This is priceless – I wish someone could translate!
Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew (below) made me think of this hilarious video I came across over the weekend:
Just a quick note on today’s Gospel. A few years ago a priest here gave some good advice about what it means to forgive someone seventy times. He said, obviously we need to forgive people as many times as they offend us. But, forgiveness is not easy, he said, especially if we’ve been wounded deeply, and even if we’ve formally forgiven someone for their transgressions, we still have a hard time really letting go of that hurt inside ourselves and sometimes need to forgive them repeatedly within our own hearts.
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.” –Mt 18:21-35
There’s no question that Catholics know how and when to fast (obv, we’re in the middle of Lent!). But, we also know how and when to feast! And today’s Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord is just such a day.
When I proudly declared that I planned on eating meat today in celebration of the conception of Our Lord, someone on Twitter asked whether I had permission from my Bishop. Let’s be clear here: a solemnity is a day for celebration, not for penance. No dispensation or permission is needed to eat meat on a solemnity – even if it falls on a Friday…even a Friday in Lent. See Canon 1251.
That same person wondered if it was right to feast and if the world might not benefit from more fasting instead. I understand their point. As Catholics, we are accustomed to offering sacrifices in union with the Cross for our own faults and the faults of others – especially during Lent! These sacrifices are important and more certainly is needed (just ask Our Lady of Fatima). However, as I said, there is a time to fast and a time to feast.
Of course, no one is obligated to not observe today as a day of abstinence and penance, but in a world that largely does not celebrate conception and the gift of new life, I would submit that today, of all days, is an important day to celebrate and feast! What a statement against the culture of death would be made if every American Catholic would celebrate the conception of the Savior of the World with as much fervor as we do the feast day of the Patron Saint of Ireland – another (lesser) feast which falls during the solemn season of Lent. A few things:
First, obviously, the Annunciation marks the exact moment of the Incarnation, the Word Made Flesh. By the Incarnation Christ, the Son of God, intimately united Himself to the entire human race and revealed, in the words of JP II, the incomparable value of every human person. Not only did Christ elect to take on our human nature, becoming like us in all things but sin, but he chose to begin his life on earth as the weakest and most defenseless among us, an unborn child.
Because of this saving event we realize the splendor of all human life – including the unborn child and the unformed embryo. “[O]nly in the mystery of the incarnate Word does the mystery of man take on light” (Gaudium et Spes 22). Let us pray on this day that such innocent life may once again be preserved and protected in our Nation through the intercession of this Immaculate Mother, Patroness of our Land.
Second, let’s ponder Mary’s response to the Angel’s message for a moment. Imagine that you are a young girl – roughly between the ages of 12 and 15 – not yet married and an angel of the Lord informs you that you shall be with child. This surely was not something that she would have ever expected and most likely did not understand at the time. It was also likely to cause her and her family great shame and scandal. But Mary, being “full of grace”, surrendered humbly to God’s will saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,” (Lk 1:38).
All of the crises in the world today – sexual immorality, attacks on human life, etc… – are a crisis of sanctity. Of people living for themselves and not God, even choosing darkness when presented with the light. Mary’s obedience undid the disobedience of Eve that lead to sin. This fiat is the antidote for what exactly what ails our society. Say yes to God!!
What’s more, by accepting this precious gift of life, Mary become not only the Mother of God, but a supreme example to all mothers. Mary’s role as the Mother of God reveals the dignity and sacredness of maternity – a role that is in many ways belittled and maligned by modern-day radical feminism. May all pregnant women imitate Our Lady’s gracious acceptance of new life and all women have recourse to this perfect example of authentic femininity.
If none of that’s not enough- to borrow a line from today’s Morning Prayer: Today we celebrate the Annunciation and the start of God’s work of salvation. It is the moment where God begins the process of restoring all things in Christ. If that is not a reason to feast, I don’t know what is.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel (Is. 7:14)
The Annunciation – Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Now that that’s settled. What’s everyone cookin’ up for dinner on this fine feast day? Might I suggest some meat wrapped in meat wrapped in…more meat??? 😉
Ok, perhaps that’s going a bit far, but c’mon! Let’s CELEBRATE the conception of Our Lord – an important feast in this age of rampant abortion-on-demand!!
Love this.
We are all God’s children – including the helpless unborn and the unformed embryo – and we are all somebody!
For just a few years now there has been a peaceful 40 Days for Life presence outside the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Columbia, MO. Since these vigils have been going on PP has had a hard time keeping an abortionist on staff and have gone extended periods of time without committing abortions. They are currently without an abortionist and no abortions have been committed in the facility for eight weeks now, praise God!
There’s no doubt Planned Parenthood hates losing abortion services at any of their facilities, so I’m sure that’s why this particular PP was the focus of one of their big, ugly pink bus rallies. Of course, the word abortion was glaringly omitted from the bus, signs, t-shirts and I think even the entire rally (which I didn’t quite hear all of). That is because these rallies are about gaining momentum to counter pro-lifers’ campaign to defund Planned Parenthood and touting the other, seemingly non-controversial services they provide – most, if not all, of which are provided at many other places, even for low-income women without health insurance and none of which anyone is seriously talking about outlawing or anything of the sort.
I was able to make it to the rally, which was held on Saturday, with several other pro-lifers. While there I was interviewed by a reporter for the Columbia Missourian:
“We come out here because we believe that every life has value, every unborn child deserves a chance at life, and Planned Parenthood prevents that from happening in large quantities, every day, every year,” said Chelsea Zimmerman of Holt’s Summit.
She also took issue with its family planning services.
“The contraceptive mentality is anti-conception, basically, and so when conception happens, when contraceptives fail and conception happens, they need a back up plan and that’s what Planned Parenthood provides for them,” Zimmerman said.
Well, it’s not perfect, but it was the best I could come up with off the top of my head (after a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit!). Her article is a little biased, at least in terms of how she reported the turn-out. She said that 40 Days for Life had 40 supporters show up. In truth it was about twice that (I counted at least 80) and we looked pretty evenly matched up with the Planned Parenthood supporters, so I’m doubting the 150 number she came up with. I do think they had slightly more supporters than we did, but I’d still only give them a little over 100 at the most.
Here are a few pictures I took with my phone (my good camera’s battery was dead!!). Click each image for a larger version. Notice how the PP supporters couldn’t even line up in front of their own building. Love it! 40 Days for Lifers just took over the sidewalk right in front of the PP, so PP supporters had to line up to the side, across the street…or stand behind pro-lifers. Great job Mid-MO pro-lifers!!
Things got a little busy for me towards the end of last week and I did not get a chance to post the last couple of articles from National Catholic Register’s Theology of the Body Symposium. So I thought today I’d just offer a recap of the entire symposium and link to all of the great articles that were featured in case you missed some of them:
Theology of the Body – a nice introduction from Cardinal Rigali
How Does Theology of the Body Fit Into Church Tradition? – from Colin Donovan
The Product of a Concerned Pastor – Brian Bransfield on how the Church can use TOB more for effective pastoral practice.
Theology of the Body and ‘Mature Purity’ – Dr. Janet Smith on how TOB’s teaching on chastity affects pastoral practice, and how we can teach and live chastity as a result.
Is TOB Really All About Sex? – Fr. Walter Schu on the relationship between theology of the body and evangelization.
A Matter of Communio – Sr. Prudence Allen on the past, present and future of theology of the body.
John Paul II’s Antidote to the Culture of Death – Christopher West discusses the past, present and future of the Pope’s theology of the body.
Is Love Solid Enough? – Fr. Jose Granados gives three keys to understanding Pope John Paul’s vision of theology of the body.
A Synthesis of Eternal Truths – Sr. Helena Burns on Theology of the Body and the New Evangelization
Theology of the Body and the Transformation of Culture – from Stratford Caldecott and David L. Schindler
and, finally:
The Beauty of Love: Key for Education in Sexual Purity – Michael Waldstein on how theology of the body’s teaching on chastity affects pastoral practice, and how do we teach and live chastity as a result
There ya go! That’s everything. Thanks to the Register for hosting the symposium and getting together so many wonderful TOB voices. I hope these articles have helped give many people either an introduction to this rich teaching, or helped deepen their appreciation and understanding for our late pontiff’s Biblical vision of the human person.
I’m not a big country music fan. But I recently came across this song by Brett Eldredge and found it quite lovely given that the sick and the elderly are often considered a “burden” on families and society these days:
The first line of this article on IVF in Canada makes my heart break and my blood boil:
Tens of thousands of human embryos hang in cold storage in Canada’s fertility clinics, an unknown number of which are “orphans.”
Tens of thousands of tiny human beings, frozen in time. It’s outrage!! And it seems that our neighbors to the North are trying to figure out the best way to ‘get rid of’ all these frozen ‘orphans’. For many, embryo donation to other couples struggling with infertility seems like the most humane answer to this sticky ethical situation. Several hospitals and fertility clinics have in place or are working on embryo adoption programs. But, according to this article, that raises even more ethical concerns, specifically about the rights of the children who would be born of genetically unrelated parents – should they be able to have access to information about their biological “parents”.
Gee. So nice of them to finally think about the rights of the children they are manufacturing. Too bad they didn’t consider that before all these tiny human beings were made in the first place!
The Catholic Church has opposed IVF from the outset and has never wavered in her opposition, despite the thousands of souls who walk the earth today because of IVF. And I think news like this and these stories that Rebecca Taylor pointed out last week, show the wisdom of the Church in this regard. Sure, it’s nice that people have a desire to create life and not destroy it, but I would venture to guess that the number of lives lost, destroyed or ‘frozen in time’ probably outweighs the number of human beings actually living outside the petri dish or womb as a result of this technology. For example: this woman had six embryos implanted in her womb (at the age of 58!!) and only gave birth to two after purposely killing one of the three that attached themselves after implantation. Even then, the two who were lucky enough to survive implantation and avoid abortion almost died shortly after they were born premature with underdeveloped lungs.
“Laboratory glassware is not the way new human members of our family should enter the world…A human being has the right to be conceived under his or her mother’s heart.” –Fr. Tad Pacholczyk
Taking the creation of life out of the womb and moving it into the science lab has seriously altered how we view the wonder and mystery of new life and how that new life should be treated. It has turned the creation of human life from a gift of God to a gift of science to the extent that people will go to great lengths to manufacture life according to their own specifications and then kill that life when the specs are not met.
“The tragedy is that “human rights” have not always meant “equal rights”. The good gifts of the Creator are spoiled by human selfishness. The rights God gave to all human beings equally, easily degenerate into my rights on which I insist, irrespective of the rights of others or of the common good.” — John Stott
If that doesn’t perfectly describe IVF, I don’t know what does. If it’s not clear as day to you by now, it should be: IVF is rarely, if ever, really about what is good and right for the children, but satisfying the immediate desires of adults who, for the most part, legitimately feel the pain of infertility, but falsely believe that they have some right to bear children.
I know that “gay” traditionally means to be happy and Disney World is considered “The Happiest Place on Earth” (I sure love it!), but that’s not what this “Gay Day” is about and if you’re not expecting it, it could leave you feeling anything but happy. Because my family, with very small children in tow, has accidentally stumbled upon this annual takeover of the Magic Kingdom by the LGBT community in the past, I just thought I’d give a heads up to any readers heading to Disney World this summer: if you’re not gay and you do not support the sexual union of two men or two women, you will probably want to avoid the weekend of June 4. From OneMillionMoms.com:
Homosexuals will be celebrating the 21st anniversary of Gay Day wearing matching Gay Day merchandise, such as T-shirts. There will also be transvestites dressed in drag showing their support for the event. This event is planned with the intent to expose and desensitize children to this lifestyle by same-sex couples holding hands, hugging and kissing. In short, a Gay Day participant’s main goal is to be seen versus seeing Disney World.
I asked my sister what she remembers of it – she was quite young – and she said that she remembers a bunch of people in red shirts and waiting in line next to guys holding hands and kissing each other.
The event is not sponsored by Disney, but they don’t do a whole lot to discourage it, either. It is held the first weekend of June every year and has become one of the largest gay-pride events in the world.
I also want to add a reminder that the Catholic Church does not condemn the homosexual person. In fact, she has a very loving ministry to those individuals to help them live the universal call to chastity and holiness. Visit the Courage Apostolate for more information.
Previous posts:
TOB Tuesday: Homosexuality
Dumbledore and Homosexuality
I Enjoyed Every Minute of It!
Yesterday morning I testified at a MO House committee hearing in favor of a bill placing pro-life protections on some life science research grants (so that the money cannot go toward human cloning/ESCR). During testimony, two cloning advocates spoke up in opposition to the bill – one a major cloning lobbyist for Washington University near St. Louis. 
That two cloning advocates spoke out against a bill that would prohibit state money from being spent on cloning research is not really a big surprise. What was a surprise, to me anyway, is that they both decried the legislation by essentially admitting that “Amendment 2” (which made cloning/ESCR a constitutional right in the State of Missouri) made it unconstitutional for the Missouri legislature to exclude cloning/ESCR from state funding (See sect. 5) – something they vehemently denied during the Amendment 2 campaign. Liars.
Publicly getting back into the “Amendment 2”, cloning, ESCR debate today reminded of a comment someone left here several months ago about my position on embryonic stem cell research. In essence, she told me that I needed to get over my “prejudice” and accept the “blessing” of embryonic stem cell research that may “restore some or all of your mobility in the next few years”. This is something we heard a lot during the Amendment 2 campaign – just shut up! If you don’t like ESCR, then don’t use it, but how dare you question the only thing that gives sick people hope!
I’m sorry, is it “prejudice” to say that every human life is of equal value from the moment of conception till natural death and that it’s wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human being at any stage of development, regardless of age, location, gender, race, class or creed? If so, then call me “prejudiced” any day of the week because I refuse to accept the direct killing of any innocent being, whatever the reason. All human life is sacred, from the moment of conception to natural death and intentionally destroying human life at any stage of development, no matter how noble that intention may be, greatly diminishes the value of all human life and is wrong. ESCR is no blessing. It is grossly unethical and its advancement is not progress, but a threat for man and for the world.
As for restoring my mobility, I’ll stick with the proven results that have already come from ADULT stem cells, which I pointed out in these posts: see here, here, here, here, here and here. And that’s just spinal cord injury! Adult stem cells have also had success treating: diabetes, Parkinson’s, cystic fibrosis, blindness, Alzheimer’s, lupus, sickle cell anemia, and autism – just to name a few. Most recently they have been used to treat blindness, help cure brain cancer, treat traumatic brain injury in children and build new windpipes for cancer patients. Meanwhile, ESCs can count a big, fat ZERO when it comes to treating disability and/or disease in rats, much less human beings. Even the AP recently admitted that ASCR is “Far ahead of embryonic.”
Yes, the debate is getting repetitive, but we need to keep it up!