Catholic Writings: First 500 years

This is for a project that I am doing for Phatmass. Link

Fulton Sheen's Wartime Prayer Book

Here is a really great prayer book for our soldiers in Iraq. Bishop Fulton Sheen compiled it. Here is one prayer that is in the prayer book.

PRAYER IN TIME OF WAR

O God, who bring wars to nought and shield by Thy power all who hope in Thee, over-throwing those who assail them; help Thy servants who implore Thy mercy so that the fierce might of their enemy may be brought low and we may never cease to praise and thank Thee.

O God, who hast dominion over all realms and all kings, who by striking heals, and by pardoning saves: stretch out over us Thy mercy, so that by Thy power we may enjoy peace and tranquility and use them for our healing and amendment.

Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Link-Extracts of the Book
Link- To Send Prayer Books to our Soldiers!

Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero

The following link has some art by John Collier. His work was selected to be displayed at the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero. Link

My other two Girls

I figured that I should put my other two girls on here. 

It's A Girl

We found out that we are having another girl. Here is her first picture. As you can tell by the arrow she is probably going to have my butt chin. If you want to compare it to my chin see my picture posted on September 15. I am excited but please pray for me. I am going to need it raising 3 girls.

Pope Benedict in his Camauro

Pope Benedict XVI, sporting a fur-trimmed hat in the rich red color of a Santa hat , waves to pilgrims upon his arrival in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005 for his weekly general audience. The red hat with white fur trimming is known in Italian as the 'camauro.' It was popular among pontiffs in the 17th century. More recently, it was used by Pope John XXIII, who was also buried with it in 1963. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) LINK

Phatmass Radio!!!

It’s here just in time for Christmas, PHATMASS RADIO. Go check out some Catholic Hip Hop. Just go to this link and click on the picture on the right that looks like this…



And while your at it check out the phorum and tell them that the Cure of Ars sent ya.

Christ’s Mass (A.K.A. Christmas)

Say with the Royal Prophets, “I opened my mouth and panted.” And your Savior will respond, “Surely I come quickly; you shall see me very soon.” Your eyes at the midnight Mass will gaze upon the elevated Host and your lips will utter, “My Lord and my God.” A few minutes more and the little Infant will have come to you. His Immaculate Mother did not hold him more truly in her arms that first Christmas midnight than you will have him, heart to heart. Then all the love of that Infant Redeemer will be poured out upon you. It’s a thirst of the heart of every creature that desires to be loved, and the love which can alone satisfy that craving is the Divine Love. Let your hearts delight in the love your God has for you, personally, individually.

by Saint Katherine Drexel

When Choice is Demotivating

Abstract

Current psychological theory and research affirm the positive affective and motivational consequences of having personal choice. These findings have led to the popular notion that more choice is better, that the human ability to desire and manage choice is unlimited. Findings from three studies starkly challenge the implicit assumption that having more choice is necessarily more intrinsically motivating than having fewer options. These three experiments which were conducted in field and laboratory settings show that people are more likely to purchase exotic jams or gourmet chocolates, and undertake optional class essay assignments, when offered a limited array of 6 choices rather than an extensive array of 24 or 30 choices. Moreover, participants actually reported greater subsequent satisfaction with their selections and wrote better essays when their original set of options had been restricted rather than expanded. Implications for future research are discussed.

http://www.columbia.edu/~ss957/whenchoiceabstract.htm

When we consider the pros and cons of a large array of choices, all the choices become less desirable. This is counterintuitive in a way but nonetheless true. Maybe this is one of the reasons why Jesus only built one Church. This study also lends weight to Ronald Knox when he said, “the study of comparative religions is the best way to become comparatively religious.”

Statue of St. Peter

by Arnolfo di Cambio, c.1300
St. Peters Basilica

"On this ancient bronze statue, St. Peter has his right toes worn down by centuries of pilgrims who traditionally touch the foot."

A close up of the worn down toe. Click on the photo to see a large picture of it.

It is crazy to think how many people would have to rub this toe to make it wear down to this extent. Especially when you compare it to the left foot. It took hundreds of years. To take a virtual tour of St. Peter's Basilica see the following link;

St. Peter's Basilica.org

The Cathedral

"... The reds, yellows, and blues of Madeleine shine like dawn through the ribs of the Cathedral, everything here is either in shadow or painted with viscous colors. I'll sit, I'll quiet my heart. I thought that it would be mainly fear, an animal terror, but I feel only regret now, a great, motionless, heavy regret, the squeezing weight of dark water. No thoughts, no instructions for the body, even my eyes are dry. There is only a little tightening in my chest. But why speak, silence is better ..."

Polish Film Festival

Tomek Bagiñski on "The Cathedral"

Short, poetic film

X-Mass???

From EWTN;

How and when did the use of X-Mas in the place of Christmas get started?

Generally, the term X-mas has negative connotations today owing to its rather frequent use as a kind of secular euphemism for Christmas. The historical origins of the word, however, are found in the Greek for Christ (Kristos, Xristos). Early printers in the West adopted the X as an abbreviation for Christ to save a little money on the typesetting. The usage found wider acceptance and Xmas has been used by earnest Christians ever since.

While this origin of the term points to intentions that were entirely respectful, many of the current uses are far from rooted in good intentions.

COPYRIGHT 2005

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The Legend of the Candy Cane

I figure that since it is getting close to Christmas that I should have some posts for the season. The following is a quote;

According to legend there was a candy maker who wanted to invent a candy that was a witness to Christ. First of all, he used a hard candy because Christ is the rock of ages. This hard candy was shaped so that it would resemble a "J" for Jesus or, turned upside down, a shepherd's staff. He made it white to represent the purity of Christ. Finally a red stripe was added to represent the blood Christ shed for the sins of the world, and three thinner red stripes for the stripes He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him. Sometimes a green stripe is added as a reminder that Jesus is a gift from God. The flavor of the cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice. Jesus is the pure Lamb of God, come to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world. So, every time you see a candy cane, remember the message of the candy maker: Jesus is the Christ!

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Hubert, Patron Saint of Hunters

From The Catholic Encyclopedia;

On Good Friday morn, when the faithful were crowding the churches, Hubert sallied forth to the chase. As he was pursuing a magnificent stag, the animal turned and, as the pious legend narrates, he was astounded at perceiving a crucifix between its antlers, while he heard a voice saying: "Hubert, unless thou turnest to the Lord, and leadest an holy life, thou shalt quickly go down into hell". Hubert dismounted, prostrated himself and said, "Lord, what wouldst Thou have me do?" He received the answer, "Go and seek Lambert, and he will instruct you."

Accordingly, he set out immediately for Maastricht, of which place St. Lambert was then bishop. The latter received Hubert kindly, and became his spiritual director. Hubert, losing his wife shortly after this, renounced all his honors and his military rank, and gave up his birthright to the Duchy of Aquitaine to his younger brother Eudon, whom he made guardian of his infant son, Floribert. Having distributed all his personal wealth among the poor, he entered upon his studies for the priesthood, was soon ordained, and shortly afterwards became one of St. Lambert's chief associates in the administration of his diocese.

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Walk the Walk…

I thought that this was a creative idea.

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