Thursday, January 25, 2007

 

My New Favorite Blog

Keeping with the the theme of the day!

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Hand Holding at Mass

From Catholic Answers in April of '06:

ORIGINS OF HAND-HOLDING

The current issue of the "Adoremus Bulletin" says this in response to a query from a priest in the Bronx:

"No gesture for the people during the Lord's Prayer is mentioned in the official documents. The late liturgist Fr. Robert Hovda promoted holding hands during this prayer, a practice he said originated in Alcoholics Anonymous. Some 'charismatic' groups took up the practice."

My long-time sense had been that hand-holding at the Our Father was an intrusion from charismaticism, but I had not been aware of the possible connection with AA. If this is the real origin of the practice, it makes it doubly odd: first, because hand-holding intrudes a false air of chumminess into the Mass (and undercuts the immediately-following sign of peace), and second, because modifications to liturgical rites ought to arise organically and not be borrowed from secular self-help groups.

Periodically, on "Catholic Answers Live" I am asked about hand-holding during Mass and explain that it is contrary to the rubrics. Usually I get follow-up e-mails from people who say, "But it's my favorite part of the Mass" or "We hold hands as a family, and it makes us feel closer."

About the latter I think, "It's good to feel close as a family, but you can hold hands at home or at the mall. The Mass has a formal structure that should be respected. That means you forgo certain things that you might do on the outside."

About the former comment I think, "If this is the high point of the Mass for you, you need to take Remedial Mass 101. The Mass is not a social event. It is the re-presentation of the sacrifice of Calvary, and it is the loftiest form of prayer. It should be attended with appropriate solemnity."


From Zenit/EWTN comes more detail that it simply is not allowed since it has not been correctly approved by the bishops and the Holy See (and, no, it hasn't been as of the writing of this post even though the info at Zenit is a few years old).

So STOP IT already!!!!!!!

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

 

Spanking, Iraq and the Surge

Democrat California legislator Sally Lieber is introducing legislation that would outlaw spanking in the state arguing that it is tantamount to child abuse. Her rationale is a prime example of what is wrong with the far-left Democrats - any form of physical behavior (except for abortion) that might even be remotely considered aggressive or violent is inherently wrong. Thus, it should come as no shock that many of the same knuckleheads on the left are against the so-called Surge in Iraq even though it appears that it is already making a positive impact in Iraq prior to its implementation.

Toynbee argued that great civilizations die from suicide generally as a result of its lack of will; or, rather, great civilizations eventually die because they no longer have the will to use force when necessary in order to ensure its survival. Spanking, at the most basic level, is an example of how a parent can use force to discipline a child and teach that child the difference between right and wrong. Do all children who disobey need to be spanked? No, and not all confrontations with hostile competitors on the world stage need to be resolved with force either. However, it is clear that the use of force needs to be an option if needed, and it can only be an option if the nation has the will to use it.

Friday, January 12, 2007

 

Romney

I have included a link to the Hewitt blog which contains a letter signed by various representatives of pro-life groups in Massachussetts. Given Romeny's other fine conservative credentials that have been put into action during his tenure as governor of that state, it is time for conservatives to rally behind him so that McCain cannot and will not be the Republican candidate for president in 2008.

For those who are whining about Romney's stances from his previous run against ol' Teddy, please be advised that he has admitted his own shortcomings, and, like Ronald Reagan, fixed his ways.

Romney for President!

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

 

Final Top Ten

1) Florida
2) USC
3) LSU
4) OSU
5) Wisconsin
6) Boise State
7) Auburn
8) Louisville
9) Oklahoma
10) Cal
11) (in honor of the Big T1e1n) Michigan

Sunday, January 07, 2007

 

Pathetic

The USC atheltic website seems to have missed the fact that its most recent placekicker is dead. Pathetic (as of 7:41 on Sunday night).

 

The First Nowell

Really... that is how the modernists spell it. In addition, the modernists keep taking our children away (well, not mine) for a childrens' liturgy whereby they miss the Creed and the part about being "one holy Catholic" etc. So much for ONE. My nightmare tells me that the childrens' liturgy goes something like this:



At least the priest in Poland got enough nerve to not be the next Archbishop of Warsaw.

There is still hope!

Friday, January 05, 2007

 

Vacation Musings

1) Under "The Vatican Isn't Always Right" Column (well, column 1 of that category), the soon to be installed Archbishop of Warsaw appears to have been a communist spy. Will the Vatican do the right thing and stop this installation? Given that Roger the Responsibility Dodger is still in charge in Los Angeles in spite of his blatant crimes, I doubt it.

2) In the second column under the same title, the Vatican's response to the righfull execution of Saddam Hussein is appaling in that the Vatican Cardinal and others (not the Pope) who initially popped off does not seem to understand either the reality of the situation or the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Let's see if Cardinal Martino can grasp the plain meaning of the following from the Catechism:

2267 Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically nonexistent."


Now, the question should be if the killing of Saddam was an absolute necessity. I would argue that the situation with Hussein was so grave, that his return would cause much greater damage given the fact that it is a real possibility given the civil war like situation in Iraq. If you thought Napoleon made a mess in his second stint as emperor of France, just imagine what Hussein would have been able to do. Also, given the widespread loyalty of Baathists to him, it is highly likely that many of the killing committed by Sunni Baathists were done in an attempt to further destabilize the situation so that the U.S. would pull out, and Hussein, backed by the Baathists of Syria, would return to his position of dictator and his murderous ways.

3) USC should have played Ohio state, and, no, not in Glendale, Arizona. It is about time to put the BCS to rest and get back to tradition. Given the fact that USC smoked Michigan in the second half of the Rose Bowl, I really would have liked to have seen the traditional Big Ten - Pac Ten matchup of champions.

4) Will someone please stop giving mediocre Notre Dame football teams big paydays? The Fleeing French gave no indication on the field during the regular season that they belonged in a game of the stature of the Sugar Bowl. LSU confirmed it. If we are to be stuck with the awful BCS, then it should be modified so that Notre Dame cannot go unless they have defeated at least one top ten team as ranked at the end of the regular season. Additionally, they need to have not lost more than one game. Some may call this overly harsh, but since ND refuses to join a conference (a move that would really expose its constant weakness), they should't be granted such an easy pass to any BCS game.

5) I still want Kiflin fired (and you can heave-ho the OL coach too). If SC cannot have a balanced attack, something is dreadfully wrong.

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