Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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Shopping always brightens my day... tee hee


Tomorrow is a favorable day to go out shopping, and even if it rains, i wont let it rain on my parade. We are shopping for the festival of id-ul-fitr coming up once Ramadan ends, we all need to get dressed in our best to celebrate Eid. But Eid is not the festival where our celebrations end, for there are occasions lined up and calling for celebrations throughout the remaining part of this year. This month we will be celebrating Eid, and next month on October we'll be celebrating my baby's 4th birthday! That gives us a lot of excuses for shopping, shopping and shopping ;)

Tomorrow i planned to buy my kids clothes, as mine i've already bought and handed over to my tailors for tailoring. i'm quite close to the delivery date so really excited. I love Indian suits and thats what i mostly wear but i hate ready made ones so i buy the material and tailor make them. You get good fit and design as well. Anyways, i still have two more rounds of shopping for i'll never accomplish buying the whole list i planned! from clothes, shoes, accessories, make-up, to curtains, bed-spreads, couch covers to a whole cupboard of food items to toys and crockery, and etc, etc, etc! dinner out of course! phew! i am already famished, what about tomorrow? ;)

Monday, August 30, 2010

HEALTHY SCRAMBLED EGG BREAKFAST VIDEO - WITH NUTRITIONIST LAURA D

HEALTHY BREAKFAST VIDEO

Nutritionist Laura D takes you through a quick and easy breakfast recipe for you egg lovers.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  MAKE SURE YOU EAT BREAKFAST EVERY MORNING!





LAURA D'S SCRAMBLED EGG BREAKFAST RECIPE


Ingredients:

2 whole eggs

2 extra egg whites

1 green onion, chopped

1/2 ounce low-fat cheddar cheese (Swiss, cheddar or mozzarella)

Ground pepper and Sea salt (optional)

1/4 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil or non-stick spray (optional)


Instructions:

In a mixing bowl, combine the 2 whole eggs, 2 egg whites and whisk well. Add the chopped green onion and low-fat cheese and mix well. Pour into a preheated frying pan with a few drops of extra virgin olive oil or non-stick spray and cook until done. For extra fluffy scrambled eggs, add a tablespoon of water to the mixture. Serve with one slice of multi-grain bread or fresh fruit.



CONTACT LAURA D
Laura Discepola,
RNCP/ROHP, PTS
Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner
Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner
Can-Fit-Pro PRO-Trainer, NWS & CPR Instructor
Personal Trainer (PTS) & Chef
ldiscepola@rogers.com

Sheep in the midst of wolves

"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. -Matthew 10:16-20
setting the record straight
.:|.
A recent post of mine: Finding Help drew a lot of comments, many of which were words of encouragement and I wanted to thank folks for that. That being said, I am not downtrodden or dismayed. I am not surprised at the situation, or fearful of the environment. God has told us... that it will not be pretty out there. When he commanded the disciples to go out... he told them that he was sending them as "...sheep in the midst of wolves. So too, should we expect to "...face the wolves."

I want my readers to know that I am not dismayed. I do not think that I have it bad. In fact, quite the opposite. God called us to Alaska. We know that, or we wouldn't be here. He also seems to be calling us to stay, we hope that otherwise we are foolish for what we are doing. In fact, even in the face of a difficult liturgical and parish situation, we have found some of the most amazing friends and people that we could ever hope to meet. We have been asking ourselves what does God want to use us for? How can God make good happen by us being here? We are not asking...what good will come to us by being here? We want to serve Him. We are much less concerned with being served.

in the face of lions
.|:.
It is daunting as a Catholic to expect that we are not only to live our lives according to the faith, but in such dire conditions such as the culture we currently live in. On top of that, we are also to face enemies... that often appear to be friends, but are in fact wolves in sheep's clothing. How then can we expect to survive, let alone thrive?

Well, I know I thrive on situations like this. Some people call sky-divers, bungee-jumpers, and other extremists: adrenaline junkies. I would like to think of myself, and of my family as God's-will junkies. We thrive and get a rush from trusting in God in the most extreme and nerve-wracking of situations. Now, I want to clarify that we don't go out looking for trouble, but much like the picture of Daniel to the right, we focus our attention on what is important when we do find ourselves in precarious looking situations. (Dan. 14:32-42)

Isn't that what we are called to do? Are we not supposed to trust in God? As I said in previous post, "sure, I would love some help and guidance" but I know that doesn't always come in the form of another human. I know that our help comes from the Lord, I know that he will guide us and keep us safe. I am not worried. The world can kill our bodies, but not kills our souls.
A song of ascents. I raise my eyes toward the mountains. From where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
God will not allow your foot to slip; your guardian does not sleep.
Truly, the guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps.
The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade at your righthand.
By day the sun cannot harm you, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will guard you from all evil, will always guard your life.
The LORD will guard your coming and going both now and forever. -Psalm 121 
the reason
.:|.
Many of you probably want to know why I wrote that post then, in that way? Well... I do feel that way but at the same time I feel this way. I don't think that the two are mutually exclusive, in fact, I think they are common competing thoughts and feelings that people have in the face of adversity. To say that Daniel never feared the jaws, that David looked down on the giant, or that anyone in the face of danger doesn't pause out of self-preservation doesn't understand the gravity, nor the bravery that accompany the commitment of trusting God in the "...midst of the wolves."

Recently, this blog, and a few others, have been "discussed" by some folks in somewhat public forums. We have been accused of being various things, none of which are very commendable. We take that seriously, at least I do. That isn't the intent of this blog. Does it happen? I hope not. Could some posts be perceived that way? I guess. I don't really know how people perceive my blog or my intentions. I try and state things in an honest, sincere and transparent way; I try to mean what I say. I am not perfect, and the Internet is not a perfect medium.

What is most surprising though is that those that speak out against myself, and other bloggers, is that these people never directly confront us. They often use the same means and methods that we do, and yet accuse us of being somehow malicious. It is perplexing at best. I would love direct communication from others. It doesn't have to be public either. I post my email address at the top of the blog. If you read my blog you cannot possibly miss my email. I have never received an email from someone challenging me on my posts; but I have indirectly received quite a few notices about others using facebook, gatherings, and other means to address what has been posted on this blog . Again, this is perplexing at best.

what I am not... and what I have not done
.:|.
I am not a perfect Catholic. Far from it. In fact, I don't know where I fit... as I have never really had any direction or formation. I don't profess to be perfect either, in fact I profess to be quite a poor one really. I don't judge other peoples hearts. I don't know their intentions nor do I pretend to know every ones motives. I can't say who will or won't go to heaven, who is or isn't a good Catholic or anything of the sort. Although, we can and should judge actions; be our brother's keeper. (Gen. 4:9) We learned as much in Mass recently. That doesn't mean that when we judge an action... we simultaneously judge that heart. Instead, we should judge an act and pray for the heart.

Again, I find it perplexing, that others would accuse us of being malicious in what we do as bloggers and yet are unwilling to discuss our blogs with us. We are willing to put our thoughts, ideas, and livelihoods out there in a very static and concrete way. Unlike spoken word, my words are immortalized on the interwebs the second I publish my post. I have the luxury of thinking and praying about it before hand, but the clarity that comes from scrutiny of the words comes post facto. Therefore, to attack what I say but to do so without giving me any reply or recourse is... as I said, perplexing. Aren't such attacks guilty of the same thing we are being accused of (albeit falsely) doing? Are not assumptions made about our intentions and our hearts when one judges the motives behind our posts?

I continue to pray everyday for our Church. I pray for the Bishops and priests that have the unenviable task of guiding us all through this tumultuous landscape of war, fear, attack, and disobedience. I pray for their courage and willingness to settle in our hearts and souls these things which trouble us. I pray for the Nuns and Religious that pray for the Church in unrelenting hope and faith. I pray that they not loose confidence nor loose their way.

In conclusion I must state that we will not relent here. We continue to be inspired by the overwhelming support of those readers, lay and clergy alike, that ensure us that our testimony and defense of the faith is worth continuing. We know that the Devil will fight hardest and send his strongest legion of demons upon us when we are closest to truth and victory. We expect the attack, we prepare for the fight, and we place our safekeeping in the hands of our Guardian Angels. We fear not, for the Lord has commanded us. (Joshua 1:9)

We do not foolishly think that it is our doing or our efforts which embolden and inspire you all as readers. We know that it is not us that speak but... "...the Spirit of our Father that speaks through us."


R.I.P. ~ Wallace and Tokuoka - Two Hoonah, Alaska Police Officers Killed

St. Michael, Captain of the Heavenly Host, pray for these fallen men...
and let their bravery and service carry weight with God.


More info: (ADN.com)

MusicMonday - ♫ Ramzi ft. Ash King "Love Is Blind" ♫

Wow! just listen to this amazing song girls, which i think most of you would relate to. Ramzi and Ash King, are singers from mixed races, but they both sound so alike and they've got powerful depth in their voices. Just love hearing this song along with the fast paced beats and clarity in the lyrics, which means you can understand and feel every word they sing. Its a sad ballad where a sympathizer calls out to this women telling her to move away from the man who is disregardful and disrespectful of her blinded love. In the end he pulls her away! This is often so truly found in many relationships...

I see you all the time...
Never see you smile...
I try to picture what's going on in your mind...

Go watch the video, love it as i do and, enjoy a happy music monday week folks :)



I see you all the time
Never see you smile
I try to picture what's going on in your mind
He leaves you every night by yourself
He took your love and put it on the shelf
He doesn't really care� how you feel...
You should be moving on girl what's the deal?
I wana see you out that door... cuz girl you know your worth much more

So baby tell me why�you stick around
Always lonely and you only wear a frown
He don't treat you good and you know
The only thing left is for you to go
You shouldn't live a lie with someone
When deep inside you know he ain't the one
I don't know what to say no more
I wana see you out that door

Yah azizi (yo precious) is mahiri
I really don't wanna see u cry
Mujko samjho dil peh mat lo (understand me don't take it to heart)
Don't wana see another tear in your eye
Baby break away
Let him go
I don't know he's done to you
But I know that it's time to move on
Girl your is love blind

Girl I understand
That you're scared
And you feel that you might never love again
But baby that ain't true
No no no
I know that there some there for you
Someone that will see
That you are worth
An undiscovered treasure on this earth
Girl you know your worth so much more
Wana see you out that door

Yah azizi (yo precious) is mahiri
I really don't wanna see u cry
Mujko samjho dil peh mat lo (understand me don't take it to heart)
Don't wana see another tear in your eye
Baby break away
Let him go
I don't know he's done to you
But I know it's time to move on
Girl your is love blind

Yah azizi (yo precious) is mahiri
I really don't wanna see u cry
Mujko samjho dil peh mat lo (understand me don't take it to heart)
Don't wana see another tear in your eye
Baby break away
Let him go
I don't know he's done to you
But I know its time to move on



Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Finding help


To whom do we turn?
·°•·
As Catholics, in whom should we seek counsel? If we are not in an area where we can get a spiritual director, where do we turn? Who do we seek for counsel? What if there is no one? God is there, yes... but in what person to we entrust our thoughts, concerns, worries, confusion, and spiritual health?

Many people accuse bloggers of being holier than thou or casting rocks at others as "less than, Catholics"... but for myself, and many others, that simply isn't true. Many bloggers I know are so torn with pain inside... that this is their only outlet. It is horrifically difficult to be a Catholic in today's world. Try having a conversation with other Catholics about birth control, homosexuality, or even the idea of using latin at Mass. You will be vilified, yelled at, and de-friended. Try seeking counsel in Church leadership regarding veils, kneeling, confession, or explanation regarding traditional practices... you may be corrected, brushed-off, ignored, or outcast. Use words like, hell, Satan, spiritual warfare, battle against evil, or weapons of the faith... you will be laughed at, yelled at, and cast-off as extreme and archaic. 

If this happens... to where, or to whom do we turn?

casting stones
·•°·
I was asked the other day by a friend if I receive negative comments on my blog. For the most part I do not... I am humble enough to know that most people wouldn't waste their time correcting my foolishness, my brazenness, my outlandish comments, my ignorance, or my unfortunate uncharitable judgments. Then they asked me why I blog, and I answered them.

"It is my spiritual outlet. I live where I don't have a spiritual director, regular confessor, or even a pastor to discuss things with. I have no ministries, no groups, and almost no avenues to actively participate in functions of the Faith. If I had a men's group... I would need to make one less post a week. If there was a young adults group, a theology on tap, a bible study, or any type of ministries or apostolates at our parish... I wouldn't need to make a lot of my posts.

They say God gives us everything that we need. He gave me the idea to blog. I am not perfect at it... nor am I close. But since I have no one to guide me personally... this becomes my guide. The friend then asked how it improves me as a Catholic... or spiritually, especially if I make mistakes or accuse others of faults? That questions was hard... but then it came to me: maybe I am meant to make mistakes... so that others with correct me, and thereby guiding me on a path closer to God. Maybe one day, a priest will get so fed up reading my heretical mistakes and rants... that he will be convinced that he must correct me and guide me. I continue to pray.

seeking truth
·°•·
I don't want to seem ungrateful. God is good and provides me with this avenue of learning and faith. I am not always right. Sure I write with an authoritative attitude sometimes, but when one believes something, they should be convicted. I try and espouse the teachings of the Church, and not simply my opinion of it. My opinion shouldn't matter, and neither should yours. What matters is the truth... that which we should all be seeking... constantly. 

But how do we know the Truth? How can we discern what we should do in life to live the Truth of God, given to us as the Word made flesh? Where do we find help...to find God?

The world is attacking us constantly, and we, along with our Guardian Angels, are locked in spiritual warfare with an enemy hell bent on destroying our souls and damning us forever in a lake of fire. You would hope that there might be someone out there to guide you... but who is that person? Where do we find them? Whom do we trust.

I pray... that I find that help.





Sunday, August 29, 2010

Help some Catholics get a new kitchen

How? All you have to do is go to AlaskaBuild and click on the VOTE NOW button at the top.

They are a Catholic family of 11 and this kitchen just will not do:


Here is what the owners have to say:
It doesn't fit our family size of 11. The floor is all crooked and pulled up, so there is no flooring. The walls are half painted and full of cracks and the pantry shelves are full of thick grease, and black mold. The grout on the countertops is black in certain areas, and the stove is chipped and burned. There are frigid drafts wafting from under the cabinets, and the plumbing leaks pitifully. The heater vent is in front of the exit door and the laundry machines are in the kitchen, making laundry days chaotic..
So take a second out of your day and help this family out.

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The best time to buy gold as investment


Do you know you can invest in gold and silver and take advantages of its huge returns, in times like recessions? There may be never be better time to buy gold and silver in coin or ingot form and both metals are available in convenient size and shape. While world demand for silver are at huge now days for its exceeding annual production and has been in great demand since 1990. As we all know the value of gold currency is recognized from centuries. It is unique investment to preserve ones power and wealth and there isn't a better time to buy gold bars then now. As much as gold, silver is also considered as valuable invest since billions and billions of ounces of silver bars have been dumped onto the world market, thus making the U.S. government is a silver buyer! For these reasons, silver bars represent an outstanding investment opportunity.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

TBS-std testing- to live a better life

A healthy lifestyle is so necessary to increase a person's life span. To be able to live a healthy life we must all have regular check ups and tests for particular illness that could put our lives in danger anytime. Suppose you are in a relationship and encounter any rare symptom which match those of STD, do not hesitate to get you checked before it's too late. A std testing procedure is very simple and will only take days (unlike weeks when you do a free testing), at National STD Testing. They offer individual testing but also a panel of tests where all your needs are taken care of, and you can also be assured of same day std testing. Their other unique services include Express STD Testing, supportive counselling, accessible and confidential delivery of test results. There is also a great amount of other health related tests that are offered like hepatitis testing and other very common wellness testing procedures for both men and women. The understanding, trained and dedicated staffs are sensitive to the stress people experience and are always quick to address their needs. Their mission at 'National STD Testing' is to accomplish leadership in providing affordable, reliable, and confidential STD testing, so here is the answer to today's health and wellness testing dilemma! Go check it out.

Friday, August 27, 2010

23 Reasons a Priest Should Wear His Collar

Photo Credit: USML.edu

By Msgr. Charles M. Mangan & Father Gerald E. Murray (s/t: Link - Roman Catholic Vocations)

1. The Roman collar is a sign of priestly consecration to the Lord. As a wedding ring distinguishes husband and wife and symbolizes the union they enjoy, so the Roman collar identifies bishops and priests (and often deacons and seminarians) and manifests their proximity to the Divine Master by virtue of their free consent to the ordained ministry to which they have been (or may be) called.

2. By wearing clerical clothing and not possessing excess clothes, the priest demonstrates adherence to the Lord’s example of material poverty. The priest does not choose his clothes – the Church has, thanks to her accumulated wisdom over the past two millennia. Humble acceptance of the Church’s desire that the priest wear the Roman collar illustrates a healthy submission to authority and conformity to the will of Christ as expressed through his Church.

3. Church Law requires clerics to wear clerical clothing. We have cited above number 66 of the Directory for priests, which itself quotes canon 284.

4. The wearing of the Roman collar is the repeated, ardent desire of Pope John Paul II. The Holy Father’s wish in this regard cannot be summarily dismissed; he speaks with a special charism. He frequently reminds priests of the value of wearing the Roman collar.In a September 8, 1982 letter to Ugo Cardinal Poletti, his Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, instructing him to promulgate norms concerning the use of the Roman collar and religious habit, the Pontiff observed that clerical dress is valuable “not only because it contributes to the propriety of the priest in his external behavior or in the exercise of his ministry, but above all because it gives evidence within the ecclesiastical community of the public witness that each priest is held to give of his own identity and special belonging to God.”In a homily on November 8, 1982 the Pope addressed a group of transitional deacons whom he was about to ordain to the priesthood. He said that if they tried to be just like everyone else in their “style of life” and “manner of dress,” then their mission as priests of Jesus Christ would not be fully realized.

5. The Roman collar prevents “mixed messages”; other people will recognize the priest’s intentions when he finds himself in what might appear to be compromising circumstances. Let’s suppose that a priest is required to make pastoral visits to different apartment houses in an area where drug dealing or prostitution is prevalent. The Roman collar sends a clear message to everyone that the priest has come to minister to the sick and needy in Christ’s name. Idle speculation might be triggered by a priest known to neighborhood residents visiting various apartment houses dressed as a layman.

6. The Roman collar inspires others to avoid immodesty in dress, words and actions and reminds them of the need for public decorum. A cheerful but diligent and serious priest can compel others to take stock of the manner in which they conduct themselves. The Roman collar serves as a necessary challenge to an age drowning in impurity, exhibited by suggestive dress, blasphemous speech and scandalous actions.

7. The Roman collar is a protection for one’s vocation when dealing with young, attractive women. A priest out of his collar (and, naturally, not wearing a wedding ring) can appear to be an attractive target for the affections of an unmarried woman looking for a husband, or for a married woman tempted to infidelity.

8. The Roman collar offers a kind of “safeguard “for oneself. The Roman collar provides a reminder to the priest himself of his mission and identity: to witness to Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, as one of his brother-priests.

9. A priest in a Roman collar is an inspiration to others who think: “Here is a modern disciple of Jesus.” The Roman collar speaks of the possibility of making a sincere, lasting commitment to God. Believers of diverse ages, nationalities and temperaments will note the virtuous, other-centered life of the man who gladly and proudly wears the garb of a Catholic priest, and perhaps will realize that they too can consecrate themselves anew, or for the first time, to the loving Good Shepherd.

10. The Roman collar is a source of beneficial intrigue to non-Catholics. Most non- Catholics do not have experience with ministers who wear clerical garb. Therefore, Catholic priests by virtue of their dress can cause them to reflect – even if only a cursory fashion – on the Church and what she entails.

11. A priest dressed as the Church wants is a reminder of God and of the sacred. The prevailing secular morass is not kind to images which connote the Almighty, the Church, etc. When one wears the Roman collar, the hearts and minds of others are refreshingly raised to the “Higher Being” who is usually relegated to a tiny footnote in the agenda of contemporary culture.

12. The Roman collar is also a reminder to the priest that he is “never not a priest.” With so much confusion prevalent today, the Roman collar can help the priest avoid internal doubt as to who he is. Two wardrobes can easily lead – and often does – to two lifestyles, or even two personalities.

13. A priest in a Roman collar is a walking vocation message. The sight of a cheerful, happy priest confidently walking down the street can be a magnet drawing young men to consider the possibility that God is calling them to the priesthood. God does the calling; the priest is simply a visible sign God will use to draw men unto himself.

14. The Roman collar makes the priest available for the Sacraments, especially Confession and the Anointing of the Sick, and for crisis situations. Because the Roman collar gives instant recognition, priests who wear it make themselves more apt to be approached, particularly when seriously needed. The authors can testify to being asked for the Sacraments and summoned for assistance in airports, crowded cities and isolated villages because they were immediately recognized as Catholic priests.

15. The Roman collar is a sign that the priest is striving to become holy by living out his vocation always. It is a sacrifice to make oneself constantly available to souls by being publicly identifiable as a priest, but a sacrifice pleasing to Our Divine Lord. We are reminded of how the people came to him, and how he never turned them away. There are so many people who will benefit by our sacrifice of striving to be holy priests without interruption.

16. The Roman collar serves as a reminder to “alienated” Catholics not to forget their irregular situation and their responsibilities to the Lord. The priest is a witness – for good or ill – to Christ and his Holy Church. When a “fallen-away” sees a priest, he is encouraged to recall that the Church continues to exist. A cheerful priest provides a salutary reminder of the Church.

17. The wearing of clerical clothing is a sacrifice at times, especially in hot weather. The best mortifications are the ones we do not look for. Putting up with the discomforts of heat and humidity can be a wonderful reparation for our own sins, and a means of obtaining graces for our parishioners.

18. The Roman collar serves as a “sign of contradiction” to a world lost in sin and rebellion against the Creator. The Roman collar makes a powerful statement: the priest as an alter Christus has accepted the Redeemer’s mandate to take the Gospel into the public square, regardless of personal cost.

19. The Roman collar helps priests to avoid the on duty/off duty mentality of priestly service. The numbers 24 and 7 should be our special numbers: we are priests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are priests, not men who engage in the “priest profession.” On or off duty, we should be available to whomever God may send our way. The “lost sheep” do not make appointments.

20. The “officers” in Christ’s army should be identifiable as such. Traditionally, we have remarked that those who receive the Sacrament of Confirmation become “soldiers” of Christ, adult Catholics ready and willing to defend his name and his Church. Those who are ordained as deacons, priests and bishops must also be prepared – whatever the stakes – to shepherd the flock of the Lord. Those priests who wear the Roman collar show forth their role unmistakably as leaders in the Church.

21. The saints have never approved of a lackadaisical approach concerning priestly vesture. For example, Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), Patron Saint of Moral Theologians and Confessors, in his esteemed treatise The Dignity and Duties of the Priest, urges the wearing of the appropriate clerical dress, asserting that the Roman collar helps both priest and faithful to recall the sublime splendor of the sacerdotal state instituted by the God-Man.

22. Most Catholics expect their priests to dress accordingly. Priests have long provided a great measure of comfort and security to their people. As youths, Catholics are taught that the priest is God’s representative – someone they can trust. Hence, the People of God want to know who these representatives are and what they stand for. The cherished custom of wearing distinguishable dress has been for centuries sanctioned by the Church; it is not an arbitrary imposition. Catholics expect their priests to dress as priests and to behave in harmony with Church teaching and practice. As we have painfully observed over the last few years, the faithful are especially bothered and harmed when priests defy the legitimate authority of the Church, and teach and act in inappropriate and even sinful ways.

23. Your life is not your own; you belong to God in a special way, you are sent out to serve him with your life. When we wake each morning, we should turn our thoughts to our loving God, and ask for the grace to serve him well that day. We remind ourselves of our status as His chosen servants by putting on the attire that proclaims for all to see that God is still working in this world through the ministry of poor and sinful men.
Msgr. Charles M. Mangan & Father Gerald E. Murray. “Why a priest should wear his Roman collar.” Homiletic & Pastoral Review (June, 1995).

Founded over one hundred years ago, Homiletic & Pastoral Review is one of the most well-respected pastoral magazines in the world. HPR features solid articles on every aspect of pastoral life and eloquent weekly sermons that illuminate through exposition of Scripture. Subscribe to HPR here.

THE AUTHORS
Msgr. Charles M. Mangan has been appointed by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, to a position serving the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Ordained in 1989, Msgr. Mangan formerly served the Diocese of Sioux Falls in several parishes.

Father Gerald E. Murray is a priest of the Archdiocese of New York. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and was ordained in 1984 after completing studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, N. Y. Currently he is studying canon law at the Gregorian University in Rome.

St. Monica & St. Ambrose ~ Ora Pro Nobis

The Death of St. Monica
Stellar exemplars
I often cry out for Spiritual Direction. I have been praying to find a SD for a few years now. I have even prayed whether or not I should re-do RCIA or some formal Catechesis. Yet, I have not appealed to those who have had so much recourse with God in the past.

Today, on her feast, I plead for the intercession of St. Monica. I also ask that St. Ambrose pray for me... that I may find my direction and ultimately find a true conversion of heart to the Truth.

"There was indeed one thing for which I wished to tarry a little in this life, and that was that I might see you a Catholic before I died. My God hath answered this more than abundantly, so that I see you now made His servant and spurning all earthly happiness. What more am I to do here?" Augustine: Confessions, book 9, chapter 10
Baptism of St. Augustine by St. Ambrose

Google Conspiracy...?

Ok... sorry for the random interruption but...

Saw this oddity on the interwebs: Go to google and type in "Lincoln Memorial." (Link)
What comes up?
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.



Why?

Well... I have a guess... but you give me yours?

Funny Friday: Obama v. Putin

Crap. We surrender.

Friends in high places

Saints and their lives should be an important facet of the faith life of every Catholic. That being said, Catholics are more apt to buy a "Self-help book" at a bookstore than they are in picking up a book on the Lives of Saints.

Interestingly, a couple of posts caught my attention today regarding this issue. I first saw them over at Sancte Pater. V features the post of a priest from England/Michigan Fr. John Boyle, who quotes the Pope:
The Holy Father said that it is important "to have 'travel companions' on the journey of our Christian life: I am thinking of a spiritual director, a confessor, persons with whom we can share the experience of faith, but I am also thinking of the Virgin Mary and of the saints."


"Each one," he said, "should have a saint that is familiar to him, to whom he feels close with prayer and intercession, but also to imitate him or her. Hence, I would like to invite you to know the saints better, beginning with the one whose name you bear, by reading his life, his writings. You can be certain that they will become good guides to love the Lord ever more and valid aids for your human and Christian growth."
Father Boyle expands on this idea, especially when it comes to choosing names for our children.
Many people now do not have names that have any reference to saints. It used to be the case that Christians were given a saint's name or names at Baptism, and would take another saint at Confirmation. But names like 'Autumn', 'Bristol', 'Chelsea' while not being in any way anti-Christian and therefore not contrary to the provisions concerning batismal names contained in the Code of Canon Law, do not, I feel, help children to grow up with the idea of seeking the protection of a particular saint, or seeking to imitate the example of that saint.
If you want to learn more buy a nice book, may I suggest:  Lives of the Saints: For every day of the year

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Failure to Communicate

The other day I posted about the disappointment I had in the way my parish handled the Proposition 2 issue. I was disappointed, because where I attended Mass in Michigan, whenever a ballot initiative came up that a priest could and should discuss "from the pulpit" they took that opportunity. Yet here in Alaska, I saw nothing that came close to active support.

Leading up to the election I made sure that I did what I could in terms of supporting the proposal. I posted about it on my blog, linked to the Catholic Anchor, linked to the APR website, and I even wrote to my parish urging them to support the measure publicly in various ways that were available. I received in return a we are looking into it response. What we got was a brief mention during announcements that a letter from the Archbishop had been printed and was placed near the bulletin. (Not in the bulletin, not stuffed in the bulletin, not even NEXT to the bulletin... but near it. Not to mention it was a word document copy and not on official letterhead.) This... non-action disappointed me. But I offered it up, did what I thought was proper in terms of my own response, and let it go. Prop 2 passed, and I was happy.

Until I read the Catholic Anchor's post from the Archbishop. It stung me like lemon juice on a cut. When I read the post, I wasn't upset by what was said, no, I was upset by what didn't happen. Here is the part that got me (emphasis mine):
So for a year leading up to today’s vote, the Catholic bishops of Alaska – Archbishop Schwietz, Bishop Edward Burns of Juneau and Bishop Donald Kettler of Fairbanks – rallied Alaska’s Catholics to support the parental notice initiative.

From Anchorage, Archbishop Schwietz sent letters to the diocese’s 32 parishes and published statements in the Catholic Anchor encouraging his flock to sign a statewide petition required for the ballot proposition, collect other signatures and otherwise “actively support” the parental notice initiative.

He prompted priests to address the issue from the pulpit and post notices in parish bulletins. Parishioners were urged to collect petition signatures on church property and in their neighborhoods.

...

“The support of the Catholic Church played a crucial role in our success,” Minnery observed.

Once the state certified the petition, a ballot question was prepared for the August primary election. And the Knights of Columbus sprang into action. Councils from around the state, along with the national Catholic men’s group, raised over $80,000 for radio and television advertisements in support of Proposition 2. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood – the nation’s largest purveyor of abortion – and other abortion supporters poured over $800,000 into opposition ads, setting up a David-versus-Goliath media battle.

As the August vote drew near, notices supporting Proposition 2 appeared in Catholic Church bulletins and prayers were offered at Mass.

Sherry Grenier of the Respect Life group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in South Anchorage distributed yard signs and bumper stickers. And on busy intersections, Catholic families including St. Benedict parishioners Megan Walsted and her children joined throngs of supporters waving “Yes on 2” signs to rush hour drivers.

On election day, Alaska’s Knights of Columbus offered rides to the polls. In Anchorage, the group provided 23 rides to voters who lacked transportation, reported District Deputy Cal Williams.
...
What did our parish not understand? We didn't hear it from the pulpit. I even emailed them and asked for it. In fact... you want to know the real sting, Ms. Lisa Murkowski attended Mass at our parish the Sunday before election day. What a chance to publicly speak out against the vile of abortion, with the captive audience of a Catholic Senator who has a less than stellar Pro-Life record. Instead... we heard a homily about community...and respect...and differences.

We didn't have it in our bulletin either. I emailed the links for the bulletin inserts. I offered my time, talent, and treasure to help stuff the bulletins or do whatever it took. Instead... we got a letter near the bulletins.

Now I have never said where I am a parishioner, and I will continue to keep that off the interwebs. That being said, this pushes me ever close to revealing that. My purpose and goal has never to bring scandal or spotlight upon my neighbors, friends, and faith family.

That being said... we failed here. Sure some of us went to vote, and I pray that others voted Yes on two. But as a parish? We failed. We ignored our Bishop, in fact, we defied our Bishop. He said in his post:
It is a core issue for Catholics, who believe the relationship between parent and child is sacred – and not one to be broken by others, including abortion practitioners.
We weren't part of the success. We were too afraid. To afraid to stand up and say anything, too afraid to support the teachings of the faith, and too afraid to stand up to our church leadership and demand they fulfill their obligation to authority.

We failed to proclaim the Gospel to one another. I say we, because we are a parish community. We are only as strong as our weakest link. We win as a team, and lose as a team. As individuals, we might be OK... but that shouldn't be good enough for anyone. If we truly believe in what the Eucharist is... then we failed. For it is supposed to unify and create the communion with one another that only it can bring. Therefore, we failed. We did not communicate the message of our God to one another, and therefore failed in communicating it to the world.

I know people from my parish know who I am. I don't hide who I am on my blog, I also don't advertise. Our parish business is our own. But if we are unwilling to stand for this most basic teaching of the faith... we will fall for anything, and should that be kept quiet? Our parish, and others like it, must do a better job of teaching the faith. We aren't the only ones. In many parishes in the area Catechesis is laughable, ministries are wacky and questionable, an inconsistent (or worse sometimes: heterdoxical and even heretical) message is conveyed about the teachings of the faith, and the liturgical life is about as inspiring and sacred as an Alaskan grey sky. It is harder and harder to refrain from saying these things. I do want to be charitable, but at some point silence becomes an enabling effect. How come Anchorage parishes have Respect for Life groups? The answer is not because they asked for it. We ask for things. I know of at least 4 people that have offered themselves carte blanche to various parishes to no avail. We must become an authentic Catholic community.

The sick and twisted irony of this situation is that in a mere month or so we are going to celebrate "Respect for Life" month. Will we hear this message then? Will we have people stand up and have dinners, breakfasts, and get into Diocesan papers showing how Pro-Life we are? Every last parishioner at our parish, and at any parish that doesn't consistently hear a Pro-Life anti-abortion message, should demand to know why not. This can not be an issue that is used for clout, fame, or religious-political popularity.

We have abortion clinics in our surrounding towns, but no parish Pro-Life/Anti-abortion ministries... why not? We have prisons and therefore prison ministries... why isn't the same true for life issues? For those that say: "You don't need the parish." You are right... buy my point is why not?

We have failed to communicate to one another the importance of this issue. So instead we communicate another message. We tell each other that innocent life doesn't matter. We communicate that Social Justice is free trade coffee and taking kids on mission trips. (Don't get me wrong, valid, necessary, and important things... but not sufficient.) We communicate that Social Justice works are about something else... We have failed to communicate though, the Gospel. So we have failed in our Catholic duty. I cannot stand for this...and neither should you. This is one issue... but there will be others. Issues like this are toxic to the faith, they mock God and they rot the core of our parish. Once the core is gone... what fruit can survive? Do not let the silence prevail.


**N.B.:
I was informed of a post by Msgr. Charles Pope. It addresses the issue of preaching and priests. It is a very informative and insightful piece. It quotes Pope St. Gregory the Great and his instruction on preaching. You can read it here: (Link)

Buy Ammo... really.

***UPDATE***:
Hey Alaskans... this would include lead fishing weights that are found not only in sinkers... but lots of fishing things. (Link)

I try and stay on topic on this blog as much as possible. That being Defense of the Catholic Faith. Obviously over the last few weeks a lot of focus has been placed on Alaska Catholic Life and even Alaskan Politics. For that I apologize to the readers that find that topic to be mundane.
That being said, I have another off-topic post that I find is vitally important. Not so much to our Catholic faith, but our American Life. You see, I ran across this tidbit on another blog:

With the fall hunting season fast approaching, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Lisa Jackson, who was responsible for banning bear hunting in New Jersey, is now considering a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) – a leading anti-hunting organization – to ban all traditional ammunition under the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976, a law in which Congress expressly exempted ammunition. If the EPA approves the petition, the result will be a total ban on all ammunition containing lead-core components, including hunting and target-shooting rounds. The EPA must decide to accept or reject this petition by November 1, 2010, the day before the midterm elections.
The source of this article (link) is a gun & hunting rights website, but I found it over at Dad29. Now, I don't mean to be a conspiracy theorist, but November 1st? How convenient. On top of that the real problem isn't that I want to go around shooting lead. I don't care what the bullet is made out of, as long as it is effective (i.e. humane) and cheap. Bullets for some rifles can start at one dollar a round. If you are trying to become proficient so as to become a more humane hunter, the cost in doing so is somewhat concerning. Now imagine if you had to pay five dollars ($5) or even ($10) a round? How much would you go to the range?

The other concern I have is why does the EPA handle this? You see, the government knows it can't outright ban things: ammunition, cigarettes, fuel, etc... but they can tax the heck out of them making it impossible for most (not all) to buy. This is an important distinction, because most government officials don't really want to ban these types of things because they are consumers of them. So it becomes an elitist law, where it doesn't affect those that have very much, and only strains those that have not.

So for those of you familiar with conservative blogs that suggest the best way to protect ourselves from the impending doom that is American culture and society, you know what advice is coming:

buy ammo.

Baby Alisha's 'little mama' steam burned herself by accident


Steam burned my fingers accidentally while cooking today as i tried lifting the lid of the pan that was cooking my chicken!! I usually remove the lib sideways to prevent the mishap all the time but today i quite absentmindedly removed the lib top ways, forgetting steam can severely burn flesh... honestly i've been burned by oil, water and what not in my kitchen but evaporation caused steam burns are extremely painful and damaging too.

I had tears in my eyes as Alisha looked on scared, and said "my little mamma got burnt". I didn't know whether to love her or treat my burn first, because i was in extreme pain! :(

I quickly dipped my palm and hands in cold water and then applied toothpaste for that instant soothing effect. Unluckily i didn't have any cream for burn treatment as we hardly need it at home, but i felt better once the toothpaste dried and now i got to wait for blisters to form and then lets see... I swear to be careful in future or else i will be landing up cooking, typing, bathing, etc... with only one hand. I'm worried as to how painful and annoying its going to be tomorrow, so, didn't i land in a stew today? and boy it was painful! :)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

a small favor...

Could you kind readers please say a prayer for me tomorrow?

I have an interview for an employment position tomorrow. It is an attorney position, and is vocationally sound. It is the type of position that I as a Catholic Law School graduate see as one that God could really work through me, to accomplish quite a bit of good. Plus, the fact that my current position ends in a week, as well as our lease being up... our family is trying to remain free from anxiety and trust that God is working through our efforts.

That being said, I want His will to be done, and not my own. It is in His hands, as I am shocked that I got an interview, and want this not for my own sake, but for His.

I would be humbled by any prayers. My interview is at 1:00pm AK Time (or 5:00pm ET)

Also a special thanks to C.S. and K.S. - as I am in no doubt that their most gracious and loving gesture played a part in this opportunity.

Catechesis on the New Missal Translation

[change is coming]

As of today there are 458 days until the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal. The first day of its official use will be November 27, 2011. Although that may seem like a lot, it really isn't, and something tells me that a lot of parishes are going to go about this process in a painful and harmful way for many faithful.

It isn't that I have a defeatists attitude, instead it is a recognition and observance of how this change has been handled up to this point, and we haven't even had anything tangible to sink our teeth into. Since the approval and implementation date have been finalized, the USCCB has started rolling out the game plan for how the change will occur. From their website:
5. What should be taking place with our catechetical efforts?
Dioceses should have a projected plan of what they intend to do to encourage preparation for implementation of the new translation in their dioceses. Parishes should, if they have not already done so, offer a basic catechesis about the text, especially about the changes in the people’s responses. The Newsletter of the Committee on Divine Worship has already highlighted various catechetical resources which will be valuable tools for the formation process. In September, 2010, the USCCB will offer the Parish Guide to Implementing the Roman Missal. This resource will offer a roadmap to implementing the new translation in the parish. Both the International Commission on English in the Liturgy and USCCB will offer a multi-media DVD resource entitled Become One Body, One Spirit in Christ, an excellent catechetical resource for examining the new translation in the broader context of the history and theology of liturgy. With the final text now available, other publishers will provide catechetical materials which, among other things, will begin to look at the historical and theological aspects of the text.
I know in the local parishes in my area, their has been a discussion about this topic a while back before anything was finalized, and nothing that I would call basic catechesis. What was most troubling was the way in which the priests tried to relate to the faithful by explaining how "hard and difficult change is" and that if "we all band together we can get through this." Not really glowing endorsements of the Missal if you ask me.

[the resistance...why?]

The goal of the new translation is to deepen the meaning of the Mass, not in way that changes the Mass but in a way that ties our prayer to the sacrifice and worship at Mass. The USCCB explains it this way:

The long-term goal of the new translation is to foster a deeper awareness and appreciation of the mysteries being celebrated in the Liturgy. The axiom lex orandi, lex credendi—“what we pray is what we believe”—suggests that there is a direct relationship between the content of our prayers and the substance of our faith. It is hoped that writers will start to provide materials reflecting on the rich content of the text. These contributions might encourage priests to use the content of the prayers as a basis for their homilies or to supplement their homilies on Sundays. Those giving retreats or days of recollection can use the new texts of the missal as a resource for their presentations. All can make use of the texts for deepening their prayer life.
So why the resistance? Well, because this is a sign of the "reform of the reform." Sure, people aren't good at change, and they resist it, that is understandable. In this situation though, the resistance to change is a smoke-screen as to the real resistance: reform. There are Bishops and Priests out there that will explain that the Missal Translation is cumbersome, sloppy, hard, etc... They will use intellectual sounding arguments in an effort to convince you that this is a plot but radical traditionalists to take us one step closer to using Latin. They will talk about how this was a hurried version, and it isn't very accessible or easy to digest.

How do I know what they are going to say? I don't. But I know the philosophy behind those that have already spoken out to oppose it, and it is easy to predict their arguments based on their philosophy. On top of that, they can't come right out and say what they really think, which is that this flies in the face of their philosophical base. Those that view the changes since Vatican II as a progressive change and a disruption to the continuity of the faith will be against this. Even if they don't say it as such, there are those that truly believe that Vatican II somehow mandated a lock-stock-and-barrel change to the faith; it was to be accomplished through changes in the Mass, prayers, and various substantive measures in our liturgical actions.

[What we many of us will see...]

Some of may get a true Catechesis on the changes. The rest of us may suffer. Many who resist the changes see this, although they won't admit it, as an indictment of the bastardization of the way the Mass has been celebrated over the last few decades. In some respects I would say that is exactly what it is, and rightfully so. For other places, that were more obedient to the Missal and the Church, these changes will be a refinement and a measure that will deepen the prayer and liturgical life of the Church.

For those of us that miss out on any substantive Catechesis on this matter, it is upon you to learn the changes... and to learn WHY they are occurring. At some point every parish will have to implement some sort of instruction on the new translation. The question will be to what extent. When the translation is brought up the complaints will start to fly. It is our job as defenders of the faith to address those complaints. We must be our brother's keeper we must practice Spiritual Works of Mercy.

The only way we can do this though, is if we truly understand what the changes are and why they have changed. If a priest complains, ask him individually why he is reluctant to change and whether his attitude towards the change will do anything more than confuse the faithful. Sure, they might like him more because he feels just like them but the role of a priest is much like that of a parent. He is not there to be our friend first and priest second, he is there to be our priest first and in doing so should become our friend.

So study. Prepare yourself. Pray. Read what you can about the changes, understand their purpose and meaning, and be ready to defend the changes. We may not agree with all of them in terms of how they feel... but this isn't about feelings. This is about the essence of our Mass.

lex orandi, lex credendi
~
“what we pray, is what we believe”


Resources:
USCCB Missal Translation Website - (Link)
Guides for Mass - (Link)
Changes to Major Responses - (Link)
Parish Guide for the New Missal Implementation [*Coming Soon*] - (Link)
Articles Explaining the Need and Importance of the New Translation - (Link)
A Reflection on the Vision of the Missal Translation - (Link)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Is weight loss your main goal this year?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of TonyT. All opinions are 100% mine.



Weight loss is another story, probably a chapter in every second person's book of life. I've been reading magazines on the topic when i was hardly a teen myself, and realized that weight loss is one of the main wish or goal of people in numbers. It's not easy to lose weight and only with ones determination will one succeed. Every day i watch those weight loss advertisements over TV and wonder how many men and women are trying to lose weight the correct and healthy way rather than getting carried away by those promising weight loss pills they tempt us with. In reality i've been seeing my sister and sister-in-law struggling to lose weight by dieting but in vain! It seemed they were on mission impossible, and it often scared me to think that the results could be adverse to what they imagine, and then i found myself searching for a hassle and pain free, and effective way to help them battle their weight loss ritual the correct way.

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New weekly feature post over at Catholic Dads Online....

My weekly Battle Ready post is up over at CatholicDadsOnline.org. You should go check it out...

It is called:


I'll admit, it was a little hastily written... but I think the message is important.

Remember to check CatholicDadsOnline.Org every weekday for a different featured writer.

Remember to Vote Yes on Prop 2 in Alaska today

Just a friendly reminder - Today is voting day in Alaska.


To vote on Proposal 2 in Alaska, you may have to turn the ballot OVER in some places. Make sure you remember to vote for this measure as it is listed LAST on the ballot.

For more information visit: Alaskans for Parental Rights