On Meeting the Cardinal

This past week Joshua and I were in Oakland, California for a Vocation Directors convention. It was a great time, many many laughs, lots of learning, and tons of fun. I am sure that it will take weeks for me to process all of the things I learned or did during our six days there. I will share one of them with you now though:

On Monday, Donald Cardinal Wuerl, from Washington DC was the Keynote Speaker (and just wait until I get some of the quotes from that down for you, your socks will be knocked off).  Joshua and I were standing near the booth for his company before the address was to start. Most of the priests and participants had made it down to the room where the address would be, so it was pretty empty in the lobby area. Joshua tapped my shoulder and said “Here’s your chance” and pointed behind me.

Turning around, I discovered Cardinal Wuerl standing behind me, waiting to say hello. As only I could do, I said “Cardinal” with surprise. I then recovered and knelt to kiss his ring. Then he addressed me by name. How did he know my name??? Does he read by blog?!! Well, no, I had a name tag on.

He was a very gracious man and very friendly, not at all bothered by my faux pas, but then again, I am sure that he gets all sorts of reactions when people meet him. I will leave you with a quote from his talk, a talk that had me in tears, because of its beauty.

 

There is only one interrupted Tradition stretching back all the way to the Apostles which gives assurance to our words.

Filed under: Catholic, Church Laws

Pope Benedict XVI on Peace

Equally unacceptable are conceptions of God that would encourage intolerance and recourse to violence against others. This is a point which must be clearly reaffirmed: war in God’s name is never acceptable! When a certain notion of God is at the origin of criminal acts, it is a sign that that notion has already become an ideology. – Pope Benedict XVI For the Celebration of the World Day of Peace 1 January 2007

Filed under: Catholic

Lift High the Cross!

 

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of Heaven in conquering ranks combine.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Happy Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross!

Filed under: Catholic

Happy Birthday, Mama Mary

When we lived in Indiana and attended St. Boniface, on Marian Feast Days we would have the chance to consecrate ourselves or re-consecrate ourselves to Our Lady, using the consecration from the Knights of the Immaculata.

O Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, Refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy
to you.

I, _____________________, a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly
to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you. If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world.”

Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many
strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you
enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 

After the consecration prayers, Father would lead us in a hymn to Our Lady.  During the summer of 2005, Father picked “Stainless the Maiden” as the hymn we would sing. I was pregnant with Karol at the time, and the hymn really struck me.  To this day, it remains one of my most favorite hymns.

 

Stainless the maiden whom he chose for mother; Nine months she waited, bearing Christ our brother; Think of her gladness when at last she saw him, God in a manger, Bethlehem a heaven!

Lantern in darkness, when the sick are sighing, Threshold of brightness comfort for the dying, High she is holding for a world adoring, Hope of the nations, Jesus Christ our brother.

Jesus has conquered; to his side he raised her; Queen of the angels, every saint has praised her. Yet, in her splendor, Mary goes on drawing Sinners and exiles to their promised glory.

Come sons and daughters, through the ages singing, Praising the Virgin, joys and sorrows bringing. Clothed with the sunshine, Sion’s fairest flower, Spouse of the Spirit, be to us a mother.

 

 

Filed under: Catholic

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. – Matthew 5:9

Jesus then said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Matthew 26:52

Filed under: Catholic

Candidates to Ponder

I’ve been told that we need to support Romney as candidate for president because he is more pro-life than Obama. What if there is another candidate who is truly pro-life? Why wouldn’t he be the better choice? If we are to be principled voters, shouldn’t we stand on those principles instead of putting them aside for  a candidate who probably won’t do much to advance the pro-life movement and pro-life laws around our country?

This came up on my Facebook wall this morning. It has been passed around and around and around, so I have no idea who to give credit to. However, all information is vetted, but don’t take my word for it, look up these candidates yourself.

 

Filed under: American Liberties, General Stuff

Of the Eucharist

St. Justin Martyr wrote, “This food we call the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ handed down to us. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ our Savior being incarnate by God’s Word took flesh and blood for our salvation, so also we have been taught that the food consecrated by the Word of prayer which comes from him, from which our flesh and blood are nourished by transformation, is the flesh and blood of that incarnate Jesus.”

Filed under: Catholic, General Stuff

Pro-Life Thoughts

Back during the primaries, I was told I am a bad Catholic because I supported a candidate who was not 100% pro-life (according to the accusers). Now, most of those accusers are telling me that under penalty of sin, I am obligated to vote for a candidate who supports abortion, because he is less bad than the current president, and has a chance to win, unlike say a third party candidate.

When did the Church start saying that I had to support evil? I have never heard any moral analysis that demands voting for a “lesser of two evils”, is there an authentic one out there?

 

 

 

 

Filed under: Catholic

From Phil Lawler: A friendly question for pro-life Romney enthusiasts

In politics as in the repair shop, the squeaky wheel gets oiled. If pro-lifers are satisfied with a throwaway line in a candidate’s speech, that’s all we’re ever likely to get. – From the article “A Friendly Question for Pro-Life Romney Enthusiasts” by Phil Lawler  

 

Another article worth reading from Phil Lawler.

“Recognize this is the decision that will be made by the Supreme Court,” he said. “The Democrats try and make this a political issue every four years, but this is a matter in the courts. It’s been settled for some time in the courts.” – (He is Mitt Romney)

Filed under: American Liberties, Catholic