Sure, the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Not to worry. We are all going to be wiped out pretty soon, anyway.
From The Independent:
Huge asteroid that ‘could end human life’ defying gravity as it moves towards Earth, scientists say
Scientists have moved closer to being able to stop a huge asteroid colliding with the Earth and potentially wiping out human life.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee have discovered that blowing the space rock up could make the collision worse by causing several devastating impacts.
Instead, small changes could be made to its surface to disrupt the forces keeping it together and cause it to break up in outer space.
They were studying asteroid 1950 DA, which has a one in 300 chance of hitting the planet on 16 March, 2880.
Although the odds seem small, it is the most likely asteroid to collide with Earth and the odds are higher than being shot dead in the US.
The asteroid has a diameter of one kilometre and is travelling at nine miles a second relative to the Earth, which it would hit at 38,000 miles per hour.
The impact would have a force of around 44,800 megatonnes of TNT and cause a huge explosion, tsunamis and change the climate of the globe, devastating human life.
But with 35 generations to go until its possible arrival, scientists are confident that the disaster can be averted.
[…]
Read the rest there.
So, everyone, GO TO CONFESSION!
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I did go to Confession this morning. I had to go work so couldn’t stay for the morning Mass for the Feast of the Assumption, unfortunately.
We could deal with such a threat with 1960’s technology with an Orion Battleship. Real Life, not science fiction. For the cost of Apollo, we could have had the moon and entire inner solar system and been probing as far as Saturn with nuclear pulse propulsion. It would have also in retrospect probably been a better idea than having a bunch of “boomer” ballistic submarines lurking around unseen, instead of being easily visible at the LaGrange point.
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I went too, but they were closed for cleaning and renovations.
Happy today is the first time Mass for the Feast of the Assumption in my city will be said in the Extraordinary Form.
… if we’re not destroyed in a fiery blast before 7:30 PM that is.
This was a real cheap shot in the article:
Although the odds seem small, it is the most likely asteroid to collide with Earth and the odds are higher than being shot dead in the US.
“They were studying asteroid 1950 DA, which has a one in 300 chance of hitting the planet on 16 March, 2880.”
Happily I do not plan to be here.
“But with 35 generations to go until its possible arrival, scientists are confident that the disaster can be averted.”
IOW: Someone else can deal with it later. YOLO!
Fr. Z:
I am new to the site. But thankfully you focus on the need for confession. I go at least once a month. Sometimes more often. It is a great aid to our soul.
The really important point is we should be going whether there is anything coming to destroy us. Remember, the good works of the Church start in the soul of every one of us.
Think I’ll wait until it’s closer.
Are we sure we are to await destruction of the earth by asteroid?
The creed states “He will come again to judge the living and the dead.” this presumes that humanity will NOT be wiped out.
Perhaps Christ will come for us all in the year 2468 when we have all emigrated to the planet Omega 4 in the Epsilon system, 21,593 light years away.
That could work…
(and I did go to confession BTW)
Any day now, shoot, any moment now, President Obama will take credit for having prevented this disaster. And I’d expect side glances at global warming, the Republicans and the Tea Party. Heh. (“Shoot”, as in Dr. Strangelove, Slim Pickens, “Shoot!”)
I wish you wouldn’t post these things when I am well aware that I need to go to confession. It raises my blood pressure and anxiety level! (Wink, wink [= verbal version of winking emoticon]).
An asteroid will not completely destroy the earth, that would mean that God won’t have the pleasure of doing Himself.
He may use an asteroid to do it (destroy the world) at the end times. When people ask mountains to cover them.
16 And they say to the mountains and the rocks: Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of their wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? Revelations 6
Though that sounds like Ebola x 20. But then only the Father knows for certain.
Comfort ourselves with 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17
Saint Bridget of Sweden mentioned the abyss of His Mercy; think of what an abyss is, and then wonder! Her 15 O’s are a nice prayer, I said them daily for several years; must pick up again. First heard about the 15 O’s from Father Malachi Martin on Coast-To-Coast AM years ago; he prayed them daily. Saint Bridget of Sweden pray for us.
I have of late been praying for the soul of Robin Williams (amongst others), I hope many have as well. The abyss of His Mercy! Deo Gratias!! We deserve none of it, but He gives it nonetheless.
Forget asteroids.
Something like 60% of all first heart attacks are fatal. TV shows notwithstanding CPR often fails (if you’re lucky enough to have someone around to try it). Not to mention all the other maladies and accidents that can befall.
Of course it would be easier to go to confession if it weren’t “by appointment of 3:00-3:15 every third Saturday” (okay, I exaggerate, but not by much). Fortunately I’ve found a Maronite parish that offers Confession before and after Mass.
As for asteroids check out Michael Flynn’s Firestar series.
With the terrorists and the direction our own government is moving, I don’t think we need to worry about some distant asteroid. It’s the unknown that warrants frequent confession.
The asteroid did bring a though to mind. I wonder what the messages of Akita mean by “fire will fall from the sky.”
yes indeed!