The Crowning of Mary and of Us

Note: I usually park my poems on my Falling Plum Poetry blog, but I decided this one deserved a mention here as well.

May is the time
of May Crownings
and First Communions,
of blossoms
and of light,
bringing forth the delicious awareness
of the exceptional distinction
of being young,
and female,
and Catholic.

Lace and tulle bedecked,
with veils and crowns,
we share our unique significance
with the Mother of God!

With her we come forward
to receive Our Lord--
our innocent "yes"
facilitating the union--

God alive
in us.

The feelings fade
over time
but come back
in waves

like labor,

giving birth
to a long forgotten longing

and in dreams
that visit
when day time defenses
are asleep,

and call us back
to live

our ancient, created value.

The Crowning of Mary and of Us

Note: I usually park my poems on my Falling Plum Poetry blog, but I decided this one deserved a mention here as well.

May is the time
of May Crownings
and First Communions,
of blossoms
and of light,
bringing forth the delicious awareness
of the exceptional distinction
of being young,
and female,
and Catholic.

Lace and tulle bedecked,
with veils and crowns,
we share our unique significance
with the Mother of God!

With her we come forward
to receive Our Lord--
our innocent "yes"
facilitating the union--

God alive
in us.

The feelings fade
over time
but come back
in waves

like labor,

giving birth
to a long forgotten longing

and in dreams
that visit
when day time defenses
are asleep,

and call us back
to live

our ancient, created value.

is it bad luck
when a vulture crosses
your path?

Techology and Saint Benedict

Well, I'm back. My break from the world of technology was very eye opening. The internet now is what television once was--a medium capable of sucking the life right out of life. As people have very rightly pointed out to me, the difference is that the internet is rife with knowledge--and knowledge that we can, in some senses, control. True, but it is also full of potential past times that are addicting and can easily cause the better part of a day to go up in electronic smoke.

The solution is, as always, the difficult one. Balance a la St. Benedict. Ora et Labora. Prayer and work. Sigh. Even before the internet (or tv, or books) people were crying out for a balance in life that would allow them to see God in the midst of everyday drugery. St. Benedict's solution was not to pile on extreme outside mortifications, but to allow the Lord to speak through the every day. A bit like St. Therese's "Little Way". Let the daily grind point you to Heaven. Offer up the little annoyances, and fulfill your state in life as a way to give tribute to the God who created you.

Techology and Saint Benedict

Well, I'm back. My break from the world of technology was very eye opening. The internet now is what television once was--a medium capable of sucking the life right out of life. As people have very rightly pointed out to me, the difference is that the internet is rife with knowledge--and knowledge that we can, in some senses, control. True, but it is also full of potential past times that are addicting and can easily cause the better part of a day to go up in electronic smoke.

The solution is, as always, the difficult one. Balance a la St. Benedict. Ora et Labora. Prayer and work. Sigh. Even before the internet (or tv, or books) people were crying out for a balance in life that would allow them to see God in the midst of everyday drugery. St. Benedict's solution was not to pile on extreme outside mortifications, but to allow the Lord to speak through the every day. A bit like St. Therese's "Little Way". Let the daily grind point you to Heaven. Offer up the little annoyances, and fulfill your state in life as a way to give tribute to the God who created you.

Just in Time--Whew!

I found out JUST IN TIME that this coming week is Digital Detox Week for 2009.

Adbusters challenges you to do the unthinkable: unplug. Say good-bye to Twitter and Facebook. Turn off your TV, iPhone and Xbox. For seven days, reconnect with the natural world and the people around you. You’ll be amazed at how the magic creeps back into your life. Don’t be afraid and don’t find excuses, just take the plunge and see what happens.

Spring has arrived here in the Northern Hemisphere. Easter has happened. We Christians are celebrating Jesus conquering sin and death. It is time to unplug and live life for real for a change. Get out there!! Meet real people!

So, in honor of Digital Detox week, I will not be posting to my blog, going on Facebook or going on the computer this week, except for work related activities. I have recently been re-evaluating my technology use and I think its time for a change of habit.

See you all (maybe) after the detox!

Just in Time--Whew!

I found out JUST IN TIME that this coming week is Digital Detox Week for 2009.

Adbusters challenges you to do the unthinkable: unplug. Say good-bye to Twitter and Facebook. Turn off your TV, iPhone and Xbox. For seven days, reconnect with the natural world and the people around you. You’ll be amazed at how the magic creeps back into your life. Don’t be afraid and don’t find excuses, just take the plunge and see what happens.

Spring has arrived here in the Northern Hemisphere. Easter has happened. We Christians are celebrating Jesus conquering sin and death. It is time to unplug and live life for real for a change. Get out there!! Meet real people!

So, in honor of Digital Detox week, I will not be posting to my blog, going on Facebook or going on the computer this week, except for work related activities. I have recently been re-evaluating my technology use and I think its time for a change of habit.

See you all (maybe) after the detox!

Seven Deadly Sins

This is one of a series of YouTube vids by PresbyterGeorge, a priest in the Orthodox Church. In this one, he explains the Seven Deadly Sins (or "passions") clearly and quickly, showing how they are related to each other. Excellent!

Seven Deadly Sins

This is one of a series of YouTube vids by PresbyterGeorge, a priest in the Orthodox Church. In this one, he explains the Seven Deadly Sins (or "passions") clearly and quickly, showing how they are related to each other. Excellent!

The Lord is a God of Mercy

Tomorrow is the Feast of Divine Mercy. This is a fairly new devotion in the Western Church, but the concept has been part of Eastern Catholic Spirituality for centuries. The Trisagion Prayer, prayed as part of the Byzantine Prayers of the Divine Liturgy is used in this chaplet:

Holy God
Holy Mighty
Holy Immortal
Have mercy on us.

I think God is using Saint Faustina (to whom Jesus gave this spirituality, devotion, and chaplet), to bring together the East and the West--to allow the Church, as John Paul II said, to "breathe with both lungs."

The misguided Western focus on God's justice as necessitating an abusive type of "punishment" to a humanity that can never hope to deserve otherwise, has been seen by some in Eastern Christianity as causing many to reject the possible existence of a God at all, when, instead, "justice" in Scripture is more properly translated as "mercy."

God's justice is not a blind justice with no power to save us from ourselves. It is quite the opposite. God's justice is love, mercy and salvation from the power of sin and its consequence, death. Jesus is not "saving" us from God and His punishment. Jesus died on the cross to save us from the logical consequences of our own wrong choices--Sin and DEATH.

Jesus' message was one of truly "Good News". Look at the parable of the prodigal son. The father in Jesus' story, representing God the Father, rushes out to his wayward son, who has just spent his share of his father's lifetime of hard work, and welcomes him, literally, with open arms. In another parable, Jesus tells of the owner of a vineyard who pays the workers hired late in the day the same (fair) wage as those who have been working all day. Is that "just" in the human sense of the word? No. Is that "fair"? No. But that is how much Our Lord loves us. He wants us to be one with Him. He does not want us to suffer in sin. He wants to pour out His endless and eternal mercy on us all.

The video below is by Steve Silvia and pairs the song "Breathe" with information on the Catholic devotion to God's Divine Mercy.

The Lord is a God of Mercy

Tomorrow is the Feast of Divine Mercy. This is a fairly new devotion in the Western Church, but the concept has been part of Eastern Catholic Spirituality for centuries. The Trisagion Prayer, prayed as part of the Byzantine Prayers of the Divine Liturgy is used in this chaplet:

Holy God
Holy Mighty
Holy Immortal
Have mercy on us.

I think God is using Saint Faustina (to whom Jesus gave this spirituality, devotion, and chaplet), to bring together the East and the West--to allow the Church, as John Paul II said, to "breathe with both lungs."

The misguided Western focus on God's justice as necessitating an abusive type of "punishment" to a humanity that can never hope to deserve otherwise, has been seen by some in Eastern Christianity as causing many to reject the possible existence of a God at all, when, instead, "justice" in Scripture is more properly translated as "mercy."

God's justice is not a blind justice with no power to save us from ourselves. It is quite the opposite. God's justice is love, mercy and salvation from the power of sin and its consequence, death. Jesus is not "saving" us from God and His punishment. Jesus died on the cross to save us from the logical consequences of our own wrong choices--Sin and DEATH.

Jesus' message was one of truly "Good News". Look at the parable of the prodigal son. The father in Jesus' story, representing God the Father, rushes out to his wayward son, who has just spent his share of his father's lifetime of hard work, and welcomes him, literally, with open arms. In another parable, Jesus tells of the owner of a vineyard who pays the workers hired late in the day the same (fair) wage as those who have been working all day. Is that "just" in the human sense of the word? No. Is that "fair"? No. But that is how much Our Lord loves us. He wants us to be one with Him. He does not want us to suffer in sin. He wants to pour out His endless and eternal mercy on us all.

The video below is by Steve Silvia and pairs the song "Breathe" with information on the Catholic devotion to God's Divine Mercy.

Blog News

For the jillions and jillions of you who follow Sweetie's blog, I have decided to add the last date she has updated it on the title over the link on the sidebar. She updated it today.

Enjoy!

Blog News

For the jillions and jillions of you who follow Sweetie's blog, I have decided to add the last date she has updated it on the title over the link on the sidebar. She updated it today.

Enjoy!

Fred Astaire Friday

Fred took a break last week for Good Friday, but he's back today in Daddy Longlegs with Leslie Caron. Definitely has a modern feel.

Fred Astaire Friday

Fred took a break last week for Good Friday, but he's back today in Daddy Longlegs with Leslie Caron. Definitely has a modern feel.

Watch out! You may be a right wing extremist!

Sorry for the delay in posting this week's Wednesday Outrageous Watch.

It is being reported that the Department of Homeland Security has issued a new document warning law enforcement about a possible new upsurge in "Right Wing Extremism". Their definition of "right wing extremism" however, is troubling.

Among the groups the Federal Government is keeping an eye on:

• (Those who go about) rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority. (Report, page 2)
  

• (Those who) are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and citizenship... and restrictions on firearms ownership and use. (Report, page 3)
  

• It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration. (Report, page 2)

The DHS report lumps the above groups with actual extremist groups that *should* be watched, such as those based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups such as Anti-Semitic extremists.

To lump those dedicated to the pro-life cause, those who are in favor of more local government and less federal government, and those who disagree with the administration's policies on issues such as immigration and gun control in with those groups who use violence and spread hatred is restrictive, propagandistic and extremist in and of itself.

We have freedom of opinion in this country. We are free to vote for, or against, anyone or any party that we choose. We are free to speak our minds on all kinds of issues. Disagreeing with the current administration is not extremist, and it is not even necessarily right wing.

A current democratically elected government having to stoop to such tactics boggles the mind.

And we thought Nixon was paranoid.

Watch out! You may be a right wing extremist!

Sorry for the delay in posting this week's Wednesday Outrageous Watch.

It is being reported that the Department of Homeland Security has issued a new document warning law enforcement about a possible new upsurge in "Right Wing Extremism". Their definition of "right wing extremism" however, is troubling.

Among the groups the Federal Government is keeping an eye on:

• (Those who go about) rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority. (Report, page 2)
  

• (Those who) are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and citizenship... and restrictions on firearms ownership and use. (Report, page 3)
  

• It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration. (Report, page 2)

The DHS report lumps the above groups with actual extremist groups that *should* be watched, such as those based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups such as Anti-Semitic extremists.

To lump those dedicated to the pro-life cause, those who are in favor of more local government and less federal government, and those who disagree with the administration's policies on issues such as immigration and gun control in with those groups who use violence and spread hatred is restrictive, propagandistic and extremist in and of itself.

We have freedom of opinion in this country. We are free to vote for, or against, anyone or any party that we choose. We are free to speak our minds on all kinds of issues. Disagreeing with the current administration is not extremist, and it is not even necessarily right wing.

A current democratically elected government having to stoop to such tactics boggles the mind.

And we thought Nixon was paranoid.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The Essential Nature of Holy Saturday

On Good Friday, Jesus dies on the Cross for our sins. On Easter, He arises, and we rejoice.

What happens on Holy Saturday? What place, spiritually, does it have in our Christian journey?

Holy Saturday is a time of waiting...recovering...being alone...being in the darkness...questioning and wondering why this horrific death had to occur. It is painful and lonely, but it is necessary.

Many saints of the Church have talked about "the dark night of the soul". That time of spiritual dryness, when Our Lord takes away all the sweet consolations we first had at the time of our conversion, is necessary for spiritual growth.

Few, if any, of us would *choose* painful and difficult times, and yet, they come. They come and we resist. We rebel. We do not want to have to experience them. We try to overcome difficult times on our own, and, often end up numb to all feelings and closed to all joy.

Jesus' three days in the tomb are symbolic of our own lives and our own spiritual journeys. We have the time when we feel Jesus walking by our side. We can speak to him. He is with us, communicating with us daily.

Then, it seems, He is gone. He is in a dark tomb and all the joy seems over. All we see is a stone, too big for us to move.

What is happening? Jesus is working in a way we can not imagine. Our Lord's apostles saw Him die on the cross. That first Holy Saturday must have been an agonizingly lonely time for them.

What was really happening, while His body laid in the tomb? The Church tells us that Christ was, at that very moment, announcing His victory over death to those faithful who came before Him and hoped for the coming of the savior.

God is working in our lives, even during the trying times--even during the dry times. In order to get to the Resurrection, we must experience the tomb.

The Essential Nature of Holy Saturday

On Good Friday, Jesus dies on the Cross for our sins. On Easter, He arises, and we rejoice.

What happens on Holy Saturday? What place, spiritually, does it have in our Christian journey?

Holy Saturday is a time of waiting...recovering...being alone...being in the darkness...questioning and wondering why this horrific death had to occur. It is painful and lonely, but it is necessary.

Many saints of the Church have talked about "the dark night of the soul". That time of spiritual dryness, when Our Lord takes away all the sweet consolations we first had at the time of our conversion, is necessary for spiritual growth.

Few, if any, of us would *choose* painful and difficult times, and yet, they come. They come and we resist. We rebel. We do not want to have to experience them. We try to overcome difficult times on our own, and, often end up numb to all feelings and closed to all joy.

Jesus' three days in the tomb are symbolic of our own lives and our own spiritual journeys. We have the time when we feel Jesus walking by our side. We can speak to him. He is with us, communicating with us daily.

Then, it seems, He is gone. He is in a dark tomb and all the joy seems over. All we see is a stone, too big for us to move.

What is happening? Jesus is working in a way we can not imagine. Our Lord's apostles saw Him die on the cross. That first Holy Saturday must have been an agonizingly lonely time for them.

What was really happening, while His body laid in the tomb? The Church tells us that Christ was, at that very moment, announcing His victory over death to those faithful who came before Him and hoped for the coming of the savior.

God is working in our lives, even during the trying times--even during the dry times. In order to get to the Resurrection, we must experience the tomb.

Easter Baking (cross posted in World of Mothers)

A while ago, I posted a bread recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. Today, I discovered that the same site has a recipe for Hot Cross Buns!! I've never made them, and for some reason, even though my son has grown up and moved out, I've become inspired to try them this year.

The Artisan Bread site says to start with Brioche Dough and add the following:

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon all-spice

1 cup currants

2 teaspoons orange zest.

Make sure it is chilled enough to handle easily. Break off a 1 lb., grapefruit sized piece of dough, and cut into 8 equal sized balls. Make a cross on each. (There are various ways to do this--I think cutting into the bun with a knife is the easiest.

Bake for 20 minutes, remove, and brush with honey. Pipe icing on top of each bun in the form of a cross.

The Artisan Bread site has more complex directions and other variations that you will want to check out.

Something else I tend to forget, is that Hot Cross Buns are apparently a Good Friday tradition in some places.

On Holy Saturday, I usually make a large amount of bread dough, divide into thirds, braid, and tuck in RAW, COLORED eggs equidistantly around the wreath. Bake, and the eggs will cook and make a beautiful Easter Wreath. Lay on a round tray lined with Easter Grass and decorate as you like.

Happy Easter Baking!!!

Easter Baking (cross posted in World of Mothers)

A while ago, I posted a bread recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. Today, I discovered that the same site has a recipe for Hot Cross Buns!! I've never made them, and for some reason, even though my son has grown up and moved out, I've become inspired to try them this year.

The Artisan Bread site says to start with Brioche Dough and add the following:

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon all-spice

1 cup currants

2 teaspoons orange zest.

Make sure it is chilled enough to handle easily. Break off a 1 lb., grapefruit sized piece of dough, and cut into 8 equal sized balls. Make a cross on each. (There are various ways to do this--I think cutting into the bun with a knife is the easiest.

Bake for 20 minutes, remove, and brush with honey. Pipe icing on top of each bun in the form of a cross.

The Artisan Bread site has more complex directions and other variations that you will want to check out.

Something else I tend to forget, is that Hot Cross Buns are apparently a Good Friday tradition in some places.

On Holy Saturday, I usually make a large amount of bread dough, divide into thirds, braid, and tuck in RAW, COLORED eggs equidistantly around the wreath. Bake, and the eggs will cook and make a beautiful Easter Wreath. Lay on a round tray lined with Easter Grass and decorate as you like.

Happy Easter Baking!!!

Holy Thursday

Today is about Our Lord's Body and Blood, given to us at that first Mass on that first Holy Thursday. It is about being fed by Our Lord, not in a comfortable, numbing way, but in a real and truly spiritual way, and in being given the strength to serve Him according to our station in life.

Challenging times in life make us realize that only in God will our souls truly be at rest, and, only in Him will we find our true strength.

Prayer before receiving Jesus
by St. Thomas Aquinas

Almighty and ever-living God, I approach the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I come sick to the doctor of life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the radiance of eternal light, and poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Holy Thursday

Today is about Our Lord's Body and Blood, given to us at that first Mass on that first Holy Thursday. It is about being fed by Our Lord, not in a comfortable, numbing way, but in a real and truly spiritual way, and in being given the strength to serve Him according to our station in life.

Challenging times in life make us realize that only in God will our souls truly be at rest, and, only in Him will we find our true strength.

Prayer before receiving Jesus
by St. Thomas Aquinas

Almighty and ever-living God, I approach the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I come sick to the doctor of life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the radiance of eternal light, and poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Is This the Change You Want?

In what the Washington Times calls "a shocking display of fealty" President Obama bowed before Saudi Arabian King Abdullah in London last week. The Times also called the bow an "extraordinary protocol violation".

This does not seem to matter to President Obama, who seems determined to do things as he sees fit, following neither diplomatic nor legal protocol.

Traveling down these uncharted waters is a dangerous thing in a world where symbolism matters and resources are scarce.

Once again, either Mr. Obama is woefully ignorant, incredibly inexperienced, or unbelievably arrogant.

Is This the Change You Want?

In what the Washington Times calls "a shocking display of fealty" President Obama bowed before Saudi Arabian King Abdullah in London last week. The Times also called the bow an "extraordinary protocol violation".

This does not seem to matter to President Obama, who seems determined to do things as he sees fit, following neither diplomatic nor legal protocol.

Traveling down these uncharted waters is a dangerous thing in a world where symbolism matters and resources are scarce.

Once again, either Mr. Obama is woefully ignorant, incredibly inexperienced, or unbelievably arrogant.

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

For years and years, I have disliked the Gospel reading for Palm Sunday. I never felt comfortable reading the parts of the Gospel where the congregation reads aloud the people questioning the use of the perfumed oil used by the woman to anoint our Lord, persecuting Peter for having followed Christ, and crying out for Christ's own death.

This year, though, I think I appreciate in a new way why the Church has the congregation read those portions of the Gospel on this day.

Do we not wag our fingers and shake our heads as we gossip about people who we are jealous of? Do we not roll our eyes at someone who is perhaps, doing a better job of following Christ's teachings than we are? Do we not choose expedience, ease and evil over good every day in this country?

We *need* to see ourselves as we are--guilty of the Lord's Passion and Death by our decisions to turn towards sin and away from His love.

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

For years and years, I have disliked the Gospel reading for Palm Sunday. I never felt comfortable reading the parts of the Gospel where the congregation reads aloud the people questioning the use of the perfumed oil used by the woman to anoint our Lord, persecuting Peter for having followed Christ, and crying out for Christ's own death.

This year, though, I think I appreciate in a new way why the Church has the congregation read those portions of the Gospel on this day.

Do we not wag our fingers and shake our heads as we gossip about people who we are jealous of? Do we not roll our eyes at someone who is perhaps, doing a better job of following Christ's teachings than we are? Do we not choose expedience, ease and evil over good every day in this country?

We *need* to see ourselves as we are--guilty of the Lord's Passion and Death by our decisions to turn towards sin and away from His love.

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month!!

From time immemorial, mankind has endeavored to express himself through the sung, spoken or written word. These days, poetry is written, typed, blogged, recited, chanted, sung, slammed, and illustrated in innumerable ways.

An example of a newer method of sharing poetry is Poetry Visualized, where poets illustrate their poetry visually, through film.

Here's one I've posted before, but I like it too much to pass it up. It is "Forgetfulness" by Bill Collins.



My own poetry can be found on Falling Plum Poetry and Karumi Garden Poetry.

Make time this month to sit back and savor some poetry.

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month!!

From time immemorial, mankind has endeavored to express himself through the sung, spoken or written word. These days, poetry is written, typed, blogged, recited, chanted, sung, slammed, and illustrated in innumerable ways.

An example of a newer method of sharing poetry is Poetry Visualized, where poets illustrate their poetry visually, through film.

Here's one I've posted before, but I like it too much to pass it up. It is "Forgetfulness" by Bill Collins.



My own poetry can be found on Falling Plum Poetry and Karumi Garden Poetry.

Make time this month to sit back and savor some poetry.

Pearls from God

I've lately gotten an "image" of pearls in my prayer life. An internet friend recently told me about the "Pearls of Life" devotion which was developed by a Lutheran Bishop. Each bead on the bracelet has a different focus for prayer. There is The God Pearl, the Pearls of Silence, The I Pearl, The Baptism Pearl, The Desert Pearl, The Serenity Pearl, The Love Pearls, The Mystery Pearls, The Night Pearl, and the Resurrection Pearl.

I was listening to Mother Angelica the other day in the car, and she was talking about difficult people in your life being ways God uses to get you to heaven. She said something that I mistook for the word "pearls" and I immediately got this image of the difficult person "giving" me pearls--opportunities for growth in virtue. (Remember, pearls are born of irritation inside the shell of an oyster.) This really helped me the next time I've had to deal with this person--its been almost every day this week, in fact. So it seems that "pearl" is the word of the week from Our Lord.

Pearls from God

I've lately gotten an "image" of pearls in my prayer life. An internet friend recently told me about the "Pearls of Life" devotion which was developed by a Lutheran Bishop. Each bead on the bracelet has a different focus for prayer. There is The God Pearl, the Pearls of Silence, The I Pearl, The Baptism Pearl, The Desert Pearl, The Serenity Pearl, The Love Pearls, The Mystery Pearls, The Night Pearl, and the Resurrection Pearl.

I was listening to Mother Angelica the other day in the car, and she was talking about difficult people in your life being ways God uses to get you to heaven. She said something that I mistook for the word "pearls" and I immediately got this image of the difficult person "giving" me pearls--opportunities for growth in virtue. (Remember, pearls are born of irritation inside the shell of an oyster.) This really helped me the next time I've had to deal with this person--its been almost every day this week, in fact. So it seems that "pearl" is the word of the week from Our Lord.

Fred Astaire Friday

Fred Astaire shows his talent for making inanimate objects come alive.

Fred Astaire Friday

Fred Astaire shows his talent for making inanimate objects come alive.

Comment Moderation

Because of repeated spam comments on more than one of my blogs, I am putting them on comment moderation. I will be approving comments before they are posted. This is in no way to discourage comments--please keep commenting. But spam comments will no longer be allowed.

Comment Moderation

Because of repeated spam comments on more than one of my blogs, I am putting them on comment moderation. I will be approving comments before they are posted. This is in no way to discourage comments--please keep commenting. But spam comments will no longer be allowed.

Tax Day Tea Party

Are you Taxed Enough Already? Tired of the insane government spending while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet? "Tea'd off" at the government? Take back America. Stand up for the Constitution. See if there is a Tax Day Tea Party in your state.

Tax Day Tea Party

Are you Taxed Enough Already? Tired of the insane government spending while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet? "Tea'd off" at the government? Take back America. Stand up for the Constitution. See if there is a Tax Day Tea Party in your state.

One thing the president and I agree on:

I read this quote from Barack Obama today and realized that I heartily agree with him on this!

"There's one last thing that I should mention that I love about Great Britain, and that is the Queen, what the Queen stands for and her decency and her civility, what she represents, that's very important."

One thing the president and I agree on:

I read this quote from Barack Obama today and realized that I heartily agree with him on this!

"There's one last thing that I should mention that I love about Great Britain, and that is the Queen, what the Queen stands for and her decency and her civility, what she represents, that's very important."

Wednesday Outrageous Watch

Today's Wednesday outrageous watch features none other than Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. CNA reports that Mrs. Clinton visited Mexico on March 27, 2009 to accept the Margaret Sanger award from Planned Parenthood. (Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, was a eugenicist who believed that the handicapped, the poor and African Americans were "human waste" whose "stocks" needed to be "eliminated" and that charitable programs "tend(s) to render them to a menacing degree dominant".)

In what could be interpreted as a planned stop to quiet Catholics made uncomfortable by the raison d'etre of her Mexico visit, Clinton stopped by the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and left a bouquet of white flowers "on behalf of the American people" in front of the image of the Mother of Jesus that Catholics believe was created miraculously during an apparition of Mary to St. Juan Diego in 1531.

Mrs. Clinton turned to Msgr. Diego Monroy, the rector of the Basilica, and asked, "Who painted it?" Wisely, Msgr. Monroy replied, "God!"

The Secretary of State's question revealed a couple of possible things. It could have shown her lack of belief in the miraculous nature of the image. That's fine. She has every right not to believe. Even Catholics are not required to believe in apparitions--even Church approved ones, like this one is.

It also, however, could have shown her lack of knowledge about the story behind the Mexican apparition. This shows a deficit on the part of her staff. Apparently she wasn't briefed ahead of time on the background of the image in the Basilica and its importance to the Mexican people.

This puzzling deficiency in researching the background of a planned stop during a trip abroad for a sitting Secretary of State leads one to ponder the reason. Perhaps her staff is incompetent. That's hard to believe for someone who has been in circles of power for as long as Hillary Clinton has. If it is just a staff oversight, and I were her, heads would roll.

The other possibility could be that the long held beliefs of a predominantly Catholic country were just so unimportant as to be off the radar screen of Mrs. Clinton and her staff entirely. This is mind boggling given the fact that Hillary Clinton is Secretary of State of the United States--a position that requires diplomacy towards various cultures other than our own. The fact that Mrs. Clinton is, in all possibility a non-believer in Catholic apparitions, is, therefore, no excuse for her insensitive remarks given the fact that part of her job is to show respect for the cultures, traditions and beliefs of the countries she visits. Imagine making a similar statement to a member of the clergy of another religion (Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim...) in light of that religion's similar belief!

Even without my vehement disagreement on almost all positions taken by Hillary Clinton, this latest gaff leaves me concerned as to her personal qualifications to represent the United States abroad.

Wednesday Outrageous Watch

Today's Wednesday outrageous watch features none other than Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. CNA reports that Mrs. Clinton visited Mexico on March 27, 2009 to accept the Margaret Sanger award from Planned Parenthood. (Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, was a eugenicist who believed that the handicapped, the poor and African Americans were "human waste" whose "stocks" needed to be "eliminated" and that charitable programs "tend(s) to render them to a menacing degree dominant".)

In what could be interpreted as a planned stop to quiet Catholics made uncomfortable by the raison d'etre of her Mexico visit, Clinton stopped by the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and left a bouquet of white flowers "on behalf of the American people" in front of the image of the Mother of Jesus that Catholics believe was created miraculously during an apparition of Mary to St. Juan Diego in 1531.

Mrs. Clinton turned to Msgr. Diego Monroy, the rector of the Basilica, and asked, "Who painted it?" Wisely, Msgr. Monroy replied, "God!"

The Secretary of State's question revealed a couple of possible things. It could have shown her lack of belief in the miraculous nature of the image. That's fine. She has every right not to believe. Even Catholics are not required to believe in apparitions--even Church approved ones, like this one is.

It also, however, could have shown her lack of knowledge about the story behind the Mexican apparition. This shows a deficit on the part of her staff. Apparently she wasn't briefed ahead of time on the background of the image in the Basilica and its importance to the Mexican people.

This puzzling deficiency in researching the background of a planned stop during a trip abroad for a sitting Secretary of State leads one to ponder the reason. Perhaps her staff is incompetent. That's hard to believe for someone who has been in circles of power for as long as Hillary Clinton has. If it is just a staff oversight, and I were her, heads would roll.

The other possibility could be that the long held beliefs of a predominantly Catholic country were just so unimportant as to be off the radar screen of Mrs. Clinton and her staff entirely. This is mind boggling given the fact that Hillary Clinton is Secretary of State of the United States--a position that requires diplomacy towards various cultures other than our own. The fact that Mrs. Clinton is, in all possibility a non-believer in Catholic apparitions, is, therefore, no excuse for her insensitive remarks given the fact that part of her job is to show respect for the cultures, traditions and beliefs of the countries she visits. Imagine making a similar statement to a member of the clergy of another religion (Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim...) in light of that religion's similar belief!

Even without my vehement disagreement on almost all positions taken by Hillary Clinton, this latest gaff leaves me concerned as to her personal qualifications to represent the United States abroad.