On the Phenomenon of False Compassion

And so, this is Christmas

Our culture, commandeered as it has been by the vehement forces of consumerism and secularism, has robbed us of the true meaning of this great feast, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us.

Makes me sad.

Follow You, Follow Me

This is one of my all-time favorite songs. It evokes in me so many good, happy, Southern-California memories, each time I hear it. “Follow You Follow Me,” by Genesis is practically the soundtrack of my life in 1979-1980, as I fell in love with, wooed, and then married, my lovely Nancy.

Enjoy . . .

Oh Good Lord, No

One can just imagine the gloating among all those Catholics of a certain variety as our new Líder Maximo selects a Catholic — Tom Daschle, who countenances abortion with weasle words — for his cabinet Secretary of Health and Human Services. Now comes word from the Jesuit publication America — read into that what you will — that some voices on the Catholic left are clamoring for another kind of appointment. And I wouldn't be surprised if their wish comes to pass. 

In another display of smug condescencion from the far-left political fringe, someone named Michael Sean Winters elbows his way into the discussion with asseverations (emphasis added) such as these in his article “Kmiec for Vatican Ambassador”: 

“Obama deserves his own person at the post and, in the event, there is a perfect candidate: Professor Douglas Kmiec. . . .  Despite his Republican credentials, Kmiec endorsed Barack Obama this year and penned a thoughtful book, 'Can a Catholic Support Him? The question is ridiculous to most ears and, in the event, most Catholics did support him. But for some extremists on the right, there was a firm conviction that no Catholic could vote for Obama. A Dominican priest even denied Kmiec communion at a Mass in May. (The priest was later reprimanded by Cardinal Mahoney.) [N.B. see Ezekiel 34:1-10] Longtime associates of Professor Kmiec denounced him, often in ways that lacked all charity, suggesting bad logic or bad motives or both. There is no better way to answer those who argued that no Catholic could vote for Obama in good conscience than to see the man who wrote the book (literally!) defending the proposition that Catholics can and should vote for Obama being received in the Sala Clementina by Pope Benedict XVI! . . . In truth, Kmiec’s pro-life credentials, despite some carping from the far right political fringe, are impeccable. . .” et cetrera, et cetera, et cetera.

I sincerely hope that Mr. Winters and those who agree with him on this issue enjoy their day in the sun. I really don't think the nice weather is going to last all that long.  

A Psychological Analysis of Surprised by Truth

This is interesting. Although the book has been reviewed all over the place in the last 14 years, since it came out, this is the first review to consider it from a psychological perspective. Those of you who've read it may find this helpful.

“Surprised by Conversion: The Patterns of Faith”

By Peter E. Martin 

Yowza

I heard about this meteorite in Canada a few days ago, but I had no idea it was this spectacular.

Back From California

I'm back from a great, if brief, visit to my homeland, a.k.a Southern California. I was speaking at San Secondo D'Asti Parish in Ontario,  but I had enough time on Friday to make a swing through some of my old haunts and was able to have lunch and visit with my mom and dad. It was really good to see them, but my dad's health is precarious, which makes me sad. And he's kind of depressed about it, which makes him sad. So, please pray for them that God will strengthen and encourage them both during this time in their life together (more than 50 happy years of marriage) that's proving to be difficult health-wise, and not the peaceful “golden years” they had anticipated. God is good, and he will provide.

The seminar went well, and I was delighted to see several old friends in the audience. That's one of the excellent fringe benefits of traveling the country giving talks on Catholic themes. Having these kinds of opportunities to see far-flung friends is always a treat.

I had some odd and interesting experiences while flying to and fro, which I will recount for you in another post. For now, though, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who keep me in your prayers.  

Masters of Persuasion

This is a curious little experiment on how susceptible we are to subliminal suggestions in advertising. The concept of “hidden messages” in ads isn't new, but this video shows how it works from an angle I have not seen before.

Update: The embedded link doesn't seem to work anymore, so try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyQjr1YL0zg

 

Señor Quintero Asks a Rhetorical Question

“Are Cardinal Stafford and Cardinal Mahony in the same Church?” He is prompted to ask after hearing Cardinal Stafford's recent eyebrow-raising remarks (with which I totally concur) that our newly elected Líder Maximo is “aggressive, disruptive, and apocalyptic” in his implacable extremism in promoting abortion.

Watch the video and then check Quintero's blog to see how he juxtaposes Cardinal Stafford's message with Cardinal Mahony's quite different message to our new Jéfe. I'd say there's quite a difference, indeed. What do you think?

“Loyal, Lame, Defiant, and Demonic”

That's how Fr. Dwight Longenecker classifies the 5500+ e-mails that Fr. Jay Scott Newman, (pastor of St. Mary's Church in Greenville, SC) received in the wake of his courageous statement regarding those Catholics who supported pro-abortion politicians in the election and their need to repent and go to confession.

Fr. Longenecker, an assistant priest at St. Mary's, chronicles the aftermath of that statement, including the “loyal, lame, defiant, and demonic” comments that it drew. 

On Married Couples Who Refuse to Have Children

I feel very sorry for men and women who refuse to be open life, which is a refusal to be open to God's will for their marriage. His will for them may well include the blessings of children. When these childless-by-choice Christians die and face Christ their Judge (just as we all one day will face Him), their matching Harley-Davidson bikes and gourmet kitchens won't pray for them or play any positive role in their judgment.

The following article is worth reading and forwarding to your friends, Catholic and Protestant. And for a good antidote to the contraceptive "childless by choice" insanity so rampant among many married couples, check out Dr. Janet Smith's "Contraception: Why Not?" presentation, available for cheap at One More Soul. 

Touchstone Magazine ran an eye-opening piece about this issue awhile back: 

Joe and Deb Schum aren’t worried about baby-proofing their house or buying a car seat. They don’t intend ever to have children. As a matter of fact, they are proud of their childlessness. According to a report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “The Schums are part of a growing number of couples across the country for whom kids don’t factor in the marriage equation.”

The nation’s birthrate fell in 2002 to a historic low of 66.9 births per 1,000 women age 15 to 44. That represents a decline of 43 percent since just 1960. “Many childless couples,” according to the report, “revel in their decision, despite badgering from baffled mothers and friends. Others struggle with the choice before keeping the house kid-free.”

An Epidemic

The Schums just don’t want kids to get in the way of their lifestyle. They enjoy cruising to the Georgia mountains on their matching Harley-Davidson motorcycles. They love their gourmet kitchen, outfitted with the very latest stainless steel appliances and fashionable countertops. Deb Schum explains, “If we had kids, we would need a table where the kids could do homework.”

This pattern of childlessness has caught the media’s attention. The left-wing Internet site Salon.com actually published a series of articles entitled, “To Breed or Not to Breed,” featuring couples and individuals who have decided that children are not a part of their chosen lifestyle.

One woman wrote that motherhood just doesn’t fit her self-image or her schedule. “I compete in triathlons; my husband practices martial arts; we both have fulfilling careers; we travel the world . . . we enjoy family and friends; we have a fun, intimate relationship.” Another woman asked: “What would the return be on the investment? Are there any laws that would require my children to pay for my nursing home when I am old? Are they going to be a sufficient hedge against poverty and loneliness?”

Some who have chosen to be childless have actually formed organizations in order to band together. The group “No Kidding” was formed in Atlanta four years ago as a social outlet for couples choosing to have no children. . . . (article)

This Is Exactly Why the Envoy Institute Was Established

Since some of you have children in college or you have high-schoolers who will soon be headed to college (or both), I thought it would be helpful to post a link to this article, which came out a couple of years ago but is still just as important as ever for parents to read and think carefully about.

Second Major Study Shows Modern Catholic Universities Harm Students’ Faith Life.

It would be a true spiritual work of mercy for you to share this article with any Catholic parents you know who are or will be sending their own kids to college. I'd suggest e-mailing th link or printing out the article and sharing it.

The problems this report identifies are precisely why the Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey, which I am privileged to oversee, was set up, under the auspices of a very good Catholic school: Belmont Abbey College. You can read more here and here about the Institute's mission to help high-school and college-age Catholics remain strong in their Faith and do their part to lead their peers out of the darkness of relativism and hedonism and into the light of Truth. 

More Heat Than Light From the East

Here's a classic radio bit from an “Open Line” radio broadcast that Marcus Grodi and I co-hosted a few years ago, as he handed off the hosting duties to me. 

The call from "Steve," an Orthodox fellow with harsh comments about the Catholic Church, provided some fireworks. This may be the first time you've ever heard Marcus get his dander up. The particular call starts at 20:00 minutes into the show.

By the way, for those of you who follow this bog (and I thank you for that), if this kind of thing is interesting and useful to you, please let me know in the comments section, and I'll post more — remember, just click the post title to show all comments.

You can't draw pure water from a poisoned well.

Father Philip Neri Powell, O.P., posted a brief but deft parable at Domine, da mihi hanc aquam. His fellow priests may find it quite useful as fodder for sermons. (Hint, hint, nudge, nudge.)

A Refresher on the Sacrament of Refreshment

Like some of you, I grew up learning the basics of my Catholic Faith from the Baltimore Catechism, and I really do thank God and my parents for it.

While it's widely considered outré these days to promote rote memorization in religion (a.k.a. CCD) classes for kids, I think it's a bad idea to discourage pedagogy that involves at least some memorization component. In fact, personally, I'd say the more memorization the better. The more effort that's put into learning the truths of the Catholic Faith by heart the more likely the child will be to remain firmly anchored to the Church as he grows up and navigates through the often spiritually treacherous waters of this world.

Similar to memorizing the times tables in the 2nd or 3rd grade, there is a lot to be said for how we used to memorize the answers to the questions posed in the Catechism, back in the olden days.

Just as I could never forget that 3 x 5 = 15 and (like most people who were taught arithmetic in the 1960s) can mentally calculate multiplication equations instantly and with hardly a thought, I am fortunate to have been taught the Faith in a way that enables me to call up instantly from memory certain theological truths, as well as facts, like the ten commandments, books of the New Testament, etc. That's how permanently engraved in the mind religious knowledge can be when it's duly memorized and often recalled from memory. And the beauty part about it is that practically anyone can do it. It just takes some effort and determination.

In any case, all of that is simply an editorial gloss on the section of the Baltimore Catechism on the meaning, purpose, and effects of Christ's Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. 

We can all do with a refresher, now and then, on such an august subject, don't you think?

Q. 895. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?

A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist:

1. To unite us to Himself and to nourish our soul with His divine life.
2. To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul.
3. To lessen our evil inclinations.
4. To be a pledge of everlasting life.
5. To fit our bodies for a glorious resurrection.
6. To continue the sacrifice of the Cross in His Church.

Q. 896. Has the Holy Eucharist any other effect?

A. The Holy Eucharist remits venial sins by disposing us to perform acts of love and contrition. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation.

Q. 897. How are we united to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist?

A. We are united to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist by means of Holy Communion.

Q. 898. What is Holy Communion?

A. Holy Communion is the receiving of the body and blood of Christ.

Q. 899. Is it not beneath the dignity of Our Lord to enter our bodies under the appearance of ordinary food?

A. It is not beneath the dignity of Our Lord to enter our bodies under the appearance of ordinary food any more than it was beneath His dignity to enter the body of His Blessed Mother and remain there as an ordinary child for nine months. Christ's dignity, being infinite, can never be diminished by any act on His own or on our part.

(continue reading . . . )