Saturday, October 22, 2011

Letting Cooler Heads Prevail...Not!...Unless It's Snowing

I seem to be more calm since the last post HERE on desecrating Our Lady's statue in Rome.

Not!

Especially when it comes to my Mother's honor.

I thought I'd moderate myself on this point, but I can't seem to bring myself to it right now.

I mean, I'd say to myself that not all the protesters did this....or I went too far re-blogging the Marxist point...or was I too harsh re-attaching Taylor Marshall's anti-Christ label to the post....or the Occupy Movement is trying to bring about economic good...or this or that excuse.

It took me 3-4 days to even gather my thoughts and come to this moment.

+ + +

I think I'm simply resolved today to post a picture of Our Lady here.

That's it!

Like a picture of Our Lady of Rome.  But the closest I could find right now is Our Lady of the Snows.

Also, here's a comment on who the real enemy of Mary is by former U.S. Episcopalian priest and Catholic convert Taylor Marshall, whom I cited in my last blog.  (Marshall, with a picture of his 5 kids and wife, has become a bit of a fave of mine of late, esp. w/Papa Benny's Ordinariate initiative to bring unity in the Church.)

In "Are You An Enemy of Mary?  Ask St. Maximilian Kolbe," Marshall himself cited St. Maximilian Kolbe who said that the enemy of Mary is everything that does not lead to God.

Who is her enemy? Whatever is stained, whatever does not lead to God, whatever is not love, whatever comes from the hellish serpent, he himself is her enemy; hence it includes all our defects, or all our faults. We ask her to give us strength against him. For this one purpose all devotions exist, all prayer, all sacraments; that we receive power to overcome all obstacles in our striving for God in a more and more ardent love, in assimilating ourselves to God, in uniting with God himself.
-Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Explanation of Act of Consecration, Aim Higher, p. 140.

There!

And that's why my head hasn't cooled yet.



Because wherever something -- and I point first and foremost to myself and my own sins -- doesn't lead to God, then it is the spirit of anti-Christ as St. John wrote in his letters.

I haven't cooled 'cause when souls are led -- or rather mis-led -- to perdition I can't simply sit cozy and watch.  I gotta say something, ya know what I mean?!

So let something greater come out of all this, even in Rome where Our Lady's statue was desecrated.


And maybe....

...just maybe some of that same snow that fell on Rome many centuries ago due to Our Lady can fall on my hot head today.

And let this cooler head prevail.


HW: Pray the rosary!

Special thank you to Cynthia M. Antonio of New York, & Maureen D. of California, for reacting to my last post. 
 

Class dismissed.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Rise of Anti-Christ in Rome: Mary's Statue Desecrated During "Occupy Rome" Protest

I cannot remain silent.  This is OUTRAGEOUS!!!  This video is not meant for sensitive hearts.


Forgive me for being blunt, but for us Catholics, I do not know how a Catholic -- any Catholic -- could not have watched this and not be heartbroken.

How can we remain indifferent?!

Let me be more bold: I DARE say that if you are Catholic, and if you were not stirred or moved in your inner heart and soul by seeing this on video, then there must be something in your soul that is not in the spirit of Christ.

Re-examine your Christian life.

I am not your judge.  But I do think that Catholics must be ultra-sensitive to hurting the Mother of Jesus.

We cannot allow these things to continue.  Learn your Faith!  Re-dedicate your lives to Christ.  Give your hearts to Him once again.

This happened in Rome, the center of the Catholic Church.  Rome!  The unimaginable less than a century ago has become real.

Say a prayer for those who did this.  May those who did this someday become one of the greatest saints of heaven.


What emotionally upsets me even more in this photo is how people just walked past without cleaning the statue up.  In particular, there is one person who just took a photo of this desecration.  Why isn't anyone doing anything about it?  Where are the heroes?!  Why are people just walking on?

In this blog's analysis, Taylor Marshall notes the very Marxist and anti-Christ climate of the events in the heart of Catholicism.  Click HERE for more.

Thank you, Jay Balza, for your post.


I'm just too emotional to continue blogging.  I think I'm gonna stop here and go pray now.

Dismissed.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Photo of the Day


Friday, October 14, 2011

Pope Appoints Bishop Luis "Chito" Tagle, 54, as new Archbishop of Manila: A Brief Initial Analysis

With the appointment of Archbishop-Elect Tagle to the See of Manila, the appointment of the new Primate of the Philippines provides new possibilities in -- not just the Pearl of the Orient but -- the universal Church.



1.) THE THEOLOGIAN: First, American-educated Tagle is an international theologian with credentials on international and national doctrinal committees.  He worked with then-Cardinal Ratzinger and has recently worked with now-Cardinal Angelo Scola.  He served on drafting committees, too, on Vatican Synods.  The Pope must surely be familiar with Tagle's writings.

For those not in the know, Scola is considered a serious papible possibility.

2.) RELATIONS WITH PROTESTANTS: Second, Archbishop-Elect is familiar with both Anglican patrimonies and Lutheran theology.  Could the Holy Father be working on bridging even more -- especially after his visit to Germany -- with our separated brothers and sisters in the Reformation tradition?  The Pope recently told official Evangelical & Lutheran leadership that when he was asked to provide some symbol of compromise on the occasion of their meeting, the Holy Father refused saying that the Faith is not something that can be compromised.  This firm stance probably shocked Catholics more, but Protestants seem to respect this.  In fact, the President of the Evangelical bodies was present, and she said that she was "pleased" with the Holy Father's remarks.

Other commentators have been drawn to the Pope's humility in Germany.

The Holy Father can't do everything with each of the 40,000 different Protestant sects that came from Martin Luther, but he is strategic in being the Pope of Christian Unity.

He has reached out to the Anglicans (which in turns impacts Episcopalianism, esp. in the U.S.) with the Ordinariate.  He has reached out to the Orthodox.  There is greater awareness now than before of Eastern Catholic-Christianity among Latin Catholics.  He has reached out to the Society of St. Pius X, which is I dare say a schismatic group, by according to rumors offering canonical status as a Prelature.

The Pope reaches out.  Tagle's appointment signals that in a country where Catholics are reputed to hold fast to the Deposit of Faith while fitting in to their new environments especially the Filipino diaspora all over the world.  Australia, with ties to Anglicanism, geographically neighbors  the Philippines and the new Archbishop of Manila can be of assistance with Benedict's efforts in Oceania and the Far East on relations with mainline Protestantism.  Having been educated at the The Catholic University of America, Tagle knows Washington, D.C., and Protestant America and will have ties to the Filipino Catholics, the largest Catholic body after Hispanics, in the States.

3.) POLITICAL IMPACT (OR LACK OF IT): Third, the new Archbishop of Manila is more of a theologian and teacher than he is a secular politician.  The See of Manila has especially under Cardinal Sin had significant political-social-economic influence.  Tagle's appointment shows that the Holy Father is more interested in doctrine and teaching the faith than mere political ends.  The Pope wants teachers of the Faith....solid ones, of course, but Benedict is a teacher, so he'll look for teachers, not politicians.

4.) YOUTHFUL BISHOP WITH FUTURE POSSIBILITES: Fourth, Tagle is young and now provides Manila and the area with two to three decades of influence.  Two of those areas of influence not on the Manila radar pertain to China and Islam.  While I don't know Tagle's experience with Islam and China, Filipinos are natural and key players in relating to Islam and Sino-Vatican relations where bishop appointments come with aggression and strain at the moment.  His appointment seems to have more of a focus on building up the Body and focusing on making sure our own house is in order first.  His youthful energies could mean new initiatives and ideas in ways we haven't seen yet.

5.) THE POPE'S CONFIDENCE: Fifth, my thoughts turn to Tagle's work with Ratzinger or rather Ratzinger's familiarity with Tagle's international work.  Surely, Benedict knows what Tagle is capable of doing on international synods and commissions.  He knows that Tagle will not, pardon my bluntness, go off the deep end theologically and harm the faithful with any wilds ideas.  Tagle as a theologian will look to new ideas to bring the Gospel anew to the 21st Century, but he'll do it -- as he has at the international level -- in deepest communion with the Church's mind.

6.) LOVE FOR THE POOR: Sixth, there is authentic care for the poor in Tagle's intentions.  He said this explicitly in his opening remarks.  It seems that B16 knows that the new archbishop doesn't marry Marxism with care for the poor, a great temptation for modern theologians.

He'll relate to the common Filipino and to the common man.  Like most Filipinos, he has a nickname.  Americans and Westerners know that Filipinos have nicknames.  As such, the new archbishop "Chito" is one of us.

7.) HE SMILES: Lastly, the new Filipino primate smiles.

And he does so on camera.  His Excellency has a face that the public can connect with, which is so badly needed today.  In a media-savvy climate and in a land where Hollywood runs the show more so that elected officials, Tagle's primary task to preach Jesus Christ will have to connect to the new media. 

In fact, his predecessor Cardinal Rosales, when asked about his own legacy as Manila archbishop for several years said, "Forget about me."  The cardinal knew that being the Primate of the Philippines wasn't about him and also advised his successor to "preach Jesus Christ".  This, and only this, is the reason why bishops exist in the first place.


It is all for Jesus.  The new Archbishop smiles authentically when he talks about Jesus who sent him to Manila.

Lord, please guide your servant and bestow upon your chosen shepherd the gifts of the Spirit.  May he love the Church and be faithful to you.  May Mary Immaculate protect him under her mantle and bring all nations to Jesus Christ.  In his most previous and holy name.  Amen.

# # # 

Thursday, October 13, 2011

WYD #7: Pope During Storm: "If they're staying, I'm staying, too."

According to a senior press officer for World Youth Day, Pope Benedict was asked three times to leave during a heavy night storm.



On the first two occasions, the successor of St. Peter said no to his advisers who wanted him to leave.  He even wagged his finger to insist on staying with the young adults and youth during the storm.

The third time the Holy Father was advised to leave, he pointed to the 2 million who had gathered there with him and said, "If they are staying, then I am staying, too."

Wow!

This reminds me of Our Lord 2,000 years ago calming a storm.  It also reminds me of Peter's little faith as he walked on water and sank.  Today, the 80-some-year-old Successor of St. Peter braves wild weather with his young flock of Christ.

Viva il Papa!!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Movie Review: "Clare and Francis"



Mr. P.'s movie review grade: A

On this Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, after whom the City of San Francisco, California, is named, here's a great DVD to get, starring Italian actor Ettore Bassi as Francis and Italian actress Mary Petruolo as Clare, with Fabrizio Costa as director.

You can click HERE to order.

One thing many people don't know about him is that St. Francis was a stigmatist who mystically bore the wounds of the Crucified Jesus.  He was also a deacon who, according to a pious legend, did not feel himself worthy of the holy priesthood.

Also, if you were to read G.K. Chesterton's work St. Francis of Assisi (1924), you'll definitely walk away with the great sense that Francis's life was about Jesus Christ as the center.  Jesus was the center of Francis's life. 

Francis today can be portrayed -- or rather misportrayed -- as a New Age hippie-type figure. Francis was not a hippie or some environmentalist.  Christ was the center of his life.  Everything else (environment, animals, etc.) flowed from his love for God.

There's a great scene with Francis and the Muslim Sultan in the Holy Land.  Had the political figures heeded to Francis's efforts in the Middle East, we probably today would not have the turmoil that we do.  But that's for another day to talk about.

For now, check out the video teaser and enjoy!


I love how the spiritual friendship between Clare and Francis reflected not just friendship but Christian friendship.

This blog was launched on the Feast of St. Clare, so this DVD has special meaning.  Click HERE for my last blog on St. Clare, who is one of the patronesses of Mr. P.'s Classroom blog.

BTW, while the acting was great, the "A" grade above was not based on merits of acting but rather on the substance of the movie. 

Lord, make me a channel of Your peace.

HW: Live the Franciscan spirituality and the love of the Poor Clares.

Class dismissed.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Happy Feast of St. Dennis (or St. Dionysius the Areopagite)!!

No more "Dennis the Menace"!



Stand aside "Ohhhhh, Mr. Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllson"!!!



For those who carry the name Dennis, or Denis, or Denise, or any variations of this, today is your day 'cause of
St. Dionysius the Areopagite. He was the guy that St. Paul selected to be Bishop of Athens.  He came to Jesus b/c of Paul's preaching as recorded in Acts 17.


Read his awesome story below.  I just love St. Dionysius's encounters with Mary!!!!!!!

To promote Orthodox-Catholic relations according to the mind of Christ, this icon was chosen as a classroom decoration.

(c) 2000 St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery, Inc — Florence, AZ 85232

The source of the following can be found in Professor James Michael Thompson's Facebook page if you click HERE.

St. Dionysius the Areopagite, bishop ( Byz. and R.M. #1, Oct. 3, 2011)

by James Michael Thompson on Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 3:38pm

The Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite, Bishop of Athens St Dionysius
lived originally in the city of Athens. He was raised there and received a
classical Greek education. He then went to Egypt, where he studied astronomy at
the city of Heliopolis. It was in Heliopolis, along with his friend Apollophonos
where he witnessed the solar eclipse that occurred at the moment of the death of
the Lord Jesus Christ by Crucifixion. "Either the Creator of all the world now
suffers, or this visible world is coming to an end," Dionysius said. Upon his
return to Athens from Egypt, he was chosen to be a member of the Areopagus
Council (Athenian high court).

When the holy Apostle Paul preached at the place on the Hill of Ares (Acts 17:16-34), Dionysius accepted his salvific proclamation and became a Christian. For three years St Dionysius remained a companion of the holy Apostle Paul in preaching the Word of God. Later on, the
Apostle Paul selected him as bishop of the city of Athens. And in the year 57 St
Dionysius was present at the repose of the Most Holy Theotokos.

During the lifetime of the Mother of God, St Dionysius had journeyed from Athens to
Jerusalem to meet Her. He wrote to his teacher the Apostle Paul: "I witness by
God, that besides the very God Himself, there is nothing else filled with such
divine power and grace. No one can fully comprehend what I saw. I confess before
God: when I was with John, who shone among the Apostles like the sun in the sky,
when I was brought before the countenance of the Most Holy Virgin, I experienced
an inexpressible sensation. Before me gleamed a sort of divine radiance which
transfixed my spirit. I perceived the fragrance of indescribable aromas and was
filled with such delight that my very body became faint, and my spirit could
hardly endure these signs and marks of eternal majesty and heavenly power. The
grace from her overwhelmed my heart and shook my very spirit. If I did not have
in mind your instruction, I should have mistaken Her for the very God. It is
impossible to stand before greater blessedness than this which I beheld."


After the death of the Apostle Paul, St Dionysius wanted to continue
with his work, and therefore went off preaching in the West, accompanied by the
Presbyter Rusticus and Deacon Eleutherius. They converted many to Christ at
Rome, and then in Germany, and then in Spain. In Gaul, during a persecution
against Christians by the pagan authorities, all three confessors were arrested
and thrown into prison. By night St Dionysius celebrated the Divine Liturgy with
angels of the Lord. In the morning the martyrs were beheaded. According to an
old tradition, St Dionysius took up his head, proceeded with it to the church
and fell down dead there. A pious woman named Catulla buried the relics of the
saint.

The writings of St Dionysius the Areopagite hold great significance for the Orthodox Church. Four books of his have survived to the present day:

On the Celestial Hierarchy On the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy
On the Names of God On Mystical Theology 

In additional, there are ten letters to various people.

The book On the Celestial Hierarchies was written
actually in one of the countries of Western Europe, where St Dionysius was
preaching. In it he speaks of the Christian teaching about the angelic world.
The angelic (or Celestial-Heavenly) hierarchy comprises the nine angelic Ranks:


Seraphim Cherubim Thrones Dominions Powers Authorities Principalities
Archangels Angels

The account of the Synaxis of the Bodiless Powers of
Heaven is located under November 8.

The purpose of the
divinely-established Angelic Hierarchy is the ascent towards godliness through
purification, enlightenment and perfection. The highest ranks are bearers of
divine light and divine life for the lower ranks. And not only are the sentient,
bodiless angelic hosts included in the spiritual light-bearing hierarchy, but
also the human race, created anew and sanctified in the Church of Christ.


The book of St Dionysius On the Ecclesiastical Hierarchies is a
continuation of his book On the Celestial Hierarchies. The Church of Christ,
like the Angelic ranks, in its universal service is set upon the foundation of
priestly principles established by God.

In the earthly world, for the children of the Church, divine grace comes down indescribably in the holy
Mysteries of the Church, which are spiritual in nature, though perceptible to
the senses in form. Few, even among the holy ascetics, were able to behold with
their earthly eyes the fiery vision of the Holy Mysteries of God. But outside of
the Church's sacraments, outside of Baptism and the Eucharist, the light-bearing
saving grace of God is not found, neither is divine knowledge nor theosis
(deification).

The book On the Names of God expounds upon the way of
divine knowledge through a progression of the Divine Names.

St. Dionysius' book On Mystical Theology also sets forth the teaching about divine
knowledge. The theology of the Orthodox Church is totally based upon experience
of divine knowledge. In order to know God it is necessary to be in proximity to
Him, to have come near to Him in some measure, so as to attain dommunion with
God and deification (theosis). This condition is accomplished through prayer.
This is not because prayer in itself brings us close to the incomprehensible
God, but rather that the purity of heart in true prayer brings us closer to God.


The written works of St Dionysius the Areopagite are of extraordinary
significance in the theology of the Orthodox Church, and also for late Medieval
Western theology. For almost four centuries, until the beginning of the sixth
century, the works of this holy Father of the Church were preserved in an
obscure manuscript tradition, primarily by theologians of the Alexandrian
Church. The concepts in these works were known and utilized by Clement of
Alexandria, Origen, Dionysius the Great, pre-eminent figures of the catechetical
school in Alexandria, and also by St Gregory the Theologian. St Dionysius of
Alexandria wrote to St Gregory the Theologian a Commentary on the "Areopagitum."
The works of St Dionysius the Areopagite received general Church recognition
during the sixth-seventh centuries.

Particularly relevant are the Commentaries written by St Maximus the Confessor (January 21). (trans. note:
although many scholars suggest that the "Areopagitum" was actually written by an
anonymous sixth century figure who employed the common ancient device of piously
borrowing an illustrious name, this in no way diminishes the profound
theological significance of the works.)

In the Russian Orthodox Church the teachings of St Dionysius the Areopagite about the spiritual principles and deification were at first known through the writings of St John of Damascus
(December 4). The first Slavonic translation of the "Areopagitum" was done on
Mt. Athos in about the year 1371 by a monk named Isaiah. Copies of it were
widely distributed in Russia. Many of them have been preserved to the present
day in historic manuscript collections, among which is a parchment manuscript
"Works of St Dionysius the Areopagite" belonging to St Cyprian, Metropolitan of
Kiev and All Rus (September 16) in his own handwriting.

According to one tradition, he was killed at Lutetia (ancient name of Paris, France) in the year
96 during the persecution under the Roman emperor Dometian (81-96). Today most
scholars and theologians believe that St Dionysius the Areopagite did not die in
Gaul, and that St Dionysius (or Denys) of Paris is a different saint with the
same name.

St Demetrius of Rostov says that the Hieromartyr Dionysius
was beheaded in Athens, and that many miracles were worked at his grave.

Troparion - Tone 4

Having learned goodness and maintaining continence in all things,
you were arrayed with a good conscience as befits a priest.
From the chosen Vessel you drew ineffable mysteries;
you kept the faith, and finished a course equal to His.
 Bishop martyr Dionysius, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kondakion -Tone 8

As a disciple of the apostle caught up to the third heaven,
you spiritually entered the gate of heaven, Dionysius.
You were enriched with understanding of ineffable mysteries
and enlightened those who sat in the darkness of ignorance.
Therefore we cry to you:
Rejoice, universal Father!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Violence Against Pro-Lifers in Paris, France; Announcement for Blog's Student of the Month (Sept. 2011)

I praise the French pro-lifers who stood up to this violence.  Police in riot gear had to protect the pro-lifers from the violent anti-life protesters who physically attacked the pro-lifers.

Click here: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/peaceful-pro-life-demonstrators-violently-attacked-in-paris-protected-by-ri


HEAR YE!  HEAR YE!
MR. P.'S CHOICE FOR STUDENT OF THE MONTH (SEPT. 2011)

For their bravery above and beyond the call of duty, for their heroism in the cause of the poor and vulnerable, for their promotion of the Culture of Life as shining examples in the growing darkness of our time of moral relativism, the unsung French pro-lifers who appeared in this article have been bestowed Mr. P.'s "Student of the Month" blog award. 


Congratulations!  Long live these counter-revolutionary heroes and heroines in the land known as the "Eldest Daughter of the Church"!  Merci!  Merci!  Merci!


And for those who understand the deeper spiritual and secular meaning to this and what it means: Vive Le Roi!


Class dismissed.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

U.S. Marine Protected by St. Michael the Archangel During Korean War

Here's a remarkable modern story of a U.S. Marine who was protected by St. Michael the Archangel during the Korean War against seven Communist soldiers who had their guns pointed at him.

I was skeptical until I heard what the sergeant said to his marine.

Click HERE.

The story is told by Canon Henry Fragelli of St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Oakland, California.  I got this story from blogger Jay Balza.  His blog can be found at
http://sanctamargaritamaria.blogspot.com/ and it is called Veritatem facientes in caritate.

St. Michael is the patron of the military.



For more information about the Archdiocese of the Military Services USA, and to provide for the spiritual needs of our service men and women, click HERE.

Ten...hut!  Dismissed.