"The Monastery": Episode 2

So, last night at 9 PM Central Time, I sat down and watched episode 2 of "The Monastery" on TLC. I was disappointed. Over the summer I spent a few days in retreat with Benedictine monks, and found it such a spiritual oasis. "The Monastery" doesn't portray the true serenity of a monastery. Plus, it would have been much better if the reality-TV quality was greatly reduced. It would definitely have made a good 1-2 hour documentary instead of a reality TV series drawn out over the course of several weeks.

I was also ashamed at the conduct of some of the men when they actually stole liquor from the monks. Plus Jon's "lapsed-Catholic Syndrome" is annoying honestly. He grew up in the Faith and just because he's seen disaster as a pandemic and the like, he feels that God doesn't exist. Preposterous! All of the disasters in the world result from our sins. God is good. And Jon said the Psalms portray God as vengeful. Again, preposterous! Some of the psalms talk about God's rightful judgments, but many of them talk about God's wonder and beauty. Look to the very often cited Psalm 23: "The Lord is my Shepherd". In the words of St. John: "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

It's not a very good program.

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Saints Behaving Badly Book Review

I have just finished reading Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men, and Devil-Worshippers Who Became Saints by Thomas J. Craughwell. The book was sent to me a few weeks before its release as a galley in order for me to review for Double Day Publishing. I have been extraordinarily busy these past few months, so I have finally just finished the book.

When I did have a chance to read the book, it went very quickly. I overall enjoyed the book. Each chapter was on a different saint, and the book went into great detail on the saint's sinful life before his/her conversion. It illustrates true accounts of the power of conversion over the centuries. The only thing I would have liked to see better in the book was a basic definition of a saint. A saint is someone that is now in Heaven, and I would have liked that to be more clearly stated.

So, if you'd like to learn more about the sinful lives of saints like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Patrick, Venerable Matt Talbot, St. Olga, St. Christopher, and many others before their conversions, this is your book! I have to admit that it was a good read and overall a very good book.

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Election Day Novena

Today is the beginning of the Election Day Novena, which lasts until November 6th. Please join me in praying this.

Our Father. . .
Hail Mary. . .
Glory be. . .

Lord, into your hands do we commend our country during this time of election. Be with those who vote, be with those who work the polling stations, be with those who count the votes, certify the elections, and all who are involved with the process. Lord, we pray that in our choosing, we may reflect your choice and that our country be in your hands, now and forever, Amen.

O Most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, intercede with him for us that we be granted the favor which we petition for so earnestly in this novena…O Mother of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Mother of God, in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception, hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions.

- that the hand our Our Father guide our country during this upcoming election,

- that those who would disrupt and disturb the heritage of freedom and truth be restrained,

- that the hand of God guide, direct and determine our leaders this election cycle and always.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

St. Thomas More, adorer of Christ’s Passion, who put prayer before all else, devoted husband and father, defender of the Church, perfect model of friendship, impervious to all bribery, committed to the common good, who reverenced civil and Divine law, civil judge of unimpeachable integrity patron of those who hold public office, pray for us now at this critical time of election, where so much is at stake, where the lives of the unborn and those most vulnerable hang in the balance, where the lives of the downtrodden and defenseless against the terrorist are most at risk. Pray for us, St. Thomas More, martyr for the truth, that with this election, we may draw ever closer to the way God would have our country governed.

Little Souls, children unborn, holy innocents, ripped from your mothers’ wombs and now in the hand of our loving Lord, pray for us now, that the election may go to the one most likely to help stem the holocaust of souls of the most vulnerable, the one most likely to be the champion of life and set our nation on the right track.

Amen.

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Transalpine Redemptorists Video

I found this wonderful 17-minute video posted on Fifty Sophomoric Summers. It is about the Transapline Redemptorists in Scotland.

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Nicaragua Votes to Ban All Abortions

I am very pleased to write that Nicaragua has just voted to make abortions illegal in all instances. While instances of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is threatened are horrible, the child NEVER deserves to die. The child deserves a chance at life!

From LifeNews:

The national legislature in Nicaragua approved a measure today [October 26, 2006] that would prohibit abortions in all circumstances. It would make the country's abortion law stronger than other pro-life nations in South America and put it on par with 34 nations that make abortions always illegal. Unlike pro-life laws in the United States, the measure puts in place prison sentences for women, who are normally considered a second victim in an abortion. The bill mandates sentences of six to 30 years in prison for women who undergo an abortion and for anyone who does an abortion. Fifty-nine lamakers voted for the new abortion ban, nine abstained from voting and another 29 legislators did not attend the vote. The legislation now heads to President Enrique Bolanos for his signature. He initially requested the bill and is expected to sign it soon. Current law in Nicaragua prohibits most abortions but allows them in cases of rape or incest and when the mother's life is directly at risk from the pregnancy...

Prayer to end abortion:

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, And never to stop defending life Until all my brothers and sisters are protected, And our nation once again becomes A nation with liberty and justice Not just for some, but for all, Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Prayer Source: Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life

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Words of Inspiration: October 29, 2006

I wonder if protestants like Martin Luther heard of this quotation?

“If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.” (St. Augustine)

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Sts. Jude and Simon

Feast (1969 Calendar): October 28
Double of the II Class (1955 Calendar): October 28

Today is the Feastday of Sts. Simon and Jude Thaddaeus, Apostles, who both preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia. St. Jude is the author of a short Epistle in the New Testament.

St. Jude Thaddaeus was the son of Cleophas and the woman named Mary who stood with the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross as Our Lord was redeeming the world. St. Jude is the brother of St. James the Lesser. St. Jude is reported to also be a relative to Jesus. He was a preacher in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia with St. Simon the Apostle. He also is remembered as a Healer and Exorcist, who could exorcise pagan idols, causing the demons to flee and the statues to crumble.

Like all of the other 11 faithful Apostles except St. John the Evangelist, St. Jude was martyred. He was beaten with a club and beheaded. His relics are in the Vatican. However there is kept a relic of the arm of St. Jude in Chicago, Illinois.

For more on the lives of all the Apostles, pick up a copy of "The Twelve: Lives and Legends of the Apostles" on paperback or as part of the online course on the Apostles, which includes a Certificate of Completion.

Patronage: desperate situations; forgotten causes; hospital workers; hospitals; impossible causes; lost causes, diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida

St. Simon called Simon the Cananaean or Simon the Zealot was also an apostle of Jesus Christ. Not much is known about him outside of the account in the New Testament. He did evangelize with St. Jude in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and several places claim to have been the site of his martyrdom.

Patronage: curriers; sawmen; sawyers; tanners

Prayer:

O God, Who, through Thy blessed Apostles Simon and Jude, hast brought us to the knowledge of Thy name, grant that we may celebrate their everlasting glory by advancing in good works, and that we may advance in good works by celebrating their glory. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Updates on my life

I really enjoy blogging about the Catholic Church, but at times I feel it is necessary to post something more about myself to make this blog more personal. So, I wanted to update my readers. So far my application to enter the seminary is going extremely well. In just a few weeks I will be going on a vacation and visiting another seminary in a different state. I will certainly be posting on this when I return. I would appreciate your prayers.

But, most importantly, I ask for all of your prayers for a family member of mine. In the past I have turned to my blog readers for prayers, and I was astonished each time by the great amount of support. And, my prayers have always been answered when I posted them on this website. I thank you so much for offering up your prayers for my own intentions. If you ever need prayers, please feel free to ask me.

Right now, though, I ask you to pray for a family member of mine. This person will be going to a simple surgery next month and will undergo some examinations. Please pray that my family member doesn't have any serious conditions like cancer. Please pray the the Lord heals and blesses this person.

I thank you so very much for your prayers!

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A Prayer for November

This wonderful prayer was emailed to me by a faithful reader of this blog. Remember, November is dedicated to the Holy Souls, and please realize there are many indulgences available in November:

A PRAYER FOR NOVEMBER

Grant, O Lord, that my own heart may be
touched, as yours is, at the passing of
all souls into eternal life.

In great confidence, I pray for all my
friends and loved ones who are no
longer here on this journey of faith.

When I am sad at the death of those
who were close to me, may my sadness
be firmly supported by my faith that life
is merely changed not ended, that those
I love are still with me though unseen.

May You, Lord Jesus Christ, welcome
me and all those for whom I pray, into
eternal life at the moment pleasing
to You.

Saint Therese, intercede for me.

Saint Therese, strengthen my faith.

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Light a Virtual Candle

I highly suggest visiting Gratefulness.org and lighting a virtual prayer candle. As a webmaster, I can create my custom entrance page so that all of my readers will be able to see the same message. So, please visit the website by clicking on the image above.

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