FRIDAY POTPOURRI - MOM VALENCHECK'S STRUDLE

Is anybody else having difficulties downloading pictures?

I went to go see “Julie and Julia” the other day and thoroughly enjoyed it. In the spirit of that movie I thought this week’s Friday Potpourri would be a recipe believe it or not – I think a first for this blog.

Mom made her very own version of strudel and I fiddled with it myself so this is probably one of the only nearly original recipes in my bag of tricks. Here’s what you will need for the crust:

2 cups of floUR
Two sticks of butter – YES BUTTER OR DON’T BOTHER
¼ C of water
3 egg yolks (Save the whites for later.)
2 TBLS of vinegar. (I sometimes add vanilla – Mom didn’t approve.)

Cut the butter into flour until it is pea sized and then add the liquids and mix. Divide into 4 – 6 balls and kneed adding required amounts of flour until it no longer sticks (and makes a cool clicking sound in your hand.) Cover and set in the refrigerator for at least as long as it takes you to do the next step or overnight.

Here’s what you need for the filling.

9 apples unless they are gigundous. Mom always used half Jonathon and half Macintosh.
1 cup of sugar
Dash of cinnamon
Lemon Juice (buy a lemon.)
1 cup of crushed cornflakes.

Core, peel, and chop the apples. You could use one of those handy dandy chopping thingys but I like the chunkier more random sizes of apples.

Add all the other ingredients and mix except for the cornflakes.

Preheat oven to 325-350

Roll out the dough ball into a rectangle getting it as thins as possible. It’s best to do it on a sheet because then you can roll it with the filling much more easily and without breaking anything. Scoop out the appropriate percentage of filling along one of the long sides of the dough but not all the way to the sides. Along the side of inside line of the filling make a barricade of crushed cornflakes to act as a barrier to the apple juice. Put some of the egg whites around the edges of the crust and fold over the ends, role into a loaf.

Place on greased tray, swipe the top with more egg white and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 45 min. to an hour or until nicely brown. Serve hot with vanilla ice cream.

A twist on this is to peel and core the apple, place in the center of a round of the dough, fill the center of the apple sugar, a little cinnamon, and a pat of butter on top. Apply the egg whites as a glue and envelope the apple in the dough. Cover with egg white and sugar. Cook at 350 for hour or until golden brown. Serve hot in a bowl with vanilla ice cream and melted St. Valentine’s Day cinnamon candy hearts as a sauce.

NOT THAT OLD SONG AND DANCE AGAIN . . .

Chesterton once wrote in the Illustrated London News, “The sentence ran something like this: ‘The time will come when communicating with the stars will seem t us as ordinary as answering the telephone.’ To which I answer, by way of a beginning: ‘Yes, that is what I object to.’ Now, if you could say to me: ‘The time will come when answering the telephone will seem to us as extraordinary as communicating with the remote stars . . .’ then I should admit that you were a real, hearty, hopeful, encouraging progressive.”

There is a certain sadness in that today’s innovation is tomorrows humdrum. Once I was in the kitchen when my young nephew came in, put something in the microwave and then collapsed against the machine and moaned, “Oh! I wish they would invent something that would make food more quickly!” Good thing he did not have to begin by killing the cow.

It seems to be human nature to grow “used to” things. I suppose people who live next to Niagara Falls never look at it. “Oh. That? That’s the falls. Nice huh? What do you want to watch on T.V.?” Even the Eucharist can fall prey to this. Unfortunately even spouses.

It does not have to be that way though. It takes a certain mind set – a spiritual practice to see everything new each morning. It may sound a bit corny but it is true that the tree outside is never the same tree twice – especially if you life in Ohio. There will always be something new about it – or at least something in it that can be appreciated. It takes the discipline to see the thing or person in the moment and to be appreciative of it.

Some people accuse me of being a Luddite. There may be a little truth to that accusation. Most of my clocks including my wristwatches are of the wind up variety. I am much more impressed with my ’46 Plymouth than I am with my 2000 Buick. I like fountain pens. I am horrible with them, but I like them. (Does anybody else end up with black fingers after using one? What on earth am I doing wrong?) But it really isn’t that I am opposed to quartz clocks, ballpoint pens, or iphones. I use many of these things. I think I am just not ready for them yet. I am still utterly amazed by the gears and mechanics of these older things. There is a victrola upstairs and I am completely fascinated that it can play a record without electricity. I still prefer my CDs most of the time (already a passing technology – sheesh) but I am more impressed by the ingenuity of the old beast.

It is not that the newer things are not incredibly clever things – even more so than these other devices – but that I am simply not ready for them yet. I am still amazed by the older versions and am not ready to be amazed by the new. I try to cultivate that in my spirituality – being amazed by the Eucharist – the Mass - by confession – by Christ’s teaching trying to hear them for the first time every time. Every day trying to appreciate anew the parish, the people, the neighborhood.

It’s bologna to say that I have got it down – but when it works it makes life so much grander. There is no need for something great and unique to happen every day when you can rightly appreciate what is there. More people have gadgets, resources, and means of mobility than any civilization has had ever and maybe will ever have again – who knows? How sad is for those who do not learn to enjoy and appreciate what is as best they can as opposed to what is not obtained yet.

IF I AM TO BE A MARTYR, COULD IT PLEASE BE QUICK?

The little girl in Flannery O’Conner’s short story, “A Temple of the Holy Ghost” thought that “she could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quick. She could stand and be shot but not be burned in oil.”

I suppose I think of martyrdom much the same way. It seems like an easy in (said with only mild seriousness.) Much harder I believe is living day in and day out the life of a good man or woman. Not culminated in one brilliant, shining moment of sacrifice and love, but the day in and day out living through life’s joys, difficulties, temptations, graces, grievances, injustices, illnesses, gains, losses, insights, and love. How much more challenging! How many more graces available! How many more chances to get it right or at least better!

Along with this Catholics are amoung the few who believe in redemptive suffering. That pain in this life can have great spiritual and sometimes more earthly benefits. God is so great that anything offered to Him He can change into something for the good. Julian of Norwich even points out that the honest sinner can even offer His failings to God through prayer and the sacrament of confession and He can use that sin (not committed for the this purpose) to draw him closer to Himself.

When we suffer in this life never fail to offer that suffering to God. In the midst of suffering our prayer becomes greater when we unite ourselves with the sufferings of Christ. In suffering we continue to reach out in love through prayer thus purifying our praise and adoration.

In a minor way about two weeks ago I had my wisdom teeth out. There was a certain amount of discomfort involved - nothing of great note. But the discomfort I offered to God on behalf of the community that I was sent to minister to and for my loved ones and sometimes for those with whom I have difficulty dealing.

When you are passing through difficulty and it need not be physical, offer prayer through the mist of our pain. Unite yourself with the sufferings of Christ. Remember those who need prayer. Use your pain and do not be merely used by it.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CXXV

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND: “But Christ did not overcome the world by running for office or leading a campaign of insurrection against the Caesars.” From Thomas Nevin’s “Therese of Liseux”

QUOTE II: “In may day television was called books.” The Princess Bride

IN OTHER NEWS:

Fr. P and I were discussing Catholic friendly television shows – surprise – there are not too many. NCIS is one as well as the original Law and Order. Neither are a proponent of Catholicism by any stretch of the imagination but at least often they give the Catholic perspective up against others. N.B. This is not the case for the Law and Order spin offs. Eash.)

There is another program that I have come to like (although more recently came across a rather raunchy episode so my recommendation is not an excited one.) It is actually not Catholic friendly in the least. The characters are in fact rather anti-Catholic. But it is an honest portrayal of these characters with all of their foibles and not merely an attack on the Catholic Church. It is called “Mad Men” and one of the few, few, few shows that I take the time to watch.

My sister found a site at which you could “Mad Men Yourself” much like the site at which you could Simpsonize yourself. I could not get a Roman collar on so this is the next best thing that I could do – at a bar with Mr. Draper trying to convert his wretched soul on his territory. Gads, for some reason I can't get it on here. I will try again next week.

Here is the site if you would like to give it a go.

The Diocese of Cleveland Enewsletter asks, "Did you know, the National Catholic College Admission Association is a non-profit organization of Catholic colleges and universities committed to promoting the value of Catholic higher education and serving students in the transition to college?"

Martin wrote in last week a little too late for me to post, "This is Martin from John Paul the Great Catholic University, an authentically Catholic business, media, and technology school in San Diego, CA. Our theology professor Michael Barber has produced a video reflection on the Mass readings for August 9th. I thought your readers might be interested in it as a way of preparing for the Sunday liturgy." Or, in this case, reflect on what you heard last week. We are continuing with John 6 anyway and it might be a good recap. Here it is.

This is a picture that I could not post yesterday.The barn has the Mail Pouch logo on it that a friend of mine and I painted. It is the second time we painted it. Here is a site to see pictures of the first barn we painted which subsequently burned to the ground!

MONDAY DIARY - HEY! I MEAN HAY!

For some reason I am not having any luck downloading any pictures other than the one below. Perhaps I will post them tomorrow.

Friday night was free until a phone call came in. An emergency phone call to the rectory is not unusual though the subject matter was. The hay at the farm was delivered, it was threatening rain and there was no one to help load it in.

So I invited our new parochial vicar out for dinner at the farm. As we neared the farm I casually dropped the information, “By the way, did I mention we have to load 200 bales of hay into the barn before we eat?” I have since learned what a good Joe he is.

Sebastian also came along. He had the uncanny knack for standing exactly where the next bale of hay was to be thrown. It only took one bale landing on his head to break him of that terrible habit.

IN OTHER NEWS:

This past week we had the feast of St. John Marie Vianney. It was interesting reading about him this year with particular attention since it is the Year for Priests. I envy his love of his parishioners and the Blessed Sacrament. I pray to be a good priest in that way.

From time to time a new insight dawns while celebrating the Mass and I think, “Wow, I have to remember this forever!” After a while that is replaced by something else amazing about this sacrament. The depth of meaning and love in this sacrament is so great that we will live our whole lives and forget more than we remember in our insights and still have only scratched the surface.

Anyway, nearing the consecration I started wondering what might have been going through St. Vianney’s mind as he celebrated the Eucharist. (I think a lot during the Mass which is probably why I cannot remember ANYTHING that is not stick ‘em noted in.) Lifting the bread slightly above the altar and praying the words of institution the notion of St. Vianney’s great love for his people came to mind and I prayed to be able to love my people so. Almost at the same time I thought of his lips uttering the words of institution and of his great love of God present to us as the Eucharist. Then at the words, “Do this in memory of me,” when Jesus is lifted for a moment of adoration before the people it occurred to me in a new way what a privilege it is to be a priest. It was like a formal introduction of your two great loves: the God of Love being introduced to the Church and you near the center of it witnessing the moment. Wow- what a privilege! And very humbling. And a joy to be able just to stand in that intersection for this amazing encounter. Thanks St. Vianney for making a bit clearer this wonderful, wonderful moment in the life of a priest.

FRIDAY POTPOURRI - WHAT DO YOU THINK?

You came with a lot of great ideas for to replace Friday Fair. There are still some symbolic things we can throw in but a lot of the things about which you wrote were also very good. So maybe Friday will become “Friday Potpourri.” It will cover a limited scope of topics. Thanks for the grand idea.

One of the topics recommended is vocation stories. There was a series a long time ago in which I described my own vocation history. I enjoy hearing them also so if anybody has a vocation journey story and would Email it to me I would be most please to post one occasionally.

One of my favorite stories came from my first pastor as a priest. His name was Fr. Robert Hilkert. He had a way of telling stories and I do not know exactly how much of it was true and how much of it was true in a way to make the story more interesting. The way he tells the story however is that he and his brother were told that they were going to go away for schooling. A concept that was terribly exciting. It was not until he had installed himself at school that he came to discover that it was a seminary.

Apparently the pastor of Saint Vincent told him that his sons had possibilities and that they should try out the seminary – which they did though not of their own volition. The interesting part is that both he and his brother Fr. John Hilkert stayed the course and were ordained.

The brothers greatly loved the priesthood and were model priests in many ways though quite different from each other. Once in the seminary it never really occurred to Fr. Robert not to continue on in the priesthood. It was a natural fit though he claims not to have much considered it until he actual found himself in the seminary.

To his dying day he could not understand why more men did not choose the priesthood. He spoke of it as such a grand and privileged life and his example and joy was always evident.

FEAR OF COMMITMENT? NO PROBLEM

When I first went to college I started a major in music, switched to business, switched to psychology, switched to manual communications (and almost graduated), switched to . . . well, you get the idea. It was a wonderful opportunity to look into things (and none of the skills learned in any of these areas were left to atrophy in my current vocation.) I never felt that once I entered into one of these majors that I would be trapped and forced to commit once in the doors.

For some reason though people have the idea that this is the case for priestly vocations. “Going to the seminary” sounds like a done deal. The men in the seminary have not made any more of an absolute commitment to being a priest than I did as a new psychology or music major. Entering the doors of the seminary is a discernment process. You are going there to see if it fits, if indeed this is that to which God is calling you. And like all the majors I explored before priesthood are not wasted in my current vocation, a man’s experience in the seminary will serve him for the rest of his life. He will learn more about his faith, be given an intense opportunity to grow in his relationship with God, he will be exposed to learning, opportunities, and experiences that most people are not.

The Church in general also benefits. These men become laymen who are unusually well versed in the faith. They may be catechists or heavily involved in the parish or diocesan life in some other way – or be a writer – or just a promoter of the faith in whatever vocation to which they are eventually called. And, as I have often said to a man leaving the seminary, “Raise up many worthy sons who will become priests!” In this the culture for vocations grows.

If you are considering a priestly or religious vocation, do not be afraid to investigate! (Right Adoro? Kay?) If this is too much for you most places also have less “threatening” ways for you to explore vocations such as vocation visits or weekend or week long retreats. But please do not simply ignore the calling. I’ve met far too many men in the confessional who have ignored their calling and later regret it. If you are single and Catholic you owe it to yourself let alone God (for if it is what you are called to, only it will make you truly happy!) to explore whether you have a calling to priestly or religious life.

Saint John Marie Vianney, ora pro nobis,

WHY DOESN'T SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING?

The letters to the editors in these parts often contain words from a disgruntled Catholic complaining about of their shock concerning what is happening to their parish. (Cleveland is going through some parish downsizing.) There are a few incidences in which I understand why this is the case but for the majority this is not a surprising event. The process for closing parishes has been going on for years. Every parish was supposed to have a committee of parishioners that were intimately involved with the process and they along with the pastor were to keep members of each parish involved and informed. Apart from some specific cases this situation should not have occurred.

There are a couple of possibilities. One is that the parishioner did not pay attention, did not attend Mass, did not read the bulletin, did not listen to announcements, did not come to meetings, or really attends another parish and only occasionally their “home” parish and therefore was oblivious to these cataclysmic events at their parish. The other is that the parish priest or the committee did not take their mandate seriously enough to pass on the information about what was happening. In either even the bishop is blamed for the surprise attack.

It is also the case (I am equally to blame in not getting the news out) that a person will hear of something going on in the world and say, “Why haven’t the bishops spoken out on this! Why is the pope silent?!” This is often far from the case. Suppose the bishops (who put out copious amounts of statements and documents) or the pope does say something, how are we to hear about it? Quite often when the paper does report that Pope Benedict said something they tell of some obscure passing line of a much greater statement because it makes for great headlines. Or if the bishop should say something how is it get to the people? The newspaper? I think not. Send letters to everyone? That is called the diocesan newspaper and how many people have subscription to it and read it?

Priests should perhaps be better about spreading the word. But lay people too should mine for this information. The Vatican has a website (and a newspaper) as do most dioceses. Be informed! Know what the Church is saying! Search out these sources for important topics and know that the Church does indeed speak.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CXXIV

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND: “Oh, how beautiful will be the day of Resurrection! Those beautiful souls will be seen coming from heaven like glorious suns, to unite themselves to the bodies they animated on earth. The more those bodies have been mortified, the more they will shine like diamonds.” From St. John Marie Vianney’s, “Eucharistic Meditations” More quotes here.

QUOTE II: “I think those are drawing nearer to heaven who, in this life, find that they need men less and love men more – in being loved and not being needed.” From C. S. Lewis’ “The Four Loves”

IN OTHER NEWS:

Oh happy day! This is the first feast of St. John Marie Vianney under his new title of patron saint of all priests! St. Vianney, pray for all of us priests!

In honor of the day Fr. P. and I have dubbed one of our guest rooms as the St. Vianney suite.

PRAY FOR VOCATIONS!

And I offer a prayer out to all you young men who are considering a call to the priesthood.

A study in Ohio weather:

Michael sent this in: “I am writing on behalf of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), an international Catholic charity under the guidance of the Holy Father whose mission is to help suffering and persecuted faithful worldwide.

As an international Catholic charity under the guidance of the Holy Father, Aid to the Church in Need’s mission is to help suffering and persecuted faithful worldwide. As the voice of the suffering Church, with the help of our ACN family of faithful — hundreds of thousands of concerned and committed Catholics worldwide — we reach out to assist people in need in over 145 countries. Each year, we fulfill more than 5,000 projects through our spiritual and material aid programs. Our shared goal: To help strengthen the Church and keep the Faith alive."

You can also support the organization just by following them on the web and by spreading the word about their mission and the work they do:
Follow Aid to the Church in Need on Twitter.
Become a Fan of the charity on Facebook.
Read their blog at churchinneed.wordpress.com.
View photos of projects and people on Flickr.

CK sent this video in that is intriguing. What is your take on it? 1.5 minutes.

Rob is back in action! He is continuing a Scripture Study over at Ecce Verbum Dei

For those who are somewhat more local: Theatre of the Word is coming back to Ohio. They were at St. Sebastian last year and greatly enjoyed. Much of the cost for bringing them here came from a local Chesterton society and myself. Is anybody interested in helping them return this year? It was a great to do!

By the by, whilst we were at it, we named our common room the Chesterton Room. A silly practice perhaps but none-the-less done.

MONDAY DIARY - COLLARED

Last week was the Akron Art Expo and on Sunday after the Mass schedule Fr. P. and I decided to go walk over for a peek. It was hot and I asked Father, “Do you want to go over in shorts or like clerics.” Here’s where it is fun being with a bloke who is new and on fire with the priesthood. “In our blacks of course,” he replied. Fortunately the streets in this part of Akron are lined with giant shade trees and so it was not so bad. If nuns could survive in full habits over the centuries I could survive in light cotton black shirt.

It does make a difference. On Saturday having the dog out on a walk (I was in shorts) I spied a coffee table that Father could use in his room at a yard sale. Back at the rectory I grabbed him and we walked to the sale, bought the table and walked it back home. I man stopped me at Mass this weekend and said he saw Fr. P. walking down the street carrying furniture with a homeless man and was he not just grand. *sigh*

Anyway, back at the Expo, I got stuck unusually long waiting for a deep fried Oreo (O my) and when I finally got my deep fried treat Fr. was in a deep conversation with a young man. He had left the Church some time ago for all of the usual reasons – gay marriage – abortion – etc. – and came up to Father and asked, “Are you a Catholic priest?” One must ask these days. It seems so many people are wearing these popish collars. “I was wondering if I could talk to you . . .”

It seems that I write a lot about visible clergy but every so often it is reinforced in my book (not every agrees) how terribly important it is.

Okay - the picture here came up in a search for "priests in a crowd." This is a "Hunk Priest of the Month Calendar." I couldn't beleive it. But here it is.

FRIDAY FAIR - MY WORD!

A weekly report on symbols has been going on for a couple of years now and we are nearing the end of my imagination short of some plants and animals that we have skipped. We’ve at least touched on most other areas and apart from a couple more points I wish to mention I think we just might be about done unless you can think of an area not yet touched upon. And if not perhaps you can think of another topic to replace this series!

Thanks.

The way books are handled during the Mass is also symbolic of their importance. For example, the Book of Gospels is the only book allowed to be carried in procession. This is true even of the Lectionary (the book containing all the readings) which should never be carried in procession. This book is placed on the altar at the beginning of Mass. Note the connection: Chris is present in several privileged forms during the Mass, the most august is in the Eucharist and also in His own words at the proclamation of the Gospel. How appropriate it is then that the altar and Gospel book are so linked.

The book may only be elevated slightly, not up over the head as is the practice in so many places. The book should not be elevated higher than the Eucharist is elevated at the consecration. And while the Book of Gospels is important it is not in the printed form that Jesus is present but in the proclamation. So the mere presence of the book is not cause for adoration as the Eucharist would be. That is why the book is not even elevated when the deacon or priest says, “The Gospel of the Lord.” It is not the book that is special but the words that were just proclaimed.

The book is still treated with reverence however. Therefore it may be put in a place of honor after the reading is proclaimed – usually on some sort of stand.

The book does not leave with the exiting procession. The word is to be in our hearts now and we take it with us as we do the Eucharist.

TRUTH? WHAT IS TRUTH?

“I just calls ‘em as I sees ‘em.”

This is a phrase used by persons who report facts or strong opinions but without concern about the effects of the statements. On the one hand you know exactly where you stand with such a person. There is no doubt. If you want to know what they think of the color you painted your living room they will be most forthcoming. “That is the ugliest color I could imagine in here. Hey, I just calls ‘em as I sees ‘em and if you can’t handle it you shouldn’t ask.”

On the other hand can a statement be considered truth without the component of love? Are not truth and love two faces of the same coin? You can try to love someone without truth, but is it then love? It may look, feel, and act like love but in the end it is deceit and therefore not love. You might also speak something factual but if it is not done in love and therefore not with a heart toward bringing another more deeply into truth (perhaps even using it as a battering ram) is it not a bit deceptive and therefore not truth?

For example, a man was walking down a bus aisle on the Metro telling people that unless they were saved they were going to hell. Offended at his assumptions people began to tune him out. Suppose that for a moment that he was correct and that those not saved in the manner in which he believed they should be saved were going to hell. Yet he spoke of it in such a way that nobody wanted to listen to him. Could he be truly said to be speaking in the fullness of truth?

This is not to say that at times subjects must be spoken directly and bluntly. But behind the bluntness must be the intention of love and concern for the other person, this being seen as the best way to reach them. That is when fact becomes truth.

SOME STRAIGHT TALK

Taking Sebastian for a walk often leads to meeting people. One of his favorite dog friends owner is a Unitarian Universalist, a delightful chap with whom I enjoy speaking.

On a recent walk he informed me that they have a new leader (I suppose one can use the term pastor.) It was mentioned that the pastor was moving here with a spouse. I asked if they had children. In his response he said, “Yes. The pastor is male married to a woman. In our denomination it is important to make this distinction because we are welcoming to homosexual persons.”

That comment stuck with me for a spell. I know what he meant but it did come across a bit like if you are a person with an attraction to someone of the same sex you are not allowed in the Catholic Church. This is simply not the case.

What is the case is that all people within the Catholic Church are expected to live chastely. That is, one is to refrain from sexual activity unless one is married and marriage is between two persons who can "conceivably" bear children.

Now, what he meant of course is that they recognize same sex unions which is not done in the Catholic Church. But there are many good, practicing, saintly people within the Church with this orientation. The inclination is not itself sinful unless acted out in a way that makes it so (as it would with anybody) and it is important that we make this distinction. Souls may be at stake. If I were told I was unwelcome and sinful for some reason of my being I might too walk away from the fullness of truth, from the Church that Christ established, from my best hope of salvation all because of a misunderstanding.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CXXIII

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND: "It is by giving fair names to foul actions that those who would start at real vice are led to its practice under the disguise of virtue." from Scott's "Ann of Geierstein"

QUOTE II: "Creation was not finished until the poet came to interpret, and so complete it." from Nathanial Hawthorn's, "The Great Stone Face"

IN OTHER NEWS:

I am sans wisdom teeth today and following doctor's advice to lay low. So far so good! Also thank you to those who sent in the information that Saint Apollonia is patron Saint of those with dental problems having all of hers knocked out by a Christian persecutor. Read more here.

Greg sent a news release stating that St. Padre Pio's body has been found incorruptible, pilgrims to his tomb being presented with the face of man who seems to simply be sleeping though he died some 40 years ago. St. Pio, pray for us!

CORRECTION! Adoro kindly sent this follow up to the above story. "There has been an internet rumor going around for the last year that Padre Pio is incorrupt and that is NOT TRUE! He IS corrupted and what we see is a wax mask that was made for display (for quite obvious reasons!). I do believe that his hands may be incorrupt. The news stories that were published after his exhumantion went into detail on this but some people didn't bother to read those facts. They saw the wax mask and jumped to the conclusion of incorruption." For information and the full story look here. Thanks Adoro!

The Diocese of Cleveland Enewsletter reports: "Genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all is a moral imperative and a vital national obligation," said Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., as he outlined the policy priorities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on the issue of health care in a July 17 letter to Congress. The letter supported efforts to pass health care reform, but warned against inclusion of abortion." More information here.

From the same source: "Did you know, Catholic Healthcare Partners (CHP) is a mission driven, not-for-profit health system? They operate acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, housing sites for the elderly, home health agencies, hospice programs, wellness centers and other healthcare organizations that meet the healthcare needs of people in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and nearby states." Read more here.

Elena sent this link to an blog that ties in nicely with Monday's guest blog.

F. sent in this On Line Aquarium that is pretty cool.

He also sent in this video of a choir performing a rainstorm. I know - I thought it sounded pretty lame too until I listened to it. Approximately 6 minutes but the first two minutes are the neatest part. I want to try this!

Have you had a chance to read Pope Benedict's new encyclical "Caritas in Veritate" yet? Find it here. Go on . . . print it up and read it at your leisure.

Joan's Rome is a pretty interesting site provided through EWTN. If you are looking for short insights from someone in the heart of Rome it is a good read.

J.B. sent this information about a new Catholic lay initiative beginning in the Canton area but is seeking to become a larger initiative. "I am the director of Saint Cecilia Classical Productions Inc., a new pro-life, Catholic, evangelization apostolate. We are located in the Canton-Massilon area, and are a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization. The main focus of our apostolate is the advancement of the Culture of Life by the promotion of authentic Catholic family values to today’s young people." I know next to nothing about this organization. If you have any information please send it in. For the rest of you here is more reading.

Oh, and finally, a couple of more pictures from my vacation. . .

GUEST BLOG

Good morning. I am scheduled to have my wisdom teeth removed today and so what follows is a guest post. I have no idea if I'll be posting the next day or so. Sorry for the spottiness of posts lately! Thanks CK

I live a monumentally mundane life. I always tell people that I live under a rock, so if I encounter something regularly, then I assume it happens to the rest of the world super-regularly. There is a subject that keeps coming up in my social circles lately…

Two old high school friends and I met up at a local bar this week and of course we did what old friends do. We reminisced about high school and college, talked about our jobs and kids. And that same awkward, yet sadly universal subject came up that eventually gets discussed between good friends: their bad experiences with birth control.

One of our mutual friends has recently had a tubal ligation and was really regretting it. She said she feels awful all the time. It wasn’t clear whether the problem was the operation itself, getting off the pill, the emotional effects or a combination of factors. As if this weren’t bad enough, she needs a second surgery due to a case of HPV that if left untreated will certainly lead to cancer.

We all went to a Catholic high school together and I feel we were completely misled by our “health” classes. We were taught every form of birth control available. The teachers seemed to give their implicit stamp of approval to using contraceptives – and leaving any girl who wished to follow Church teaching to feeling completely unsupported. Sure we were told monogamous sex was safest, but it seemed like just a wink acknowledging the Church’s antiquated stance.

We were certainly led to believe that condoms would protect us from sexually transmitted diseases. If this is so, then why are over one third of American women infected with HPV? And why is my friend’s life now very likely at risk? We were taught what sterilization methods were available, but I don’t think anyone made the connection that mutilating healthy organs might have very bad physical and psychological consequences.

The other girlfriend I was drinking with that night had told me in the past that she had an IUD. Now apparently she is on the pill. I wouldn’t surprise me if she had unpleasant experiences with the IUD. Another girl I know had one put in by her doctor and it promptly caused a painful infection. Her doctor ignored her complaints of pain until she insisted the doctor take it out – only to find it really was infected.

The girlfriend who made the IUD/pill switch is a nurse and is extremely well read and intelligent. Yet, I don’t think she even notices that contraceptives are accomplishing the opposite of what medicine intends: it makes a healthy reproductive system unhealthy. She strives for perfect nutrition and to eat organic food whenever she can, yet she is willing to put artificial devices, hormones, and chemicals directly into the most delicate parts of her body. She eats grilled food as infrequently as possible in order to avoid carcinogens, yet will take a pill every day that the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control rate as a Group 1 carcinogen. She is environmentally conscious and recycles religiously, but the hormones in her pills eventually end up in lakes and streams, potentially destroying fish populations.

I always assumed that I would get married and use birth control pills, but I just had the random thought one day that the decision to use contraception was going to dramatically alter my life, and since God doesn’t want me to use it, I think I’d rather have my life be dramatically different in the direction of what is good. I decided I would use Natural Family Planning even though it doesn’t really “work”. It is only later that I did my own research and discovered that Natural Family Planning is just as effective as the pill, but has the added bonuses of being 100% side effect free, can be used to achieve pregnancy if desired, and costs nothing.

Being as I am a Catholic, though, what matters to me the most is my friends’ happiness which means I want them to have a happy family in this life and heaven in the next, and contraception has the power to destroy both. It is difficult to share this kind of information, but I try to take advantage of opportunities when I can as warmly, kindly, and delicately as possible. There is so much brokenness in families, pain in human hearts, and disease caused by contraception that fighting it is a cause close to my heart. I for my part am trying to find out how I can learn NFP so I can educate my loved ones, maybe even teach it publically if I can.

The pulpit is the perfect place to say, look, I know you haven’t been told this before, but I’m going to tell you Church teaching as gently and clearly as I can. It’s not your fault if you’ve never been told before. I know you’re afraid, but God doesn’t ask impossible things. I’m going to help you by having the Couple to Couple League in the gym after every mass today to introduce you to what you’ve been missing…or whatever the priest deems appropriate to help us.

I feel that I have done so little to fight the Culture of Death myself, and it seems like the task is impossible, but I intend to do what little I can. If it was God’s plan to have Pope John Paul II smash the iron curtain almost instantaneously without firing a shot, who says God might not smash the Culture of Death through us who are supposed to be His saints today?