SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT
St. Roderick (857), Martyr
St. Euphrasia (410), Religious (Trad)
All the world will come to focus on the Olympics this summer. Why do we so enjoy this sports event? Even people who never watch sports will watch the Olympics. I believe it is because the Olympics represents the most excellent of the excellence of human achievement in pure physical exhibition. It is truly a glory to God to see us creatures in the fullest flower of physical excellence.
I think we all aspire to excellence. While our nature may tempt us to mediocrity, our spirit thirsts for excellence.
On of the best films ever made captures these thoughts --
Chariots of Fire. Eric Leddell taught us the pre-eminence of God when he refused to run on a Sunday, and taught us that the excellence that men aspire to, are meaningless without God. Eric ran for God.
Yet, even those without Eric's faith, nevertheless represented the excellence and glory of God, whom created and made all men, in their pursuit to reach the top of their sport, to come home with the Gold.
Each time we watch this movie,
Chariots of Fire, every time we watch the Olympics we should rededicate ourselves to be more than an average person, or even an above average person, but a person of excellence who seeks to be all they can be for the glory of God.
We are not a people of mediocrity, we are a people, especially those in the Catholic Church, who run the race in Chariots of Fire.
<![CDATA[Needs a helper application to play MIDI music files]]>
Click to hear the Theme to
Chariots of Fire
Your miserable servant,
Brother Bubba
PermaLink: URL to use to Link to this Entry
FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT
**St. Theophanes the Chronicler (8th Century)
**St. Gregory the Great (604), Pope, Doctor of the Church,
Patron of Church Music (Trad)
Here is the latest update on Fr. Benedict.
When Br. Pio quietly knocked on the door, poked his head in the library and said, "Father Glenn, you have an important call", I was somewhat happy to get an unexpected break from the meeting. Yet, to get me out of a Council meeting, I knew it must be important. I walked over to the phone hopeful it wasn't an emergency. We all know what thoughts race through our mind when a phone call is both unexpected and called "urgent". As I reached for the phone I hesitated, interiorly braced myself and said: "Fr. Glenn". The voice at the other end was weak and raspy - "Praised be Jesus Christ." I could hardly believe my ears! "Now and forever!" I shouted into the phone.
Yes, it's been almost two months since I heard that familiar voice! I was told that hearing the voice of a loved one silenced by sickness for so long was "an experience of God". No truer words have been uttered! Inside I felt like the sun beaming after a storm.
After a quick bite, Fr. Andrew, Fr. Richard and I hopped into the car and headed for the hospital. When we got to Father's room, Br. Daniel Marie was standing bedside smiling from ear to ear. As I approached Father's bed, he extended his hand, smiled and once again said, "Praised be Jesus Christ".
I don't want to take up your time with my thoughts and feelings, so I'll step aside and let Father say a few words to you.
"Dear Friends,
This is the first opportunity I have to personally thank the people who have been caring for me since my accident. I was deeply moved by the amount of prayer cards and e-mails from many, many people. I don't know how to repay you for your expressions of support and letters of encouragement.
I am going to be laid-up for a while healing and hopefully getting stronger. I am thankful to God that I did not sustain any serious head injuries or facial disfigurement. God must be telling me to get back to work.
Today I spoke for the first time in 2 months. I am so grateful for the brothers who have attended to my needs, especially Br. Daniel and Br. Peter. They have shown infinite patience to a person in a desperate situation. I can't tell you how happy I am to be so well cared for by the staff of two very fine hospitals. I will be forever grateful to these generous people for the rest of my life. When we say love and faith are dying away in this country, here we see so much dedication and care - the attendants, nurses, specialists, and of course, the doctors.
I want to share with you two principles upon which I have built my life. The first is from Saint Augustine: 'God does not cause evil, but that evil should not become the worst'. Second: 'There are no accidents. Evil things occur because of bad will or stupidity or fatigue, yet whatever the cause God will bring good out of it if we let Him'.
I had seen the movie, "The Passion" before I had my accident. How many times the haunting scenes (of Christ's agony) brought me consolation and hope when things were very dark.
Each day I will try to write a little something to the many people who have supported me. This can become a wonderful way we can grow and support one another and together grow in faith, hope, and love. God bless and keep you."
Fr. Benedict
Let us all maintain our prayers for Fr. Benedict as he continues in his recovery.
Your miserable servant,
Brother Bubba
PermaLink: URL to use to Link to this Entry
WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT
St. Macarius (334), Bishop
Forty Holy Martyrs of Sabaste (320) (Trad)
If movies are suppose to draw us into the story and cause us to "experience" the events and emotions on the screen, then Mel Gibson's movie,
The Passion of the Christ must be considered the best movie ever made. Even detractors are profoundly affected, although it hard to tell sometimes.
Among the most asinine and devilish of the critics are exampled below:
--Rev. Andrew Greeley (the so-called Catholic priest) calls it "sadomasochistic and pornographic."
--Christopher Hitchens dubs it "an exercise in lurid sadomasochism."
--Ex-priest John Dominic Crossan labels it "pornographic."
--David Edelstein of Slate finds it an "exercise in sadomasochism."
--Rabbi James Rudin brands it "a sadomasochistic film."
--David Denby of The New Yorker opines "It's extremely sadistic."
--Jonathan Foreman of the New York Post says it's "pornographic."
--A.O. Scott of the New York Times sees it as "high-minded sadomasochism."
--Andrew Sullivan was shocked to find it "pornographic."
--Rev. Michael Coffey, a Lutheran minister, says it's "pornographic."
--David Ansen of Newsweek screams "It's the sadism" that's troubling.
--Jamie Bernard of the Daily News notes it "would horrify the regulars at an S&M club."
--Ex-priest James Carroll sees the film as nothing but "pornographic."
--Leon Wieseltier of the New Republic dubs it "a repulsive masochistic fantasy, a sacred snuff film."
--Harvard professor Daniel Jonah Goldhagen was aghast at the "sadomasochistic, orgiastic display" and its "unremitting sadism."
--Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post calls it "the most unremitting sadism in the history of film."
--Bill Safire in the New York Times complains of its "sustained sadism."
--Al Neuharth of USA TODAY calls it a "wasted exercise in sadomasochism."
The common denominator among these pundits of IQ's under 25 (formerly called "idiots") is that the movie is sadomasochistic and pornographic.
I guess I do not live in the rarefied air of the ivy league idiots to realize the novel definitions of sadomasochism and pornography.
I thought I knew what these words meant. Afterall, in the 1970's I worked with a commissioner on the Presidential Commission on Pornography and obscenity informing the public about these issues, investigating offenders, writing model legislation, and getting the first convictions for violation of obscenity laws in the history of the county where I lived at the time.
I was one of the top experts on the subject in the United States and testified before the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Child Pornography as an expert witness.
Apparently I was not an expert at all and all my experience working on the issues of pornography, obscenity, and violence in the media on local, state, and national levels must have been a delusion.
Now the Passion of Christ who voluntarily underwent torture and death to pay the penalty of OUR sins and to open the door to heaven for us sinners is somehow sadomasochism and pornography.
Either I spent much of my life in delusion, or these critics speak with a breath of sulfur from the depths of hell.
Each of the Newspapers that published this horrific blasphemy should be boycotted, the anti-Christ priests denounced, and "Father" Greeley defrocked, if he isn't already.
God have mercy.
Your miserable servant,
Brother Bubba
PermaLink: URL to use to Link to this Entry
|
