An election year whine

I haven't written about politics in a long time, but its getting to be that time again and I am realizing something about myself.

I'm getting tired of feeling that, as a pro-life person, I *have* to vote for a Republican just because the party has a "pro-life" platform. I feel like I'm being backed into a corner in every election, and that I can't make a real decision as to whom to vote for--I just have to vote knee-jerk Republican down the line. I also feel like the Republican party knows that many of us feel we have to vote Republican because of our pro-life views, and they are taking advantage of that.

I am a fairly "traditional" type of Catholic. But I feel like religion in general, has become nothing more than a "buzz word" in party politics at this point. Both parties know that there is a "religious" vote, and they try to say all the right things to gain it.

I'm not automatically endeared with a candidate who talks about wanting to *make* America a "Christian Nation". I think America should be a nation that abides by its own first amendment. I think we should learn to be *respectful* and not just "tolerant" of each other's beliefs. Let there be manger scenes, menorahs and Kwanzaa candles in public places, for goodness sake! It won't kill us! We need to stop being so offended by the fact that other people have a set of beliefs that they follow that just might be different from our own.

It's ok. It's allowed. This is America.

A candidate's religion *should* certainly guide his politics, in spite of what JFK insisted he would (or wouldn't) do. But a president has to take the good of the entire country into account in each action he or she takes. The president of the United States is not a religious leader and shouldn't use religion as a way to run ripshod over the will of the people. The president of the United States is elected, and he or she should never forget that for a minute.

I do not want the United States to become a religion-free nation. I want our religion to influence who we are as individuals and who we are as a people. But I don't think I want religion to influence politics in quite the way it has been doing lately.

I am also having misgivings about the dynastic aspect of the U.S. presidency--Bushes and Clintons, both. I don't think I'd vote for a ticket right now with Jeb Bush on it just because of that. And, I wouldn't vote for Hillary under any circumstances.

I want someone new. I want someone with vision. I want someone with spark. I want someone with integrity and sanity.

An election year whine

I haven't written about politics in a long time, but its getting to be that time again and I am realizing something about myself.

I'm getting tired of feeling that, as a pro-life person, I *have* to vote for a Republican just because the party has a "pro-life" platform. I feel like I'm being backed into a corner in every election, and that I can't make a real decision as to whom to vote for--I just have to vote knee-jerk Republican down the line. I also feel like the Republican party knows that many of us feel we have to vote Republican because of our pro-life views, and they are taking advantage of that.

I am a fairly "traditional" type of Catholic. But I feel like religion in general, has become nothing more than a "buzz word" in party politics at this point. Both parties know that there is a "religious" vote, and they try to say all the right things to gain it.

I'm not automatically endeared with a candidate who talks about wanting to *make* America a "Christian Nation". I think America should be a nation that abides by its own first amendment. I think we should learn to be *respectful* and not just "tolerant" of each other's beliefs. Let there be manger scenes, menorahs and Kwanzaa candles in public places, for goodness sake! It won't kill us! We need to stop being so offended by the fact that other people have a set of beliefs that they follow that just might be different from our own.

It's ok. It's allowed. This is America.

A candidate's religion *should* certainly guide his politics, in spite of what JFK insisted he would (or wouldn't) do. But a president has to take the good of the entire country into account in each action he or she takes. The president of the United States is not a religious leader and shouldn't use religion as a way to run ripshod over the will of the people. The president of the United States is elected, and he or she should never forget that for a minute.

I do not want the United States to become a religion-free nation. I want our religion to influence who we are as individuals and who we are as a people. But I don't think I want religion to influence politics in quite the way it has been doing lately.

I am also having misgivings about the dynastic aspect of the U.S. presidency--Bushes and Clintons, both. I don't think I'd vote for a ticket right now with Jeb Bush on it just because of that. And, I wouldn't vote for Hillary under any circumstances.

I want someone new. I want someone with vision. I want someone with spark. I want someone with integrity and sanity.

Which saint will choose you in 2008?

Stop over at Angela's new blog, "Where Angels Go" and put a request in her comment box for a patron saint to be drawn for you for the year 2008. She is taking over for Seminarian Matthew at "A Catholic Life", who had to abandon blogging while in the seminary.

The tradition is that the saint chooses you. My saint this year is Saint Julie Billiart, who is French and was known for her cheerfulness--certainly something to ask her to intercede for on my behalf. Two of her most famous quotes are, "Oh, qu'il est bon, le bon Dieu" which means, "Oh, how good is the good God" and "Never let the peace of your heart be disturbed by anything in the world."




Also, Divine Mercy blog has a new name and an additional focus. While still promoting devotion to the Divine Mercy, the blog will now focus on Saint Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower, and will be called, Saint Therese's Roses.


All the angels
and all the Saints,
pray for us!

Which saint will choose you in 2008?

Stop over at Angela's new blog, "Where Angels Go" and put a request in her comment box for a patron saint to be drawn for you for the year 2008. She is taking over for Seminarian Matthew at "A Catholic Life", who had to abandon blogging while in the seminary.

The tradition is that the saint chooses you. My saint this year is Saint Julie Billiart, who is French and was known for her cheerfulness--certainly something to ask her to intercede for on my behalf. Two of her most famous quotes are, "Oh, qu'il est bon, le bon Dieu" which means, "Oh, how good is the good God" and "Never let the peace of your heart be disturbed by anything in the world."




Also, Divine Mercy blog has a new name and an additional focus. While still promoting devotion to the Divine Mercy, the blog will now focus on Saint Therese of Lisieux, The Little Flower, and will be called, Saint Therese's Roses.


All the angels
and all the Saints,
pray for us!

Feast of Mary, Mother of God

Today is the feast of the Theotokos--Mary the Mother of God. Since Jesus was *always* God, and his Divine nature was always present at every moment, then Mary, indeed is the Mother of God, and the Bearer of God--Theotokos.

Prayer to the Theotokos
by Scheme-hieromonk St. Nilus of Sora Skete

All-merciful Virgin Theotokos, Mother of compassions and love for mankind, my most beloved hope and aspiration! 0 Mother of the most sweet and most desired Savior, Who exceedeth every love, Jesus Christ, the Lover of mankind and my God, the Light of my darkened soul! I, the exceeding sinful and hopeless one, fall down before thee, to thee I make my prayer, 0 well-spring of compassion, Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Abyss of compassion and Depth of mercies and love for mankind: Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, I painfully cry to thee; have mercy on me who am all in wounds, who have fallen among brutish thieves and who am, alas!, stripped naked of the garment in which the Father clothed me. Wherefore I lie stripped of every good deed, my wounds stinking and festering before my madness. My Mistress, Theotokos, look down on me, I humbly pray thee, with thy merciful eye and despise me not, who am all in darkness, all in filth, all immersed in the mire of passions, terribly fallen and unable to stand. Do thou take pity on me and grant me a helping hand, lift me up out of sinful depths, 0 my Joy! Deliver me from them that surround me; make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save the perishing, cleanse the filthy, raise up the terrible fallen: for thou canst do all things, as thou art the Mother of God Almighty. Pour forth on me the oil of thy compassion and grant me to overflow the wine of compunction, for I have acquired thee as truly the only hope in my life; turn thou not away from me who flee to thee, but behold my grief, 0 Virgin, and the longing of my soul and accept this prayer and save me, 0 thou the Mediatress of my salvation. Amen.

Feast of Mary, Mother of God

Today is the feast of the Theotokos--Mary the Mother of God. Since Jesus was *always* God, and his Divine nature was always present at every moment, then Mary, indeed is the Mother of God, and the Bearer of God--Theotokos.

Prayer to the Theotokos
by Scheme-hieromonk St. Nilus of Sora Skete

All-merciful Virgin Theotokos, Mother of compassions and love for mankind, my most beloved hope and aspiration! 0 Mother of the most sweet and most desired Savior, Who exceedeth every love, Jesus Christ, the Lover of mankind and my God, the Light of my darkened soul! I, the exceeding sinful and hopeless one, fall down before thee, to thee I make my prayer, 0 well-spring of compassion, Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Abyss of compassion and Depth of mercies and love for mankind: Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, I painfully cry to thee; have mercy on me who am all in wounds, who have fallen among brutish thieves and who am, alas!, stripped naked of the garment in which the Father clothed me. Wherefore I lie stripped of every good deed, my wounds stinking and festering before my madness. My Mistress, Theotokos, look down on me, I humbly pray thee, with thy merciful eye and despise me not, who am all in darkness, all in filth, all immersed in the mire of passions, terribly fallen and unable to stand. Do thou take pity on me and grant me a helping hand, lift me up out of sinful depths, 0 my Joy! Deliver me from them that surround me; make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save the perishing, cleanse the filthy, raise up the terrible fallen: for thou canst do all things, as thou art the Mother of God Almighty. Pour forth on me the oil of thy compassion and grant me to overflow the wine of compunction, for I have acquired thee as truly the only hope in my life; turn thou not away from me who flee to thee, but behold my grief, 0 Virgin, and the longing of my soul and accept this prayer and save me, 0 thou the Mediatress of my salvation. Amen.

Wishing you all a new year filled with God's love!