Here it is again, Mothers Day. This is the second Mother's Day since My Beloved Mom Edna passed away in Jan of 2013. For me Mothers day will never be the same, but still I am confident that in our own way, each of my 6 brothers and sisters celebrate our Mom in their own way, but not just on Mother's Day.
A Mother is the Paramount example of Womanhood, and is the epitome of the Nature of Woman, the receiver of life, the nurturer of children, the nucleus of every Marriage, the center of every Family.
We all have a Mother, and there is an untold loss for any person who did not know his or her Mother. A Mother is a reminder of what God has destined every child to know, and why Marriage can only be the unique and complimentary union of a Man and a Woman. Every child is the product of this blessed union and every child should know the love of a Mother and a Father.
That being said however, A Mother is more special, more unique and more essential than even a Father One can say Family is impossible without a Mother. A Mother is the first person that loves a newborn child and a Mother is the first object of every child's first and eternal love. A Mother nurtures a child in her own body, gives of herself even before she knows she is with child. A Mother's sacrificial loves begins in the womb giving her very flesh. This sacrificial love does not end after birth, for she nurses and embraces, cradles, rocks and sings with joy to the newborn gift of life which God bestows, entrusts and blesses her with. It is the desire that every child know the love of Mother and Child. It is a blessing for every child to know this special love of their Mother. This child is truly blessed. Thank you Lord. I know you know above all, the special and unique love that a Mother can bring. Amen!
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Sunday, April 27, 2014
DIVINE MERCY
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday after Easter. There are few examples of the Grace of God that were
instrumental in drawing me back into a reversion of Faith, back to the faith which was handed on to me by my parents Philip and Edna Rice. But there
are no more beautiful examples so instrumental in that reversion, than the Grace I
found in the Devotion to Jesus in the image of Divine Mercy.
This deep reversion to the faith and the subsequent love of God it
filled me with, became evident to those around me, and in the great desire it
filled me with to more fully know, love and serve God, especially in the love
of the very image of the invisible God, Jesus Christ.
The vision of Christ painted in the Divine Mercy Image
truly lead to a transformation within me. It is a vision of Christ as he appeared to Saint Faustina in His Risen and Glorified Body, His sacred wounds in His hands and feet are visible and from His Sacred Heart, Rays of Light Shine forth in rays of Red and White that symbolize the Blood and Water that gushed forth from his pierced side. The Grace that come from this image is the Promise of Jesus Christ given to
every soul who will venerate the Image of Himself, the very image which Christ wanted
made present to the World. It is this
image which was revealed to Saint Faustina, and given to the world by the Pope of Mercy, Pope John Paul II, now Saint John Paul the Great, and it is through this image, that is the vessel of His Mercy that pours Grace into the lives of
those who place complete Trust in Jesus.
You may learn more about this beautiful devotion of Divine Mercy here at this link: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/index.htm
I attribute this fount of Grace that Christ pours out through the Image of Divine Mercy, seen here, as the driving motive force that has brought be back to Christ, to the Sacrament of Confession, in the Convalidation of my Marriage in the Church, and rededicating my life to be a better husband, father, and man and to my commitment to my wife, her children and my own family.
One of the most beautiful things about Divine Mercy has been the blessings received by sharing it with others, like my wife Debra, her sons Jeremy and Zachary, with friends and neighbors, but there is one particular person that comes to mind as the shining example of sharing the devotion of Divine Mercy, and that was my mother Edna.
When I was working in the Litchfield school system, I had the opportunity to have Easter week off from each year. This meant that from Good Friday, all of Easter Week until Divine Mercy Sunday, I would be on vacation. I happened to be talking with my wife Debbie, lamenting how my mother, now in her 80’s rarely had the opportunity to attend Mass as she once did and seldom had time to visit when coming with my family which still lived on Long Island. It was then Debbie suggested, "why don’t we invite your mom to come spend Easter week with us?" So I called my sister whom my mother was staying with, and made plans to drive back to Long Island and pick up my mom on Good Friday. We had dinner with my sisters and my mom then she and I returned to Connecticut Friday evening. It was then on that Good Friday evening that I invited my mom to pray with us the Divine Mercy Novena. The Novena begins on Good Friday and continuing through Easter week and culminates on Easter Saturday in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday. Mom had never heard of this Devotion to Divine Mercy given to us by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000. Nor had she heard of the Promises of Jesus in the image of Divine Mercy and making the Novena to Divine Mercy and preparing for the Graces that Christ Promised to bestow on every soul desiring this outpouring of Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday.
When I read to her all the Promises Jesus would bestow on this Devotion, she immediately became hungry to know and learn more about it. We watched EWTN each day, praying the Devine Mercy Chaplet, and later would pray the Divine Mercy Novena each night with Debbie, Zach and I. Each night of the novena a different intention desired by our Lord would be prayed for. When I also read to her that the Graces received by the devout souls who went to confession, devoutly prayed the Divine Mercy Novena, attended Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, and trusted completely in Jesus and received Holy Communion would receive the Graces by Christ that would promise not only remission of Sin, but also remission of the corporal punishment due to those sins, in essence, it was as if the soul were receiving a purification akin to a second baptism. My mother was amazed by this promise, and she desired to fully participate in this Grace. She asked me to take her to confession, and her I was with my mother, who I considered a living Saint, in her elderly years, humbly submitting to the sacrament of reconciliation so that she would be able to receive the Graces promised to the soul that venerated the Mercy of Christ.
What was more amazing was that when my mother learned of this Promise that Christ would bestow on the soul who desired His Mercy, she herself desired to share with her other children, the same message of Divine Mercy, which I had shared with her. She said to me one night after Easter, I want to tell all your brothers and sisters about Divine Mercy. Will you type up a letter for me that I can sign and mail that letter to all your brothers and sisters? Debbie and I were so moved by this and it was that night that my mom dictated her letter to me that I typed, and printed a copy for each of my 3 brothers and 3 sisters. In each envelope I placed the Divine Mercy prayer card and a brochure how to pray the Divine Mercy Novena. My mother signed each one and we placed them in envelopes and mailed them a few days before Divine Mercy Sunday.
When my mom returned home, she prayed the chaplet every day at 3 O’Clock, the hour of Mercy, shared it will her children and prayed for God’s Mercy on all her children, grandchildren and friends. She became an amazing devoted Apostle of Mercy.
I shall never forget that special time of that first week my mother came to stay or of the subsequent visits she made afterwards. Thanks be to God, Mom was able to come three more times to spend Easter week with us. Once year that she came up, I took Mom to visit the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge during Easter week. I shall forever be in my wife Debbie’s gratitude for inviting my mom up to share our home with her and having that special time to share with her. It is such a special time that I will always remember. As Debbie and I prayed the Divine Mercy Novena this week, praying and preparing for divine Mercy Sunday, I could not help but smile and remember those times with my Mom, who I’m confident is now with our Blessed Lord praying for His Mercy to be poured out on souls such as mine, Souls that need God’s unfathomable Mercy.
You may learn more about this beautiful devotion of Divine Mercy here at this link: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/index.htm
I attribute this fount of Grace that Christ pours out through the Image of Divine Mercy, seen here, as the driving motive force that has brought be back to Christ, to the Sacrament of Confession, in the Convalidation of my Marriage in the Church, and rededicating my life to be a better husband, father, and man and to my commitment to my wife, her children and my own family.
One of the most beautiful things about Divine Mercy has been the blessings received by sharing it with others, like my wife Debra, her sons Jeremy and Zachary, with friends and neighbors, but there is one particular person that comes to mind as the shining example of sharing the devotion of Divine Mercy, and that was my mother Edna.
When I was working in the Litchfield school system, I had the opportunity to have Easter week off from each year. This meant that from Good Friday, all of Easter Week until Divine Mercy Sunday, I would be on vacation. I happened to be talking with my wife Debbie, lamenting how my mother, now in her 80’s rarely had the opportunity to attend Mass as she once did and seldom had time to visit when coming with my family which still lived on Long Island. It was then Debbie suggested, "why don’t we invite your mom to come spend Easter week with us?" So I called my sister whom my mother was staying with, and made plans to drive back to Long Island and pick up my mom on Good Friday. We had dinner with my sisters and my mom then she and I returned to Connecticut Friday evening. It was then on that Good Friday evening that I invited my mom to pray with us the Divine Mercy Novena. The Novena begins on Good Friday and continuing through Easter week and culminates on Easter Saturday in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday. Mom had never heard of this Devotion to Divine Mercy given to us by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000. Nor had she heard of the Promises of Jesus in the image of Divine Mercy and making the Novena to Divine Mercy and preparing for the Graces that Christ Promised to bestow on every soul desiring this outpouring of Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday.
When I read to her all the Promises Jesus would bestow on this Devotion, she immediately became hungry to know and learn more about it. We watched EWTN each day, praying the Devine Mercy Chaplet, and later would pray the Divine Mercy Novena each night with Debbie, Zach and I. Each night of the novena a different intention desired by our Lord would be prayed for. When I also read to her that the Graces received by the devout souls who went to confession, devoutly prayed the Divine Mercy Novena, attended Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, and trusted completely in Jesus and received Holy Communion would receive the Graces by Christ that would promise not only remission of Sin, but also remission of the corporal punishment due to those sins, in essence, it was as if the soul were receiving a purification akin to a second baptism. My mother was amazed by this promise, and she desired to fully participate in this Grace. She asked me to take her to confession, and her I was with my mother, who I considered a living Saint, in her elderly years, humbly submitting to the sacrament of reconciliation so that she would be able to receive the Graces promised to the soul that venerated the Mercy of Christ.
What was more amazing was that when my mother learned of this Promise that Christ would bestow on the soul who desired His Mercy, she herself desired to share with her other children, the same message of Divine Mercy, which I had shared with her. She said to me one night after Easter, I want to tell all your brothers and sisters about Divine Mercy. Will you type up a letter for me that I can sign and mail that letter to all your brothers and sisters? Debbie and I were so moved by this and it was that night that my mom dictated her letter to me that I typed, and printed a copy for each of my 3 brothers and 3 sisters. In each envelope I placed the Divine Mercy prayer card and a brochure how to pray the Divine Mercy Novena. My mother signed each one and we placed them in envelopes and mailed them a few days before Divine Mercy Sunday.
When my mom returned home, she prayed the chaplet every day at 3 O’Clock, the hour of Mercy, shared it will her children and prayed for God’s Mercy on all her children, grandchildren and friends. She became an amazing devoted Apostle of Mercy.
I shall never forget that special time of that first week my mother came to stay or of the subsequent visits she made afterwards. Thanks be to God, Mom was able to come three more times to spend Easter week with us. Once year that she came up, I took Mom to visit the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge during Easter week. I shall forever be in my wife Debbie’s gratitude for inviting my mom up to share our home with her and having that special time to share with her. It is such a special time that I will always remember. As Debbie and I prayed the Divine Mercy Novena this week, praying and preparing for divine Mercy Sunday, I could not help but smile and remember those times with my Mom, who I’m confident is now with our Blessed Lord praying for His Mercy to be poured out on souls such as mine, Souls that need God’s unfathomable Mercy.
I wish all could become Apostles of Mercy as my mother Edna Rice had become, spreading the news of God's Mercy, learning to trust fully in Jesus Christ. I can still hear her mouthing the words..."Jesus I trust In You" as we prayed together, the Divine Mercy Chaplet. My God Rest her soul. I love you Mom!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
And With Your Spirit
When the new translation of the Roman Missal went into effect this past November, just in time for Advent, with it came a more masterful and even more beautiful translation I could have imagined from the original Latin into English. The English used in this new and more "faithful" translation is more beautiful, more reverent, more elevated verbiage that matches more closely the original Latin text and is more true to the origins of the Latin Liturgy. In this translation, we say in English, what the actual texts say in Latin. It is the way it should have been.
Someone we know who experienced this new Mass Translation, seemed as though he had walked into the wrong church somewhere. Probably because it was more than a year since the last time he had been to Mass. It was rather amusing to witness, but also a sad reality. But then again, when you take the Mass just as an occasional thing you do, or something that is not essential to your way of life, or if you see it as a mere tradition in your family, then to such a person, the Mass perhaps has become meaningless in their life. Unfortunately, if the Mass has become meaningless in one's life, it also means that God has become meaningless in one's life. This is what can happen when a Catholic lapses into the Theology of relativism. It was later said by this person who commented about his experience at Mass on a social media outlet something to the effect of "I went to Mass and everything was different, as if George Lucas somehow got hold of the Mass and changed it." It was different but sort of the same!" I'm paraphrasing of course, but you get the gist of it.
When I think about the reality of that comment, that somehow George Lucas has gotten hold of the Liturgy and changed it, I see that almost as an off handed compliment coming from him, as to the newer translation of the language for the Liturgy.
Here is why I see it as a sort of compliment. I do know that the person in question is an admirer of George Lucas and his films. At least that is my belief. He knows and has memorised much of the movie dialogues, various scenes, and various iconic sayings. George Lucas and the Mythology created in the Star Wars anthology has become a part of his life. And since the New Translation of the Mass seems as though to him, George Lucas has someone got a hold of and changed the Liturgy, this also has made me wonder, now that since the Star Wars movies are being re released again, this time in 3D, should George Lucas consider a new translation to the Star Wars language? Is an update to the original English translation of the movie dialogue called for now that Rome has set the standard? Think about it.
For example, whenever anyone in the Star Wars Universe says "May the Force be with You", faithful Catholics everywhere, ever since those words were first spoken on the big screen, were thinking in their Catholic Jedi minds, the response, of ....."And also with You!" Now of course, the New dialogue of the Jedi should be when his Jedi Master says, "May the Force be with You", the appropriate response shall be, "And with Your Spirit". It only makes sense.
Also, There are so many Catholic similarities in the Star Wars films. There are the Jedi, very Franciscan in their robes, holding true to the ancient religion of the "Force", their steadfast opposition to Evil, portrayed as the seemingly stronger Dark Side of the Force. There is the prominence of the triumph of Good over Evil, Light over Darkness, of the Will over created things, the strength of the eternal spirit of the soul over the mortal physical body, the desire to be free from the slavery of oppression and the ultimate Catholic truth of Love, Sacrifice and Redemption.
In closing may I say, that since November when this New translation of the Latin Missal went into effect, it took me until this past Sunday, February 19th for me to be able to say each and every time in the Liturgy the correct and proper response...."And with Your Spirit!" Up until now, it has been a trial and error, as much as I tried, it sometimes came out as "And also with you..." or occasionally an amalgam of both, winding up as "And also... with Your Spirit!" But that was only because I messed up, in my thoughts and in my words, it what I have done and what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault..... But I am trying.
Hey it only took me about three months to get it right each and every time in one Mass. I'll see if I can make it two in a row.
Go forth, This Post has ended.
Someone we know who experienced this new Mass Translation, seemed as though he had walked into the wrong church somewhere. Probably because it was more than a year since the last time he had been to Mass. It was rather amusing to witness, but also a sad reality. But then again, when you take the Mass just as an occasional thing you do, or something that is not essential to your way of life, or if you see it as a mere tradition in your family, then to such a person, the Mass perhaps has become meaningless in their life. Unfortunately, if the Mass has become meaningless in one's life, it also means that God has become meaningless in one's life. This is what can happen when a Catholic lapses into the Theology of relativism. It was later said by this person who commented about his experience at Mass on a social media outlet something to the effect of "I went to Mass and everything was different, as if George Lucas somehow got hold of the Mass and changed it." It was different but sort of the same!" I'm paraphrasing of course, but you get the gist of it.
When I think about the reality of that comment, that somehow George Lucas has gotten hold of the Liturgy and changed it, I see that almost as an off handed compliment coming from him, as to the newer translation of the language for the Liturgy.
Here is why I see it as a sort of compliment. I do know that the person in question is an admirer of George Lucas and his films. At least that is my belief. He knows and has memorised much of the movie dialogues, various scenes, and various iconic sayings. George Lucas and the Mythology created in the Star Wars anthology has become a part of his life. And since the New Translation of the Mass seems as though to him, George Lucas has someone got a hold of and changed the Liturgy, this also has made me wonder, now that since the Star Wars movies are being re released again, this time in 3D, should George Lucas consider a new translation to the Star Wars language? Is an update to the original English translation of the movie dialogue called for now that Rome has set the standard? Think about it.
For example, whenever anyone in the Star Wars Universe says "May the Force be with You", faithful Catholics everywhere, ever since those words were first spoken on the big screen, were thinking in their Catholic Jedi minds, the response, of ....."And also with You!" Now of course, the New dialogue of the Jedi should be when his Jedi Master says, "May the Force be with You", the appropriate response shall be, "And with Your Spirit". It only makes sense.
Also, There are so many Catholic similarities in the Star Wars films. There are the Jedi, very Franciscan in their robes, holding true to the ancient religion of the "Force", their steadfast opposition to Evil, portrayed as the seemingly stronger Dark Side of the Force. There is the prominence of the triumph of Good over Evil, Light over Darkness, of the Will over created things, the strength of the eternal spirit of the soul over the mortal physical body, the desire to be free from the slavery of oppression and the ultimate Catholic truth of Love, Sacrifice and Redemption.
In closing may I say, that since November when this New translation of the Latin Missal went into effect, it took me until this past Sunday, February 19th for me to be able to say each and every time in the Liturgy the correct and proper response...."And with Your Spirit!" Up until now, it has been a trial and error, as much as I tried, it sometimes came out as "And also with you..." or occasionally an amalgam of both, winding up as "And also... with Your Spirit!" But that was only because I messed up, in my thoughts and in my words, it what I have done and what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault..... But I am trying.
Hey it only took me about three months to get it right each and every time in one Mass. I'll see if I can make it two in a row.
Go forth, This Post has ended.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Death of the Devout Atheist
I heard just yesterday, as I was driving home from work, about the death of Christopher Hitchens. The show I was listening to, was on Sirius Satelite radio, the show called Kresta in the Afternoon, (read about it here at this link) which can be heard on Sirius 160 on the EWTN channel. You know, Sirious channel 160 which is the EWTN channel? It's the channel all Sirious Catholics listen to!
You may know or have heard of the name Christopher Hitchens, the "athiest" Christopher Hitchens. Some time ago, Al Kresta had interviewed Hitchens and last night on his radio program, Kresta re-played excerpts from that interview he did after Hitchens wrote a book titled, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Really? Poisons "everything"?? I listened to this interview and thought, how can anyone have such a jaded, poisoned and misguided view of God? God is knowable. How can one know God in the way Christopher Hitchens knew God. How can one know God, when one declares, there is no God. Now that is a question for the ages. Also a puzzlement to me, is how athiests are always so depressed, depressing, glum, negative, unhappy.....miserable perhaps is a better word, but then again, it really isn't a puzzlement when you think about it. I've heard Hitchens and statements he's made about the Church, about Priests and Religious, about the Pope. Let's just say, Christopher Hitchens in my estimation, is not so great himself. That is about the nicest thing I can say about him.
Sadly Christopher Hitchens is and will likely always be known as Christopher Hitchens the Atheist. Terrible thing to be known for. Not Christopher Hitchens the great statesman, or Christopher Hitchens the great humanitarian, and unlike other great minds, unlikee other great men and women, he will be always remembered as Christopher Hitchens the atheist. Let's face it, we never will see a devout atheist dedicate their life to helping the poor and impoverished in Calcutta India, as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Do we ever see atheists dying for their 'faith' or dedicate their lives to comfort the dying, the sick, the lonely or the unwanted? By what measure do we measure the impact of a devout atheist?
Perhaps the devout Cult of Atheists worldwide mourn the loss of this giant atheist among Atheists everywhere, if atheists indeed mourn the passing of anyone. Perhaps Atheists will call for his being declared an atheistic saint among the members of the religion of Atheism. Let's face it, for Christopher Hitchens to hold to his unbelief in a God, it takes what must be declared heroic atheistic virtue.
Well now, what am I saying? Can it be called "heroic virtue" to be an avid, devout, and long time Atheist? Let's think about that for a moment. If one believes in an "All Powerful", "All Holy" and "All Good" God, then one must also believe that all Goodness comes from God, all Virtue is of God and all Grace has it's source in God. So, logically one can conclude that for a person to deny the existence of God, then one must also deny the existence of the source of all Good that comes from God; and deny also the existence of all virtue and surely deny the existence of Grace.
One thing I find funny, hilarious even, is for any self proclaimed Atheist to talk about, to write about and to live for denying the existence of God; to shout the evangelism of unbelief from the highest height. That is like proclaiming the denial of the existence of invisible things. Like saying, look, there, where you don't see anything, well that proves that invisible things don't exist and it is ridiculous to believe in invisible things. I tend to agree with the logic of the famous Catholic convert G.K. Chesterton when he says: "If there were no God, there would be no atheists".
Now, think for a moment about the book that Hitchens wrote. Why write about someone you do not believe in? Why then when you write about this person you do not believe in, why do you also say about this person you do not believe in that He is not great? It makes no sense to me. For example, do you see any people writing books saying, "Zeus was not great", or "Apollo was not great" or even or even for that matter that Peter Pan was not great?
This reminds me also of the anti Christians who hate Christ so much, that they appear this time of year every year to proclaim that Christmas is a myth, or say the Nativity did not happen and that God did not become Man, they deny the incarnation, and that people should just be good for goodness sake. If it is a myth, they why attempt to disprove it. Do you see anyone attempting to put up a billboard saying, the tooth fairy is a myth? Of course not, because for the reason that the tooth fairy is a myth.
So, Christopher Hitchens had cancer and he went to his horrible death dying from esophageal cancer holding onto his atheism, knowing that his greatest atheistic achievement, his final claim to fame was that he wrote a book entitled...God is not Great: Religion Poisons Everything.
I wonder, what in his final moments were the thoughts of Christopher Hitchens? Was he waiting for his meaningless existence to finally slip into the blackness of nothingness and existancelessness? For, if there is no God, then life is meaningless, everything is nothing and therfore everything is worthless. Even so are the claims of atheism worthless if there be no God.
Or just maybe I thought, as Christopher Hitches lay dying, was Christopher Hitchens praying for the first time in his life. What was that prayer of his? Was he praying that there was no God? For if there was a God, then how would Christopher Hitchens face Him when he finally died? How would Hitchens explain to that God, why it was that He was not a Great, God as Christopher Hitchens had written in his book? Just imagine the final torment of the thoughts and soul of Christopher Hitchens in the last seconds of his earthly consciousness. I thought of this, just before offering a prayer for the soul of Christopher Hitchens.
Yes, I prayed for Christopher Hitchens, that the Greatness of God to be revealed to him just at the moment of his death, as Christopher Hitchens' soul would then face the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for eternal judgement, to stand before the only Son of God, to be Judged by the Lord of Lords. It will be then that Christopher Hitchens will realize the true Greatness of that Infinite and Majestic God, for to the bare and stripped naked soul of Hitchens, all truth shall be revealed to his soul in one great shining moment of clarity. It will be then, that Christopher Hitchens will know the real and terrible truth of it all. God's Mercy is no doubt greater than Hitchens own opinion of God's Greatness. Hitchens will also find that the Justice of God is also Great. Perhaps Richard Hitchens did not know how Great God really is. He knows now.
You may know or have heard of the name Christopher Hitchens, the "athiest" Christopher Hitchens. Some time ago, Al Kresta had interviewed Hitchens and last night on his radio program, Kresta re-played excerpts from that interview he did after Hitchens wrote a book titled, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Really? Poisons "everything"?? I listened to this interview and thought, how can anyone have such a jaded, poisoned and misguided view of God? God is knowable. How can one know God in the way Christopher Hitchens knew God. How can one know God, when one declares, there is no God. Now that is a question for the ages. Also a puzzlement to me, is how athiests are always so depressed, depressing, glum, negative, unhappy.....miserable perhaps is a better word, but then again, it really isn't a puzzlement when you think about it. I've heard Hitchens and statements he's made about the Church, about Priests and Religious, about the Pope. Let's just say, Christopher Hitchens in my estimation, is not so great himself. That is about the nicest thing I can say about him.
Sadly Christopher Hitchens is and will likely always be known as Christopher Hitchens the Atheist. Terrible thing to be known for. Not Christopher Hitchens the great statesman, or Christopher Hitchens the great humanitarian, and unlike other great minds, unlikee other great men and women, he will be always remembered as Christopher Hitchens the atheist. Let's face it, we never will see a devout atheist dedicate their life to helping the poor and impoverished in Calcutta India, as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Do we ever see atheists dying for their 'faith' or dedicate their lives to comfort the dying, the sick, the lonely or the unwanted? By what measure do we measure the impact of a devout atheist?
Perhaps the devout Cult of Atheists worldwide mourn the loss of this giant atheist among Atheists everywhere, if atheists indeed mourn the passing of anyone. Perhaps Atheists will call for his being declared an atheistic saint among the members of the religion of Atheism. Let's face it, for Christopher Hitchens to hold to his unbelief in a God, it takes what must be declared heroic atheistic virtue.
Well now, what am I saying? Can it be called "heroic virtue" to be an avid, devout, and long time Atheist? Let's think about that for a moment. If one believes in an "All Powerful", "All Holy" and "All Good" God, then one must also believe that all Goodness comes from God, all Virtue is of God and all Grace has it's source in God. So, logically one can conclude that for a person to deny the existence of God, then one must also deny the existence of the source of all Good that comes from God; and deny also the existence of all virtue and surely deny the existence of Grace.
One thing I find funny, hilarious even, is for any self proclaimed Atheist to talk about, to write about and to live for denying the existence of God; to shout the evangelism of unbelief from the highest height. That is like proclaiming the denial of the existence of invisible things. Like saying, look, there, where you don't see anything, well that proves that invisible things don't exist and it is ridiculous to believe in invisible things. I tend to agree with the logic of the famous Catholic convert G.K. Chesterton when he says: "If there were no God, there would be no atheists".
Now, think for a moment about the book that Hitchens wrote. Why write about someone you do not believe in? Why then when you write about this person you do not believe in, why do you also say about this person you do not believe in that He is not great? It makes no sense to me. For example, do you see any people writing books saying, "Zeus was not great", or "Apollo was not great" or even or even for that matter that Peter Pan was not great?
This reminds me also of the anti Christians who hate Christ so much, that they appear this time of year every year to proclaim that Christmas is a myth, or say the Nativity did not happen and that God did not become Man, they deny the incarnation, and that people should just be good for goodness sake. If it is a myth, they why attempt to disprove it. Do you see anyone attempting to put up a billboard saying, the tooth fairy is a myth? Of course not, because for the reason that the tooth fairy is a myth.
So, Christopher Hitchens had cancer and he went to his horrible death dying from esophageal cancer holding onto his atheism, knowing that his greatest atheistic achievement, his final claim to fame was that he wrote a book entitled...God is not Great: Religion Poisons Everything.
I wonder, what in his final moments were the thoughts of Christopher Hitchens? Was he waiting for his meaningless existence to finally slip into the blackness of nothingness and existancelessness? For, if there is no God, then life is meaningless, everything is nothing and therfore everything is worthless. Even so are the claims of atheism worthless if there be no God.
Or just maybe I thought, as Christopher Hitches lay dying, was Christopher Hitchens praying for the first time in his life. What was that prayer of his? Was he praying that there was no God? For if there was a God, then how would Christopher Hitchens face Him when he finally died? How would Hitchens explain to that God, why it was that He was not a Great, God as Christopher Hitchens had written in his book? Just imagine the final torment of the thoughts and soul of Christopher Hitchens in the last seconds of his earthly consciousness. I thought of this, just before offering a prayer for the soul of Christopher Hitchens.
Yes, I prayed for Christopher Hitchens, that the Greatness of God to be revealed to him just at the moment of his death, as Christopher Hitchens' soul would then face the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for eternal judgement, to stand before the only Son of God, to be Judged by the Lord of Lords. It will be then that Christopher Hitchens will realize the true Greatness of that Infinite and Majestic God, for to the bare and stripped naked soul of Hitchens, all truth shall be revealed to his soul in one great shining moment of clarity. It will be then, that Christopher Hitchens will know the real and terrible truth of it all. God's Mercy is no doubt greater than Hitchens own opinion of God's Greatness. Hitchens will also find that the Justice of God is also Great. Perhaps Richard Hitchens did not know how Great God really is. He knows now.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
GIVE GLORY TO.....WHO?
Stop and think for just a moment. Ask yourself this question. To whom do you give glory? Or are you a glory seeker? This question and the answer to it is vital because in today's society, in today's self centered culture, the answer likely is that Glory for self is sought above all.
Not only is mankind encouraged to seek every self centered pleasure, they are also encouraged to use others in the process, to give in to every internal whim, want, desire or thought. Never is one in control of their own desires, passions, thoughts or emotions, but instead give in to every inclination and evil urge at every turn, eventually driven into madness like a ship without a rudder. Man becomes helpless and adrift at the whim of the currents, the wind and the waves, he is tossed about by passions and inclinations and urges, adrift and helpless, lashed to the wheel, the captain of his own ship is helpless, for his crew, his virtues, his self control and his free will have surrendered and abandoned him. This self centered glory seeking is what is called vainglory and like a ship without a rudder it eventually leads to Man's complete and utter destruction.
Perhaps you are not seeking glory for yourself. If not, then perhaps you are glorifying another person, or even an inanimate object, a created thing, a creature? Now ask yourself this question. Are these things your god? Are they your gods? Speaking of gods...are you Glorifying the One True God in and with and by the life you are living?
For every Catholic, for every other Christian from every other denomination, for every devout Jew and for anyone who believes in a Divine all Supreme all God, if the answer to this question is no, then it requires a deep inner examination of self, and a sincere look at the hard truth and such a person must ask "If I am not giving Glory to God, then who or what am I giving Glory to? Who or what is my god, who or what is my King to whom I pledge servitude.
Man is a creature, and as such, should only be giving Glory, not to oneself, not to another person, and certainly not to another creature, but only to the One True God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
Who is your God? Who is your King? Man serving other men, worshiping false gods, be these gods power, wealth, pleasure, possessions, illicit sex, immorality or whatever they be, lead only in destruction and everlasting misery and nothingness. Laying down ones life at the feet of Jesus Christ leads to holy obedience and servitude of the one True King, the one benign ruler. But in serving Christ the King, this servitude frees us from the bondage and shackles of sin. For he who serves God in this life, reigns with God forever in Heaven in life eternal. Jesus in His Gospel according to St. John Chapter 17 verse 3 "Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ"
This Sunday, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church celebrates Jesus Christ as Christ the King. Come, and lay down your life for the King. Lose your current life for Jesus who says... "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it"
Come and give Glory to God in the Highest. Give give Glory to Christ the King, and you will preserve your life in eternal glory.
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and Forever.
Not only is mankind encouraged to seek every self centered pleasure, they are also encouraged to use others in the process, to give in to every internal whim, want, desire or thought. Never is one in control of their own desires, passions, thoughts or emotions, but instead give in to every inclination and evil urge at every turn, eventually driven into madness like a ship without a rudder. Man becomes helpless and adrift at the whim of the currents, the wind and the waves, he is tossed about by passions and inclinations and urges, adrift and helpless, lashed to the wheel, the captain of his own ship is helpless, for his crew, his virtues, his self control and his free will have surrendered and abandoned him. This self centered glory seeking is what is called vainglory and like a ship without a rudder it eventually leads to Man's complete and utter destruction.
Perhaps you are not seeking glory for yourself. If not, then perhaps you are glorifying another person, or even an inanimate object, a created thing, a creature? Now ask yourself this question. Are these things your god? Are they your gods? Speaking of gods...are you Glorifying the One True God in and with and by the life you are living?
For every Catholic, for every other Christian from every other denomination, for every devout Jew and for anyone who believes in a Divine all Supreme all God, if the answer to this question is no, then it requires a deep inner examination of self, and a sincere look at the hard truth and such a person must ask "If I am not giving Glory to God, then who or what am I giving Glory to? Who or what is my god, who or what is my King to whom I pledge servitude.
Man is a creature, and as such, should only be giving Glory, not to oneself, not to another person, and certainly not to another creature, but only to the One True God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
Who is your God? Who is your King? Man serving other men, worshiping false gods, be these gods power, wealth, pleasure, possessions, illicit sex, immorality or whatever they be, lead only in destruction and everlasting misery and nothingness. Laying down ones life at the feet of Jesus Christ leads to holy obedience and servitude of the one True King, the one benign ruler. But in serving Christ the King, this servitude frees us from the bondage and shackles of sin. For he who serves God in this life, reigns with God forever in Heaven in life eternal. Jesus in His Gospel according to St. John Chapter 17 verse 3 "Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ"
This Sunday, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church celebrates Jesus Christ as Christ the King. Come, and lay down your life for the King. Lose your current life for Jesus who says... "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it"
Come and give Glory to God in the Highest. Give give Glory to Christ the King, and you will preserve your life in eternal glory.
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and Forever.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Where Men are Men
I attended the 4th Men’s Catholic Conference, ( https://www.ctcatholicmen.org/ ) this past Saturday. See the terrific article that appeared in The Catholic Transcript written by Jack Sheedy who is the News Editor of the Transcript.
This year the Men's conference was held in Southington Connecticut at the Church of the Parish of St. Dominic. Doug Barry of Radix and also of EWTN's Life on the Rock, one of the Guest Speakers at this conference, spoke very directly and very powerfully to the men, encouraging them to foster the warrior spirit within them, the combative spirit of the soldier, the chivalrous knight, the defender and protector of the weak, of women, children, families and defenders of the souls of those entrusted to his care.
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| Doug Barry at CT Men's Catholic Conference |
It’s okay in societies terms Doug told us to be excited about sports, to hold pep rallies and parties and special events for sports, but it is surely not cool or even thinkable to even arrive 20 minutes early for Mass, to pre read and to become familiar with the Mass readings before Mass begins, to even pray the Rosary, but yet we know all the players on the teams we root for, their stats, batting averages and the highlights of their careers. But we know nothing of the life of Christ, or the Saints. We heard what we needed to hear, without pulling punches, Doug's word delivered with charity and love for us, for Christ and His Church.
I myself can see personally that today, men are weak, feminized, no longer leaders, neither in their families, nor in the community. Spiritual strength is seen as physical weakness and worse, men are lax in their defense of the family, for many men are absent from their family, they are divorced, or uninterested or just caught up in themselves, in their own selfish interests and are absent in defense of family values, family morals and absent in building and protecting the spiritual realm of their families. Many are wounded, caught up in sin, in personal immorality, in pornography, in themselves. "Men"...quotes Doug Barry.."would be right there defending their family if some thug broke down the household door"..."They would take a bullet for their wife and children but in the spiritual world, they leave their family defensless and un-protected."
The men I saw at this conference were not at all like these modern weak men, in that most saw what their role was, but they just needed a plan of action, they just needed to see who was on their side, they needed to hear a plan layed out before them, to show them what they needed to do, they need a rally cry and at this conference, the rally cry was “Be Men!” More to the point, be authentic Catholic Men; Men who love God and want to Know Him, Love Him, Serve Him…the theme of this conference. In other words, Be like our Lord.
Here, at this conference men saw that they must become more like the Saints who longed to be like Christ and to also, as Doug Barry showed us, never let down your guard for one moment. For in the spirit world, the enemy never sleeps, never tires, never relents. And when it appears Satan, the devil and his minions have turned away, that is when we let our spiritual guard down and when we are most vulnerable. This is when our families are most at danger. So, be men, be defenders, be combatants in this world and in the spiritual world. Be lovers of women and our wives, defenders of purity and innocence, not pursuers of selfish pleasures. Pray, fast and give alms to the poor. Stay strong by frequenting the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, by fervently and devoutly and reverently receiving Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
After the day ended it concluded with the celebration of Holy Mass. And when we finally left, after having received nourishment in the fraternity of other men, in receiving the sacrament of confession and in receiving the Holy Eucharist, more "men" returned home to their families, wives and children. Not more men in the in numbers of men, but that they were more real, more genuine and more trully men than when they arrived. Thanks Be to God!
Friday, March 25, 2011
The Angel of The Lord Declared Unto Mary
Happy Feast of the Annunciation! Today we celebrate that most Glorious Solemnity of the Annunciation, when God sends a messenger to a lowly virgin to "Announce" His plan of Salvation.
This Plan of Salvation is for God Himself, the very Son of God, who is to take on Flesh, to be born of a virgin, in order to undo the fall of Eve and of Adam, to give us a new Eve, and a new Adam to be Conceived in the immaculate womb of that new Eve, a humble young handmaid. Saint Luke tells us in his Gospel..
LUKE 1:26~28 "And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art though among women."
And so begins the incarnation in this way, in humility, in purity and in innocence. The great Angel, who is God's messenger, greats Mary humbly, speaks to her the very words of the Lord God, who sent Gabriel to proclaim the greeting and in so doing, revealing the Lord's plan of Salvation to this holy virgin Mary, who the angel says is "full of Grace" and tells her "The Lord is With You". It is this very angelic Salutation that we repeat, each time we pray the words given to Gabriel to speak unto Mary.
This prayer, comprised of the angel's greeting, is also comprised of of the inspired words of Elizabeth, who when visited by Mary is filled with the Holy Spirit at the sound of her voice and the Holy Spirit prompts Elizabeth to exclaim in a Loud voice in LUKE 1:42~45..."Blessed art though among women, and blessed in the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? for behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed are though that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
These very words we pray, are not our own words; nor are they words contrived by the Church, but these Sacred words are God's Himself, given to an angel and spoken by Gabriel and by the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God in the woman Elizabeth, it is she who is to bear the Herald of the Messiah, John the Baptist. It is the pregnant Elizabeth, who announces Mary as "Blessed Among all Women", "Full of Grace", and the Mother of the Lord". Blessed is Mary for believing what God would do in her and through her. I dare say, blessed too are those who also believe what God has wrought through Mary and who also call her blessed!
Henceforth, let us, in all generations call her blessed... and let us add,.... "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." Amen.
This Plan of Salvation is for God Himself, the very Son of God, who is to take on Flesh, to be born of a virgin, in order to undo the fall of Eve and of Adam, to give us a new Eve, and a new Adam to be Conceived in the immaculate womb of that new Eve, a humble young handmaid. Saint Luke tells us in his Gospel..
LUKE 1:26~28 "And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art though among women."
And so begins the incarnation in this way, in humility, in purity and in innocence. The great Angel, who is God's messenger, greats Mary humbly, speaks to her the very words of the Lord God, who sent Gabriel to proclaim the greeting and in so doing, revealing the Lord's plan of Salvation to this holy virgin Mary, who the angel says is "full of Grace" and tells her "The Lord is With You". It is this very angelic Salutation that we repeat, each time we pray the words given to Gabriel to speak unto Mary.
This prayer, comprised of the angel's greeting, is also comprised of of the inspired words of Elizabeth, who when visited by Mary is filled with the Holy Spirit at the sound of her voice and the Holy Spirit prompts Elizabeth to exclaim in a Loud voice in LUKE 1:42~45..."Blessed art though among women, and blessed in the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? for behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed are though that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.
These very words we pray, are not our own words; nor are they words contrived by the Church, but these Sacred words are God's Himself, given to an angel and spoken by Gabriel and by the prompting of the Holy Spirit of God in the woman Elizabeth, it is she who is to bear the Herald of the Messiah, John the Baptist. It is the pregnant Elizabeth, who announces Mary as "Blessed Among all Women", "Full of Grace", and the Mother of the Lord". Blessed is Mary for believing what God would do in her and through her. I dare say, blessed too are those who also believe what God has wrought through Mary and who also call her blessed!
Henceforth, let us, in all generations call her blessed... and let us add,.... "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." Amen.
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