Monthly Archives: October 2012

October 29, 2012 A.D.
Posted by Sofia Guerra

I want to thank all whom are praying for my family and friends who reside at the Jersey Shore. I have gotten mostly texts, but also a few calls to let me know what’s going on…

They are all safe so far, Deo gratias! ALL of them are in the dark since 5pm EST today and even with the high winds they have no idea yet of the extent of the damage outside their doors. I am including photos from Asbury Park, NJ they took late afternoon yesterday and you can see at that time conditions had worsened. I am also including photos from local news in NJ of the damage so far that my family doesn’t know about. Please continue to pray as it is far from over.

Here is the Weather Channel Live on You Tube to view Sandy’s coverage and on the bottom of this page are prayers for times of storms.

Thank you for everything.

 

Photos from Asbury Park New Jersey taken by family members late Sunday at very edge of the storm…

Photos from two neighboring towns near where my family lives on the Jersey Shore…

Videos from Manasquan and Seaside Heights NJ not far from my family on the Jersey Shore…

Lorenzo Langford (D) Mayor of Atlantic City ignores Governor Christie’s warning to leave… (Political? Let’s hope not…)

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Prayer of Blessings Against Storms

strong>Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in Peace. † God became man, † and the Word was made flesh. † Christ was born of a Virgin. † Christ suffered. † Christ was crucified. † Christ died. † Christ rose from the dead. † Christ ascended into Heaven. † Christ conquers. † Christ reigns. † Christ orders. † May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning † Christ went through their midst in Peace, † and the word was made flesh. † Christ is with us with Mary. † Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the Generation of Judah, the Root David, has won. † Holy God! † Holy Powerful God! † Holy Immortal God! † Have mercy on us. Amen!

Prayer to Saint Barbara

Saint Barbara, your courage is much stronger than the forces of hurricanes and the power of lightening. Be always by our side so that we, like you, may face all storms, wars, trials and tribulations with the same fortitude with which you faced yours. O Beautiful Maiden once imprisoned in a high tower, protect us from the lightning and fire that rages in the sky and the discord of war. Keep us alert and protect us from the dangers that surround us. Holy Mary Mother of Jesus intercessor for us all; we pray to assure receiving of the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist at the hour of our death. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.

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Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ
October 28, 2012 A.D.
Posted by Sofia Guerra

Today is the day our Father in Heaven decided that His light would shine on the face of a baby boy who would become one of His own, Reverend Father John Zuhlsdorf. He was born into this world 53 years ago on this day. It is special for him because of today’s important Feast in our Roman Catholic faith. We celebrate Our Lord as King of all and wish blessings for our Father “Z” as he is affectionately known on the Catholic blogosphere.

I am not going to post a bio or explain his accomplishments. We all know him. I want you to click here and go to his site, “What Does the Prayer Really Say?” read what you like and then…make a donation, buy something in his SWAG STORE, shop through his Amazon link and of course, you could always buy some coffee from those wonderful “Carmelite Coffee Monks” in Wyoming through his site.

What a better way to show your appreciation for all his time which he gives to us on the blogosphere. We always want to do something special for our priests, here is our chance. If it’s a tough time financially, then send him an email with a Spiritual Bouquet for him.

Remember to wish him, Felix Dies Natalis (Happy Birthday in Latin)

Is that correct Father? I hope he doesn’t redline me? LOL!

Buon Compleanno Padre!

Sofia and Company
at AlwaysCatholic.com

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October 25, 2012 A.D.

Editor’s Note: In this “Year of Faith” we will be publishing posts from Catholic Bloggers who WE think “GET IT”. We will also continue our reference series with posts directly from the Holy Father and the official site for the Year of Faith for you to bookmark. Please email us (alwayscatholicblog@gmail.com) with any additional suggestions which would contribute to the Year of Faith here at AlwaysCatholic. Today we are publishing a piece from one of our Contributing Bloggers who originally posted it on his blog in July of 2012. This is important to read as you will see how this fits into the Year of Faith.

Reasonable Expectations

by David L. Alexander
at his blog, “Man with Black Hat”

IMAGE: Kathleen Riley, left, and Alison Carroll, right resigned as teachers at Saint Ann’s Sunday School. (Tracy A Woodward/The Washington Post. Used without permission or shame.)

These two women were just featured in the Washington Post. It is one thing to be a fool, but to be proud of making the papers for it — well, that is a major piece of work.

Kathleen Riley knows her beliefs on the male-only priesthood and contraception put her at odds with leaders of her church. But as a fifth-generation Catholic who went to a Catholic school and grew up to teach in one, Riley feels the faith deeply woven through her … Last month, Riley joined at least four other Sunday school teachers and resigned from her post at St. Ann’s parish after a letter arrived at her home requiring her — and all teachers in the Arlington Catholic Diocese — to submit “of will and intellect” to all of the teachings of church leaders.

“I’m just shocked, I can’t believe they’re asking me to sign this,” said Riley, who said she may keep her own children out of the parish education program in the fall. “The bishops are human, and sometimes their judgment is not God’s judgment. We always have to be vigilant about that. The Holy Spirit gives us the responsibility to look into our own consciences.”

Thankfully, the Post has made provision for other voices in this matter. It is not always so generous. Even so, we are obliged to illustrate just what it is that has everyone in an uproar, namely the requirement to sign this: (Emphasis: AlwaysCatholic)

PROFESSION OF FAITH

I, _______________________________________, with firm faith believe and profess each and every thing that is contained in the Symbol of Faith, namely:

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith, I also believe everything contained in the Word of God, whether written or handed down in Tradition, which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing definitively proposed by the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals.

Moreover, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman Pontiff or the College of Bishops enunciate when they exercise their authentic Magisterium, even if they do not intend to proclaim these teachings by a definitive act.

_________________________________________
Signature

Signed under oath before the undersigned on

(month)___________ (day)____ (year)________

_________________________________________
Pastor/Parochial Vicar

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Of course, the complaints are typical: 1) What about my conscience? 2) Why do I owe my bishop my “submission of will and intellect”? 3) Why weren’t we consulted? 4) Why weren’t we given a warning? 5) Why are the requirements so “technical”? (No kidding, someone called them that.)

We are here to provide the answers to these complaints, one at a time.

For David’s response, point by point, please continue after the jump>>> CLICK HERE

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Posted by Sofia Guerra
October 19, 2012 A.D.

Catholic Bloggers today are reviewing the You Tube videos of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial dinner last night with tongue in cheek, but Timothy Cardinal Dolan’s most eloquent remarks NEED to be written about. From 3:56 on in the video is an example of a man who has his opportunity to stand with Truth and he hit a homerun. Attending the dinner with His Eminence in that “A” list room, were the usual suspects…Chris Matthews, Katie Couric and the rest of the elite “UN”faithful to TRUTH. What goes through their minds when they hear Truth? One wonders. I pray for them.

Thank you Your Eminence, for doing the right thing. It would have been easy in front of that crowd to be a people pleaser, to say what they wanted to hear to show what a great guy you are. You delivered the TRUTH in charity…

To all your critics who felt that Obama shouldn’t have been invited, I understand why he was. Timothy Cardinal Dolan knew he would speak truth directly to Obama and his adorers. He knew he was going to speak Truth.

Now I get it.

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by David L. Alexander
at his blog, ManwithBlackHat
October 18,2012 A.D.

CONCERNING THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN TO THE DIACONATE

“In 1976, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its declaration Inter Insigniores, against the possibility of ordaining women to the ministerial priesthood. A commentary which accompanied the decree confessed to having passed over the issue of women deacons because ‘it is a question which must be taken up fully by direct study of the texts, without preconceived ideas’ … There have been numerous works on the question of deaconesses in Catholic academia, some of them dating to the 17th century. Closer to the present … there has been a ‘sleeper’ movement of sorts to consider the revival of a female diaconate. This gained attention recently … What follows, then, is a brief historical sketch of women in the diaconate, with an emphasis on some of the most common misconceptions …” (continued) Please click HERE to go to MWBH for the rest of his piece.

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Editor’s Note: Mr. Alexander has written several articles which are scholarly responses with operational answers to certain difficult questions in the Church at this time in our history. His attempt to meld the academic with the profound and the pragmatic is being received in circles both clerical and the lay state with much acclaim. We are proud here at Always Catholic that Mr.Alexander shares perhaps the best of his latest works with Always Catholic Blog first.

His “response” is to the rumblings within feminist circles who fancy themselves a “sleeper” movement as he describes within the article. In addition, he answers the retired Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre, New York, the Most Reverend Emil Wcela whose article, “Why Not Women?” graced the pages of “America” magazine on October 1, 2012. Bishop Wcela held the party line on the question with supporters from America weekly whom were more than pleased to have His Excellency state the case for them.

Mr. Alexander, however, stands with Holy Mother Church as he stresses the history behind the case. I am sure from my comments, all can deduce where I stand on this matter. It does not matter what I think, it is what the Church, protected by the Holy Spirit decides. I, myself, like Mr. Alexander stand with the Church as this topic is bandied about intellectual circles and on the pages of the Catholic blogosphere as if we are the ones entrusted with this decision. Thankfully, we are not.

Kudos, Mr. Alexander for having the guts to take on issues not comfortable for most people to discuss and showing us, as usual that the Church, Her history and reason, illuminated and guided by the Holy Spirit NEVER gets it wrong.

Sofia Guerra
Editor, AlwaysCatholic Blog

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by Lisa Graas
at her blog, CatholicBandita.com
October 15, 2012 A.D.

Regular readers know that it particularly pains me when I see Catholic bloggers referring to people as “gay,” because our identity is in Christ, not in disorder. (See here.) It is clear that this argument about identity, that we are supposed to find our identity in what God has called us to be, is falling on deaf ears, for the most part. Perhaps it is time to bring up another point, and that is that chastity is internal. It is a virtue. A demand that the “gay” identity be defended is an argument against chastity.It is the same as arguing that it is okay for a person with same-sex attraction to put a condom over his heart in his relationship with Christ.

Chastity, from the Catholic Dictionary, by Fr. John Hardon:

The virtue that moderates the desire for sexual pleasure according to the principles of faith and right reason. In married people, chastity moderates the desire in conformity with their state of life; in unmarried people who wish to marry, the desire is moderated by abstention until (or unless) they get married; in those who resolve not to marry, the desire is sacrificed entirely.

St. Agnes of Rome, to a rich suitor: “I am already the spouse of a Lover much more noble and powerful than you.” This was a reference to Jesus Christ. St. Agnes is a patron saint for chastity and her name appears in the Roman Missal.

Chastity and purity, modesty and decency are comparable in that they have the basic meaning of freedom from whatever is lewd or salacious. Yet they also differ. Chastity implies an opposition to the immoral in the sense of lustful or licentious. It suggests refraining from all acts or thoughts that are not in accordance with the Church’s teaching about the use of one’s reproductive powers. It particularly stresses restraint and an avoidance of anything that might defile or make unclean the soul because the body has not been controlled in the exercise of its most imperious passion. (Etym. Latin castus, morally pure, unstained.)

Marc Barnes offers the latest example of insistence that the “gay” identity be embraced and, remarkably, he goes the extra mile by saying that Warhol’s identifying as “gay” was “a laudable feat.”

Now truly, Mr. Warhol was openly, undeniably gay, a laudable feat in a time less friendly to men with same-sex attraction.

Dawn Eden, author of My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints, writes a response to him citing Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. She also mentions identity.

Andy Warhol spent a lifetime creating works of “art” that consisted in “removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties.” And now he is a role model of intentional celibacy? Is this where promoting the “gay Catholic” label leads? If so, I can’t help but believe that Daniel Mattson is right when he writes that the claim for such a thing as “gay Catholic” identity does not do justice to the Church’s teaching of the fundamental identity of the human person as a child of God in Jesus Christ.

My take on this as a celibate person myself is that those who claim that Andy Warhol was a model of celibacy must have no idea whatsoever what it is to be celibate as a Catholic. None. Zero. Chastity does not deal only with external sexual acts. Chastity is a virtue that includes fertility. Chastity from celibate Catholics is “a singular source of spiritual fertility in the world.” [Lisa sooooo gets it!] Sofia’s comment…

For the rest of the post please continue after the jump>>>>to >HERE!