group? Fr. Tom Dowd from Waiting in Joyful Hope and Adventus fame has graciously volunteered to lead it if there's enough interest. Anyone? Anyone?

Creative Pastoral Solution

2007-07-05T22:30:00.000-07:00

I recently was skimming a local parish bulletin when I came across a short note by the pastor encouraging people to dress modestly in Church. He pointed out that with the warm summer months sometimes the clothes worn to Mass are less than appropriate. He reinforced the importance of modesty, but also pointed out that the Church is air conditioned and therefore there is no reason for parishioners to be immodestly dressed at Mass. The heat is no excuse anyways, but especially when it's actually cool in the Church. After all, he pointed out, we don't want people getting sick with colds (because they weren't wearing enough clothes at Mass) when they should be out enjoying the summer.

And so, I think Father has proposed indirectly a very creative pastoral solution to immodest clothing during the summer months - simply crank the air conditioning system to its highest level!

Random Thought of the Day

2007-07-04T16:57:00.001-07:00

The most beautiful dimensions of life are those which we cannot understand.

There's something profoundly beautiful about mystery.

Top Canadian Wish

2007-07-03T09:13:00.001-07:00

Over a month ago the CBC launched a "great Canadian wish" competition on Facebook for Canada Day (July 1st). The top wish proposed? Abolish abortion.

Metaphysics Matters

2007-07-02T22:27:00.001-07:00

"The highest truths cannot be forced into the type of empirical evidence that only applies to material reality."
- Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth

Summer is officially here. . .

2007-07-02T22:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the sun might be hiding a little, but summer is officially here.

First swim in the ocean of the summer this past weekend and my lips didn't even turn blue.

The Home Front

2007-07-02T22:08:00.000-07:00

These past two weekends in a row I was back in my hometown for a visit. Here are some pictures of the beauty of God's creation in this part of the world. For more pictures, check out Antonia's World.

Here's Antonia doing what she does best. . . capturing the moment on her digital camera.

And a picture of the beach (despite the clouds, I got a sunburn. . . I'm not allowed to complain though because I know from experience that I burn easily. . .)

Here I am trying to take a nap on the beach. In case you're wondering, I have the rocks on my eyes to block the brightness of the sun. They were quite effective at doing that. Unfortunately the above mentioned sunburn also reflects the fact that I slept with rocks on my face.

This is a picture of my hometown taken from a nearby island. Yes, it was kind of cloudy, but at least it wasn't too hot that way, and it wasn't pouring rain so I didn't mind.

Still Alive

2007-06-29T17:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know, the blogging has been a little on the sporadic side recently. I've been busy at work, traveling back and forth to my hometown to visit with family, and otherwise preoccupied. Today I sorted through most of the many boxes of "stuff" I've left lying around at my parents house over the years and narrowed it down to two and a half small boxes. Yay. I found a box of books as well, which I'd forgotten about. That's always a pleasant surprise.

Anyways, I'm still alive and well though, in case you were getting worried.

I'm sure I'll have something interesting to post about one of these days. For now I'm just "plugging along" with life. Nothing too exciting going on.

Well, besides the fact that it's the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul today. Happy Feast Day!

Run and Pray

2007-06-20T21:59:00.001-07:00

This young priest from the Netherlands makes some good points about running and the opportunity for prayer it provides. Personally, I tend to pray the sorrowful mysteries while out on a run, it helps keep my somewhat achy muscles in perspective (really nothing to complain about when compared to the sorrowful mysteries!). This video makes some wonderful suggestions for other intentions to pray for while out on a run.

Our Enemies are Our Friends

2007-06-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

"Our friends are all those who unjustly bring upon us tribulations and difficulties, shame and injuries, pains and torments, martyrdom and death; whom we ought to love greatly, because from this which they bring upon us, we have eternal life."
- St Francis of Assisi

This quote was integrated into the homily at Mass today. It's one of those quotes which contains much truth yet is difficult to accept and live by. Much like the passage from the Gospel for today's Mass.

"Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
(Mt 5:43-48)

As if yesterday's Gospel wasn't hard enough. This is the week of the tough stuff in so far as the Gospels go. As Father pointed out tonight too, these aren't merely "suggestions", but rather commandments made by Christ. Christ commands us to love our enemies. That's probably a good thing because if it were a mere suggestion I don't know how many of us would follow his suggestion.

This is courage!

2007-06-19T21:46:00.001-07:00

A courageous young mother tells of her unwavering love for her daughter conceived by rape. Wow! What a powerful testimony she has to share!

Wise Advice from St. Benedict

2007-06-19T10:22:00.001-07:00

"Let them sleep clothed and girded with cinctures or cords, that they may be always ready; but let them not have knives at their sides whilst they sleep, lest perchance the sleeping be wounded in their dreams; and the sign having been given, rising without delay, let them hasten to outstrip each other to the Work of God, yet with all gravity and decorum."
- The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter XXII

St. Benedict is a very practical saint. I like that about him. He gives you the kind of directives that you can take and apply directly to your life. From this passage we learn not only about avoiding sleeping with sharp objects, but also about the benefits of sleeping in your clothes. This is a piece of practical advice I had to try for myself. Ok, so maybe he just meant, let them sleep wearing something, but for my purposes, I took it to mean the kind of clothes you could wear outside of your house!

I'm one of those crazy people who has signed up for a middle of the night shift at a nearby perpetual adoration chapel. So, having recently read this passage, I decided I'd try and apply the wisdom of St. Benedict to my life. I went to bed in comfortable clothes, woke up in the middle of the night when my alarm went off and then went directly back to bed in the same clothes when I got home from prayer. Don't worry, I was perfectly modestly dressed and I don't think I looked like I'd slept in the clothes (not that I exactly care at an hour when most sane people are asleep). I can jump out of bed quite easily and go back to sleep without ruining my sleep pattern too much, but St. Benedict's advice certainly makes this a little more convenient.

In case you're curious, I did get changed when I woke up in the morning before going to work!

Vatican Radio Live!

2007-06-15T22:08:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it took me so long to think of this / find this but I've hooked up to the Vatican Radio. You can listen online. There's a station that broadcasts in French, Spanish, English, and Italian, with a little Latin thrown in to spice things up. This is my perfect combination, since I know French, Spanish, English , and basic Latin and can somewhat understand Italian. Woohoo, my new favourite radio station.

The Holy Father Speaks to Youth

2007-06-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

I could spend day and night on this site. . .

The Holy Father Speaks to Youth

This from the Vatican site contains much good material to read through.

Even if you're simply "young at heart" these messages are definitely worth taking the time to read and contemplate.

As I've been reading through some of these messages I'm struck by how personally Pope John Paul II addressed the young people. Though his live audience at times was several million people (WYD Manilla for instance!), not to mention those who would later read his words, so much of what he says is spoken in such a personal tone, as if he was having a personal conversation with you.

Our late Holy Father certainly had a gift for this. Young people in our world now, as in every age, need to know that they are loved and that someone cares about their lives, their future, and the choices they make. Though Pope John Paul II never personally met most of the youth he addressed, he clearly communicated a personal and profound love for each one of them. It is evident that he simply radiated the love of Christ for these youth for this kind of love is only possible in and through Christ. Christ loves each one of us uniquely and personally. This is the kind of love that Pope John Paul II extended to the world, not just in a general sense, but to each particular individual in his flock. This is especially evident in the words he spoke to young people.

Pope John Paul II, ora pro nobis!

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

2007-06-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast of Christ's love for us.
May we live so as to return that precious gift to Him.

Righteousness = Obedience to God's Will

2007-06-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

I'm currently reading Jesus of Nazareth. It's a fantastic book thus far. I'm only a couple chapters in but I keep coming across passages where I think to myself "Wow, that's such a good point!" It's definitely a book worth reading. Obviously. It's written by the Holy Father.

For some reason this line stood out to me and has on my mind all evening:

"In Jesus' world, righteousness is man's answer to the Torah, acceptance of the whole of God's will, the bearing of the "yoke of God's kingdom," as one formulation had it." (p. 17)

This sentence is found in the context of a discussion of Jesus' response to John the Baptist's question in the Gospel of Matthew account of Jesus' baptism. John the baptist asks "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" and Jesus responds "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." (Mt. 3:14-15)

St. Anthony of Padua

2007-06-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua. He's a dear friend of mine. One of those friends you can call on. In fact, I call on him almost every day. Earlier this week he helped me find my digital camera which I'd misplaced. I was looking all over for it and my anxiety level was rising and then I simply muttered under my breath "St. Anthony, pleeeease help me find my camera." and guess what? I found it in the next place I looked. He's not just a friend who helps me find things though. That would be merely a friendship of utility. He's a friend who points me to Christ through his example and intercession.

Glorious Saint Anthony, my friend and special protector, I come to you with full confidence in my present necessity. In your overflowing generosity you hear all those who turn to you. Your influence before the throne of God is so effective that the Lord readily grants great favors at your request. Please listen to my humble petition in spite of my unworthiness and sinfulness. Consider only your great and constant love for Jesus and Mary, and my desire for their glory and mercy. I beg you to obtain for me the grace I so greatly need, if it be God's will and for the good of my soul. I place this earnest petition in the care of the little mission children so that they may present it to you along their innocent prayers. Bless me, powerful Saint Anthony, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Don't forget to go over to Servant and Steward and wish Fr. Zehnle, serving at St. Anthony of Padua parish, a very happy feast day!

Dear young people. . .

2007-06-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

"Dear young people, may you always be motivated by the desire to discover the truth of your lives. May faith and reason be the two wings that bear you aloft towards Christ, the truth about God and the truth about man. In Christ you will find peace and joy. May Christ be the centre of your entire existence.”
- Pope John Paul II, 5 March 2005

Pray for those without Priests

2007-06-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

I cannot imagine living in circumstances where I could not physically have recourse to Christ's loving presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us pray for those who ardently desire to encounter Christ in the Eucharist and yet for various reasons and circumstances are unable to take part in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. So often we take this precious encounter with our Lord and Redeemer for granted. Let the testimony of those who are not as privileged as we are draw us to a deeper realization of the importance of Christ's Eucharistic presence in our lives.

"Think of the places where people look eagerly for a priest and where, for many years now, they have felt the lack and continue to desire his presence! It may be that at times they gather in an abandoned church, place on the altar the stole they have preserved, and recite all the prayers of the eucharistic liturgy. Then, at the moment when the transubstantiation should occur, there is a profound silence, broken occasionally by the sound of weeping. So ardently do they long to hear the words which only a priest’s lips can effectively pronounce! So deeply do they yearn for the Lord’s Supper in which they can share only through a priest’s ministry!"
(Holy Thursday 1979)

Corpus Christi

2007-06-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

At the last supper,
as he sat at table with his apostles,
he offered himself to you as the spotless lamb,
the acceptable gift that gives you perfect praise.
Christ has given us this memorial of his passion
to bring us its saving power until the end of time.

In this great sacrament you feed your people
and strengthen them in holiness,
so that the family of mankind
may come to walk in the light of one faith,
in one communion of love.
We come then to this wonderful sacrament
to be fed at your table
and grow in the likeness of the risen Christ.

Earth unites with heaven
to sing the new song of creation
as we adore and praise you for ever:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

(Preface Holy Eucharist II)

How We View Our Past

2007-06-06T16:14:00.000-07:00

"As Christians we should offer our memories to the Lord. Thinking about the past will not alter the reality of your sufferings of disappointments, but it can change the way you look at them."
- Pope John Paul II

Today's First Reading

2007-06-05T21:34:00.001-07:00

Apparently I've never noticed this passage before
(from the first reading at Mass today):

"On the night of Pentecost, after I had buried the dead,
I, Tobit, went into my courtyard
to sleep next to the courtyard wall.
My face was uncovered because of the heat.
I did not know there were birds perched on the wall above me,
till their warm droppings settled in my eyes, causing cataracts.
I went to see some doctors for a cure
but the more they anointed my eyes with various salves,
the worse the cataracts became,
until I could see no more."
(For the whole reading see Tobit 2:9-14)

Poor Tobit. I'm sympathetic. Not that I've ever had birds poop in my eyes before, however I have taken a nap on top of a red ants nest by accident. That's a close runner up and also painful.

Holy Genes!

2007-06-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast of St. Boniface. St. Boniface comes from one of the holy families. . . literally. . . He was St. Walburga, St. Willibald, and St. Winibald's cousin, and St. Richard's nephew.

St. Blog's, a universal parish within a universal Church

2007-06-05T09:00:00.001-07:00

Three weeks from now a certain blogger from England will be here in British Columbia. I can't wait to show her around. St. Blog's is truly a universal "parish" within the universal Church.

Wise Words from St. John Vianney

2007-06-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

"When you have no consolations, you serve God for Himself alone; but when you have them you're liable to serve Him out of love for yourself."
- St. John Vianney

World Youth Day Mass in Latin?

2007-06-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

This past week I've been taking my time reading through Sacramentum Caritatis. I had scanned it when it first came out, however due to my studies, I hadn't had time to read it thoroughly and carefully.

Today I came across the following in paragraph 62.:

"None of the above observations [see paragraph 61.] should cast doubt upon the importance of such large-scale liturgies. I am thinking here particularly of celebrations at international gatherings, which nowadays are held with greater frequency. The most should be made of these occasions. In order to express more clearly the unity and universality of the Church, I wish to endorse the proposal made by the Synod of Bishops, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, that, with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful, such liturgies could be celebrated in Latin. Similarly, the better-known prayers of the Church's tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be song."

Based on this paragraph, I'd recommend any young people planning to go to World Youth Day to sign up for Latin for the fall or spring semester this coming year! It's not too late to learn some basic Latin. Priests accompanying pilgrimage groups may also want to brush up on their Latin as well.

St. Teresa of Avila on Humility

2007-06-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

"We shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know God; for, beholding His greatness, we realize our own littleness; His purity shows us our foulness; and by meditating upon His humility we find how very far we are from being humble."
- St. Teresa of Avila

Korean Mass

2007-06-03T19:59:00.001-07:00

This weekend I had the privilege of attending Mass in Korean. . . four times. . . I was giving a presentation (with the help of a translator!) after each of the masses at a local Korean parish.

Attending Mass in a language you do not understand is a wonderful opportunity for meditation upon the universality of the Catholic Church. Although I do not understand a word of Korean, I felt perfectly at home.

Thanks be to God for His Bride, the Church.

The Call to Prayer

2007-06-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

"The call to prayer must precede the call to action, but the call to action must truly accompany the call to prayer. In prayer we discover the needs of our brothers and sisters and make them our own, because in prayer we discover that their needs are the needs of Christ."
- Pope John Paul II

Interview with Archbishop Miller

2007-06-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Salt and Light Television, a Catholic Canadian television network, has posted an interview with Archbishop Miller from days after his episcopal ordination in 2003.

If this interview is any indication of things to come, we are in good hands.

More on the new Archbishop

2007-06-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

Rocco, over at Whispers in the Loggia is blogging about the appointment of our new Archbishop here in Vancouver:

"The Ottawa-born Miller, 61 next month, became a naturalized US citizen in 2002, whilst serving as president of the University of St Thomas in Houston. A member of the Toronto-based Basilian Fathers, Miller -- a onetime official at the Secretariat of State -- became secretary for the Congregation of Catholic Education (the dicastery with competence over the church's universities and seminaries) in late 2003. The archbishop was charged with oversight for 2005's apostolic visitation of US seminaries. He was among the 359 priests ordained by Pope Paul VI on 29 June 1975 to mark the Holy Year.

Known for a graciousness that, a friend once said, impels him to send "thank-you notes for thank-you notes," in Vancouver Miller will transition into the leadership of one of Canada's burgeoning local churches, in a city with a booming population and a rising global profile; Vancouver will host the 2010 Winter Olympics, for which pastoral initiatives are already in the works. The archdiocese's Catholic population -- currently in excess of 400,000 -- is notable in that a large concentration of its membership (numbering about half, according to some estimates) is of Asian immigration or descent.

The new coadjutor will first assist, and eventually succeed Roussin, who took a leave from office in 2005 after a rare public announcement of his diagnosis with clinical depression. The 68 year-old archbishop, who took up the post in 2004, has continued to speak out on mental illness, contributing to a recent Salt + Light look (video) at depression.

In a statement released this morning, Roussin said he was "more than pleased" by Miller's appointment.

"I know Archbishop Miller will be a great help to the Archdiocese of Vancouver considering his background and the richness of his service to the Church," he said."

Please pray for Archbishop Miller as he prepares to move to Vancouver. The weather here is gorgeous and the people are friendly. It's not Rome, but the scenery is breathtaking. I eagerly look forward to see what the Holy Spirit has in store for the Archdiocese of Vancouver with our new coadjutor Archbishop.

New Coadjutor Archbishop!

2007-06-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

From the news release on the archdiocese website:

"Pope Benedict XVI has appointed a coadjutor bishop for the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, currently Secretary of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome, has been named coadjutor archbishop for the archdiocese, assisting Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, who continues as the Archbishop of Vancouver.

Archbishop Roussin welcomed the announcement. "I'm more than pleased to hear this news," he said. "I know Archbishop Miller will be a great help to the Archdiocese of Vancouver considering his background and the richness of his service to the Church."
Born in Ottawa on July 9, 1946, Archbishop Miller joined the Basilian congregation in 1966 and was ordained to the priesthood by Pope Paul VI in 1975. He was appointed titular Archbishop of Vertara and Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education in 2003 by Pope John Paul II.

He is also vice-president of the Pontifical Work of Priestly Vocations, a member of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses and the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, and a consultor to the Congregation for Bishops.

As distinguished from an auxiliary bishop, a coadjutor bishop has the right of succession upon the death or retirement of a diocesan bishop."

Deo Gratias!

*New word for the day:
"coadjutor" --> "a bishop who assists another bishop, with the right of succession"

Allow Christ to Find You

2007-05-31T23:14:00.000-07:00

I love Pope John Paul II. I know as cliché as it may sound, I am through and through a member of the so-called "JPII generation". He opened my eyes to not only see Christ but also to see His relevance and real presence in my life. Here is another powerful quote from our beloved Pope John Paul II:

"We can all get lost at times, lost within ourselves or lost in the world about us. Allow Christ to find you, to speak to you, to ask of you whatever He wants."

Heads up would have been nice. . .

2007-05-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

"If someone had told me I would be Pope one day,
I would have studied harder."
- Pope John Paul I

Comment Moderation

2007-05-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

I've decided to enable comment moderation.

I don't object to people asking questions, and I appreciate intelligent conversation and dialogue, however any comments that are disrespectful towards Christ and His Church have no place on my blog.

I know some people will not be happy with my decision to enable comment moderation, however I've decided it's unfortunately necessary.

Chapel Blessing

2007-05-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

This picture is from the blessing of the chapel (1947) at the Augustinian Monastery (St. Monica's) in Ladner, BC, where my great uncle was a priest. He's apparently the first priest on the right at the bottom of the picture. I never met him since he died when I was just being formed in my mother's womb.

Encyclical on Catholic Education in Canada?!

2007-05-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

I was researching "Catholic Education" in papal documents today when I came across this:

AFFARI VOS

ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON THE MANITOBA SCHOOL QUESTION

DECEMBER 8, 1897

To the Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries in the Federated States of Canada in Grace and Communion with the Holy See.

Venerable Brethren, Health and Apostolic Benediction.

1. We can scarcely address you, which we most willingly do from our heart, without remembering the mutual goodwill and that continuous interchange of good offices which have ever existed between the Apostolic See and the Canadian people. The love of the Catholic Church stood by the cradle of your State, and since the time when she received you into her maternal arms has never ceased to hold you in a close embrace, to foster you, and to load you with good things. The great works which that man of immortal memory, Francois de Montmorency Laval, wrought so successfully and so holily for the good of your country, of which your ancestors were witnesses, he accomplished through the support of the authority and favour of the Roman Pontiffs. And it was from no other source that the works of the Bishops who succeeded him, and who were men of such signal merits, took their origin and drew their hopes of success. In the same way, too, to go still further back, it was under the inspiration and on the initiative of the Apostolic See that noble bands of missionaries journeyed to your country, carrying along with the light of Christian wisdom a more elevated culture and the first seeds of civilization. And it was by these seeds, which were gradually ripened by the arduous labour of these men, that the Canadian people won a place on a level with the most civilized and most glorious nations and thus became, though late in the field, their rival.

2. All this it is pleasant for us to recall, and the more so because we see the fruits of it, and they are by no means small, still remaining. The greatest of all these fruits assuredly is that amongst the multitude of Catholics there is a love and an ardent zeal for that divine religion which your ancestors, in the first place from France, then from Ireland, and others from elsewhere, so religiously professed themselves and transmitted inviolate to their children. And if those children faithfully preserve this precious heritage it is easy for us to understand how much praise is due to your vigilance and activity, Venerable Brethren, and to the zeal of your clergy; for all work assiduously with one heart and one soul for the preservation and progress of the Catholic faith, and, to render this tribute to the truth, without meeting any disfavour or obstacle on the part of the laws of the British Empire."

The document goes on to discuss the right to Catholic education for students in Manitoba (a province in English speaking Canada - most Canadian Catholics are (were?) French speaking). Reading through this document I couldn't help but feel that the state of the Catholic Church in Canada has somewhat suffered in the past hundred years!

Your angel's got your back!

2007-05-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

"When tempted, invoke your angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your guardian angel."
- St. John Bosco

"If you find it impossible to pray, hide behind your good angel and charge him to pray in your stead."
- St. John Vianney

The Rich Young Man

2007-05-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a reflection on today's Gospel from Pope John Paul II:

"The sadness of the young man makes us reflect. We could be tempted to think that having many possessions, owning plenty of the goods of this world, can bring happiness. We see instead in the case of the young man in the Gospel that his many possessions had become an obstacle to his accepting the call of Jesus to follow him. He was not ready to say 'yes' to Jesus, and 'no' to self, to say 'yes' to love and 'no' to escapism. Real love is demanding. . . For it was Jesus - our Jesus himself - who said: "You are my friends if you do what I command you" (John 15:14). Love demands effort and a personal commitment to the Will of God. It means discipline and sacrifice, but it also means joy and human fulfilment. . . Open your hearts to the Christ of the Gospels - to his love and his truth and his joy. Do not go away sad!"
(Homily, Boston Common, 1 October 1979)

Praying for those who do not. . .

2007-05-28T16:09:00.001-07:00

"I ask you to pray for those who cannot pray and also for those who do not know how to pray. Pray too for all who have lost faith in God and in His mercy."
- Pope John Paul II

True Freedom

2007-05-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

"Authentic freedom is experienced as a definitive response to God’s ‘yes’ to humanity, calling us to choose, not indiscriminately but deliberately, all that is good, true and beautiful."
- Pope Benedict XVI

Ice Cream and Pentecost?

2007-05-27T17:11:00.000-07:00

You may wonder, what on earth does ice cream have to do with Pentecost? A lot. Well, not a lot, but there is a link. As I've mentioned before, a dear friend of mine recently entered the Poor Clare Sisters. They live a very simple life. However, apparently they can eat ice cream on solemnities. That is, if someone brings them ice cream (since they are cloistered and rely entirely on the generosity of others to bring them food). So, I decided that today, along with some "normal" food, I'd bring them some chocolate chip mint ice cream, since I know this is my friend's favorite kind. By the grace of God I just happened to show up with the ice cream in hand shortly before mid-day prayer and so I was able to join them in prayer in the extern of the chapel. I caught a glimpse of my friend from behind the grill for the first time since she entered. She smiled at me and was obviously having a hard time not laughing at me. The sister who had greeted me when I came in must have told her that I'd brought ice cream.

99 Balloons

2007-05-27T15:21:00.001-07:00

This movie which is currently circulating around the internet tells the touching story of a baby born with Trisomy 18. This is a fatal genetic condition and most babies with Trisomy 18 will not even survive pregnancy. This child's 99 day life on earth was truly a miracle.

This story also touches close to home for me as I know a young Christian couple who are in their third trimester of pregnancy and are expecting a baby with Trisomy 18. Despite the pressures of 'modern medicine' to abort they are firmly resolved to do everything they can to protect the life of their unborn child. They are praying for a miracle according to God's will. Please keep them and their unborn child in your prayers.

The Theology of the Body

2007-05-27T13:48:00.001-07:00

My brother's awesome. . . he just sent me an e-mail saying that his present for me in honor of my graduation is on its way.

The Theology of the Body
This is the new translation, which is apparently a much more accurate translation than previous editions. I have the original English translation from Pauline Press and have been wanting this new one since it came out but I felt I couldn't justify buying it for myself since I already had a copy of the Theology of the Body. I'll now be able to give my extra copy away to some newly wed friends. If you haven't read it yet, read it. You really should. It's not just about the theology of marriage but rather touches on everything. . . everything? Yeah, well, pretty much! Anything that's affected by the reality of the Incarnation, which is pretty much everything. Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body considers what it means to be a human person made in the image and likeness of Christ and living in relationship with God and others. It's relevant for anyone who falls under that description. You included. :-)

CBC Sacrilege

2007-05-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has done it again. . . this time with its pilot episode for its new show The Altar Boy Gang. With a show title like that on CBC you know you're bound for some display of sacrilege.

Check it out (if you dare).

You Know You Have a Great Job When. . .

2007-05-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

You know you have a great job when reading Ex Corde Ecclesiae and the Holy Father's World Youth Day Messages falls under your job description. Not to mention the fact that Jesus has His own personal office in the workplace. Deo Gratias!

The Holy Father Issues an Invitation

2007-05-23T18:45:00.001-07:00

Our beloved Pope Benedict XVI summarizes in his own words the invitation and challenge he issued to the young people he met in Brazil, and indeed, to young Catholics throughout the world:

"I invited the young people to be apostles of their peers; and to therefore take great care of their own human and spiritual formation; to have great esteem for marriage and the way that leads to marriage, in chastity and responsibility; to be open to the call to consecrated life for God's kingdom. . .To summarize, I encouraged them to take advantage of the great 'riches' of their youth, to be the young face of the Church."

Dear Holy Father, we will do our best to respond faithfully, and trusting in Jesus, to this challenge you have set before us.

Rearview Mirror Devotions

2007-05-22T17:58:00.000-07:00

You've all seen them, the rosaries hanging from rearview mirrors in vehicles of all shapes and sizes. I admit, I too have a rosary on my rearview mirror. Ok, I agree having things hanging from your rearview mirror could be a distraction and a hazard, but I make a point of making sure mine is wrapped up so it's not swinging all over the place (as you can see in the picture above from inside my vehicle. . . waiting at the ferry. . .). I also use my rosary in the vehicle. . . driving is a perfect time to fit in your daily rosary.

Sometimes however it seems like the rosary hanging off the rearview mirror is just a fashion statement more than anything else. When I see the low ride racing cars go by with the rosaries and the rap music blaring, I wonder whether the occupants actually use the rosary. But then again, perhaps one day they'll be in a car accident and look up at the crucifix at a crucial moment.

Now the point of this post however was not about the rearview mirror rosaries however, but rather about the rearview mirror crucifixes. Wall crucifixes. Seriously. Today I was driving down the main Canadian highway (ok, so it's the only highway that crosses the country, but never mind that. . .) when I noticed (how could I not notice?!) that the minivan in front of me had a ten inch crucifix hanging from the rearview mirror! It was huge. Bigger than the crucifix above my bedroom door. I'm not talking pectoral cross sized. I'm talking giant. At least giant for something hanging off a rearview mirror. Ok, now I think that might be a serious hazard! I appreciate the devotion of the vehicle owner, however, that crucifix just looked dangerous!

Sisters of Life

2007-05-22T16:04:00.003-07:00

This is a beautiful video of the Sisters of Life in New York City. May God bless the Sisters of Life as they pray and work to further the Gospel of Life. Deo gratias!

Oh, the sad irony. . .

2007-05-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

There is a parish I sometimes attend that seems to have a problem preserving an atmosphere of prayer and contemplation in the Church sanctuary. Ten minutes before Mass it's louder inside the church than in the vestibule! Most people seem engaged in conversation with Joe and Sally who they haven't seen since last week, catching up on life and discussing the weather outside. The sad thing is, you can't even excuse them with "oh, they're young, they don't know better" or "they were never taught how to behave in church, it's not their fault." No, most of these people are elderly. This morning before Mass there were three couples sitting immediately in front of me, discussing in loud voices how many women no longer let men hold the door for them when going into public buildings and how many young men don't even try any more. They were lamenting the loss of this common courtesy in our modern society and commenting that no one seems to care about etiquette anymore. Hmmm. . . I didn't feel it would have been very respectful for me to say anything then and there but I did have a few interjections running through my mind.

All this being said, despite the frustration of having a hard time praying with all the conversations going on inside the church, I'm reminded of a quote from a letter J.R.R. Tolkien wrote his son:

"Also I can recommend this as an exercise (alas! only too easy to find opportunity for): make your communion in circumstances that affront your taste. Choose a snuffling or gabbling priest or a proud and vulgar friar; and a church full of the usual bourgeois crowd, ill-behaved children - from those who yell to those products of Catholic schools who the moment the tabernacle is opened sit back and yawn - open necked and dirty youths, women in trousers and often with hair both unkempt and uncovered. Go to communion with them (and pray for them). It will be just the same (or better than that) as a mass said beautifully by a visibly holy man, and shared by a few devout and decorous people. (It could not be worse than the mess of the feeding of the Five Thousand - after which [our] Lord propounded the feeding that was to come.)"

Yes, every time I feel frustrated by any surrounding circumstances at Mass I remember this quote. Such circumstances also remind me of the great humility of Christ. He not only humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross for us, He furthermore chose to remain with us, fully present in the Eucharist, despite our frequent ignorance and disregard for His presence among us. Furthermore, when I become frustrated with situations such as I experienced this morning, I'm reminded to examine my own conscience and consider whether my behaviour in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament always reflects the reality that I am entering into the physical presence of the King of all Creation. I too at times fail to exhibit the reverence worthy of a King. If ever I do act with the reverence the presence of Jesus Christ in the tabernacle prompts me to manifest, then I am reminded that it is only by the grace of God that I possess a firm knowledge and trust in this presence.

Sky Diving? Yeah Right!

2007-05-20T16:46:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine is going sky diving for her 22nd Birthday and is trying to convince as many people as possible to join in on the fun. I think she's crazy. She reads my blog sometimes, so if she reads this, that's fine, she knows I think she's crazy (but I love you anyways, even if you're crazy). I'm scared of heights. I don't think sky diving would help. I'm scared to even watch from the ground. Madness. Pure madness.

Prayer

2007-05-19T23:04:00.000-07:00

"For a Christian to pray is not to evade reality and the responsibilities it entails, but to assume them to the end, trusting in the faithful and inexhaustible love of the Lord." - Pope Benedict XVI

LibraryThing is the Cool New Thing

2007-05-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

I discovered this great new website this past week. It makes cataloging your books really easy! In about an hour and a half I cataloged 150 books. All you have to do is type in the title of the book and all the editions will show up and you simply select the edition you have or type in the ISBN number, or type in the author's name and their works will pop up and you select what you own. I have some more books at home taking up shelf space in my parents house, and I didn't catalog my Spanish, French, and German literature yet. As of right now my cataloged library includes mostly Theology, Philosophy, and English Literature. This site has all sorts of cool features though. It will show you who's library catalogs yours is closest to (this is a dangerous feature, because when you go and read the catalogs of people who have similar tastes as you discover books you wish you had in your own library). You can pull up all sorts of other interesting statistics and facts. It's really fun. Ok, I'm sure I'm sounding like a geek by now, but oh well.

E-Mails from Rome

2007-05-18T19:44:00.001-07:00

Two of my very good friends are on pilgrimage in Italy right now. I'm trying not to be envious. I was sitting at my desk at the end of the day on a Friday afternoon after a long week at work when I received an e-mail from my friends updating me on their pilgrimage, commenting that they had just visited the tombs of St. Benedict, St. Scholastica, and Pope John Paul II this week. I wish I could be there with them, however, I take consolation in the fact that they said they've been praying for me. God knows I can use the extra grace!

Because Babies are Just so Cute!

2007-05-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my friends' first born child. I attended their wedding two years ago and here is a picture of their love for each other. She's an adorable and energetic little child. She's only eight months old and yet she can already walk on her own!

Because British Columbia is Just so Beautiful!

2007-05-18T17:49:00.001-07:00

This is a picture I took on the ferry last weekend on my way
back to my hometown to attend my cousin's wedding.

This is my current desktop, from that same trip.

Relativism to the Extreme!

2007-05-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine who will be heading off to Spain shortly to do graduate studies was reading through the new student information sent to her by the university when she came across the following sentence:

"Recognize that your own knowledge, perceptions, beliefs, and values are only valid for yourself, and not necessarily for someone else. No view is absolute and no one has a monopoly on truth."

This seems to be the prevailing sentiment in the post-modern secular academia.

Lord have mercy!

Why waste a temper tantrum if nobody is around to see it????

2007-05-15T08:34:00.001-07:00

This would be me about 20 years ago. . .

Pro-Life Physicians and Protection of Conscience

2007-05-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

I received the following e-mail today. This issue hits close to home.

Dear Pro-Life Friends,

The National Post recently reported that the National Abortion Federation is lobbying the Canadian Medical Association to remove its "conscientious objector policy, which allows physicians to refuse to refer patients for abortions," saying that doctors should put the interests of women seeking abortion before their own "religious and moral convictions." (See article copied at the end of this email, "Doctors asked to change national abortion policy," by Melissa Leong, National Post, May 10, 2007).

Background:

Currently, the CMA's abortion policy allows doctors to refuse to make an abortion referral when such would violate their religious / conscientious beliefs. The director of ethics at CMA, Dr. Jeff Blackmer, recently clarified CMA's position in the April 24, 2007 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) after the CMA's policy was misrepresented in a guest editorial in the CMAJ last July by lawyers Sanda Rodgers and Jocelyn Downie who claimed that doctors who refuse to refer for abortion are committing "malpractice." Dr. Blackmer's letter of clarification was reprinted in the National Post on May 5 (see below).

However, according to an earlier story in the National Post, Dr. Blackmer has said that "a huge groundswell from the membership one way or another" could force a reevaluation of CMA's abortion policy. ('The "A" word: How did abortion, that most contentious of issues, become one that is simply not discussed publicly?" by Anne Marie Owens, National Post, Saturday, May 5, 2007). Within 5 days of that report, we hear that the National Abortion Federation is lobbying CMA to change its policy to take away a physician's right to freedom of conscience and religion.

What can be done:

If CMA's policy were to be changed so that doctors were compelled to make abortion referrals against their conscientious / religious beliefs, Canada may one day find itself without any practicing pro-life doctors. Canadian Physicians for Life is already in dialogue with the CMA, the CMAJ, and CPL's membership regarding this issue (and has been ever since the offending guest editorial was published in the CMAJ in July 2006). But if you, as a member of the Canadian pro-life public, are also concerned about the pressure that is currently being put on pro-life doctors to participate directly or indirectly in an abortion, please consider writing to Dr. Blackmer and to the president of CMA, Dr. Colin McMillan, the president-elect, Dr. Brian Day, and the editor-in-chief of the CMAJ, Dr. Paul Hebert, THANKING them for upholding and clarifying the CMA's abortion policy, while politely asking that the protections for doctors with respect to freedom of conscience be strengthened.

Contact info for CMA/CMAJ:

Dr. Jeff Blackmer, Executive Director, Office of Ethics (email: Jeff.Blackmer@cma.ca)

Dr. Colin McMillan, President (email: Colin.McMillan@cma.ca)
Dr. Dr. Brian Day, President-Elect (email: Brian.Day@cma.ca)

Dr. Paul Hebert, Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Medical Association Journal, (email: Paul.Hebert@cma.ca)

You might also consider copying your letter to the National Post: letters@nationalpost.com ; Mleong@nationalpost.com

After you send your letter to CMA/CMAJ, we'd appreciate it if you could forward a copy of it on to us at info@physiciansforlife.ca so that we have some idea of how pro-life Canadians are reacting to this issue. Thank you.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,
Barbara McAdorey (Administrator), on behalf of the board of

Canadian Physicians for Life
PO Box 1289
Ottawa ON K0A 2Z0
ph/fax: 613-728-LIFE(5433)
www.physiciansforlife.ca

Deacon Payne - Seminary Formationator

2007-05-12T23:22:00.001-07:00

About Me Meme

2007-05-12T23:13:00.000-07:00

It's 11:00pm and I can't sleep so what do I do. . . pick up on a Meme from Fr. Zehnle at Servant and Steward.

1. Male or Female: Female

2. Married or Single (or religious): Single (no, this is not a personal ad)

3. Dream vacation: Italy, France, Spain, Greece, and the Holy Land, on my own with a backpack and plenty of time

4. Birthplace: middle of nowhere, Canada

5. Area I live in currently: British Columbia

6. Someone you wish you could meet: Pope Benedict XVI

7. Biggest "pet-peeve": unecessary use of swear words for every second word in speech

8. Favorite Religious devotion: does Eucharistic Adoration count?

9. Favorite Saint (besides the Blessed Mother): Too many to choose from although my A-list of intercessors includes St. Maria Goretti, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, and St. Alphonsus Liguori.

10. Favorite sport that you play: swimming

11. Favorite food: seafood lasagna

12. Tridentine or Novus Ordo: The Novus Ordo (although I don't mind Tridentine. . . as long as a Mass is validly and licitly celebrated I am happy. . .)

13. Would you (or are you) home school or public school: I attended public elementary and highschool, although if I had a family I'd seriously consider homeschooling (depending on the schools in the area)

14. How many kids do you have: I have no kids.

15. Ever been in an auto accident: Well, not a serious accident.

16. Ever seen a pope in person: Pope John Paul II about six feet away in St. Peter's Square after Easter Sunday morning Mass in 2004. Pope Benedict XVI in Cologne Germany at WYD in 2005 got out of the papamobile and stood directly in front of me and greeted the young people. Literally, he was right in front of me. I have pictures of both. :-)

17. Languages that you know fluently: English, French, German

18. Last movie you saw in theatres: I can't even remember!

19. Favorite Blog: I'm impartial. ;-)

20. Your thoughts on Barney, the Easter bunny, and Santa Claus: I've never seen Barney, although I know he's a purple dinosaur of some sort. The Easter bunny doesn't exist. Santa Claus is clearly St. Nicholas and he visits not on Dec. 24th or Dec. 25th, but rather on Dec. 6th.

Teaching Kids Bad Habits

2007-05-06T22:43:00.000-07:00

First Communion

2007-05-06T21:20:00.000-07:00

First Communion today. . . awe, my darlings were so cute and well behaved. . . however, the adults in the congregation didn't do the best job on showing the children how to act in Church. Sometimes I think that there should be a mandatory Mass etiquette and catechesis of the Mass session for every parishoner, no matter how young or old.

Blogging Light

2007-04-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

Graduation this past weekend went well. It was also a huge blessing to have the opportunity to spend time with my family .

Just so you know, blogging may be light for some time as I adjust to my "real life" with a 9 to 5 job and try and make time in my day for other priorities that come ahead of blogging.

Peace and Perserverance

2007-04-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

A dear friend of mine entered the Poor Clares today. I was honored to be present among a handful of her closest friends and family who went with her to witness her enter the monastery. After having said goodbye to everyone and hugs all around, she knocked on the cloister door and requested to enter the community. Please pray for Donné as she begins her journey with Christ within the enclosure and adapts to life with the Poor Clares. The picture above is of Donné receiving a blessing from her parish priest immediately before knocking and asking to enter.

Pope Tells Universities to Serve Persons

2007-04-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

PAVIA, Italy, APRIL 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Every university should be made for the person, placing the individual at the center and giving worth to interpersonal relations between students and professors, Benedict XVI says. [Attending a smaller university or college definitely makes this a little easier. . .]

This is what the Pope said Sunday during his meeting with students, professors and other guests in the Tersiano Courtyard of the University of Pavia. The Holy Father explained: "All universities should safeguard their identity as centers of study 'made to man's measure,' in which students do not remain anonymous but are able to cultivate a fruitful dialogue with professors, drawing incentives for their own cultural and human development."

"It is of fundamental importance," he continued, "that the commitment to academic research remains open to the existential question of meaning in peoples lives." The Pontiff said: "Only by valuing the person and interpersonal relations can didactic interaction become an educational relationship." Benedict XVI offered St. Augustine as a model for the dialogue between faith and reason. "From a life dedicated to searching for worldly success he passed to a life totally donated to Jesus Christ, the only Master and Lord," he said. "By the intercession of St. Augustine, may the University of Pavia always stand out for its special attention to individuals, for a marked community dimension in academic research, and for a fruitful dialogue between faith and culture."
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I'm Done

2007-04-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

I wrote my last exam yesterday, so I guess that means I'm done. I don't think it has really sunk in. I guess technically, I'm not a student anymore. . . although, I don't think I'll ever stop being a student. Learning is a lifetime project. This coming week will be very busy with starting a new job, spending time with my friend who is entering the Poor Clares on Thursday, graduation ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, and a philosophy discussion group on Sunday. . .

On another note, I went to my parents' goddaughter's (my godsister?) First Communion earlier today and the sincerity and joy of the children receiving Jesus for the first time in the Blessed Sacrament literally brought tears to my eyes. They're faith is just so incredibly precious. Do any of you remember your First Communion? I remember being perfectly still during Mass because I knew I had to be on my best behaviour and I remember going forward to receive the Blessed Sacrament and the thoughts going through my head at that time, but I can't actually remember the very moment I made my First Communion.

Women Priests

2007-04-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

A discussion has come up over at Servant and Steward on the issue of female ordination. . . here is my input.

It's not about being equal in ability, capacity, skill, etc... The Church's teaching that woman cannot be ordained points to an ontological reality. In celebrating the sacraments the priest does not act in his own person but rather is acting in the person of Christ. There is only one High Priest in the New Covenant, and that is Jesus Christ. In celebrating the sacraments the priest participates in the singular priesthood of Jesus Christ. It is no coincidence that the second person of the Trinity became incarnate as a man. This is essential to who Christ is. The male exclusive priesthood points to this reality that Christ, in his essence, is male. Christ's maleness is not accidental.

Furthermore, it is also clear that Christ chose and appointed only men as his apostles. Christ challenged the cultural view of women at the time by eating with prostitutes, speaking with the woman at the well, etc. . . If he had intended for women to be priests he would have chosen them to be among his apostles.

It is also important to remember that Christ is the bridegroom and the Church is His bride. The ordained priesthood, as a participation in the priesthood of Christ, also operates in accordance with this image. The priest is a bridegroom who espouses the Church. This image would not function with a female priesthood.

The previous poster asks why would you oppose the Holy Spirit if it someday led this pope, or some future pope, to permit the ordination of women? The simple answer is, this will not happen. It would be impossible. Even if the pope himself were to lay hands on a woman in an attempt to "ordain" her, no ordination would take place. It's an impossibility. Also, this matter has been infallibly defined in the doctrine of the Church and so it cannot be changed. The teaching can be elaborated upon and clarified, but never changed.

I know the above question was directed at Father, and so I'm sorry for jumping in here, and I hope you understand that it is not my intent to be confrontational in responding. It's just frustrating as a young woman who loves the Church to so often encounter misunderstandings with regards to the Church's teaching on Holy Orders. As a woman studying Catholic Theology in no way do I feel belittled by the fact that I will never be called to the priesthood. In fact, coming to a deeper understanding of this teaching has helped me to see more clearly my own vocation and place in the life of the Church and come to a greater appreciation for our priests who participate in the total-self oblation of Christ on Calvary so that we, the faithful, might encounter Him in the Sacraments.

St. Justin Martyr and the Eucharist

2007-04-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

In case you've forgotten or didn't get the memo. . .

". . . a common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Saviour was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nourished, is both the flesh and the blood of that incarnated Jesus."
- St. Justin Martyr, 150AD

The Modern Era

2007-04-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

"The most perniciously typical aspect of the modern era consists in the absurd attempt to reconstruct a solid and fruitful temporal order divorced from God, the only foundation on which it can endure."
- Pope John XXIII

No, it's not to get permission. . .

2007-04-19T19:13:00.000-07:00

My catechism kids and I walked through the Mass today from when we enter the church to when we leave. As I we went through this I was explaining the various parts of the Mass and why we say the things we do and do the gestures we do. . .

At the beginning I was explaining that any time we enter a church we should make the sign of the cross with the holy water. I asked them why we thought we do this, expecting an answer linked to baptism but I got the following answer instead:

"It's because we need to get permission from God first before we enter the church. It's something we do to show we're asking permission from God to see if we can come in . . ."

Kind of like knocking on the door out of respect before you enter someone's room? Cute, but not quite what I was looking for.

Sometimes more effective than studying. . .

2007-04-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favour in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

Through Christ our Lord.

St. Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us.

Amen.

For more info on this favourite saint among students preparing for exams, click here

Note to Self

2007-04-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

No more classes, three final exams, and five days to go until I'm done.

Note to self (and other students): several handfuls of chips, a can of diet Coke, and two dozen chocolate covered coffee beans does not constitute a healthy meal while studying for exams and although these substances contain plenty of 'energy' consuming two dozen chocolate covered coffee beans may in fact cause you to start bouncing off the walls.

On that note, I'm off for a walk (run perhaps. . .) to burn off some of this excess energy and hopefully be able to focus.

Apology to the World from Canada

2007-04-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me the following text via e-mail which has been signed by various pro-family organizations from across Canada. I add my own name to this apology.

"To the world's leaders and people, We, the people of Canada who support marriage solely as the union of a man and a woman, apologize to the people of the world for harm done through Canada's legalization of homosexual marriage. We are grieved and troubled as we consider the impact this is having in weakening the fundamental institution of marriage in countries and cultures around the world. We understand that because Canada does not impose citizenship or residency requirements in order for same-sex individuals to be "married" here, couples are coming to Canada to seek legal sanction for their homosexual relationships with the intent of returning to their own countries to challenge those countries' legal definition of marriage. We understand that Canada is seen by people around the world as a country in which public policy is developed carefully and judiciously. It would, therefore, be a natural assumption that in legalizing homosexual marriage our government and courts thoroughly considered the implications of this action through proper and extensive study of social sciences and facts. But it is essential that the people of the world understand that this was not the case. Our government and courts only considered adult "rights." Among other things, the impact on children's rights, children's education, parental rights, religious rights, adoption, the economy and family law were never fully considered. Changes were thrust upon us by court actions followed by a vote that did not allow for a free vote of every member of our federal parliament. Our warning to you, the people of the world, is to learn from our mistakes and avoid repeating them in your own countries. Forewarned should be forearmed."

Lord, have mercy!

Christ has the answers to your questions. . .

2007-04-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

"You will hear from people tell you that your religious practices are hopelessly out of date, that they hamper your style and your future, that with everything that social and scientific progress has to offer, you will be able to organize your own lives and that God has played out his role. Even many religious persons adopt such attitudes, breathing them in from the surrounding atmosphere without noticing the practical atheism that is at their origin.

A society that, in this way, has lost its higher religious and moral principles will become an easy prey for manipulation and for domination by the forces, which, under the pretext of greater freedom, will enslave it ever more. Christ has the answers to your questions and the key to history; he has the power to uplift hearts.

Without heading the call of Jesus, it's not possible to realize the fullness of your own humanity. He keeps calling you. He keeps inviting you. Yes, Christ calls you, but he calls you in truth. His call is demanding, because he invites you to let yourselves be "captured" by him completely, so that your whole lives will be seen in a different light. He is the friend who said to his disciples, "No longer do I call you servants. . . but I have called you friends" (Jn 15:15). And he proved his friendship by laying down his life for you."

- Pope John Paul II, Galway, Ireland, September 30, 1979

Tolkien on the Eucharist

2007-04-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

"The only cure for sagging of fainting faith is Communion. Though always Itself, perfect and complete and inviolate, the Blessed Sacrament does not operate completely and once for all in any of us. Like the act of Faith it must be continuous and grow by exercise. Frequency is of the highest effect. Seven times a week is more nourishing than seven times at intervals. Also I can recommend this as an exercise (alas! only too easy to find opportunity for): make your communion in circumstances that affront your taste. Choose a snuffling or gabbling priest or a proud and vulgar friar; and a church full of the usual bourgeois crowd, ill-behaved children - from those who yell to those products of Catholic schools who the moment the tabernacle is opened sit back and yawn - open necked and dirty youths, women in trousers and often with hair both unkempt and uncovered. Go to communion with them (and pray for them). It will be just the same (or better than that) as a mass said beautifully by a visibly holy man, and shared by a few devout and decorous people. (It could not be worse than the mess of the feeding of the Five Thousand - after which [our] Lord propounded the feeding that was to come.)

Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament... There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth, and more than that: Death: by the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste (or foretaste) of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, which every man's heart desires."

- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien