Bishop Michael Burbidge from the Diocese of Raleigh has made an excellent video explaining the rituals used in the dedicating of a new church.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
The Syndrome Syndrome
It seems that wherever I turn I meet someone with a child with a "syndrome". Aspergers, RAD, ADD, ADHD, ODD, CD and so many others.
Here is the description of Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
A pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months, during which four (or more) of the following are present:
often loses temper
often argues with adults
often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules
often deliberately annoys people
often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
is often touchy or easily annoyed by others
is often angry and resentful
is often spiteful or vindictive
Hmmm, that sounds like my child, but he doesn't have ODD. He is just almost three. Luckily for him, I realized that he needed me to be stricter with him. Let's face it, kids are tough. Kids push the line every chance they get. They have incredibly strong wills. Why? Because they want it to be their way.
Personally, I want my son to be strong willed because that means his will be independent. He won't be easily swayed by every passing fad. I don't want to break him of it, I want to show him the limits.
I am not saying that there are no kids who legitimately have these syndromes, but I can't help but think that many parents look for labels to put on their kids. Our children shouldn't be perfectly obedient, malleable little clay people. They are going to question and push the limits. They are going to act up when they are bored, tired, and over or under stimulated. They are kids! We have to be parents.
If we refuse to to be parents and enforce our strong wills on our children, we can expect "problem children".
Several years ago a school nurse diagnosed my friend's son as having ADD. My friend's wise response? He isn't ADD, he is BAD. Guess what? She modified her parenting techniques and he is fine now. His behavior actually worsened when he was given the label of ADD and when she tried to parent him properly, he would tell her, "It's not my fault. I have ADD, I can't help it."
While this may seem an odd topic for a blog about Catholicism, I think it is just one more side effect of the culture of death. We have created a false ideal of the normal child. We have created a stereotype of the average child: good-looking, obedient, brilliant, athletic. If our child doesn't fit that stereotype, there must be something wrong. So we put a label on the child and before long the child begins to fit the label. Why? Because we raise the child according to the label. It is easier to say there is a psychological problem rather than to admit that the problem is the result of poor parenting or a bad home situation.
So who really has the syndrome, the kids or the parents. I am now announcing the discovery of a new syndrome. I call it SS "Syndrome Syndrome". The symptoms are parental lazyness, the believe that normal children are perfectly obedient, and the need to attach a label on children.
I know this post will infurate many people, so I am putting my flame suit on now.
Here is the description of Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
A pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months, during which four (or more) of the following are present:
often loses temper
often argues with adults
often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules
often deliberately annoys people
often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
is often touchy or easily annoyed by others
is often angry and resentful
is often spiteful or vindictive
Hmmm, that sounds like my child, but he doesn't have ODD. He is just almost three. Luckily for him, I realized that he needed me to be stricter with him. Let's face it, kids are tough. Kids push the line every chance they get. They have incredibly strong wills. Why? Because they want it to be their way.
Personally, I want my son to be strong willed because that means his will be independent. He won't be easily swayed by every passing fad. I don't want to break him of it, I want to show him the limits.
I am not saying that there are no kids who legitimately have these syndromes, but I can't help but think that many parents look for labels to put on their kids. Our children shouldn't be perfectly obedient, malleable little clay people. They are going to question and push the limits. They are going to act up when they are bored, tired, and over or under stimulated. They are kids! We have to be parents.
If we refuse to to be parents and enforce our strong wills on our children, we can expect "problem children".
Several years ago a school nurse diagnosed my friend's son as having ADD. My friend's wise response? He isn't ADD, he is BAD. Guess what? She modified her parenting techniques and he is fine now. His behavior actually worsened when he was given the label of ADD and when she tried to parent him properly, he would tell her, "It's not my fault. I have ADD, I can't help it."
While this may seem an odd topic for a blog about Catholicism, I think it is just one more side effect of the culture of death. We have created a false ideal of the normal child. We have created a stereotype of the average child: good-looking, obedient, brilliant, athletic. If our child doesn't fit that stereotype, there must be something wrong. So we put a label on the child and before long the child begins to fit the label. Why? Because we raise the child according to the label. It is easier to say there is a psychological problem rather than to admit that the problem is the result of poor parenting or a bad home situation.
So who really has the syndrome, the kids or the parents. I am now announcing the discovery of a new syndrome. I call it SS "Syndrome Syndrome". The symptoms are parental lazyness, the believe that normal children are perfectly obedient, and the need to attach a label on children.
I know this post will infurate many people, so I am putting my flame suit on now.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Tridentine Mass on EWTN
They aren't wasting any time with either the new bishop or Summorum Pontificum.
H/T Gerald who got it from Fr. Z.
EWTN to Televise Live Tridentine Mass Celebrated by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
DENTON, Nebraska – AUGUST 17, 2007 – For the first time in its 26 year history, Mother Angelica’s Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will be broadcasting a live Solemn High Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama on September 14, 2007 at 8:00AM EST. EWTN has asked for the assistance of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, an international Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, to help celebrate this "extraordinary" form.
This past July 7th, Pope Benedict XVI affirmed the beauty and importance of the Tridentine Mass by issuing Summorum Pontificum, a papal document encouraging and confirming the right of all Latin Rite priests to use this more ancient use of the Mass starting September 14th. The Tridentine Mass was the normative liturgy experienced by Latin Rite Catholics prior to the Second Vatican Council.
"Most Catholics have not seen this heavenly celebration in over 40 years," said Father Calvin Goodwin, a professor at the Society’s international English-speaking seminary located in Denton, Nebraska. "We are very excited to help EWTN and to support the Holy Father’s call for a wider presence of this form of the Mass. This is a cause for great joy."
Priests and seminarians from Denton, Nebraska will travel to Alabama and provide the celebrant, deacon, subdeacon, preacher, master of ceremonies and altar servers.
About the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
Established in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter is an international society of Catholic priests entrusted with the preservation and administration of the Catholic Church’s ancient Latin liturgical traditions. Over 120 seminarians are preparing for the priesthood in the Fraternity’s two seminaries in Bavaria, Germany and Denton, Nebraska.
About EWTN
Founded by Mother Angelica, a Poor Clare nun, the Eternal Word Television Network has become the largest religious media network in the world, transmitting programming 24 hours a day to more than 123 million homes in 140 countries and territories on more than 4,800 cable systems, wireless cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low power TV and individual satellite users.
Contact:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary
7880 West Denton Road
Denton, NE 68339 U.S.A.
(402) 797-7700
seminary@fsspolgs.org
H/T Gerald who got it from Fr. Z.
EWTN to Televise Live Tridentine Mass Celebrated by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
DENTON, Nebraska – AUGUST 17, 2007 – For the first time in its 26 year history, Mother Angelica’s Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will be broadcasting a live Solemn High Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama on September 14, 2007 at 8:00AM EST. EWTN has asked for the assistance of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, an international Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, to help celebrate this "extraordinary" form.
This past July 7th, Pope Benedict XVI affirmed the beauty and importance of the Tridentine Mass by issuing Summorum Pontificum, a papal document encouraging and confirming the right of all Latin Rite priests to use this more ancient use of the Mass starting September 14th. The Tridentine Mass was the normative liturgy experienced by Latin Rite Catholics prior to the Second Vatican Council.
"Most Catholics have not seen this heavenly celebration in over 40 years," said Father Calvin Goodwin, a professor at the Society’s international English-speaking seminary located in Denton, Nebraska. "We are very excited to help EWTN and to support the Holy Father’s call for a wider presence of this form of the Mass. This is a cause for great joy."
Priests and seminarians from Denton, Nebraska will travel to Alabama and provide the celebrant, deacon, subdeacon, preacher, master of ceremonies and altar servers.
About the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
Established in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter is an international society of Catholic priests entrusted with the preservation and administration of the Catholic Church’s ancient Latin liturgical traditions. Over 120 seminarians are preparing for the priesthood in the Fraternity’s two seminaries in Bavaria, Germany and Denton, Nebraska.
About EWTN
Founded by Mother Angelica, a Poor Clare nun, the Eternal Word Television Network has become the largest religious media network in the world, transmitting programming 24 hours a day to more than 123 million homes in 140 countries and territories on more than 4,800 cable systems, wireless cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low power TV and individual satellite users.
Contact:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary
7880 West Denton Road
Denton, NE 68339 U.S.A.
(402) 797-7700
seminary@fsspolgs.org
What a Headline
This article is worth posting for the headline alone.
Cannibal tribe apologises for eating Methodists
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Baker is New Bishop of Birmingham
I think I can hear the cheers from Hanceville already. After 27 long months, the Diocese of Birmingham finally has a bishop and he is a friend of EWTN. He even wrote a book with Fr. Benedict Groeschel.
Here is my rough translation of this morning's bolletino.
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has named as bishop of Birmingham, His Excellency Robert Joseph Baker (U.S.A.), who until now was bishop of Charleston.
His excellency Robert J. Baker was born in Willard, in the diocese of Toledo (Ohio) on June 4, 1944. He attended the elementary school of the parish of Saint Gwendaline in his hometown. He then attended and graduated from the Josephinum High School in Columbus (Ohio), before entereing the Pontifical College Josephinum, also in Columbus. Later on, he earned a license in theology [STL] from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and was then sent to Rome and graduated from the Pontifical Gregorian Institute(1972-1975).
He was ordained to the priesthood on March 21, 1970 and incardinated into the diocse of Saint Augustine (Florida). He served in several positions: as Assiciate pastor of Saint Paul Parish e teacher at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville Beach, director of the diocesean marriage preparation program(1970-1972); spiritual director of the Pontifical College Josephinum (1975-1976); Administrator of St. Augustine's in Gainesville, a parish attended by students from the University of Florida (1976-1981); Professor of theology at the regional seminary of Saint Vincent de Paul in Boynton Beach (1981-1984); rector of the Cathedral of Saint Augustine (1984-1997); Pastor of Christ the King Parish, the largest parish in the diocese (1997 - 1999).
He was named bishop of Charleston on July 13, 1999, and ordained a bishop on September 29 of the same year.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Fifteen Years
If there is any one person who is responsible for giving me my faith, it is my grandmother. I was baptized when I was 6 months old, mostly at the insistence of my grandmother. The priest was reluctant to baptize me, because he doubted that I would be raised Catholic. However, the curate and my grandmother pestered his enough and he relented. The pastor was right and I wasn't raised a Catholic.
I used to spent a lot of time with my grandmother, who brought me to daily Mass with her. One of my earliest memories of Vavo is watching Msgr. McFarland on the TV Mass and rosary from Boston. My grandmother taught me all the basic Catholic prayers and traditional Portuguese hymns.
When I was 7 years old, one of my friends mentioned that she was going to start CCD classes. I asked my mother why I wasn't going to CCD too. She wasn't too happy to hear me ask. I pestered her enough and we started going to the Episcopalian church. I attended their Sunday School for a few weeks, but it wasn't what I wanted. I kept telling my parents that I wanted to be Catholic. I wore them down and I started CCD classes. We also started attended Mass every weekend. I would go to daily Mass with my grandmother whenever I was able to.
I learned more about the faith at my grandmother's knee than I ever did in CCD. Her love of God and His Church instilled the same in me. I know that my love for the Church made her very happy and she did everything she could to encourage me.
Vavo passed away on this date, fifteen years ago. She was 89 years old and I was 13. She was thrilled about our new bishop and she was sure that he would do great things. I spoke with her the night before she died and she asked me to make sure I welcomed him to the diocese. The very last thing she said to me was, "Jesus and Mary are there in the corner. I'm not afraid because I'm not alone". No one had any idea that would be the last time we would talk with her, but I have no doubt that they were there in the corner.
The next morning, she was gone. One chapter in my life and faith was over and another was just beginning.
On that day my diocese installed a new bishop. He was a kind franciscan bishop with a beard and a warm smile. He virtually unheard of, at least as far as we were concerned, but he changed our diocese and my life forever. The time I spent with Bishop Sean took the faith which had been instilled in by my grandmother and helped it to grow. He introduced me to people and gave me opportunities I never dreamed possible. It's strange how things work sometimes.
Vavo, thanks for your love and for sharing your faith with me. You gave me many gifts through the years, but faith was by far the greatest.
Avé Maria, cheia de graça, o Senhor é convosco. Bendita sois vós entre as mulheres; bendito é o fruto do vosso ventre, Jesus. Santa Maria, mãe de Deus, rogai por nós, pecadores, agora e na hora da nossa morte. Amen
Vavo, eu amo te.
I used to spent a lot of time with my grandmother, who brought me to daily Mass with her. One of my earliest memories of Vavo is watching Msgr. McFarland on the TV Mass and rosary from Boston. My grandmother taught me all the basic Catholic prayers and traditional Portuguese hymns.
When I was 7 years old, one of my friends mentioned that she was going to start CCD classes. I asked my mother why I wasn't going to CCD too. She wasn't too happy to hear me ask. I pestered her enough and we started going to the Episcopalian church. I attended their Sunday School for a few weeks, but it wasn't what I wanted. I kept telling my parents that I wanted to be Catholic. I wore them down and I started CCD classes. We also started attended Mass every weekend. I would go to daily Mass with my grandmother whenever I was able to.
I learned more about the faith at my grandmother's knee than I ever did in CCD. Her love of God and His Church instilled the same in me. I know that my love for the Church made her very happy and she did everything she could to encourage me.
Vavo passed away on this date, fifteen years ago. She was 89 years old and I was 13. She was thrilled about our new bishop and she was sure that he would do great things. I spoke with her the night before she died and she asked me to make sure I welcomed him to the diocese. The very last thing she said to me was, "Jesus and Mary are there in the corner. I'm not afraid because I'm not alone". No one had any idea that would be the last time we would talk with her, but I have no doubt that they were there in the corner.
The next morning, she was gone. One chapter in my life and faith was over and another was just beginning.
On that day my diocese installed a new bishop. He was a kind franciscan bishop with a beard and a warm smile. He virtually unheard of, at least as far as we were concerned, but he changed our diocese and my life forever. The time I spent with Bishop Sean took the faith which had been instilled in by my grandmother and helped it to grow. He introduced me to people and gave me opportunities I never dreamed possible. It's strange how things work sometimes.
Vavo, thanks for your love and for sharing your faith with me. You gave me many gifts through the years, but faith was by far the greatest.
Avé Maria, cheia de graça, o Senhor é convosco. Bendita sois vós entre as mulheres; bendito é o fruto do vosso ventre, Jesus. Santa Maria, mãe de Deus, rogai por nós, pecadores, agora e na hora da nossa morte. Amen
Vavo, eu amo te.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Benedict Breaks the Sterotype
It doesn't get much sweeter than this. So much those who think Pope Benedict is cold. Shy, reserved? Yes. Cold, no way.
H/T to Fr. Z. who translated this from Italian.
H/T to Fr. Z. who translated this from Italian.
"Orgel-Ratz" and "Bücher-Ratz" (Organ-Ratz and Books-Ratz) amidst music, study and sweets
di Angela Ambrogetti
"Orgel-Ratz" and "Bücher-Ratz". That is what the fellow seminarians called the Ratzinger brothers. Georg was completely dedicated to music and Joseph was enamored of books. This is how the brothers are today, and when they spent a few days together the Bavarian kids of the past come back.
The news report about the Roman holidays of Monsignor Ratzinger seem to interest only the local German press. The newspaper of Regensburg reports, for example, about Pope Benedict’s birthday through the eyes of his brother. Joseph, to receive his big brother, who for years has had serious problems with his vision, put together a mountain of CD’s in his apartment, and in their free time read aloud to Georg the introduction of his Jesus of Nazareth and also every morning the breviary.
The birthday of Benedict XVI was celebrated with simiplicity and affection. Msgr. Gaenswein, the Pontiffs secretary, had in great secrecy rehearsed celebratory songs with the Memores Domini which look to the Pope’s well-being. The songs were sung after morning Mass. Then came birthday present time. Georg Ratzinger had already given his birthday trip: "I am stingy. My brother got only one present for Christmas, his name day, and this birthday together." There was the birthday breakfast: croissants with marmellade and an Italian "sacher". "Very good. We don’t have it on regular days." The day continued with the Pope’s official duties and, for Monsignor Georg, listening to music. After lunch was their appointment for a stroll, on the terrace of the Apostolic Palace. "A couple turns, about a quarter of an hour."
When the Pope’s brother can’t be in Rome in person, he sends some little gifts, like a dessert made by his housekeeper Agnes Heindl. Special delivery. This is what happened last April 12th, when it was entrusted to a pilgrimage lead by Monsignor Heinrich Wachter. The two tour busses were held up on the autostrada near Florence. So not to miss the Pope’s supper, Wacther took a taxi and, on his arrival at the Vatican, Benedict smiled and asked if he ought to reimburse his fare.
These are little glimpses of daily life which the newspaper of Regensburg dedicated to its illustrious former fellow citizen.
The Mittelbayerische Zeiutung is the daily which last year published a wonderful conversation with the Pope’s secretary and children from an elementary school, which has now become a book: Why does the Pope wear red shoes?
Defending the Faith
I want to applaud Megan Bailey Gerdes for the letter she wrote to the Kentucky Courier-Journal.
I want to thank you for continuing to print ignorant anti-Catholic letters in The Courier-Journal. It was letters and attitudes like these that set me on the road to conversion to the Catholic faith. Why? For starters, attacks on Catholicism come from many different directions, and are almost always contradictory. The contrasting descriptions of allegedly outrageous Catholic doctrines and practices forced me to seek the straight story in an obvious place: the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Bible and the writings of the early (pre-Nicaea) church fathers.
To my surprise and indignation, I found that just about everything I thought I "knew" about Catholicism was wrong, distorted or incomplete. I also noticed that the most incorrigible disseminators of false information about Catholicism are so-called "recovering Catholics." I'll leave it to the psychiatrists to explain that one.
Meanwhile, I'd like to encourage the more open-minded of your readers not to rely on Dan Brown, Loraine Boettner and the Associated Press for factual information on the Catholic Christian faith. Go to the original source.
MEGAN BAILEY GERDES
Robinson Risks Tax Status?
Remember when Bishop Tobin from Providence spoke out against Rudy Guiliani? Well, Bishop Gene Robinson, yes, the famous gay Episcopalian bishop, is endorsing Barack Obama.
From WMUR:
We all know about the separation of Church and State outrage over Bishop Tobin's comments. What will happen now? Will the tax exempt status of his diocese be challenged? I doubt it. Hmmm...double standard anyone?
From WMUR:
Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, announced Thursday that he is endorsing Barack Obama for president.
Robinson said that he chose Obama because of his faith and background in civil rights.
"Barack Obama sees beyond the partisanship and hopelessness that have dominated in recent years, and the movement he's building is bringing vital new energy and optimism into our democratic process," Robinson said.
We all know about the separation of Church and State outrage over Bishop Tobin's comments. What will happen now? Will the tax exempt status of his diocese be challenged? I doubt it. Hmmm...double standard anyone?
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Stem Cells and ANTS
I have been absent from the blogosphere for a few days and expect me to be missing for a few more. The end of the summer term is here and I am in the world of stem cells. My term paper is on the ethicacy of Altered Nuclear Transfer (ANT) as a method of obtaining pluripotent stem cells.
Confused yet? Me too.
I will post my paper here when it is finished.
Until then, keep me in your prayers as I discern the complicated moral and ethical dillemas involved in this issue. Not to mention the science.
Confused yet? Me too.
I will post my paper here when it is finished.
Until then, keep me in your prayers as I discern the complicated moral and ethical dillemas involved in this issue. Not to mention the science.
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