In Memoriam

On this day of beatification of Blessed Pope John II, let us also remember his predecessors who allowed him to (in the human order of things) become Pope in the first place. Let us remember Blessed Pope John XXIII of happy memory who raised him to the episcopate, Pope Paul VI of happy memory who outlined many of the themes of Vatican II, and Pope John Paul I of happy memory whose extremely brief term set up the election of Blessed Pope John Paul II of happy memory. Let us thank God for all of these men, all of whom have their honorable place in history of the Roman Catholic Church and the legacy of Blessed Pope John Paul.

A little bit of nothing

It has been a long time since I've created a blog entry. I thought I would start by creating an entry using Dragonspeak. I am dictating this entry. I thought I would write something to fill the Void. See you soon.

You've Been Warned...

Come check out the new look....

and my new patron for 2011, St. Bernardino of Siena. You can get one, too at Angela Messenger's Blog

What I & My Pals Are Doing...

I know I haven't been posting much, but with moving, the weather here in SoCal, and life in general, I haven't been up to writing. So, this is what me and my pals have been up to...

An Embarrassment to My Friends?

These 40 Days of Lent

I've been seeing a lot of posts about Lent, especially since today's Ash Wednesday. It used to be a bigger deal when I was younger, but maybe that was because I was with my family or at a Catholic college (INO) or lastly in a very active Dominican parish. Now it seems to be a speed bump on my daily calendar. Being in a Catholic culture is very important to a faith life. I think its the advantage we have over the strictly me-thou relationships touted by our more radical separated brethren. it is also why the Church emphasizes in the Readings for Ash Wednesday (Find them here). The readings are placed in the community, not to the individual on his own. Why? Because the individual can't maintain the pace on his own, he needs to support of others (much like the cheering crowds lining a marathon boosting the runner to the finish line).

Consider the 3 practices the Church emphasizes during Lent.

Fasting is by far the one the gets the greatest emphasis ("I'm giving up such and such for Lent" is a form of fasting in my book). (Side thought: If you're giving up something what's replacing it? "Nature abhors a vacuum" --> Back to your regularly scheduled discourse...).
Almsgiving and Prayer are also part of this Lenten season. To what are you giving? Are you limiting yourself to giving money? Are you accepting the help being offered to you? (There are 2 sides to an act of charity, and to receive graciously is just as much an act of charity as giving). Are you giving effectively? (You can bury someone in charity and do additional harm, but to give what is truly needed, even if a small amount, works miracles!).
What is the nature of your prayer? Are you bombarding God with Rosaries and devotions, or are you saying them contentiously and intently (I HATE going to funeral Rosaries where the prayers are spouted off like machine gun bullets without the time or ability to think about either the person we're remembering or the Mystery we're supposed to be contemplating). I call on you to pray BETTER rather than MORE this Lent, as God (already) know we need every bit of help we can get. Also pray in thanksgiving for the gifts He already gives us. Think of how often you give a gift and it remains unacknowledged or unappreciated (like a gift of underwear at Christmas). Or when was the last time God was asked "What do You want for Lent?" (Yeah, I know God doesn't need anything, but He likes to get asked...)

Anyway, that's just a few ideas I've been kicking around in my head. Please remember those who are joining the Church this Easter. (I've always loved doing the RCIA, and know that they're really just now are realizing just what they're getting themselves into.). Have a blessed Lent, and God Bless You.

Created by Oatmeal

It's Another Manic Monday (Wish It Were Sunday...)

For Those Snowed-In This AM...

I've Decided to be Grinchy...

I've sent my last greeting card. Period.

I sent my niece a birthday card for her birthday mid-December. I've sent my brothers, nieces, and nephews birthday cards, and until a few years ago I sent Christmas cards. I also used to send the nieces and nephews Christmas and birthday folding money until I ran into a streak of unemployment about six years ago. I used to get acknowledgment of said gifts and cards from some the nieces and nephews, but in the last 20 years (or so) nothing from the brothers.

This acknowledgment no longer happens.

I received one card for my last birthday, a postcard from my insurance company (the kind where everyone signs a stack of them January 1st for the entire year). I received a couple of Facebook well wishes (thanks to those who sent one), a couple of forwarded messages from an online calender reminder system (hit the REPLY button on the email toolbar, add a comment, and be done in 20 seconds), and a phone call the following weekend from some friends in San Francisco who were driving to Reno for a holiday dinner with family.

Nothing for Christmas.

So I've quit. I'm tired of the cards going one way . I have no idea if the cards have reached their destination unless I make a point of asking the addressee directly. I don't know if the cards will be missed at all.

But I'm tired of it all. I made an effort. Now I've given up. To the greeting card industry I offer my humble apologies.

A Song for an ACLU Christmas Party

Now that's an oxymoron, an ACLU Christmas

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
A Colbert Christmas: Toby Keith Sings
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

The 5th I'll Take is Bourbon...

Visiting a Blog Near You...

Unfortunately he hasn't shown up on my list of visitors:
Benedict XVI surfs the web and uses email

Congress Has Released A New Version of the Healthcare Bill!!!

Review Immediately!!!

2010's Guest Patron Saint

Angela's doing it again. She's up to her yearly antics and is offering, free of charge, to match you up with a "temporary" patron saint for liturgical year 2010. Last year, Philip Neri filled that role for me and received a few dings in his halo for doing so. He has a new charge as of All Saints' Day, so

Fidelis de Sigmaringen

will take me over from Philip for 2010. Here's Filly's bio

3 class acts in this story- Gaines, Mullins, and Ole Miss

Twenty Years Ago, One Hit Changed Two Lives Forever

Uz Bean Warnd...

moar funny pictures

Now Father Has No Excuse (if he understands Eyetalian)

Manual for proper celebration of the Mass officially presented to the Pope

..it is soon (probably in a year knowing the rate Vatican translators work) to be in Anglish

Students go speechless for Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity

Students go speechless for Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity

Rome - 1 Henry VIII - 0

Pope Benedict XVI has approved a structure for admitting large groups of Anglicans wishing to come into communion with the Catholic Church

One Way to Get On the News...

Die!!!!

It's A World of TMI...

This Just Cracked Me Up...

see more dog and puppy pictures

My Dog Asked Me to Post This...

moar funny pictures

Why he needed a spotting scope beats me

It's About Time...

Details Here

For All Those (Like Me) Having Lab Work Done...

I Have a Headche...

Do I qualify for this treatment?

Public Service Announcement...

After a spate of cute kid pictures and Cathy_of_Alex's posting of cute kitties, I've had ENOUGH and issue

THIS DECREE

Being a Bratty Brother...

Rumor has it that today is Gemmy's Birthday so here's your opportunity to go and rub her nose in it! (Karen, you can thank me in small unmarked bills, lots & lots of them).

A Snooty Observation on O-No's Speech...

I don't like to write about politics (as my POV is sure to raise ruckus on both sides of the aisle) but I'm PO'd with the TV News. I was watching the coverage of O-No's speech to Congress yesterday, and the networks made it look like Congress was a bunch of Jack-in-the-boxes (especially the odd couple - Pelosi & Biden, the couple from CINO), but they made the mistake of showing a view from the Speaker's rostrum which showed that the only people jumping to their feet during one of these "butt-lifting" occasions were the Cabinet members sitting in the front row; most of Congress, Asses & Trunks alike, were sitting in their seats with arms crossed. How about reporting FACTUAL, REAL, ACCURATE, NEWS folks? I'd like to know what my representatives actual actions are, so I know whether to give him/her a severance package next election

The Next Time You Need Tech Support...

For the Next Time Your Youngster...

gets into "Mommy,Mommy,Mommy"
or
"Daddy,Daddy,Daddy"
mode...

Thanks to my niece Jen for calling this to my attention

I Wish My Diet Worked Like This...