My Princess

Using the Montfort method, my wife and I are celebrating our first anniversary by renewing our consecration to Mary, our Blessed Virgin Mother.

As we are also with child, we are consecrating ourselves to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who gave the New World a child, a Savior of the Universe still developing within her womb, who was both European and indigenous American.

I have been preparing for this Advent feast by reading Carl Anderson's new book. Evidently I'm not the only fan:

Pope Recommends Book by Supreme Knight
"A Civilization of Love" Gets Papal Mention
By Jesús Colina VATICAN CITY, DEC. 9, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Popes are generally not quick to recommend books -- not counting the Bible and Christian classics. But today Benedict XVI made an exception, recommending "A Civilization of Love," a book by the leader of the Knights of Columbus.A telegram sent in the Pontiff's name by his secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, expressed the Holy Father's hope that Carl Anderson's book "will awaken renewed fidelity to Christ and a generous evangelical witness."The papal telegram was sent to Vatican Radio, where the Italian translation of the book -- from the Vatican Publishing House -- was launched today. The president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko classified the work as a "handbook for Catholic laity who make an effort to build a civilization of love." Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, said this volume, with "typical clarity, in addition to the competence of Americans," is very useful "for the formation of the laity." He particularly lauded the reflection questions found at the end of every chapter.[snip]
Anderson told ZENIT that in presenting the book on the civilization of love in the Old World, he seeks to put forth the central proposal of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, something that "today is essential for the discussion on culture and Christianity in Europe."

Great minds think alike, that's all I can say :)

A new e-zine

from the good kind of Jesuits. I look forward to reviewing it.

Renew Year

The US Bishops have unveiled a new online resource for celebrating the season of Advent.

This in addition to the perennial favorites from Catholic Culture and EWTN.

I've been preparing for the season by learning more about Our Lady of Guadalupe, thanks to Carl Anderson's new book about the Mother of the Civilization of Love. The most fascinating part for me has been learning the many secrets of the image imprinted on St. Juan Diego's tilma. Here are some reviews from the book's website:

“It’s remarkable – and it’s why Our Lady of Gudalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love is so important and needed - that more recent appearances of Mary at Lourdes, Fatima, and even the disputed visitations at Medjugorje are so much more well-known to Americans than her visit to our own continent.”

Brad Miner
A former literary editor of National Review, is senior editor of The Catholic Thing.

“The greatest icon of Christian unity in the New World is Our Lady of Guadalupe, and this compelling, informative, immensely readable book is a fitting tribute to her. It reminds all of us who are ’Americans’ North or South, and whatever our native tongue -- that we are one Christian family, loved by the same Mother and her Son, spanning an entire hemisphere, and joined in a common vocation to create a civilization of love. Read these pages. They will renew your heart.”

Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Denver

"I started reading Our Lady of Guadalupe like a regular book, but ended up not having enough of it. The reason was as simple as unexpected: very rarely do inspiration, devotion and historical accuracy meet in such a superb manner. Mr. Carl Anderson and Msgr. Eduardo Chávez have achieved that poetic balance in this magnificent book, written with both profound love and stunning clarity.

“Our Lady of Guadalupe” is a must–read for all Americans who want to understand why the beloved Patroness of the Americas is rightly called the “Mother of the civilization of love,” and why only under her mantle, the Catholics of this continent will be able to finally carry out the New Evangelization dreamed of by Pope John Paul II and encouraged by Pope Benedict."

Alejandro Bermudez
Editor ACI Prensa and Catholic News Agency

I have to agree with his excellency Chaput-- Advent marks the beginning of a new year: no time like the present to enter the conversion process and draw closer to Jesus. We have four beautiful and reflective weeks to do this successfully and well. The day after Our Lady's feast, I will enter a new year of marriage to my beloved wife. Since we are with child, we can enter under the mantle of Nuestra Senora, who wears the ribbon round her waist, and invoke her protection as we forge our small unit within the Civilization of Love. As we prepare to welcome the Christ Child, we also prepare to welcome the birth of our own child in January. As we learn our capacity for love, we can renew our commitment to the one whose love and mercy for us has no limit. Through her intercession, may our child and all children in the womb experience the saving love of the Infant King~ Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in fatness. -Is 55:2

Abbot Joseph offers a beautiful reflection for the day.

Wry observation

John Allen once again gets to the kernel, though I'd prefer he leave his smug observations in the rest of the article to himself:

It’s impossible not to notice that there are at least two clear political objectives to be served by revealing Tobin’s disciplinary act now:

• It’s reminder that the bishops don’t speak for a unified Catholic bloc when it comes to abortion policy. The political translation is that a legislator doesn’t have to worry about losing all 67 million Catholic votes in America if they don’t back the bishops’ line.
• It creates a PR headache for the bishops, because it shifts the terms of debate from the merits of the pro-life argument to the bishops’ tactics in suppressing dissent. In a culture that prizes tolerance, anything that makes an institution look intolerant usually hurts its image, and therefore its political effectiveness.

All this comes at a time when the bishops are on something of a roll, politically speaking. Most observers credit them with making significant contributions towards passage of the Stupack Amendment in the House, barring new federal health initiatives from funding abortion. More broadly, the bishops can take some credit for President Obama’s public evolution on the issue. On the campaign trail Obama vowed to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, but in office he’s pledged to make health care reform ‘abortion neutral,’ and he promised Pope Benedict XVI last July to work to bring down the abortion rate.

For those on the pro-choice side, all of this is obviously a bit unsettling.

Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable, John. If it works for other areas of Catholic social teaching, it works here too.

Welcome Back!

Whispers brings us the much-anticipated news bulletin in its entirety.

The constitution itself is very brief. Of course the Press couldn't be bothered to read the document carefully and remains too stupid to grasp nuance, especially Roman ones.

I'm hopeful for what this may do to improve the ordinary form in the English vernacular.

Perhaps this spells a restoration of the altars, in reversal of Elizabeth's carnage?

Your perpetual light

The vigil ended quietly into the wee hour before All Souls Day.

I stood with my candle, praying that the Lord will establish peace at 320 E. Fulton St.

Peace and healing for the mothers who will taste the bitterness of a horrid choice.

Peace and new life for the children they have killed.

I also prayed in thanksgiving for the blessings of our vigil:

We had more night coverage than ever before, more non-Catholic churchgoers than ever before, more reports of lives saved than in years past.

We outlasted our friends holding their protest signs as we lovingly, silently prayed.

I hope everyone who came will continue to enter more deeply into the love of Christ.

Glory be to God, now and forever, and unto ages of ages!

Speak up

for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Today begins the 40 Days for Life campaign.

I will be blogging about it at La Grande Vitae.

Happy Birthday, Mary!

I didn't bake a blue cake, but that's one way to celebrate the day.

Today is the Nativity of Mary. If we were Anglican, we'd call it Marymas or Ladymas.

Merry Marymas!

I won't be posting so much at this blog in the near future. The 40 Days for Life campaign has asked me to make a new blog for their local vigil. We will be praying and fasting for an end to abortion in front of the place where our fellow citizens are perishing, suffering, and choosing despair over hope. If you would like to join us in peaceful prayer, please follow this link to our website.

Mary knows the wonder of life in the womb. Please ask for her prayers on behalf of all mothers, especially those who are considering death for their child instead of life. Please ask for her maternal solicitation as they discern what is just.

Mary, who trusted the Lord, pray for us!

Mary, whose child caused another to leap in the womb, pray for us!

Mary, who sheltered the Author of Life in her womb, pray for us!

Novices

Today my brother enters the Jesuits.

It's the feast of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, and it does feel a bit like we're losing something today. Of course we're overjoyed, and it's not like he's dying. But he is leaving our family to join another family. I'm sure the Baptist doesn't regret the severance because of the outcome that followed, so I know we will not regret this moment and all the blessings to come.

Yet...it's a loss somehow. There's a grieving aspect to this moment that I choose to honor. We will celebrate at Thanksgiving, which is the next time we get to see him. But for now, the tears come so easily. He will be so good. God is good.

St. Ignatius, pray for us~
St. John the Baptist, pray for us~

Queen conceived without original sin,

pray for us who have recourse to thee!




St. Montfort went so far as to address her as "my Princess" in his total consecration.

Mary owns the inimitable privilege of being daughter, spouse, and mother of the Triune God.

Today, as we celebrate Our Lady's Coronation as Queen of Heaven, let us remember our duty in this regard. We dare not call upon Christ as our Lord and King without likewise showing all due respect to His chosen Queen.

I feel a litany may be in order for this occasion...

Queen of Angels, ...
Queen of Patriarchs, ...
Queen of Prophets, ...
Queen of Apostles, ...
Queen of Martyrs, ...
Queen of Confessors, ...
Queen of Virgins, ...
Queen of all Saints, ...
Queen conceived without original sin, ...
Queen assumed into heaven, ...
Queen of the most holy Rosary, ...
Queen of Peace, ...

Hail, Holy Queen,
Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope:
to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve,
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us, and-
after this, our exile-
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,
JESUS!

O clement, o loving, o sweet Virgin Mary:
pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ~

+Amen+

New find

OSV published an Internet guide replete with links to Catholic online resources. The list is poorly organized (for example, Whispers is listed as a news site, rather than a blog) but it's pretty thorough. I found a new site to frequent, Mercatornet.com, a medium promoting human dignity. Check it out!

Green Sixteen

Via the ever-prodigious Mr. Blosser, we enjoy Mr. Allen's discovery that- according to our Holy Father Pope Benedict- responsible stewardship of Creation starts in the womb.

Along with this video about the Myth of Overpopulation, I think we can safely claim that once again the Church is saving the world from itself...should it decide to get a clue and listen.