State Press on the Pope hate bandwagon

Full article at http://www.statepress.com/2010/04/01/questioning-the-legacy-of-%E2%80%98people%E2%80%99s-pope%E2%80%99-john-paul-ii/

Article by Austin Yost, published in the State Press, the ASU campus newspaper on Friday.

On April 2, 2005, Pope John Paul II, a man hailed by many as “The People’s Pope,” passed away.

According to the BBC, a month after John Paul died, his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, started the process to have him entered into sainthood.

While it is taking longer than some people expected for Pope Benedict to approve a miracle that John Paul supposedly performed (which would allow John Paul to be beatified and placed one step away from sainthood), it seems to be an appropriate time to begin the necessary evaluation of the legacy that Pope John Paul II left behind.

During his tenure as the head of state of Vatican City, Pope John Paul II certainly did many admirable and praiseworthy deeds.

According to the BBC, he is often credited with contributing to the end of communist rule in Europe. His consistent disparagement of communism played a significant role in its widespread and overdue demise.

In March 2000, Pope John Paul II begged for forgiveness for some of the wrongdoings that the Catholic Church has been responsible for over its history, according to Christianity Today. Among other things, he apologized for the Crusades, the Inquisition, injustice toward women and the Vatican’s silence throughout the Holocaust.

The good things he did are certainly appreciated and applauded frequently, but some people seem to have forgotten some of the less desirable positions Pope John Paul II held and supported.

I don’t think it can be said he deserves the constant praise and admiration that is so generously awarded to him.

His unwavering position on contraceptives, even in the face of a seemingly abject crisis with a fast-spreading AIDS virus, has been responsible for the deaths, anguish and despair of millions of people in Africa. His position has had devastating and tragic effects on the lives of many people, and we mustn’t be allowed to forget that.

For someone who many people say worked tirelessly to bring people together, Pope John Paul II had some rather troubling and questionable things to say about the inclinations of homosexuals. In his 1986 Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons he wrote, “Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.” He deliberately further separated a portion of the world’s population, not for something they did, but merely for their natural and congenital inclinations.

In 2000, Pope John Paul II made Saint Thomas More the “heavenly Patron of Statesmen and Politicians.” According to Christianity.com, Thomas More burned people alive in England for having the courage to own a Bible in English. Awarding Thomas More this title is rather ironic. To give him any recognition is to distort history and make a mockery of what actually constitutes as virtuous or praiseworthy.

The things Pope John Paul II did while he was alive will be remembered for many years. While I certainly concede that he did many good things, I refuse to forget about the abominable and iniquitous positions he held and urged others to hold.

Before we hop on the bandwagon for “The People’s Pope,” we need to evaluate Pope John Paul II’s life and the things he did and determine whether he really deserved the legacy that his supporters are attempting to build for him. I don’t think he did.

The pope's position on contraceptives is the same as the whole Church. It must be. Before we even get into the correctness of the position, let's look at the fallacies in the sentence:

His unwavering position on contraceptives, even in the face of a seemingly abject crisis with a fast-spreading AIDS virus, has been responsible for the deaths, anguish and despair of millions of people in Africa. His position has had devastating and tragic effects on the lives of many people, and we mustn’t be allowed to forget that.

As to the position; AIDS can be transmitted through many means, generally with contact from bodily fluids or the bloodstream. AIDS can be passed from one junkie to another by a shared needle, or from a mother to her child. Contraceptives wouldn't help either of these vectors for transmission. Sure, there are needle-recycling programs, and there's theoretically the option for abortion - but what if the junkies aren't in a town with a needle recycler, or the mother wants to keep her child? Sooner or later, it should be realized that these 'solutions' are simply addressing the symptoms rather than the disease.

Those people aren't dying because the Pope won't let them use condoms. They are dying because they're engaging in premarital sexual relations and illegal drug use. The Church has long taught against sins of the flesh, restricting the use of the sexual act to the marital union. Abstinence is infinitely more effective than contraceptives; contraceptives can break, but if they didn't have relations until they were married, it could only be spread from one person to their permanent partner; and most likely, they wouldn't even have gotten it in the first place.

For someone who many people say worked tirelessly to bring people together, Pope John Paul II had some rather troubling and questionable things to say about the inclinations of homosexuals. In his 1986 Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons he wrote, “Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.” He deliberately further separated a portion of the world’s population, not for something they did, but merely for their natural and congenital inclinations.

Think about it this way. If we accept the premise that Darwin was correct on evolution, homosexuality would be a counter-survival mutation. Homosexuals cannot naturally have children with each other; the first gay gazelles on the African savanna would also be the last. It's different with us because we are more than animals; though we are also creatures, we have our intellect, will, and conscience.

As he said, the inclination is not a sin; in fact, we are called to love all our fellow Man, male and female alike. However, there is a difference between brotherly love and sexual relations. We are all inclined towards sin; it's whether we give in to it or not that determines the evil we do. Homosexuals who have carnal relations are engaging in an act contrary to their species; they are perverting organs that were intended towards the furthering of the species into self-gratifying acts only performed for the enjoyment they get from it. He is not deliberately separating a portion of the population; in fact, he is likening them to ourselves with the inclination towards sin; but he is condemning those who, like the previous point, are deliberately frustrating what should be a creative act, and subverting it for self-gratification.

In 2000, Pope John Paul II made Saint Thomas More the “heavenly Patron of Statesmen and Politicians.” According to Christianity.com, Thomas More burned people alive in England for having the courage to own a Bible in English. Awarding Thomas More this title is rather ironic. To give him any recognition is to distort history and make a mockery of what actually constitutes as virtuous or praiseworthy.

This one is just outright wrong. Thomas More was chancellor when 6 heretics were burned at the stake - and though he approved of it, they were burned for unrepentant heresy, not owning an English bible. And though it was in increase in number from the 30 that occurred in the century prior, 300 occurred during the subsequent reign of Mary Tudor, which almost would paint him as moderate. It was a common practice when dealing with heretics who refused to repent.

The reason that More crusaded against the English bibles that he speaks of was that they were poorly translated and theologically inferior to the ones they had available. (It should be noted that they were mostly the work of William Tyndale and swaths of it were incorporated to become the King James version of the Bible.) But putting all that aside - what does even his flawed premise have to do with statesmen or politicians, and his being a patron thereof?

So there really wasn't much in the way of truth to this particular expression of venom against the prior pope. Just like there isn't much truth in the allegations being leveled at our current pope regarding the sex scandals in the Church. These people are just using whatever ammunition they can find to level it against the Church. They really shouldn't be wasting their time, though; all the forces of hell will not prevail against its gates, so a few journalists with a chip on their shoulder don't have a chance.

The Non Nobis network

Non nobis, non nobis, Domine
Sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

Assuming any of you still read this blog - and I'd be surprised if any of you did - most of my followers weren't here in the US. We've been having a big furor- too big for me to reasonably break it down simply - about the state and future of US healthcare. The major bill in the Senate, which would have allowed, nay, required federal and taxpayer funding for abortions seemed to be inevitable - but it didn't pass the House, and a few brave, committed souls in both branches have said they'll do what they can to keep that provision of the bill out of any legislature. The blog that the title links back to should have enough of a breakdown recently if anyone is actually interested in it.

Anyways, I really should start posting more pictures of my various army paintings. I've been getting them done, slowly but surely, and not as fast as the TOEMP; but the hassle of taking the pictures, uploading them, formatting and posting was more than my lazy bum wanted to do. I'll fix that, soon - one of my company sargeants, my assault marines, my librarian, and some of my assault Terminators need their time in the limelight still.

slight... confusion?

I see obituaries, or just remembrances, posted occasionally- or more than occasionally- in the various catholic blogs I read, asking for a prayer for the repose of his soul. I've usually just said whatever strikes me at the moment- saying the sign of the cross, a hail mary, or something off the cuff and not 'standardized' (I use the term for lack of a better one- like how the 'our father' and such have words already, i just say whatever's on my mind). I need to track down what prayer is recommended for the situation, or if there's one; there may be a specific one I'm just not aware of.

Penance

Food on Fridays
03/28/2009

March 28, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

With a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish, Jesus fed thousands. It was a sign of how he would himself become the Bread of Life, true life for those who believe in him.

We cannot become literally other Christs. [Though by ordination a priest is, when he celebrates Mass for example, alter Christus... ] We can be transformed by his life and be instruments of his life for others. Just as he accomplished salvation through his supreme sacrifice on the cross, we can fulfill our Christian mission through sacrifice. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, fast and care for the poor as types of sacrifice.

Maybe we separate these three activities into distinct functions. Jesus drew them together in feeding the multitude. He took the meager food of the apostles, prayed over it and distributed it to the poor. On Calvary, after a day with no food or drink, he gave his life for us sinners, all the while praying to his Father.

We can do the same in a very simple way. I am inviting the Catholic people of the Diocese of Steubenville to resume the practice of abstaining from meat on all Fridays throughout the year, but with a twist. I am asking that this be not only a penitential practice but also an experience of prayer and service. This can happen by connecting abstinence with our witness to the sacredness of human life. [St. Pope Leo the Great (+461) in his preaching during penitential times always connected fasting to almsgiving. In the ancient Church fasting was not just penitential. It was a dimension of the Christian’s works of mercy.]

The Church teaches, in harmony with divine revelation, that every human life is sacred and inviolable from conception to natural death. Yet, abortion is widely accepted and legalized. Wars abound. Suicide bombings, terrorist attacks and public shootings kill innocent people. Domestic violence, human trafficking, racism, assisted suicide, capital punishment and so many other acts and attitudes degrade what is made in the image of God.

We must continue to teach the truth about life without ceasing and without hesitancy. But actions often speak louder than words. Abstinence from meat on Fridays, for the sake of life, is one such action, especially when done in solidarity with one another. [Remember the distinction in law between abstinence (giving up certain foods) and fasting (cutting back the quantity of food). Both are tools of discipline.]

Abstinence is a form of fasting—a discipline of the body. It can remind us of the beautiful gift of life that God has given to us personally. It can also remind us and each other of how sacred everyone else’s life is. As a public witness, it can be a service to those whose life and human dignity are at risk.

Next to Sunday, Friday has always been a special day in the Catholic Church for prayer. [We Catholics were famous for not eating meat on Fridays. It was part of our identity both for ourselves and Catholics (ad intra) and for the rest of the non-Catholic world (ad extra).] Offering prayer for life—praising God as the source of life and begging him to turn away threats to life—is a fitting addition to abstinence. This prayer can be in the parish setting, in the family or alone. Abstinence itself can be offered consciously as a prayer for life and in reparation for sins against life.

Abstinence can also be service if we eat simple meatless food and donate the financial savings to the poor or to pro-life efforts. [Which would require people a) to do this consciously and b) keep some sort of record. For example, when preparing supper calculate the difference in the cost of the meal if the, say, pork chops were substituted with, say, scrambled eggs.]

The resumption of year-round abstinence in the Diocese of Steubenville will begin after this coming Easter, one week after Good Friday (April 17). Although the practice will not be a requirement of law, and failing to keep it will not constitute a sin, I hope every one who is old enough to receive Holy Communion and well enough to come to church will take it seriously. Our parishes, schools and organizations should provide meatless food at their Friday activities.

Until 1966, Catholics around the world were required to abstain from meat on all Fridays. That year, Pope Paul VI determined that the rules for fasting and abstinence should be set by the various episcopal conferences according to local circumstances. At the same time, he reminded us that doing penance was commanded by Christ himself and is an important part of our spiritual life. [More on this below… a lot more…]

The bishops of the United States eliminated mandatory abstinence from meat on Fridays except during Lent. However, they insisted that all Catholics should observe some penitential practice on Fridays, in remembrance of the Lord’s passion and death, and they highly recommended continuing abstinence from meat. [But…. wait for the coin to drop…. Do they? Do Catholics actually do penance?]

So, the present challenge to the people in our diocese is not really radical. It is a call to what many if not most of us have put aside. And it is a way for us, like the apostles, to give up a little food and help Jesus feed the world. [It’s the Catholic thing to do!]

May God bless you and your sacrifice. May he protect the life he has so lovingly fashioned.

Most Reverend R. Daniel Conlon
Bishop of Steubenville

Abstaining from meat on fridays is difficult for me, since work provides my meals, and the vegetarian entree is a salad. Usually not enough for me, which yes, I realize is the point; it's supposed to be a noticeable, and meaningful, sacrifice. It's a simple enough one to do, and easy enough to remember- but i don't wanna! I guess it'll require more thought, perhaps packing a lunch on Fridays. Problem with that being that I've got Stargate with Richard right beforehand, so temperature-sensitive items won't be happy. Peanut butter and honey sandwiches, maybe?

I didn't know about the penance thing, though, that it was still required- I just thought Mike was awesome for holding meatless Fridays year-round of his own volition. Definitely something to think about, though.

Fr. Z found a good one.

Under another entry commenter "Allan" posted the following, which is worthy of consideration on its own. My emphases and comments.

I’ve been wondering where to post this, but under the theme of “brick by brick” I think there’s a lesson here in not undoing the foundation by pulling out the bricks. [Right. Sometimes people, perhaps in their zeal, harm their causes.]

I took my 14 year old son to his first EF Mass on Easter Sunday. [You know the old phrase about how many chances we have to make a first impression, right?] We sat off by ourselves and were engaged in a quiet pre-Mass discussion (whispers) about the divinity of Christ (14 year olds have a lot of questions, and parents take these opportunities as they come given teenage attention spans).

Well, from long across the church this lady approaches us, speaks directly to my son telling him to “Shhhh!” and hands him a pre-printed card telling the reader it is inappropriate to talk in church and to “Be quiet!” [Wow…. I would be tempted to buy a couple of cases of those, actually. But this delivery was not very well thought through.] Now this lady was nowhere near enough to have actually been able to hear us talking, but clearly lived for the opportunity to hand out these cards and assume control of the church and the people in it. Not exactly a “welcoming” atmosphere.

I explained to my son afterwards that:

1) As his father, it’s my standards of public deportment he needs to worry about, not what some stranger in a church thinks
2) This person was not speaking on behalf of anyone in authority (i.e. was not clergy, a rector, etc.)
3) There was nothing inappropriate about the topic or quiet nature of our conversation
4) One person does not a congregation make: there were a great many people there (well, not too many) who did not (apparently) take exception to us, and the whole congregation should not be judged by the actions of one old lady

I think we should be careful not to remove any bricks during the construction. IMO.

There are a lot of good points to discuss here, so long as you are very careful and really think about what you are tempted to post as a comment.

My comment:

I have been attending Mass with my ex-girlfriend since before she was my ex. My first few times, I had no idea what was going to occur, and so I had questions; I made certain to ask them at times, and volumes, that would not disrupt those around me. However, if I had been treated as the poor child was, given a card and rudely shushed, when I was trying to gain a greater appreciation for what I was witnessing- I would have walked out then and there, and likely not returned. I would not have had the chance for salvation I do now; the holier-than-thou (I believe the term appropriate here) woman would have chased me away from everything. If your prayers, meditation, and faith is such a shaky thing that a potential/recent convert attempting to learn more about the faith they are approaching can disrupt it… does the problem really lie with them?

Five About Holiness - Friday

"Do you have a special person you can talk to about anything?"

I suppose Leah is the closest I have. Greg would be second. Greg, however, I really can't talk to about romantic woes- and Leah I have trouble talking to about woes involving her. Other dilemmas I can bring to her no problem, and she'll give me her insight on the situation. It's becoming harder to bring things to her, though, because sometimes I just can't reach her. I tried talking to her about what she was doing, how unfair it was to Tony, but I couldn't get her to realize what she was doing to him was wrong. She insisted that because there was nothing romantic about it on her side, there was nothing improper to her behavior- and I wasn't strong enough to take a stand myself. I made a choice, but it was the easy choice... and I'm not certain it was the right one. But it's the one I'll stick to until something else changes it- I doubt Tony will be as copacetic as she is. And then she said that she would make him see there was nothing wrong with it. That honestly smacks of hubris- that she was so sure she was right, even though she said she gave consideration to his feelings... that no matter how he stood, she would make him be on her side of it. And she, after that deliberation, decided not to tell him- but not to hide it from him. That's dangerously close to lying by omission.

I tried to make her see that, but she wouldn't. She initially tried to guilt trip me about it, in a quiet way, but quit trying to do that- then simply said she would abide by my decision. The decision wasn't the point- trying to get her to see what she was doing was. But I suppose it's always been a lost cause. I love her, but I can't reach her- and her pride keeps her from seeing her errors. :/

Five about Holiness - Thursday

Can you choose to love someone today who is hard to love?

Yes- I will choose to love my callers, and do everything in my power to help them- even if they are not charitable themselves. They are, after all, my neighbors for a short time- and we didn't get award-winning customer service by being jerks.

Wow. Touching.

So the lady who is always at inquiry laid out a pamphlet of common Catholic prayers at every place this week. I already had one, and said so- so she instead got out a blessed medal of St. Benedict and gave that to me instead. I gave her a hug and nearly cried- then she talked about what it actually meant, how it was the medal used in exorcisms.

Five about Holiness - Wednesday

"Can you think of something that might happen today when you should be ready to ask, 'What would Jesus do?'"

I think I'd get an answer- though not necessarily the right one. I have a lot more to learn about Christ before I'd have anything approaching a right answer- but having him close at hand, and in your thoughts, is a lot more likely to prompt you to take a good action. Even if it isn't necessarily the one he would have done- it means you're trying to be like him, take his teachings into consideration in any situation- and who knows, God may see fit to grant you the answer. Whether or not I'd be able to carry it out is a different story, but hopefully.

Catch-up time.

Wednesday: Can you think of a time when you saw someone who needed help and you didn't help them? How do you feel about that?

There was an old, impaired guy they hired to work at the bookstore- he always had balance issues, and really wasn't that useful. They had him as a janitor to back Gary up, who was fairly old himself. One day I was walking around outside, and he fell over against the bench- I didn't see until he had already fallen, and two or three other people were helping him up. Looking back now, I wish I'd at least stayed to make sure he was okay- I don't think I was in a terribly big hurry, wherever I was going.

Thursday: How will you decorate your Least Coin container?

I didn't know this was going on- I have a little box of pennies from when I used to buy things in cash, I suppose I can donate that. I'll have to check with St. Thomas to see if they do something like that.

Friday: Do you think kids should give money in the collection at church?

Yes, I do- pennies add up, and dollars- if they put a dollar every week, that's nearly $50 per kid. It also sets the habit for them to continue donating as they get older.

Five about Reconciliation

Monday: Can you remember a time when part of you wanted to do the right thing and another part of you just wouldn't give in? How did that feel?

Depressing- I knew what should have been done, but couldn't bring myself to do it.

Tuesday: Can you remember a time when you knew what you should do, but you did the wrong thing anyway? How did that feel?

Yes- it felt terrible. And the aftermath is still plaguing me.

Wednesday: God gives us a choice between good and evil and God wants us to choose. What are you going to choose today?

Good- and I've been choosing it more and more often. That's not to say that I don't still choose bad occasionally- but progress is brick by brick, and I'm improving.

Thursday: Why is not feeling bad when we do bad things dangerous for our soul?

Because it implies a certain level of moral erosion. If we are able to do things without it feeling wrong, then we no longer have God whispering the right choices in our ear. It also means we will be capable of much greater wrongs without feeling bad about them. It means we have gotten distant from God, as well.

Friday: What do you like about going to confession?

I haven't gone yet, but I really look forward to it.

Five About Holiness

Monday: What do you think it would be like to be a saint?

I think it would be wonderful- both before and after the physical death. To be a close, personal friend of Jesus. And after death, to be able to petition to God for intercessory miracles in your name- I do have a bit of a fame complex, and want to be well-known and well-regarded.

Tuesday: Do you think you can choose to do the right thing even if other kids tease you?

It'll be difficult- a large amount of my mental state revolves around other peoples' opinions of me. Hell, I haven't even told Todd or Melanie that I'm converting because I'm afraid of their reactions, and their actions in response to it. Hopefully, once I'm a little stronger in faith myself, I'll be able to stand up for the views that I've recently come into- but for the moment, I need to explore them myself.

Tuesday- almsgiving

it specifically references Matthew, chapter 25, regarding how Jesus said we can get into heaven.

"Ask yourself, 'Do I really believe this?'"

Yes. But I only believe it because it is what Jesus said- I'm still at the stage in my faith journey where I must take everything in faith, and I don't yet know it fully. I have not yet fully internalized things; I don't feel them to my core. However, I feel them, and I can know them- the rest will simply come in time.

Leah said that RCIA, once the actual classes start, will be a bit more structured. That's good- the ladies in inquiry mean well, but the questions they tend to field, I've already asked after and gotten my answers. And when I bring up a serious question, such as baptism in the extraordinary form, they have no good answer. Probably something that I'd be better off asking both one of the priests, and the RCIA instructor about directly. Fr. Patrick just seems more approachable, out of all the ones I've seen say Mass. He's the one who is most energetic in his sermons; he also seems a little more down-to-earth, while still being respectful and... sacred, for lack of a better term, when he says the Mass.

There wasn't a question on Sunday.

Five about Almsgiving

"Is it hard for you to share what you have? Why?"

I have a problem giving money to the homeless; the vast majority of the time, they're comfortable where they are, and my money will go no further than the convenience store. There's a fair number of them who are actually well-off, and beg for change because a) it's fairly profitable, and b) it's not taxable. I don't know of any other way to give to the poor- I could probably volunteer at a soup kitchen, but Leah says there really aren't any in Tempe. I generally wear my clothes out to the point where they wouldn't be any good to a thrift store. I suppose when I buy at a thrift store, I'm technically helping the poor- but I'm also helping myself, at the same time, by getting something I want or need. Though it helps them, it's still not quite charity.

Five About Prayer

"Why do you think it's important to make an appointment to talk to God every day?

There's no short answer to this one- there's a lot of reasons. A major one is to make sure that everything we do, is done for Him. It suggests prayer before bed, in which you can contemplate your day, see how what you did was for Him, and if it wasn't then it gives you a chance to make that right. You can right then apologize for it and be forgiven.

If you no longer pray daily, then God is no longer foremost in your thoughts, and you are more likely to offend him. It's the whole 'out of sight, out of mind' thing; I, at least, need reminders to keep me in the right frame of mind. Once you miss a day, it's easier to miss the next day, and slide away from it entirely.

It also helps deepen our relationship with God- I'm much closer friends with people I talk to every day, versus those I talk to weekly or monthly. It reminds me that He's there in my life, and I will more likely turn to him when I need him, as is only right and proper.

Spectacular.

Riding to work today, I get almost to the last stretch- coming up on University and Priest, only another mile or so to get to work. I hear a weird metal crunch noise from my bike, and the whole thing starts making a grinding noise as it rapidly decelerates. I hop off, inspecting the chain and pedals- both still move freely, and everything seems fine. Figure maybe a gear just got stuck but is fine now, hop back on, same deal- look back, the back axle is at a funny angle to the bike frame. Well, I figure, this has happened before, the back axle broke. Hop off, start walking it the rest of the way- about 10 minutes until my shift starts, and it's about a 15 minute walk.

Waiting at a red light, I look closer, and realize that the frame itself that held the wheel snapped. The part that braced the wheel was still intact, on the right side, but is no longer attached to the rest of the frame- broke in 2 places. So I walked here, was like 7 minutes late, and sat down at my desk. I'm stuck on foot now, for a while, or taking the bus places.

Just the sort of thing that I don't need right now, with being $150 in the hole from overdrafts, and getting my hours cut to 24 a week. I won't even get my 'congrats on your raise' party as a consolation. :(

But things will get better, they always do. Or else we'll get zombies, and I'll get to be all heroic and smart and stuff.

So, onto the daily bit.

"Try this for just a minute or two. Just sit quietly and think about God. Breathe in slowly. Breathe out slowly. Can you do that for one minute? Just...sit."

I tried something like this on the way to work- when I was walking, imagined he was next to me, walking as well, and it lifted my spirits- I was still feeling pretty low. forgot how messy breakups can be, even if the friendship is maintained.

Slacking, need to work harder on this.

"Do you ever pray alone?"

Yes- almost exclusively. I have prayed the Rosary twice, with Leah, and we both happened to be praying at the same time on a couple occasions. But other than at Mass and RCIA, I always pray on my own. I make the distinction because we never pray alone; we have God there with us. So we are never truly alone at all, but most people don't realize that. However, it's aimed at kids, and probably doesn't expect them to take the difference into account.

"What is one good thing about knowing some prayers by heart?"

You have them quick at hand when you need them. At a moment's notice, you can chime in without having to reference anything. Also, if you're praying the Rosary, you can simply follow the beads, put the prayers on automatic, and spend your time meditating on the particular messages that it has to impart.

Leah brought up another point in her 'yay catholics' post about them being weapons of spiritual warfare; and in times of crisis, having the prayer memorized means you're much more familiar with it, as you would be any weapon, and that can make the difference between life and death.

Five About Prayer- monday

"What does it mean to be 'privileged' to pray the liturgy?"

It means several things. First, that the Catholic Church is the only one who has it, and we are lucky to belong to it instead of some other one. Second, it is a celebration of sacred mysteries instituted by God; we flawed mortals are allowed to witness, and even participate, in a miraculous happening. Hmm, I'd thought of some other one but forgot it :/ When I remember, if I do, I'll try and post about it- though nobody is reading this, and may never, I still like to put things down in words, if only to reinforce them to myself.

Second Sunday of Lent

Transfiguration.

"If there is someone you find difficult to like, go to your desert place and ask God to open your eyes and see that person the way God sees him or her."

I suppose this'd be better as a blanket, for me- there's nobody I can think of that I especially can call out, but there's a lot of people that I could treat better if i understood them more. Including myself, I suppose.

Mass this morning was different- sort of bittersweet, because there was a quite obvious space next to me where someone should have been sitting. It got to the point of distracting me from who I was really there for- such will not happen again.

Five About Fasting

Apparently I didn't notice yesterday and forgot to do my regular entry. I'll do it today, instead.

"Today, can you remember not to eat meat and maybe one other favorite food so that you are poor for God?"

Well, I didn't eat meat. It was one of the days where we're provided food, and so I just didn't eat the chicken in that meal- passed it off to Gumby so it wasn't wasted. I think on Fridays I'm also going to fast and only have the one meal a day- honestly, the fasting rules aren't that difficult, and between my desire for holiness, and lack of funds, skipping all but the one meal on fridays will be good for me.

Next Lent I think that I'll fast every day, and not eat anything on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday at all. Along with the no meat on fridays. Hopefully by then I'll be at a job that doesn't quite compromise my soul like this one does. :/

The last Five About Fasting

"Have you had that temptation yet? Can you laugh at it?"

Yes, I have, and yes, I can. Unfortunately, I don't do so often enough, and occasionally succumb. I find it works amazingly well; ridiculing that temptation makes me less likely to give in to it.

RCIA was interesting- we had a gentleman from the RCIA proper join us, and he was able to better answer the Scriptural Protestant (I feel terrible for not remembering her name) and her specific points addressed. Not that the ladies don't do a good job, but they don't always answer the question that is asked- it's as if they're expecting us to be asking a different question that they are ready to answer.

Five About Fasting again

"Is there some behavior you, or maybe you and everyone in your class, could give up for the rest of today, or this week, or even all of Lent? What behavior would that be?"

Well, I'm not currently in classes, so that point isn't applicable. I think I'll give up wasteful spending- when I'm not that hungry, I won't buy a big meal. When I have other commitments for my semi-hard earned cash, I won't splurge and buy more Warhammer minis. This will be made easier on me by my hours getting cut at work- now I'll have less idle money to spend on things I really shouldn't be spending them on.

RCIA inquiry tonight- I'll be able to ask about the washing women's feet business that Leah wouldn't explain. I'm not always happy with the answers they give, which honestly will usually drive me to research them myself. To explain my comment- they will often answer the wrong question; when asked about the Ashes on Ash Wednesday they explained the use of the ashes, not the symbolism behind them, even when asked several times. (I have since found several lovely sites explaining such things.) Leah lamented about the state of knowledge the Church was currently in, where such things were no longer everyone's knowledge, and I can definitely see that being a problem, though I don't have enough experience to make such a claim.