JMJ. Forty-two years ago I was serving in our Navy, which like the rest of the country was embroiled in a little fracas in southeast Asia. The name of my ship was the USS Sanctuary, a hospital ship ported in Da Nang. We'd sail out every three days or so and steam up and down the coast, waiting to bring helos aboard with wounded soldiers and Marines. For the wounded, bleeding, and dying she was a safe haven, a true sanctuary from the horrors of combat.
We still need sanctuary. There is a war a-waging around us more frightful that that of Iraq or Afghanistan, Viet Nam, or Korea. It is a war of good vs. evil and it's being fought by men and women who look just like you and me both in the cities and countryside and on an invisible plane where the cheer-leaders are angels and demons.
But in war, unlike children's games, there are precious few places of safety, few places to rest away from the conflict unseen around us. Except Church, of course. Within the tabernacle of a Catholic Church or chapel the Prince of Peace waits patiently to refresh our lagging bodies and spirits. In a smaller way, Tilma, too, is a place of sactuary. For a short time one can leave behind the cares of life and the toil of battling the ungodly. For a short time the cares of battle are held at bay.
(Added 12.29.11 at a friend's request) During the Viet Nam war each serviceman was allowed a round-trip flight to the destination of our church (from a short list of choices.) The idea was to allow one a respite from the daily stress of life in a warzone. Like all good ideas it worked better for some than for others. Tilma is like that R&R. It's a short relief from the daily battle against the culture of death. One can clear away the mental cobwebs, sweep the decks, and return to the battle with renewed vigour. For us, the war is on-going.
And that's ok. For each of us the war's end will come soon enough and we will lay down our arms at the feet of the Divine Peacemaker forever. Amen.
Friday, December 16, 2011
"Lot's Wife"
JMJ. I've been meaning to write this entry for some time and I find that I can't put off my procrastination any longer. One of my favourite activities is mulling over the mystery of the mercy of God. Mankind's entire history is one long example of His mercy to us, starting with the disobedience of Adam and Eve and ending with the continual misdeeds of yours truly. We just can't stop messing up. Bigtime.
Ok, I admit that I'm human. [Gasp!] I sin, confess, and am forgiven. I sin, I confess, I'm absolved. An un-ending litany of mea culpas. I don't mean to keep messing up. In fact, I'd far rather not. I guess I'm just naturally paranoid which is why I keep thinking about the subject. After all, Peter asked Jesus in the Bible how many times we are to forgive and He answers seventy times seven. Shoot, Lot's wife looked back wistfully once and ended up as a pillar of salt!
I firmly believe that to show our love of God we need to obey Him to the best of our abilities. I truly do. But my life before Jesus was fun in a very decadent way. And it felt good. That's how Satan tricks us into putting our souls in jeopardy--he makes sin so darned attractive. Now on the one hand I so want to show my love for Christ and on the other I can't help but look back over my shoulder at what I've left behind. I made the right decision twelve years ago and there are no regrets--just memories of what I was before.
That, and a tremendous gratitude to God that He is as merciful as He is or I'd have been a pillar of salt a long, long time ago.
Ok, I admit that I'm human. [Gasp!] I sin, confess, and am forgiven. I sin, I confess, I'm absolved. An un-ending litany of mea culpas. I don't mean to keep messing up. In fact, I'd far rather not. I guess I'm just naturally paranoid which is why I keep thinking about the subject. After all, Peter asked Jesus in the Bible how many times we are to forgive and He answers seventy times seven. Shoot, Lot's wife looked back wistfully once and ended up as a pillar of salt!
I firmly believe that to show our love of God we need to obey Him to the best of our abilities. I truly do. But my life before Jesus was fun in a very decadent way. And it felt good. That's how Satan tricks us into putting our souls in jeopardy--he makes sin so darned attractive. Now on the one hand I so want to show my love for Christ and on the other I can't help but look back over my shoulder at what I've left behind. I made the right decision twelve years ago and there are no regrets--just memories of what I was before.
That, and a tremendous gratitude to God that He is as merciful as He is or I'd have been a pillar of salt a long, long time ago.
Monday, November 28, 2011
"Mea Culpa"
JMJ. Well, Advent has begun, and with it the new Roman Missal is now in use. And, as is usually par for the course, it's got the folks in the pews up in arms. (Those who don't normally come to Mass are totally clueless. They'll come to church for Christmas and when they haven't the faintest idea why everyone else is saying something entirely different they'll blame the Pastor for not telling them ahead of time. Go figure.)
Why the change? Well, it all goes back to Vatican II. It was Rome's intent to make the Mass more understandable to the people and in this she succeeded. In her haste to effect these changes, though, the translations from the Latin to the vernacular, specifically English, were less than precise shall we say. Not wrong, mind you, just imprecise. Finally, after forty-some odd years, the Church decided that this looseness had to be snugged up.
Now you might ask what the big deal is anyway. The big deal is that imprecision can lead to misunderstandings in doctrine. And that IS a big deal. Looseness in a recipe results in less than satisfactory food; laxness in doctrine might be enough to send someone down a wrong theological path. When salvation is on the line I'll re-learn some new words. For all the whining and complaining we will look back on these changes, scratch our collective heads, and wonder what the hu-hu was all about.
[To my one faithful reader--that I'm aware of anyway-- I say mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa for the huge hiatus between postings. Chalk it up to laziness, dear lady. I promise to try to do better.]
Why the change? Well, it all goes back to Vatican II. It was Rome's intent to make the Mass more understandable to the people and in this she succeeded. In her haste to effect these changes, though, the translations from the Latin to the vernacular, specifically English, were less than precise shall we say. Not wrong, mind you, just imprecise. Finally, after forty-some odd years, the Church decided that this looseness had to be snugged up.
Now you might ask what the big deal is anyway. The big deal is that imprecision can lead to misunderstandings in doctrine. And that IS a big deal. Looseness in a recipe results in less than satisfactory food; laxness in doctrine might be enough to send someone down a wrong theological path. When salvation is on the line I'll re-learn some new words. For all the whining and complaining we will look back on these changes, scratch our collective heads, and wonder what the hu-hu was all about.
[To my one faithful reader--that I'm aware of anyway-- I say mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa for the huge hiatus between postings. Chalk it up to laziness, dear lady. I promise to try to do better.]
Saturday, September 10, 2011
"Ten Years Tomorrow"
JMJ. When I was a kid in high school I sat in my Latin class (back when they taught Latin in school) and heard the principal announce over the PA system that President John F. Kennedy had been shot. All of us kids and our teacher were stunned. I never would have thought that anything so momentous could ever happen again in my lifetime. How wrong I was.
Ten years ago Muslim terrorists flew two jet-liners into the towers of the World Trade Center. Once again America and the world were stunned. Then we saw another hit the Pentagon. And a plane that was to have hit the White House had it not been for a handful of heroes among her passengers plowed up the earth in a field in Pennsylvania. I wonder how many of those Muslim souls were welcomed into the sweet embrace of the houris of paradise that day? I do know that thousands of souls were confronted by their Maker most suddenly as a result of this violence.
And still we welcome Muslim immigration into this country! Christians are persecuted and murdered at Muslim hads in the Sudan, in Indonesion, and the Philippines. In the Middle East and just recently in China. Many areas of Europe are even under sharia law. I know, I know. This is just a small percentage of world Islam. But just stop to think of the fact that just a small percentage of a billion people is one WHOLE lot of terrorists. Wake up, Christendom.
Ten years ago Muslim terrorists flew two jet-liners into the towers of the World Trade Center. Once again America and the world were stunned. Then we saw another hit the Pentagon. And a plane that was to have hit the White House had it not been for a handful of heroes among her passengers plowed up the earth in a field in Pennsylvania. I wonder how many of those Muslim souls were welcomed into the sweet embrace of the houris of paradise that day? I do know that thousands of souls were confronted by their Maker most suddenly as a result of this violence.
And still we welcome Muslim immigration into this country! Christians are persecuted and murdered at Muslim hads in the Sudan, in Indonesion, and the Philippines. In the Middle East and just recently in China. Many areas of Europe are even under sharia law. I know, I know. This is just a small percentage of world Islam. But just stop to think of the fact that just a small percentage of a billion people is one WHOLE lot of terrorists. Wake up, Christendom.
"Praying"
JMJ. I went to confession today. Now, that's not that surprising but at the end, following Father's absolution of me, he said that he'd pray for me. Well, of course I told him that I'd pray for him, too--and I do, daily. What struck me just now, a couple hours later, is the big difference between the Christian Catholic and the secularist. The latter would look at this anecdote and think, "Big deal, they cancel each other out." The Christian would say, "Hallelujah! The Lord will not only listen to them both but bless each of them for their charity." I'm sure glad I'm Christian. Amen.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
"Another Protestant Prejudice"
JMJ. Imagine, if you will, that God has a plan. A plan which will accomplish the salvation of all mankind. I mean, He gives us free will and before the world is too much older we manage to give in to temptation and mess the whole program up. And like any loving parent He has to come along behind us and clean up our mess. Most anyone else would shake their head and say, "Duh, I'm just gonna start all over." Not God, oh no. He thinks we might have potential.
But His plan involves a woman; a girl, actually. She lives in this tiny jerkwater hinterland of the mighty Roman Empire. She's a little Jewish girl. One fine day a messenger from God (after all, that's what angels are) appears to her. He is so awesome that like every other instance of his appearances to humanity he has to preface everything by telling her not to fear him. And he's not just any angel--he's the Archangel Gabriel who stands perpetually before the face of God. He greets her with, "Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with thee."
Now that alone would make you wonder just how important this young woman is. But then he goes on to say that (with her concurrence) she will bear the Anointed One, the Redeemer of Israel. And on top of all that, the Holy Ghost is going to arrange for all this to happen in a way that it has never happened before--or since! Now fast-forward a couple weeks or so. Mary has been told by the angel that her kinswoman Elizabeth is also pregnant in a special way so Mary rushes to her aid. She walks in Elizabeth's door and greets her. Now, look carefully, Protestants. Under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Elizabeth asks Mary how she, the Mother of the Lord, could deign to bless Elizabeth with Her presence. Not the unborn Lord's presence, mind you, but the Blessed Mother's!
I'll end this screed here and ask all you separated brethren, how can you still claim that Mary's only claim to fame is that She was the incubator for Jesus Christ? The Blessed Virgin Mary, alone of all the billions of women to live in time is able to accomplish one stupendous thing--She enables the Creator of the universe to become something that He never was before--a human being. And She's of little importance?
But His plan involves a woman; a girl, actually. She lives in this tiny jerkwater hinterland of the mighty Roman Empire. She's a little Jewish girl. One fine day a messenger from God (after all, that's what angels are) appears to her. He is so awesome that like every other instance of his appearances to humanity he has to preface everything by telling her not to fear him. And he's not just any angel--he's the Archangel Gabriel who stands perpetually before the face of God. He greets her with, "Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with thee."
Now that alone would make you wonder just how important this young woman is. But then he goes on to say that (with her concurrence) she will bear the Anointed One, the Redeemer of Israel. And on top of all that, the Holy Ghost is going to arrange for all this to happen in a way that it has never happened before--or since! Now fast-forward a couple weeks or so. Mary has been told by the angel that her kinswoman Elizabeth is also pregnant in a special way so Mary rushes to her aid. She walks in Elizabeth's door and greets her. Now, look carefully, Protestants. Under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Elizabeth asks Mary how she, the Mother of the Lord, could deign to bless Elizabeth with Her presence. Not the unborn Lord's presence, mind you, but the Blessed Mother's!
I'll end this screed here and ask all you separated brethren, how can you still claim that Mary's only claim to fame is that She was the incubator for Jesus Christ? The Blessed Virgin Mary, alone of all the billions of women to live in time is able to accomplish one stupendous thing--She enables the Creator of the universe to become something that He never was before--a human being. And She's of little importance?
Saturday, July 30, 2011
"An Idle Thought"
JMJ. I was on my way to check out paint swatches yesterday, driving down the road to our local Lowe's store about ten miles away. I was praying the Rosary although that's not unusual. I was using a rosary to count, though, and that is. Usually I just count in my head as I go along but I often miscount so the Blessed Mother sometimes gets 15 Hail Marys per decade instead of ten. Anyway, I had both hands on the wheel with the rosary in my left. I stopped at a red light and happened to look at the car next to me. It was driven by a 20-ish young man who had both hands on his wheel, too. He, though, was texting on his cell-phone as he sat there and then as he began to drive away when the light changed.
Unsafe? Of course. What struck me as ironic is that we represented two forces--the spiritual and the secular. Now, I'm not sitting in judgment on him or blowing my own horn. In fact, I'm not sure what the point is that I'm trying to make. Maybe just that we both chose different ways to make the drive productive. I think I'll continue to pray the Rosary.
Unsafe? Of course. What struck me as ironic is that we represented two forces--the spiritual and the secular. Now, I'm not sitting in judgment on him or blowing my own horn. In fact, I'm not sure what the point is that I'm trying to make. Maybe just that we both chose different ways to make the drive productive. I think I'll continue to pray the Rosary.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
"The Berea Water"
JMJ. There must be something really great in our Berea water supply. I was taking a shower the other day (I know, I do that from time to time) and I got an amazing insight into a passage from Holy Scripture. It's the verse from Luke dealing with the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple, to wit, chapter 2, verse 52. St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother found that Jesus was not present on their returning to Nazareth and returned to Jerusalem hoping that He had remained there. They found Him, discoursing with the learned ones in the Temple.
Now, as an FYI, I have been continually amazed lately at the number of people within the Church who feel that they may go around, teaching and conducting Church business as they see fit. In Cleveland, as only one example, our Bishop had closed a number of parishes which he felt were not productive. Many parishioners, understandably, were upset that their spiritual homes were being closed. In this instance the parishioners appealed to their pastor. They rented a commercial area which they now call their "worship space" and their pastor there administers the sacraments, in defiance of His Excellency.
Imagine my awe when I recalled the above-mentioned passage, "And He went down with them [St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother] and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them..." Do you see the enormity of this? Jesus had every reason to be there. After all, it was His Father's house. Although only twelve years old in time, Jesus--the second Person of the Blessed Trinity Who has existed for all eternity, is obedient to two of His creatures! Why? Because as His parents, they were in authority over Him!
By acting out of their own arrogance and hubris, so many bishops, priests, and laity place themselves superior (by their actions) to our Lord Jesus Christ because they will not accept the God-given authority of their superiors. One expects this of Protestants but it is sad to see it within our Church. Have mercy on us, Lord.
Now, as an FYI, I have been continually amazed lately at the number of people within the Church who feel that they may go around, teaching and conducting Church business as they see fit. In Cleveland, as only one example, our Bishop had closed a number of parishes which he felt were not productive. Many parishioners, understandably, were upset that their spiritual homes were being closed. In this instance the parishioners appealed to their pastor. They rented a commercial area which they now call their "worship space" and their pastor there administers the sacraments, in defiance of His Excellency.
Imagine my awe when I recalled the above-mentioned passage, "And He went down with them [St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother] and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them..." Do you see the enormity of this? Jesus had every reason to be there. After all, it was His Father's house. Although only twelve years old in time, Jesus--the second Person of the Blessed Trinity Who has existed for all eternity, is obedient to two of His creatures! Why? Because as His parents, they were in authority over Him!
By acting out of their own arrogance and hubris, so many bishops, priests, and laity place themselves superior (by their actions) to our Lord Jesus Christ because they will not accept the God-given authority of their superiors. One expects this of Protestants but it is sad to see it within our Church. Have mercy on us, Lord.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
"The Woman In the Moon"
JMJ. I was walking the dog the other night. He gets a chance to smell smells, get a little exercise and use nature's facilities before I go to bed each night. The only time I mind it is during the winter when I can think of about a zillion other things I'd rather be doing. But Linus is a good dog and doesn't ask for much so I try to be charitable about it, regardless of the weather.
Anyway, I waited a little bit longer this night than usual and it was quite dark by the time we went out. It's a great time to think, BTW, and to pray a little, too. We hadn't gone more than a couple hundred feet and there it was, exploding before my very eyes in splendour--the moon, completely full and shining brightly in a cloudless sky. Yes, I think I could make out the "man in the moon" but it struck me how much more the moon reminds me of Our Lady. Now, like 95% of the stuff on this site, this is not original to me--I'm sure I read it somewhere else.
But it just hit me, I guess you could say. There she shone, in all her glory, immaculate in a gown of off-platinum, surrounded by the deepest blue. A beacon, if you will, to light our steps when the sun is not there to do so. To guide us from straying from the true path. How does She do this? By some innate power of Her own? Hardly! She does it by reflecting Her Son, our sun. It is His brightness, His refulgence, His majesty that supplies Her power. She is the mirror for us, taking rays from half a globe away and using them, dutifully, for His glory and our benefit. Think about that the next time you're out with the family mutt. Thanks, Linus. I owe you.
Anyway, I waited a little bit longer this night than usual and it was quite dark by the time we went out. It's a great time to think, BTW, and to pray a little, too. We hadn't gone more than a couple hundred feet and there it was, exploding before my very eyes in splendour--the moon, completely full and shining brightly in a cloudless sky. Yes, I think I could make out the "man in the moon" but it struck me how much more the moon reminds me of Our Lady. Now, like 95% of the stuff on this site, this is not original to me--I'm sure I read it somewhere else.
But it just hit me, I guess you could say. There she shone, in all her glory, immaculate in a gown of off-platinum, surrounded by the deepest blue. A beacon, if you will, to light our steps when the sun is not there to do so. To guide us from straying from the true path. How does She do this? By some innate power of Her own? Hardly! She does it by reflecting Her Son, our sun. It is His brightness, His refulgence, His majesty that supplies Her power. She is the mirror for us, taking rays from half a globe away and using them, dutifully, for His glory and our benefit. Think about that the next time you're out with the family mutt. Thanks, Linus. I owe you.
Friday, June 3, 2011
"Saving Souls"
JMJ. There's a prayer--don't remember where I read it, but there's a short prayer that goes, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph save souls." Number one, I don't understand why we humans feel like we should command those in heaven. So I modified that prayer. Now, as I've said before, I've got a huge ego but in this case I don't think I'm too off-base to suggest that we say "please." So I started praying, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph please save souls."
The longer I have been Catholic, though, the more I realise how precarious my previous life-antics had made my salvation. Not that any one of us is safe until our deaths but at least I know that it's all up to me to maintain my soul in a state of grace. [In re-reading this I must interject that my cooperation with God is up to me--my salvation cannot happen without His grace.] "Forewarned is forearmed", as they say. About this time I really started getting interested in apologetics and evangelisation. I added a little bit more to my daily prayer. Now I say, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, please save souls and please allow me to help."
Then I sat back, just waiting for our Lord to send the pilgrims flocking to my door, so to speak. (Remember, I have a big ego.) Never happened. Once in a blue moon someone would ask a question about the faith or why I had converted or I found the odd chance to "witness" to someone. I felt good about being used by heaven in even a small way but I would have like to be used a little more often. Now, St. Paul lost the scales from his eyes in a moment. My "epiphany" came a little more slowly.
It finally dawned on me how much I had really been contributing and how easy it is for any of us to contribute to this important and vital work. Consider:
1. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy which allows each soul at death to choose to accept Christ's mercy. Pray it often, if not daily.
2. Make one of your intentions when saying the Holy Rosary the conversion of souls.
3. Offer up the occasional Mass for the conversion of souls.
4. Offer up a reception of Holy Communion for the conversion of souls.
5. Consecrate yourself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as St. Louis Marie de Montfort urged. She takes all of our graces and invests them where they'll do the most good. She's the perfect spiritual investment counselor!
6. Offer up a small fast for the conversion of souls.
7. Evangelise, evangelise, evangelise.
I'm sure there are other things to do but as you can see, each of us can make a small difference by our prayers and sacrifices. The little that we do can be magnified into a humongous grace for someone whose salvation is as precarious as mine was. Someone did it for me--pay it forward!
The longer I have been Catholic, though, the more I realise how precarious my previous life-antics had made my salvation. Not that any one of us is safe until our deaths but at least I know that it's all up to me to maintain my soul in a state of grace. [In re-reading this I must interject that my cooperation with God is up to me--my salvation cannot happen without His grace.] "Forewarned is forearmed", as they say. About this time I really started getting interested in apologetics and evangelisation. I added a little bit more to my daily prayer. Now I say, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, please save souls and please allow me to help."
Then I sat back, just waiting for our Lord to send the pilgrims flocking to my door, so to speak. (Remember, I have a big ego.) Never happened. Once in a blue moon someone would ask a question about the faith or why I had converted or I found the odd chance to "witness" to someone. I felt good about being used by heaven in even a small way but I would have like to be used a little more often. Now, St. Paul lost the scales from his eyes in a moment. My "epiphany" came a little more slowly.
It finally dawned on me how much I had really been contributing and how easy it is for any of us to contribute to this important and vital work. Consider:
1. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy which allows each soul at death to choose to accept Christ's mercy. Pray it often, if not daily.
2. Make one of your intentions when saying the Holy Rosary the conversion of souls.
3. Offer up the occasional Mass for the conversion of souls.
4. Offer up a reception of Holy Communion for the conversion of souls.
5. Consecrate yourself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as St. Louis Marie de Montfort urged. She takes all of our graces and invests them where they'll do the most good. She's the perfect spiritual investment counselor!
6. Offer up a small fast for the conversion of souls.
7. Evangelise, evangelise, evangelise.
I'm sure there are other things to do but as you can see, each of us can make a small difference by our prayers and sacrifices. The little that we do can be magnified into a humongous grace for someone whose salvation is as precarious as mine was. Someone did it for me--pay it forward!
Monday, May 16, 2011
"Birthday Gift"
JMJ. Today's my birthday. I'm 63 years old, by the grace of God. Oh, and I'm retiring from my job as an endoscopy nurse of 37 years. Life has been a roller coaster ride. Figuratively. From the most exhilarating of heights to abysmal lows, I've experienced it all. Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back to her old life. Me, I've been much luckier.
A helmsman aboard ship, in endeavouring to steer a straight course, will not only rely on the compass before him but will occasionally look aft to gauge the straightness of his ship's wake. So it's been with me. Whenever I find myself languishing in a valley I look back and am always surprised by how far the Lord has brought me. At one time I thought that this progrees was the result of my own good planning but I was shown that it was His work (and His alone) which has brought me to where I am today.
Where is that, you ask? One day closer to Jesus, I answer. Though why He wants me, I'll never know. Amen.
A helmsman aboard ship, in endeavouring to steer a straight course, will not only rely on the compass before him but will occasionally look aft to gauge the straightness of his ship's wake. So it's been with me. Whenever I find myself languishing in a valley I look back and am always surprised by how far the Lord has brought me. At one time I thought that this progrees was the result of my own good planning but I was shown that it was His work (and His alone) which has brought me to where I am today.
Where is that, you ask? One day closer to Jesus, I answer. Though why He wants me, I'll never know. Amen.
Monday, May 2, 2011
"What Price a Soul?"
JMJ. Well, the good guys got the bad guy. The REALLY bad guy--Osama bin Laden. The headlines in the Cleveland "Plain Dealer" fairly crowed in triumph that "the wicked witch is dead." I admit to having very mixed emotions.
When I was younger the world was far more black and white than it is now. The shades of grey on almost all ethical questions seem to outnumber the sands by the seas. I know I haven't changed; where have they come from? I once whole-heartedly supported the death penalty. Not anymore. Why, you ask? Good question. Here's the only answer I've been able to come up with in my heart.
I was raised Presbyterian. Most of my adult life, though, was spent as a pagan searching for the truth. Truth with a capital T. So I was not always the paragon of virtue I am today. And there's the rub. For years I danced blindly at the edge of a deep precipice, totally unaware of the mortal danger I was in. Some wonderful soul prayed for my conversion, I'm sure. The Blessed Mother nudged me in the ribs, and I realised that Her Son had been knocking at the door of my heart for years.
Not only have I embraced His Church--HIS Church, mind you--but I've embraced the entire concommitant culture of life that goes along with it. I even went so far as to have a Mass said for Bin-Laden's conversion, having heard on a Catholic CD that Christ told us to pray for our enemies. So, am I happy that the leader of the enemy bent on our destruction has been eliminated? Of course. Hopefully, his death will result in the saving of many. But I can't help but think that at some point he might have repented and his soul might be saved. It's really tough to rejoice over the death of someone you've had a Mass offered for, let me tell you.
Maybe his soul is safe, I don't know; only God knows for sure. After all, much stranger things have happened. I'm the proof of that!
When I was younger the world was far more black and white than it is now. The shades of grey on almost all ethical questions seem to outnumber the sands by the seas. I know I haven't changed; where have they come from? I once whole-heartedly supported the death penalty. Not anymore. Why, you ask? Good question. Here's the only answer I've been able to come up with in my heart.
I was raised Presbyterian. Most of my adult life, though, was spent as a pagan searching for the truth. Truth with a capital T. So I was not always the paragon of virtue I am today. And there's the rub. For years I danced blindly at the edge of a deep precipice, totally unaware of the mortal danger I was in. Some wonderful soul prayed for my conversion, I'm sure. The Blessed Mother nudged me in the ribs, and I realised that Her Son had been knocking at the door of my heart for years.
Not only have I embraced His Church--HIS Church, mind you--but I've embraced the entire concommitant culture of life that goes along with it. I even went so far as to have a Mass said for Bin-Laden's conversion, having heard on a Catholic CD that Christ told us to pray for our enemies. So, am I happy that the leader of the enemy bent on our destruction has been eliminated? Of course. Hopefully, his death will result in the saving of many. But I can't help but think that at some point he might have repented and his soul might be saved. It's really tough to rejoice over the death of someone you've had a Mass offered for, let me tell you.
Maybe his soul is safe, I don't know; only God knows for sure. After all, much stranger things have happened. I'm the proof of that!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
"Puzzled"
JMJ. My wife and I were Amway distributors for a number of years--good products, good business. One of the many things we learnt at training sessions was that "whenever you stick your head up above the crowd, someone is going to throw tomatoes at it." Good lesson in Amway, good lesson in Catholicism. Only one Christian denomination has been around for the whole shooting match and as such it's the one most apt to be the target for tomato-slingers.
Protestants of one stripe or another are always taking potshots at us for any of a myriad of reasons. Take the crucifix for example. "Why do you people have Jesus on the cross--don't you know that He's not there anymore?" Well, as I've said elsewhere, St. Paul says, "We teach Christ and Him crucified." Or, "why do you folks worship statues?" "Why do you kneel before pictures?" Well, statues and pictures tell stories visually and help us focus our prayers.
"Why do Catholics worship Mary?" Again, we don't worship anyone but God. We honour the Blessed Mother. (Doesn't it just seem sensible to honour the Woman whom Christ honoured, too? After all, we just imitate Him.) "And what about the Rosary? Why do you pray that--it's not in the Bible. Well, neither is the word trinity... Now it's my turn.
Why do you Protestants worship the Bible? Why do you claim it's the only revelation of God? I mean, we read the Bible, too, and every day at Mass the Word of God is proclaimed to us, far more religiously (pardon the pun) than at Protestant worship services. The answer's very simple, really. The Christian church exists for one reason only--to help us get to heaven. We do this by cooperating with the sanctification of our souls by God.
Anything that helps in this respect is to the good. Praying the Rosary helps us meditate on Christ's life and ministry. Asking the saints for their intercession on our behalf is no different than asking a friend to put in a good word for us with the boss. Wearing a scapular reminds us in a scratchy way of what we should be focusing our prayer life on. Seeing Christ on His cross reminds us in the most visceral way of what His death really entailed.
Now, can you attain salvation without all these things? Sure, but why make it difficult? If following a map helps you arrive at a destination you've never visited before, would YOU throw it away and blindly drive off into the sunset? Neither would I.
Protestants of one stripe or another are always taking potshots at us for any of a myriad of reasons. Take the crucifix for example. "Why do you people have Jesus on the cross--don't you know that He's not there anymore?" Well, as I've said elsewhere, St. Paul says, "We teach Christ and Him crucified." Or, "why do you folks worship statues?" "Why do you kneel before pictures?" Well, statues and pictures tell stories visually and help us focus our prayers.
"Why do Catholics worship Mary?" Again, we don't worship anyone but God. We honour the Blessed Mother. (Doesn't it just seem sensible to honour the Woman whom Christ honoured, too? After all, we just imitate Him.) "And what about the Rosary? Why do you pray that--it's not in the Bible. Well, neither is the word trinity... Now it's my turn.
Why do you Protestants worship the Bible? Why do you claim it's the only revelation of God? I mean, we read the Bible, too, and every day at Mass the Word of God is proclaimed to us, far more religiously (pardon the pun) than at Protestant worship services. The answer's very simple, really. The Christian church exists for one reason only--to help us get to heaven. We do this by cooperating with the sanctification of our souls by God.
Anything that helps in this respect is to the good. Praying the Rosary helps us meditate on Christ's life and ministry. Asking the saints for their intercession on our behalf is no different than asking a friend to put in a good word for us with the boss. Wearing a scapular reminds us in a scratchy way of what we should be focusing our prayer life on. Seeing Christ on His cross reminds us in the most visceral way of what His death really entailed.
Now, can you attain salvation without all these things? Sure, but why make it difficult? If following a map helps you arrive at a destination you've never visited before, would YOU throw it away and blindly drive off into the sunset? Neither would I.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
"Spring Renewal'
JMJ. Slowly but surely the weather is getting a wee bit warmer, the days a little bit longer, the birds are doing their chirping thing, the squirrels are getting frisky, and the flowers are beginning to bloom. That's all very nice and I wouldn't have it any other way but there is one more harbinger of newness and growth that gets lost in the shuffle, so to speak.
These are all signs of a natural renewal of life. But just as there are two components of a person--the natural and the supernatural, the body and the soul, so, too, there is a supernatural renewal of life and that is the baptism into new life and into the Church. That's the great thing about Easter. Every year on Holy Saturday evening, pagans become Christians in the baptism of the Trinity and those Christians of other persuasions who have listened to the prompting of the Holy Ghost in their hearts were marked with Holy Oil, allowing full communion with Jesus' Church.
The actions of the Sacraments cannot be seen since they produce their effects in the supernatural realm. But the changes--those are magical and they are most manifest in the wide grins of joy, the tears, and the sense of awe on the countenaces of all those new Catholics who have just received their Saviour in the Blessed Sacrament. It's like coming out of a darkened room into the light of a wide, wondrous, new world. Thanks be to God!
These are all signs of a natural renewal of life. But just as there are two components of a person--the natural and the supernatural, the body and the soul, so, too, there is a supernatural renewal of life and that is the baptism into new life and into the Church. That's the great thing about Easter. Every year on Holy Saturday evening, pagans become Christians in the baptism of the Trinity and those Christians of other persuasions who have listened to the prompting of the Holy Ghost in their hearts were marked with Holy Oil, allowing full communion with Jesus' Church.
The actions of the Sacraments cannot be seen since they produce their effects in the supernatural realm. But the changes--those are magical and they are most manifest in the wide grins of joy, the tears, and the sense of awe on the countenaces of all those new Catholics who have just received their Saviour in the Blessed Sacrament. It's like coming out of a darkened room into the light of a wide, wondrous, new world. Thanks be to God!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
"Easter"
JMJ. Lent is always described as a journey. We are invited to travel with Jesus throughout the forty days of His passion, to suffer with Him as He witnessed one of His own chosen disciples betray Him into the hands of His enemies, to suffer with Him in the garden of Gethsemane, to be lashed with Him at the pillar, to help Him bear His cross to Calvary, and to feel the spikes as they fastened Him to the tree.
And that's as it should be. We, because of our sins, put Him on His road to death and, mystery of mysteries, we hopefully share with Him in His resurrection to eternal life. But there's another aspect to this Lenten journey. It's an embarkation of our own from a life of uncleanliness to one, through His grace, of unstained souls and lives. I didn't make it. I didn't arrive, finally, in my Jerusalem. Through sin, and unfaithfulness, and weakness I lagged by the wayside.
But I progressed. My soul is maybe a little whiter. I have a little better knowledge of my weaknesses and my future promise. And I'm a whole lot nearer my goal than if I had never set out on that Lenten journey. I'm a little bit closer to Home.
And that's as it should be. We, because of our sins, put Him on His road to death and, mystery of mysteries, we hopefully share with Him in His resurrection to eternal life. But there's another aspect to this Lenten journey. It's an embarkation of our own from a life of uncleanliness to one, through His grace, of unstained souls and lives. I didn't make it. I didn't arrive, finally, in my Jerusalem. Through sin, and unfaithfulness, and weakness I lagged by the wayside.
But I progressed. My soul is maybe a little whiter. I have a little better knowledge of my weaknesses and my future promise. And I'm a whole lot nearer my goal than if I had never set out on that Lenten journey. I'm a little bit closer to Home.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
"In Time for Spring Planting"
JMJ. Well, folks, in the next four years we'll celebrate the 150th anniversary of the War of Northern Agression, which the more politically-correct continue to call the American Civil War. Be on the look-out for myriads of books, magazine articles, and the musings of liberal media pundits, all of whom will help to perpetuate the myth that slavery was defeated but continues to be the root cause of all the ills of this country, including psoriasis and moral lethargy.
The following, in no particular order, are a few facts for your edification--all true (which is why they're called facts)and all quite verifiable, often from northern sources.
* Abraham Lincoln plotted and maneuvered for war even prior to his inauguration.
* "Honest" Abe didn't care two hoots and a holler for black folks. He wanted to send them all back to Africa.
* Prior to the war he begged (in writing) each state governor to support an amendment to the Constitution enshrining slavery in the US for all time.
* The North, not the South, committed the first act of war when Maj. Rob't. Anderson moved his command in Charleston harbour from Ft. Moultrie to Ft. Sumter.
* The first union officer killed in battle one week before the First Battle of Bull Run was shot by a black Confederate sniper.
* Three black soldiers were killed at the Battle of Gettysburg--all Confederate. At the time there were no black union soldiers in combat.
* At the beginning of the war, roughly 5% of white Southerners owned slaves. Roughly 5% of free Southern blacks did, too.
* The over-bearing and imperial federal government we have now is the direct result of Abraham Lincoln's primary thrust.
* The CSA was fighting, not to protect slavery but to maintain the type of government originally given to us by our Founding Fathers.
* Once the North decided to use black troops, it took almost a year and a half before they finally agreed to pay them the same wage as white soldiers. In 1861, the very beginning of the war, the Confederate government passed a law prescribing the exact same pay for black and white soldiers in its armies.
* Black veterans are buried in Southern war cemeteries and drew state veterans' pensions.
* Nathan Bedford Forrest, a slave-trader before the war and one of the most feared of all Confederate commanders, publicly stated that the black cavalry troopers who rode with him were the finest fighters he had.
Ok. That's all for now and enough to get you curious. Everything else you hear to the contrary may be saved up and spread on your gardens.
The following, in no particular order, are a few facts for your edification--all true (which is why they're called facts)and all quite verifiable, often from northern sources.
* Abraham Lincoln plotted and maneuvered for war even prior to his inauguration.
* "Honest" Abe didn't care two hoots and a holler for black folks. He wanted to send them all back to Africa.
* Prior to the war he begged (in writing) each state governor to support an amendment to the Constitution enshrining slavery in the US for all time.
* The North, not the South, committed the first act of war when Maj. Rob't. Anderson moved his command in Charleston harbour from Ft. Moultrie to Ft. Sumter.
* The first union officer killed in battle one week before the First Battle of Bull Run was shot by a black Confederate sniper.
* Three black soldiers were killed at the Battle of Gettysburg--all Confederate. At the time there were no black union soldiers in combat.
* At the beginning of the war, roughly 5% of white Southerners owned slaves. Roughly 5% of free Southern blacks did, too.
* The over-bearing and imperial federal government we have now is the direct result of Abraham Lincoln's primary thrust.
* The CSA was fighting, not to protect slavery but to maintain the type of government originally given to us by our Founding Fathers.
* Once the North decided to use black troops, it took almost a year and a half before they finally agreed to pay them the same wage as white soldiers. In 1861, the very beginning of the war, the Confederate government passed a law prescribing the exact same pay for black and white soldiers in its armies.
* Black veterans are buried in Southern war cemeteries and drew state veterans' pensions.
* Nathan Bedford Forrest, a slave-trader before the war and one of the most feared of all Confederate commanders, publicly stated that the black cavalry troopers who rode with him were the finest fighters he had.
Ok. That's all for now and enough to get you curious. Everything else you hear to the contrary may be saved up and spread on your gardens.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
"Cross vs. Crucifix'
JMJ. I was lying awake in bed the other morning at "oh dark thirty" as we used to say in the service. That's been happening a lot lately but it was kinda fruitful this once. It came to me that in looking at an empty cross and comparing it to a Catholic crucifix we can see a fundamental philosophical difference between Protestants and Catholics.
Now, we all know that Jesus died to redeem our sins--that's a given--and that sacrificial death brought about the possibility of our eventual resurrection into heaven. The empty cross focuses on the reward, the resurrection into eternal life. Portraying Christ on His cross, though, focuses on the supreme sacrifice that led to that reward.
I've always said that the Catholic Church is far more biblical than the Protestants. Well, I and a whole bunch of fellow Catholics, anyway. We have only to read St. Paul who says, "We teach Christ and Him crucified" to see where the early Church put her emphasis. Further, St. Paul says that we must be crucified with Him. It certainly seems to me that we should be focusing on the redemptive sacrifice than the ultimate reward, wondrous as that may be. Besides, what more perfect prayer aid than to look at a crucifix and SEE what is the true price of our sins?
Now, we all know that Jesus died to redeem our sins--that's a given--and that sacrificial death brought about the possibility of our eventual resurrection into heaven. The empty cross focuses on the reward, the resurrection into eternal life. Portraying Christ on His cross, though, focuses on the supreme sacrifice that led to that reward.
I've always said that the Catholic Church is far more biblical than the Protestants. Well, I and a whole bunch of fellow Catholics, anyway. We have only to read St. Paul who says, "We teach Christ and Him crucified" to see where the early Church put her emphasis. Further, St. Paul says that we must be crucified with Him. It certainly seems to me that we should be focusing on the redemptive sacrifice than the ultimate reward, wondrous as that may be. Besides, what more perfect prayer aid than to look at a crucifix and SEE what is the true price of our sins?
Monday, April 4, 2011
"The New Protestants"
JMJ. Hey, folks, there's a new denomination in town. They claim to be even more Catholic than the Episcopalians. In fact, they once WERE Catholics. With the emphasis on were. Like close siblings in New York, they feel that they are more enlightened than Our successor to the Apostles, Bishop Lennon. No, they do not have a female priest as the dissidents in New York do but that may only be a matter of time.
There are so many warnings in the Bible concerning the unwisdom of listening to false prophets but the most telling is Christ's admonition to "beware the traditions of men." Make no mistake about it--these are human ideas we're talking about in Cleveland. Matthew perhaps documents this most succinctly. Jesus says, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona...I say you are 'Peter' and upon this rock I will build MY (emphasis mine) church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
Martin Luther began the Protestant slide down the slippery slope of heresy 500 years ago when he took the words of Scripture, stirred in his anger, and dreamt up his own new religion. No sooner had he dons so than a bunch of others did so, too. After all, if one new religion is good, more must be better, eh? So now we have over 30,000 different denominations, each differing from the other and each sure that it is the only true path to heaven. Enter our former "Catholic" co-regionists. One more set of folks who decided that Jesus, the Son of God, needed their input into His scheme of salvation.
When will it ever end? Pray for them, for they lead others astray, too.
There are so many warnings in the Bible concerning the unwisdom of listening to false prophets but the most telling is Christ's admonition to "beware the traditions of men." Make no mistake about it--these are human ideas we're talking about in Cleveland. Matthew perhaps documents this most succinctly. Jesus says, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona...I say you are 'Peter' and upon this rock I will build MY (emphasis mine) church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
Martin Luther began the Protestant slide down the slippery slope of heresy 500 years ago when he took the words of Scripture, stirred in his anger, and dreamt up his own new religion. No sooner had he dons so than a bunch of others did so, too. After all, if one new religion is good, more must be better, eh? So now we have over 30,000 different denominations, each differing from the other and each sure that it is the only true path to heaven. Enter our former "Catholic" co-regionists. One more set of folks who decided that Jesus, the Son of God, needed their input into His scheme of salvation.
When will it ever end? Pray for them, for they lead others astray, too.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
"You Can't Be One Without the Other"
JMJ. Ever since it became important to me, ie. soon after my conversion to Catholicism, I have wanted to be a disciple of Jesus'. I haven't been a very good one, I admit. Whatever small success I've achieved has been through the grace of God and certainly in spite of anything I've done. Still, that has been my aim--and a good one, an admrable goal to have.
But I was listening to a CD not long ago--which, I misremember. The speaker mentioned the concept of discipline and how necessary it is in order to follow Christ faithfully. Such as in fasting. You know--givng something up. I've never been great at that because I'm too focused on my material wants. Give up ice cream for a bed-time snack? Get real!
Now, being a disciple--I could shoot for that. I'm a great follower but a poor leader. I can follow with the best of them. But discipline? Discipline is the ability to control one's self. Discipline is self-mastery. What's odd is that they both come from the same root. It was one of those mini epiphanies I've had from time to time. If I ever want to follow Christ properly I need to master myself. That's gonna take some real work. But knowing the problem and it's solution is half the battle. Now for the hard part...
But I was listening to a CD not long ago--which, I misremember. The speaker mentioned the concept of discipline and how necessary it is in order to follow Christ faithfully. Such as in fasting. You know--givng something up. I've never been great at that because I'm too focused on my material wants. Give up ice cream for a bed-time snack? Get real!
Now, being a disciple--I could shoot for that. I'm a great follower but a poor leader. I can follow with the best of them. But discipline? Discipline is the ability to control one's self. Discipline is self-mastery. What's odd is that they both come from the same root. It was one of those mini epiphanies I've had from time to time. If I ever want to follow Christ properly I need to master myself. That's gonna take some real work. But knowing the problem and it's solution is half the battle. Now for the hard part...
Monday, March 21, 2011
"New Speech"
JMJ. I hate the new speech of a generation almost completely out of contact with the Real. Specifically, the phrase "my bad." The kids use it to excuse themselves when they've made a mistake. But, like society in general, they in particular don't want to accept responsibility and do NOT want to say, "I'm sorry, I made a mistake. Please forgive me." Instead, it's "my bad." God help us.
"Lenten Thoughts"
JMJ. Ok, I'm going to repeat some things I've written of earlier. I'm 63 so my mind isn't what it once was and it's my blog so I can do as I please. So there.
The last couple of years I've taken to using only the Sorrowful Mysteries during Lent when I pray the Rosary. It just seems to be the right thing to do. After all, though Lent's outcome is Easter, the period itself is not what you would call joyful or luminous or glorious. It's sombre and that's the way I feel like praying it.
I've also started doing something else this year during my Rosary. Following the "amen" of each "Hail Mary" I add "mea culpa, Domine." If He could undergo such a frightful Passion on my account it seems only fitting that I continually acknowledge my sinfulness which caused that Passion.
Finally, there is one bright spot amongst the grey. Although it was MY sin that caused Him to sweat blood in the garden, and it was I who wielded the scourge that bloodied His back, and they were MY hands that wove the plait of thorns which pierced His brow, and it was MY hand which pounded the nails which gave us the first crucifix, it was I who helped Him carry His cross through St. simon of Cyrene. Thank you, Lord, for this small penance.
The last couple of years I've taken to using only the Sorrowful Mysteries during Lent when I pray the Rosary. It just seems to be the right thing to do. After all, though Lent's outcome is Easter, the period itself is not what you would call joyful or luminous or glorious. It's sombre and that's the way I feel like praying it.
I've also started doing something else this year during my Rosary. Following the "amen" of each "Hail Mary" I add "mea culpa, Domine." If He could undergo such a frightful Passion on my account it seems only fitting that I continually acknowledge my sinfulness which caused that Passion.
Finally, there is one bright spot amongst the grey. Although it was MY sin that caused Him to sweat blood in the garden, and it was I who wielded the scourge that bloodied His back, and they were MY hands that wove the plait of thorns which pierced His brow, and it was MY hand which pounded the nails which gave us the first crucifix, it was I who helped Him carry His cross through St. simon of Cyrene. Thank you, Lord, for this small penance.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
"God's Mysterious Ways"
JMJ. One would have had to have had his head buried in the sand for the last few weeks not to have noticed the horrible devastation in Japan as the result of a Richter 9 earthquake and its subsequent tsunami. Even the hardest of heart would have been hard-pressed not to have been moved by the suffering of the Japanese people.
Well, I'm not particularly hard-hearted so I was very troubled at this devastation and misery. On a very peronal level, too, since--as I've mentioned before--we once had a Japanese exchange student living with us for a year when my sisters were in high school. You can imagine that I was quite worried about her and her family's safety so I e-mailed that evening and was vastly relieved when she quickly replied that she, the family, and her home were safe but that they had lost many of their possessions.
The material can be replaced but imagine my surprise when I received a note from a woman unknown to me saying that she had gone to school with Toko (and my sisters, of course) so many years ago and that they had not been in contact for quite some time. Had I heard anything from her and could I put her in touch with Toko? Now how, I wondered had this woman thought to write me? I read further and it happens that upon hearing of the earthquake she googled Toko's name and my previous blog page came up!
Of course I replied that I had, indeed, just heard from Toko and that she was well. I offered to forward a message to her if she wished. She did, she wrote, and I forwarded it. Toko was so thankful to have heard from another of her old friends. She might have been surprised at this coincidence but I wasn't--after all, I believe in the communion of the saints. God's got us all safe in His arms and He's got a plan for all of us. Amen.
Well, I'm not particularly hard-hearted so I was very troubled at this devastation and misery. On a very peronal level, too, since--as I've mentioned before--we once had a Japanese exchange student living with us for a year when my sisters were in high school. You can imagine that I was quite worried about her and her family's safety so I e-mailed that evening and was vastly relieved when she quickly replied that she, the family, and her home were safe but that they had lost many of their possessions.
The material can be replaced but imagine my surprise when I received a note from a woman unknown to me saying that she had gone to school with Toko (and my sisters, of course) so many years ago and that they had not been in contact for quite some time. Had I heard anything from her and could I put her in touch with Toko? Now how, I wondered had this woman thought to write me? I read further and it happens that upon hearing of the earthquake she googled Toko's name and my previous blog page came up!
Of course I replied that I had, indeed, just heard from Toko and that she was well. I offered to forward a message to her if she wished. She did, she wrote, and I forwarded it. Toko was so thankful to have heard from another of her old friends. She might have been surprised at this coincidence but I wasn't--after all, I believe in the communion of the saints. God's got us all safe in His arms and He's got a plan for all of us. Amen.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
"The New Centurions"
JMJ. It should come as no surprise that I'm reading another book which was recommended to me by my dear friend, Jan. It's called unPlanned, by Abby Johnson. I'm only halfway through it but I knew right off the bat that I'd have to pass on this review to others. It's dynamite--the story of a young woman who came out from the shadows of a career with Planned Parenthood in the abortion industry into the bright light of the pro-life movement.
To say the least, this is at the same time both a harrowing and joyous account of one woman's road to Damascus. My own road was no less sinful but not nearly as dramatic. I began working in the operating room as a registered nurse in 1974. Our hospital at the time did abortions on a regular basis. I was one of the few nurses who would help. Not only was I not pro-life, I'm not sure if I was even Christian. Through the grace of God (I can admit that now) my shadows were not nearly as intense and not as long-lived as Abby Johnson's.
One of the most controversial topics in the abortion debate at the time was what constituted life. Was a fetus in possession of a soul and thus worthy of protection or not? The pro-abortion folks said no and of course the pro-life folks said yes. I said, "I don't really know." But my nurse's training said that if in doubt, err on the side the angels. That is, if one isn't sure if something is contaminated, assume that it is and start over. If one doesn't know if a piece of equipment is working properly, assume that it is not and find a good one.
Since I didn't know if a fetus was fully human and possessed of a soul I had to assume that it was and therefore act for his or her protection. I quit assisting with abortions. I wasn't knocked off my horse like St. Paul was. I kind of slipped off, not with a blinding flash but more a dull "thunk." I'm not yet to the point in the book where Abby Johnson leaves Planned Parenthood but I know that she did and that she joined a group called the Society of Centurions. As it states in their credo: "The Centurion who stood at the foot of the cross of Christ suddenly became horrified at the crucifixion he was ordered to carry out. When Christ died, this Centurion dropped his sword and fell to his knees exclaiming, 'Surely, this was an innocent man!'"
I, too, am a centurion. I have confessed and been forgiven but I can never forget the lives I have helped to take. All I can pray is, "Dear children look with mercy on this poor sinner." Amen.
To say the least, this is at the same time both a harrowing and joyous account of one woman's road to Damascus. My own road was no less sinful but not nearly as dramatic. I began working in the operating room as a registered nurse in 1974. Our hospital at the time did abortions on a regular basis. I was one of the few nurses who would help. Not only was I not pro-life, I'm not sure if I was even Christian. Through the grace of God (I can admit that now) my shadows were not nearly as intense and not as long-lived as Abby Johnson's.
One of the most controversial topics in the abortion debate at the time was what constituted life. Was a fetus in possession of a soul and thus worthy of protection or not? The pro-abortion folks said no and of course the pro-life folks said yes. I said, "I don't really know." But my nurse's training said that if in doubt, err on the side the angels. That is, if one isn't sure if something is contaminated, assume that it is and start over. If one doesn't know if a piece of equipment is working properly, assume that it is not and find a good one.
Since I didn't know if a fetus was fully human and possessed of a soul I had to assume that it was and therefore act for his or her protection. I quit assisting with abortions. I wasn't knocked off my horse like St. Paul was. I kind of slipped off, not with a blinding flash but more a dull "thunk." I'm not yet to the point in the book where Abby Johnson leaves Planned Parenthood but I know that she did and that she joined a group called the Society of Centurions. As it states in their credo: "The Centurion who stood at the foot of the cross of Christ suddenly became horrified at the crucifixion he was ordered to carry out. When Christ died, this Centurion dropped his sword and fell to his knees exclaiming, 'Surely, this was an innocent man!'"
I, too, am a centurion. I have confessed and been forgiven but I can never forget the lives I have helped to take. All I can pray is, "Dear children look with mercy on this poor sinner." Amen.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
"Pro-Life--and Proud of It!"
JMJ. The Cleveland "Plain Dealer" is your usual liberal mouth-piece. They've got a token conservative assistant Editor (who's really a very thoughtful and intelligent writer and lightning rod for all the liberal diatribes) and a couple Christians whose theology is awfully iffy. Oh, and a bunch of folks whose secularism is amply apparent. One of the so-called Christians, citing hypocrisy on the part of the Republicans, said that if one were truly pro-life, the death penalty should immediately be repealed. I happen to agree. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has said that though Biblically defensible, the death penalty should be used very rarely, if at all.
The Democrats, though, are hardly the ones to holler "hypocrite" when you consider that in the case of the United States, the number of executions could be numbered in the thousands whereas in the thirty-some years since Roe v. Wade, millions of babies have been aborted each year. What's wrong with this picture? I think it is well past time to drop artificial divisions. It is senseless to proclaim oneself Republican or Democrat. One is either pro-life or pro-death. There is, and can be, no middle ground. Christ said in the Gospels that He would return at the end of time and separate the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the chaff. In reality we are doing it for Him.
The Democrats, though, are hardly the ones to holler "hypocrite" when you consider that in the case of the United States, the number of executions could be numbered in the thousands whereas in the thirty-some years since Roe v. Wade, millions of babies have been aborted each year. What's wrong with this picture? I think it is well past time to drop artificial divisions. It is senseless to proclaim oneself Republican or Democrat. One is either pro-life or pro-death. There is, and can be, no middle ground. Christ said in the Gospels that He would return at the end of time and separate the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the chaff. In reality we are doing it for Him.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"Somewhere in Time"
JMJ. I admit I have a real problem with time. Not telling time, mind you, but being patient in it. Like the vast majority of Americans, when I want something, I want it NOW! God doesn't work that way. I don't think they have watches in heaven since they run on the Eternal Now Time Zone.
In fairness to me, my impatience has more to do with the salvation of souls than when my next airplane model is affordable. Thankfully, and through the grace of God, I'm not as tied to the material as I once was though Linda might disagree with that. It's hard, though, to look around at our society and see the people who are unwittingly flirting with damnation. It's bad enough to sin knowingly but when one is totally blind spiritually, how is one to know that one's feet dance at the edge of the precipice and that the next false step might be one's last?
That's where my impatience comes in. I know by what a miracle the scales fell from my eyes and I want the same thing for EVERYONE. NOW! Our Lady at Fatima told the three children that souls were being lost to hell every moment of the day. That thought sends shivers down my back. Repeat after me: "Dear Holy Ghost, please open the hearts and minds of all who do not know the Truth of Jesus Christ. Blessed Mother Mary, please whisper in their ears that Christ knocks on the doors of our hearts and wants to bear each of His sheep home to His Heavenly Father. Amen."
In fairness to me, my impatience has more to do with the salvation of souls than when my next airplane model is affordable. Thankfully, and through the grace of God, I'm not as tied to the material as I once was though Linda might disagree with that. It's hard, though, to look around at our society and see the people who are unwittingly flirting with damnation. It's bad enough to sin knowingly but when one is totally blind spiritually, how is one to know that one's feet dance at the edge of the precipice and that the next false step might be one's last?
That's where my impatience comes in. I know by what a miracle the scales fell from my eyes and I want the same thing for EVERYONE. NOW! Our Lady at Fatima told the three children that souls were being lost to hell every moment of the day. That thought sends shivers down my back. Repeat after me: "Dear Holy Ghost, please open the hearts and minds of all who do not know the Truth of Jesus Christ. Blessed Mother Mary, please whisper in their ears that Christ knocks on the doors of our hearts and wants to bear each of His sheep home to His Heavenly Father. Amen."
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