Alleluia!

"The Congregation for Divine Worship reports 'no little satisfaction in arriving at this juncture.'" And the feeling is mutual for many of the laity. It has many of the hot button changes that have been sore spots for those who desired a more authentic translation.
Vatican approves new English translation for Mass

* At the Consecration, the priest will refer to Christ's blood which is "poured out for you and for many"-- an accurate translation of pro multis-- rather than "for all" in the current translation.

* In the Nicene Creed the opening word, Credo, will be correctly translated as "I believe" rather than "we believe."

* When the priest says, "The Lord be with you," the faithful respond, "And with your spirit," rather than simply, "And also with you."

* In the preferred form of the penitential rite, the faithful will acknowledge that they have sinned "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.

Of course it will still take time for the implementation. But progress is progress.

What I secretly dread about my children growing up

Guess it isn't so secret if I post it on the internet. But as my kids grow-up, here are a few things I dread.

1. Pulling a "pair" of socks out of gym bag, only to discover they aren't really a pair; but rather one of mine and one of my boys. The latter being eerily close to mine in size, but with the distinct discoloration that comes from running in socks through yard.

2. Body odor. Now I sweat a little (or quite a little, depending on who you ask) and have the accompanying aromas. But those are mine. And as any good alpha dog will let you know, there is only room for one of those smells around here.

3. Being a wrestler, I am pretty sure I will be able to hold my own until they are into adulthood, but pretty soon I am going to have to start using my "veteran" wits more than my physical brawn.

4. Food bills. I think I know what store owners feel like during a riot. Turn your back and everything good is gone off the shelves.

5. As they get older, perhaps they will goof off less, but when they do throw each other around, the damage is likely to cost more. For the doctor bills and the home repairs.

From the goodness of their heart

I am sure this comes from the goodness of their communist heart.

Quake causes China to revise one-child policy
The Chengdu Population and Family Planning Committee, located in Sichuan’s capital, said that families affected by the disaster can obtain a certificate to have another child, the Associated Press reports.

Funny how the God-given right-to-life sounds so different when the state is the one handing out the rights. But alas, the government sponsored procreation isn't all warm fuzzies. As Steven W. Mosher of the Population Research Institute, states

"The natural human reaction to losing a child is to have a make-up child as quickly as possible. But this will not be possible for most of the couples who have lost children to the quake, regardless of what the government policy is. Most women of childbearing age have been sterilized, or their spouses have been sterilized. Unless the government begins offering free tubal ligation and vasectomy reversals to these poor people, there will be no more children."

And it begins

Now that I am officially an elected official (albeit at the lowest level possible, precinct committeman) we can say it is all downhill from here. Let the corruption, kickbacks and shady deals begin.

Tightrope

A poem written by my wife back when our son was going through cancer treatment. Brought back as discussion of Sen. Kennedy's tumor reminded me of watching a loved one go through treatment. Hang on, this one isn't for the faint of heart.

Tightrope

The hour is getting late.
Finally I’m relieved.
I get to go home,
And have some time at ease.

A hallway dimly lit.
A mother badly shaken,
Surrounded by a
Closely gathered few,
To help her in her stress…

Her hand starts to shake
As if in hypothermic cold;
She tries to pour a beverage
Over ice,
Gripping for a steady hold.

“I can see something’s the matter;”
I don’t ask her how she is.
“Is your daughter done with treatment soon?”
She whispered, “Yah, we’re done.”
Her words
Like a bombshell hit.

I stood there in a daze.

There is nothing more to do
For her precious little one;
“I can’t imagine how you’re feeling.”
I gave her a short hug.

They wheeled her little girl by
It’s time to pull out the tubes
Take her home
Love her as she dies.

“We are still fighting!”
My inner voice cries.
It gave me a lot to think about
On the road home that night.

This tightrope we’re all walking
At times makes you hold your breath,
As you place one foot in front of the other
And then with pressure
Let it rest.

Keep looking straight ahead,
Never, never, down
Stay focused, very focused.

Why do these children suffer so?
No answers I have yet.
Too many we’ve seen die.
No answers will I get.

Courageous battles fought by two
With never a complaint;
And suffer…
How they suffered,
Their pains made me go faint.

The agony and length of time
They endured their cards so dealt,
Yet always asking and concerned
About how others felt.

If you want to know the secret
Of our strength while on this rope,
Look into our children’s eyes
Just once…
For life with courage
How they fight!
How can we be weak?
When for such little comforts
They come to us,
It’s our eyes and hearts
They search and seek.

Our strength is not from us
When our souls cry out in pain.
They scream and twist with colors vivid,
But you see outward silence
Still remains.

We don’t share the aches
Like lead weighing in our hearts.
It’d be too much to bear,
Too much to think about…

We come to Jesus broken
Lay our burdens at his feet
When times are at their worst
A word we cannot utter
We cannot take another step
Our balance sure to falter
We come to the altar.

He touches us in ways,
Others can hardly imagine.
Giving Him the load is freeing…
More than most will ever imagine.

It doesn’t mean it’s easy
Losing their babies one by one,
But there’s a prayer
A silent hope
That when their battle is done…
They’ll find the peace the Savior grants
He will somehow let them know…
Their baby is loved, safe, and warm
Smiling down from heaven’s glow.

And as for us still walking
The tightrope of our lives,
Lord, grant us strength, faith, & courage
That our child may survive.

Interesting tidbit on money

As a father of a blind son, I can concur that paper money is difficult for him. He has a little braille device just for labeling bills. But he has to know what they are first and that involves asking.

Court says money discriminates against blind people

The U.S. acknowledges that the design hinders blind people but it argued they had adapted _some relied on store clerks for help, some used credit cards and others folded certain corners to help distinguish the bills.

But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 that such adaptations were insufficient. The government might as well argue that, since handicapped people can crawl on all fours or ask for help from strangers, there's no need to make buildings wheelchair accessible, the court said.

As much as I disagree with the over-reaching aspects of the disability act, that second paragraph is on the money (puns always are intended here). For the government (or Federal Reserve which really is a private corporation) to suggest relying on others to be honest to a helpless, in the realm of paper money, individual is rather ironic. Considering the "Always think forfeiture" slogan of the ATF, would one expect even a government agency to follow that childish advice?

And considering how often the money has been revamped lately, their "undue burden" claim should fall on deaf ears.

Both ways

The question for Obama, does it work both ways? As Obama tells Tenn.'s GOP: 'Lay off my wife', will he pull her off the campaign stumps? Yeah, it is sort of weak going after the spouse of the candidate, but if she is out there campaigning, why can't she be held accountable for it? When she speaks well, is the press and Democrats going to "lay off" those comments?

Yeah it sounds noble to defend his wife's honor, but perhaps she shouldn't be out there on the front lines.

Answers to questions nobody thought to ask

It's one of those things that having kids brings up. I now know why God didn't give mammary glands to the male sex.

Picture 5 boys talking about having milk producing glands. Now combine that with the concept of a farmer squirting milk into the mouth of a waiting cat. Stir with imagination, and that was our supper conversation.

Thank God for his wisdom in creating us.

Desiring holiness

No really. I do desire to be holy. This can only help.

Catholics like sex. Go ahead and read it. It is clean. And very good. Just one more reason to like my wife. Thanks IC.

All your aliens are belong to ... God?

A bit behind the curve on this story, but as one Catholic middle school teacher said, how cool is it to be Catholic? He said he was gonna stir the pot and talk aliens in class that day.Vatican: It's OK to believe in aliens - Yahoo! News

VATICAN CITY - Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday.
...

In the interview by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures. Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.

Leaves in the wind

So is the faith of many scattered about when a modest breeze scatters them.

Autumn Kelly's cavalier conversion

article
The usual manner of leaving the Catholic Church is to drift away, without making any public pronouncement of it.

So it is noteworthy when it happens, and more so if one does it in order to conform with the constitution of Canada.

As Fr. de Souza aptly points out, why even bother if one's faith means so little.

Affirmation

For those veterans of the liturgy wars, y'all might enjoy Maureen Martin's latest at Stuff Catholics Like

Laypeople like affirmation

Eloquence

Right down to the last line. Here is an excerpt on what the Democrats don't understand about the small town "fly over" country. (I might add, most Republicans have forgotten this also.)

From thestironline.com
You’re wrong about why small-town Americans don’t vote for Democrats.

We don’t vote for Democrats because we’re self-reliant so we don’t like the government trying to “solve” everything for us. And because you tell your rich friends in San Francisco that we’re dumb. And because, each election, whichever one of you is running for president traipses all over the country telling us you have all the answers, that you’re the one on our side, that you respect our way of life. But each time, a little bit here and there slips out — and by the end of the campaign, we can tell what you think about us. And we manage to learn who you really are.

Go ahead, read the whole thing.

Followup story

A follow up story on my little Benedict. A just heard this from my wife and didn't witness it, but ya gotta love cute kid stories.

He managed to grab a hot cocoa package at coffee and donuts after Mass. Father was there and playfully asked him, "who said you can have that?" Being 3, he was taken aback until Father relented and told him it was okay. So when he gets to the table, mom asks him the same question, "who said you can have that?" His sheepish reply, "God did."

33 Benedicts

I can't find the article on their website, but we made the print version of the National Catholic Register. By we, of course I mean our son Benedict got his picture along with 31 other little boys and Pope Benedict XVI. It is on the front page of the Culture of Life section.

Sweet!

Improving the neighborhood

Based on my (limited) knowledge of the differences of these two bishops, I would say the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis should get ready for some positive changes.

Pope Benedict accepts resignation of St. Paul and Minneapolis archbishop

Minneapolis, May 2, 2008 / 11:03 am (CNA).- Today the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Archbishop Harry J. Flynn from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota. He will be succeeded by Archbishop John C. Neinstedt.

Saints among us

Some interesting photos I took at the Falls Park in Post Falls, Idaho. Above is the coat of arms from Herborn Germany. Herborn was the birthplace of Post Falls founder, Frederick Post.

Notice St. Peter with the keys in the center.

Who knew this little town in Idaho had Catholic ties from the beginning?

Best interest

In reality, it comes down to who has the best of the child at heart. As a general rule, I would say the parents given their investment. One can always find the exceptions to the rule, there will always be abuse and poor parenting, but I would wonder about the ratio of adequate vs bad parents compared to the foster care system.

My wager is those with more invested come out on top.

I love this quote from former Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger as highlighted on ParentalRights.org

The law’s concept of the family rests on a presumption that parents possess what a child lacks in maturity, experience, and capacity for judgment required for making life’s difficult decisions. More important, historically it has recognized that natural bonds of affection lead parents to act in the best interests of their children.

…

The statist notion that governmental power should supersede parental authority in all cases because some parents abuse and neglect children is repugnant to American tradition.

Show me a government program that is efficient, effective and under-budget. Then we can talk about the government's role in raising children.

But the government intervention isn't always about the best interest of the child, but more often in the best interest of the state.

I'm still voting

For Ron Paul.















looks like this came from deesillustrations.com.

A standard

Kevin O'Brien of the Plain Dealer marvels that we have apparently found a standard, below which we will not stoop to allow.

Finally, we have a broad consensus that somewhere, someone's "lifestyle" has gone too far.
...
We've picked a battle. Praise be.

He speaks of the almost unanimous outrage regarding the Yearning for Zion's abuse of the young girls. In our culture of sexual liberation and deviancy, they, the leaders of this cult, have gone too far. We won't accept the indoctrination, brainwashing and abuse of these young girls.

But Kevin wonders if it isn't a bit hypocritical?

But how is it that so many of us fail to see - or choose to ignore - the same things befalling young girls everywhere?

Long before they're 18, the prevalent culture in America's cities steers black girls into lives of single motherhood and serial relationships with men who aren't interested even in "spiritual" wives.

Mom took that route. So did Grandma. No stigma. No outrage. It's just how life works.

Or how about girls in idyllic, white, small-town America? The prevalent culture rushes them through childhood, has them dressing provocatively at 12 and involved in "serious relationships" and/or casual hook-ups with potentially life-altering consequences before they're 16.

That's what the appealing young people on MTV do. That's how the popular girls play it.
...
Polygamy or older men marrying young girls? Either may seem weird or downright distasteful to us, but aren't those just different kinds of marriage? If we declare the whole one-man, one-woman thing obsolete, how can we then draw artificial lines by age, sex or number of partners? Besides, who are we to doubt the capacity of two (or more) people to love one another enough to make a marriage work?

Young kids having sex? Aw, they're all doing it. Right? Can't stop 'em. Just issue the girls condoms, explain the plumbing and invite them to make "wise choices." Isn't that how we "empower" girls who don't live in cults?

I think he hits on something here. Given his points about how the media, Hollywood or whatever cultural bogyman we fear treats young girls, why cry foul here? The proverbial slippery slope, Kevin is happy to see something has finally elicited people to dig in their heels and "No, we don't allow that here."

He is right, we, and I emphasize 'we', need to say that more often. It isn't the job of the media or Hollywood to raise our daughters; to say 'NO' once in a while. It is the job of the parents, especially the fathers.

I don't believe the outrage of the media regarding the abuse of these girls. They are just angry that it was not the approved method of indoctrination and sexification of these children. If the polygamist leaders would have been handing out condoms and telling the boys to "be boys" and score as many girls as they could, the silence would have been deafening. If the girls were instructed to "make their own choices" and sleep with whom they wanted, no cry would have been raised. But since this wasn't the "approved method", and it makes news, the media has been all over it.

But the media doesn't control the destiny of our children. Hollywood only has the influence that we give it. But have we already lost that battle? Do we fathers even know there is a battle going on?

Were does our attention turn when Brittany, Paris or the latest pantiless young girl is paraded across the news? What is being spewed from the TVs in our living rooms, the magazine on the coffee tables or the computer in the den? Do we think our daughters are so naive not to notice what gets our attention? Where do girls learn the basics for relationship? From the actions of the fathers. So we can lament the state of the world all day long, but undue those eloquent words with a few simple actions that speak otherwise.

Quick Q&A

Stopped at the grocery store and one of the boys noticed an ambulance in the parking lot. He asked what would an ambulance be doing at a grocery store?

We got our quick answer. As we were entering the store two male EMTs were leaving. So the answer to the question: What is an ambulance doing at the store? Why, picking up BBQ sauce of course.

Doing my part

In honor of Earth Day, I did my part. I drove my SUV out into the forest and idled for a while, providing the trees with a little extra CO2. Just my way of saying happy earth day without worshiping it.

Leadership

Leadership: The hard way

Local product, Alaskan governor Sarah Palin just gave birth to her fifth child. Try that while running a state. But the beautiful part, the baby has Down syndrome. Having disabilities isn't beautiful, but the love with which he was welcomed is.

The Palin family issued a statement that read: "Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives.

"We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."

Plain and simple, they get it. Children are a blessing, special needs or not.

In a letter she e-mailed to relatives and close friends Friday after giving birth, Palin wrote, "Many people will express sympathy, but you don't want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this." She wrote it in the voice of and signed it as "Trig's Creator, Your Heavenly Father."

"Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed-up world you live in down there on Earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome," Palin wrote.

As for people who think a baby like Trig shouldn't even be born, look around, the governor wrote. Who is perfect or even normal?

God bless this family as they give silent witness to the joy of life in our sorry mixed up world.

Weather news

The only real bad thing about north Idaho getting snow and freezing temperatures on the 21st of April is that the U-Hauls are out of one way rentals back to California.

Rest in peace

Please pray for the repose of the soul of my wife's grandmother Mildred. She suffered a massive stroke a week ago and passed away yesterday around 4 pm. She was 98 and lived a very holy and faith filled life.

And I don't say that lightly, or without meaning. She bore 16 children and outlived way too many of them. Catholic until the end, even though she was not responsive when they got her to the hospital, she wouldn't let go of her rosary or holy medal.

The good news in this sadness. My wife was able to return to North Dakota in time to see her and pray with her. Grandma recovered to the point of being aware who was there and able to look at them. She also got to see our 4 month old daughter for the first time, our daughter who bears grandma's middle name Victoria.

So remember Mildred Victoria in your prayers and also my wife's family who have lost a two in the last 8 months or so, a maternal grandfather last fall and now the end of the generation on the paternal side.

Strange happenings

Last evening is sort of fuzzy, and now I know why. Seems I got a good slap upside the head (courtesy of the Ironic Catholic) in anticipation of the Pope's arrival.

So if I start acting a little strange... uh check that. If you see any behavior not normal typical for me, just know whose fault it is.

Obscure Papal Trivia *redux*

Thought I would trot out this item in honor of our Holy Father's visit.

Some little known facts about our Holy Father's likes and dislikes:

Favorite programming language: C. Not C++. Just C. There is no need for pluses when you sit on the Holy C. There is none higher on earth and the throne in Heaven transcends programming.

Truck manufacturer: Peterbilt of course! Not quite as durable as the Church that Jesus built, but coming in a close second.

Season: Winter. One might consider springtime, but remember red looks good in heavy garments. And since the Holy Father usually has several layers on, summertime is definitely out.

Operating System UNIX. Some would argue Mac, but there is always that ancient problem with apples. LINUX is more Protestant in its recent creation and frequent spin-offs. Plus it has no visible head, everyone can make up their own rules. So why UNIX? Because Jesus said there are those that become so for the sake of the Kingdom.

Needing support

My daughter and I have determined there is a great need, a need all good Christians in the Ivory Coast should fill. There is a need for a support group in the country, specifically at the Kuwait embassy in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. Not sure if that is in the Ivory Coast or Kuwait, but where ever it is, please help these poor people.

Seems there are lots of widows there that are suffering immense tragedy. Yes, they are rich, having several million US Dollars in the bank there, but what good is money when such tragedy hits a family? It seems that a support group for these widows would be well worth the effort. They all have recently lost their husbands to a brief illness. They don't have the support of family as they are recent converts to the Christian faith (evident by their liberal use of the Bible verses).

Not only have they lost their beloved spouse, but all are suffering from cancer and stroke sickness (?) that has them not lasting "for the next eight months". And in the face of such trauma, I applaud their fortitude and courage to "not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home". As of course, that sort of behavior goes against the teachings of the Bible. Not sure about the remarriage, but getting children outside the matrimonial home is for sure.

The good news is these women have all found God, and for a modest sum promise to donate their millions of US Dollars to a charity of your choice.

One would think with them all being from the Kuwait embassy in the Ivory Coast, they might have already shared stories, but I think this is not the case. At least I haven't received an email from their support group yet!

A sucker

I am a sucker for tweaking the looney environmentalists. Cross that with proclaiming the gift of children, and we have a winner here from Promo Presto




















Those "carbon footprints" are going to be funding your social security.

And since plants need CO2, we can look at it as "Saving the rain forests, one breath at a time."

via Creative Minority Report

We can agree on one thing

Seems American's can agree on one thing, Bible is America's favorite book:

"Finally, they may not agree on candidates, but one thing that brings together partisans is their favorite book. For Republicans, Democrats and Independents, the top two books are the same -- the Bible followed by "Gone With the Wind."

The second place book wasn't as firm as the Bible, as different segments of society varied more widely.

"Gone With the Wind" was number two in the southern and midwestern United States while easterners chose "The Lord of the Rings" and westerners opted for "The Stand".

Men also preferred the LOTR over the romantic "Gone with the Wind" chosen by women. I find the regional breakdown more fascinating. The romantic south, independent west and the good taste of the midwestern. Not sure how the easterners came up with the best #2, but hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day.