Where some of you are

Posted on 5 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
Where some of you are

As the election campaigns heat up, show your colors.

I took a snapshot of locations that show up in my stats when people visit the blog.   There were far more “unknowns” than I have seen in the past, which is curious.  Also, the places listed are often approximations.  If you have been on within a a few minutes of my posting this, don’t be surprised if you don’t see your location.  Still, it is interesting to see how the site links together people from all over the world, all images of God, all with their own stories and challenges, and vocations.

La Garde, Limousin
Stafford, Virginia
Trois-Rivires, Quebec
Hinsdale, Illinois
Detroit, Michigan
Bronx, New York
Raleigh, North Carolina
Berthoud, Colorado
Minong, Wisconsin
Wadsworth, Ohio
New Haven, Connecticut
Richmond, Virginia
Warwick, Warwickshire
Wheeling, Illinois
Taunton, Massachusetts
London, London, City of
Milford, Massachusetts
Hagerstown, Maryland
Talladega, Alabama
Aubrey, Texas
Imperial, Pennsylvania
Harris, Iowa
Boynton Beach, Florida
Easton, Maryland
Sydney, New South Wales
Brockport, New York
Santa Barbara, California
San Jose, California
Appleton, Wisconsin
Fairplay, Colorado
Hope, North Dakota
Macon, Georgia
Dover, Kansas
Warrenton, Virginia
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
Milan, Lombardia
East Wemyss, Fife
Beaumont, South Australia
Cranberry Twp, Pennsylv…
Hackensack, Minnesota
White Plains, New York
Topsfield, Massachusetts
Lansing, Michigan
Mansfield, Pennsylvania
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Denver, Colorado
Varde, Ribe
Surbiton, Surrey
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna
Lincoln, Massachusetts
Denver, Colorado
Effort, Pennsylvania
Mountain View, California
Durham, North Carolina
Perth, Western Australia
San Antonio, Texas
Wichita, Kansas
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Washington, District of…
Kansas City, Missouri
Arlington, Virginia
Brazil
Cary, Illinois
Echterdingen, Baden-Wur…
Saint Louis, Missouri
Split, Splitsko-Dalmati…
Columbia, Maryland
Bathgate, West Lothian
Annapolis, Maryland
Kansas City, Missouri
Windsor, California
Buffalo, New York
Saco, Maine
Baltimore, Maryland
Canberra, Australian Ca…
Leeds, Massachusetts
Forest Park, Illinois
Sydney, New South Wales
Atlanta, Georgia
Ottawa, Ontario
Salt Lake City, Utah
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Leeds
Norfolk, Virginia
Steubenville, Ohio
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Newark, New Jersey
Chandigarh
San Diego, California
Chestnut Hill, Massachu…
Rochester, Minnesota
Steamboat Springs, Colo…
Aberdeen, South Dakota
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Springfield, Virginia
Winter Park, Florida
Portland, Maine
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Louisville, Kentucky
Williamstown, Pennsylva…
Taunton, Massachusetts
Phoenix, Arizona
Mountain View, California
Boise, Idaho
Akle, Bulacan
Abernant, Alabama
Helena, Montana
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Perth, Western Australia
Pregassona, Ticino
Milford, Michigan
Rochester, New York
Bristol, Rhode Island
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Rome, Lazio
Morristown, New Jersey
Cheshire, Connecticut
Raleigh, North Carolina
Elkhart, Indiana
Saint Louis, Missouri
Breckenridge, Colorado
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Manchester
Kitchener, Ontario
Mishawaka, Indiana
Malden, Massachusetts
Brisbane, Queensland
Louisville, Kentucky
Menomonee Falls, Wiscon…
Washington, District of…
Ocala, Florida
San Jose, California
Buffalo, New York
Lima, Ohio
Samar, Jammu and Kashmir
Tampa, Florida
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Milan, Lombardia
Lindenhurst, New York
Harrisville, Rhode Island
Washington, District of…
Jersey City, New Jersey
Ellijay, Georgia
Overland Park, Kansas
Kansas City, Missouri
Elmira, New York
San Diego, California
Ames, Iowa
Washington, District of…
Frackville, Pennsylvania
Elizabethton, Tennessee
Centralia, Illinois
Rome, Lazio
Mountain View, California

Posted in Just Too Cool | Tagged
45 Comments

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!

Posted on 5 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

My little brush with hurricane Isaac, and very close brush with a tornado it spawned, and the wreckage of the neighborhood where I was, made me especially interested in this image from Astronomy Pic of the Day:

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!

Explanation: Should you be worried about hurricanes? To find out, it is useful to know where hurricanes have gone in the past. The above Earth map shows the path of every hurricane reported since 1851, Although striking, a growing incompleteness exists in the data the further one looks back in time. The above map graphically indicates that hurricanes — sometimes called cyclones or typhoons depending on where they form — usually occur over water, which makes sense since evaporating warm water gives them energy. The map also shows that hurricanes never cross — or even occur very near — the Earth’s equator, since the Coriolis effect goes to zero there, and hurricanes need the Coriolis force to circulate. The Coriolis force also causes hurricane paths to arc away from the equator. Although incompleteness fogs long term trends and the prevalence of hurricanes remains a topic of research, evidence is accumulating that hurricanes are, on the average, more common and more powerful in the North Atlantic Ocean over the past 20 years.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged , , ,
3 Comments

Democrat’s edit “God” out of their party platform

Posted on 4 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From The Weekly Standard I learned that the Democrats, as the meet in their convention and as they rewrite the (savagely pro-tax-paid abortion on-demand) platform, have removed the word “God” from their working text.

2008 Platform:

“We need a government that stands up for the hopes, values, and interests of working people, and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential.”

2012 Platform:

“We gather to reclaim the basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth – the simple principle that in America, hard work should pay off, responsibility should be rewarded, and each one of us should be able to go as far as our talent and drive take us.”

This seems to be consistent with how on various occasions The First Gay President, in quoting the Declaration of Independence’s acknowledgement of the true origin of man’s rights, edited out “by their Creator”.  God isn’t part of the picture.  Big government sure is, however.

 

Posted in Dogs and Fleas, Emanations from Penumbras, Religious Liberty, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , , ,
91 Comments

My view for a while

Posted on 4 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I’m heading out of the hurricane and tornado zone. Let’s hope there isn’t a mid-flight TEOTWAWKI EMP while I’m in the air.

Or at all, come to think of it, unless it is as a proximate prelude to the Lord’s return. Maranatha.

20120904-171248.jpg

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged
14 Comments

The DNC’s agenda: abortion… abortion… abortion… more abortion…

Posted on 4 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A reader alerted me to this from LifeNews:

MSNBC Host: “Get Your Abortions Now In Case Republicans Win”
by Steven Ertelt |

Touré Neblett, a co-host of The Cycle on MSNBC, is garnering criticism from pro-life advocates today after sending out a re-tweet on Twitter encouraging women to get abortions in case Mitt Romney defeats President Barack Obama in November.

“Girls, get your abortions NOW in case the Republicans win,” the re-tweeted message said.

The DNC's agenda: abortion... abortion... abortion... more abortion...

Classy guy!

What a lovely agenda these liberals have.

Posted in Dogs and Fleas, Emanations from Penumbras, Liberals, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , ,
33 Comments

Hey! Catholic Dems! Look at what you are supporting!

Posted on 4 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From The Catholic League:

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a Democratic National Convention (DNC) event hosted by Catholics for Choice (CFC):

If the Ku Klux Klan were hosting a panel discussion on racial relations at the Republican National Convention, the Republicans would rightly be condemned for doing so. But no price will be paid by the Democrats for allowing the most notoriously anti-Catholic organization in the nation, Catholics for Choice, to host a panel on religious liberty. [?!?] “Keeping the Faith in the Democratic Party: Protecting Religious Liberty for Everyone” is scheduled to meet between 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. today.

Catholics for Choice (formerly Catholics for a Free Choice) is not simply a pro-abortion group: it is decisively anti-Catholic. Twice condemned by the bishops’ conference, its stated goal, according to its previous head, Frances Kissling, is to “overthrow” the Catholic Church. The current president, Jon O’Brien, has been equally vicious in his statements against Catholicism. He has been preoccupied this year opposing the religious liberty campaign organized by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Thus the perversity of having him command a panel discussion on religious liberty at the DNC.

In 1995, Marjorie Reiley Maguire, who for years worked closely with the leadership of CFC, branded it “an anti-woman organization” staffed by people who never go to Mass. Lavishly funded by the likes of the Ford Foundation, it would collapse if it had to rely on Catholic contributions—or even non-Catholic individuals—for support.

Speaking at today’s event will be activists from a CFC-organized umbrella group, the Coalition for Liberty & Justice. Several of the groups that comprise this entity have hijacked the Catholic label in service of their anti-Catholic agenda. They include: CORPUS, DignityUSA, New Ways Ministry and the Women’s Ordination Conference. An array of radical left-wing groups with a history of Catholic bashing will also be on hand.

In other words, the DNC’s idea of religious liberty means welcoming anti-Catholic bigots to deliver their message of hate.

Contact our director of communications about Donohue’s remarks:
Jeff Field
Phone: 212-371-3191
E-mail: cl@catholicleague.org

Posted in Blatteroons, Dogs and Fleas, Liberals, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, Slubberdegullions, The Drill, The future and our choices, Women Religious | Tagged , , , , , , ,
33 Comments

Curiosity’s curious visual odometry system

Posted on 4 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Here is something for your Just Too Cool file.  This got my attention not only because it deals with Curiosity, but also because of my budding interest in ham radio.

The newest Mars Rover, Curiosity, is tagging Mars… with Morse Code.

Curiosity rover tags Mars with Morse tire tracks

Curiosity's curious visual odometry systemChris Davies, Aug 6th 2012

NASA’s Curiosity rover may not look like an urban menace, but the robot explorer will in fact be steadily tagging the Martian surface as it trundles, leaving a name-check of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory back home. The clandestine graffiti is thanks to part of the rover’s visual odometry system, John Graham-Cumming points out, which tracks the marks left by a series of asymmetrically arranged holes in the wheels. The position of those holes, however, isn’t random: in fact, it’s Morse Code. [So, if the rover can’t see it’s own marks in it’s own tracks behind, it knows that it is not going anywhere even though it’s wheels are moving.]

In fact, there are three sets of notches, which progressively leave three rows of dots and dashes in the Mars grit. That pattern is “. – – -”; “. – – .”; “. – . .” or, translated into English, “JPL”, the acronym for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Unlike the footprints left on the moon by the Apollo astronauts, and which remain to this day thanks to the absence of atmosphere, Curiosity’s tire marks won’t stick around for long. Mars’ atmosphere may be thinner than that of Earth, but that means thermal build-up is quick, causing sea-breeze style winds as gases rush from areas of different temperature.

However, there’s also the potential for far more vigorous dust storms which could easily erase Curiosity’s trail. Storms reaching in excess of 100mph have been observed on Mars, and indeed it was violent dust storms back in 2007 which left the Spirit and Opportunity Mars Exploration Rovers seriously short of power as layers of Martian detritus covered their solar panels and filled the air.

Posted in Just Too Cool, Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged , , , , ,
2 Comments

QUAERITUR: To attend a Polka Mass or not to attend?

Posted on 3 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a catechumen:

My family and I are not yet Catholic, but I will be completing a “Summer” RCIA class and will be brought into the Church sometime in December. I’ve studied and read and prayed about this for nearly 3 years now and feel 100% confident that God is leading me to the Catholic Church out of my current (lifelong) Protestant tradition.  [FrZ kudos!]

However, here’s my problem: While the Parish we’ve been attending seems quite traditional and solid, in today’s bulletin it was announced that next week’s Mass will be a Polka Mass. [?!?  That old thing?  People are still doing that?  I thought that had gone the way of tie-died peace t-shirts.] I’m not familiar with this (being non-Catholic), but “my spider-sense” tingled at the use of the word “polka” with “mass”. [As well it should.] So I looked it up and can’t really imagine that this is a great thing. (It may be toe-tapping fun, but I can’t picture it as being reverent and solemn and prayerful.)  [You have, therefore, a better Catholic sense of this already than the aging-hippies putting this on.]

I’m curious what your opinion is regarding a Polka Mass and also what you recommend I do. Do I attend the Mass? [NO.] Do I opt for another Parish that weekend? [YES.] In fairness, the Polka will only take place at the Saturday evening Mass, so I could go Sunday. [Well… there it is, then.  Sunday Mass is preferable to the Saturday night special anyway.] However I wonder what the fact that there is a Polka Mass says about the parish in general. Is it a warning sign I should heed and take my family elsewhere? Or is it just something that happens and is no big deal–participate or don’t as I feel inclined? [I can’t really answer that, since I have no idea what else in going on there.  But… if your “spidey sense” tingled once,…]

My desire is to find a solid, traditional Catholic parish. I want solid, traditional Catholic teaching and a Mass that doesn’t involve Polka or guitars with Peter, Paul and Mary-esque singers (I’ve attended a folk mass at a different parish and don’t need to be a part of that ever again). [Bless you.]  But, I don’t want to be overly judgmental or “traditionalist” IF being those things regarding Mass and Church is wrong. [You are not obliged to attend Polka Masses, friend.] Yet, I want to be discerning–for my sake and for the sake of my children. Hence my confusion and my question.

I already added my advice, above, so I won’t repeat it here.

However, I will say – and I’ll bet the readers will agree – that you are on the right track.

Reason #2775 for Summorum Pontificum.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
57 Comments

QUAERITUR: Priest instructs us to stand during the Eucharistic Prayer. Fr Z POLL!

Posted on 3 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

POLL BELOW!

From a reader:

Father, today I attended a rather liberal parish (the choirmaster was wearing a Nuns on the Bus t-shirt). After the Sanctus, 3/4 of the people began kneeling, while the rest stood. The priest paused from the reading the rubrics, looked out at the people, and firmly told everyone to stand up because kneeling could make someone trip and fall. [?!?] Admittedly, I was a little stunned and followed the command. I felt bad afterwards for standing during the consecration; it didn’t feel right. Should I have remained kneeling despite the celebrant’s wishes?

Reason #97774 for Summorum Pontificum.

Let me get this straight.  Some could have tripped and fallen during the Eucharistic Prayer.  Right?  Not during Communion, but during the Eucharistic Prayer?

He sounds a bit of a bully.

In the USA the congregation is required – for the Ordinary Form – to kneel from the end of the Sanctus to the end of the Doxology after the Eucharistic Prayer.

GIRM 43 … In the dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason. Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration.

You didn’t say how many people were in church, etc., but unless there were truly good reasons – and Father’s reason seems rather lame to me – he should not have told people to stand.

In fact, at that point he should not have said anything.  That sort of thing should have been announced beforehand, during announcements before the sermon perhaps or at the beginning of Mass, and NOT during the Eucharistic prayer (for the Sanctus is considered part of the Eucharistic Prayer).

Perhaps this man’s bishop can explain why he wants people to violate the liturgical law.

In any event, I would have knelt.

Here is a little FR Z POLL.  Choose your best answer and, if you choose and you can, add a comment in the combox below.

If the priest told us to stand instead of kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer (or consecration) for apparently no good reason, I would...

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Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged , , ,
115 Comments

QUAERITUR: Introducing new parish families at Mass

Posted on 3 September 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

It seems from parish to parish many have the custom after the closing prayer when announcements are given to ask new families or visitors to stand up and introduce themselves. It can add a bit more time to the Mass and one wonders if this is appropriate liturgically? If it is does it really help by strengthening fellowship or is it more about satisfying people’s curiosity about what’s new?

I don’t know how to answer that, since the power of your Earth’s yellow Sun has not given me psychic powers. It’s a puzzle.

I don’t have a strong feeling about this practice one way or another. It seems to me that the bulletin could be more useful for that sort of thing. Also, I wouldn’t announce anyone’s names unless they were first consulted and then consented. They could, for all I know, be in a witness protection program. They wouldn’t want lots of attention drawn to them but they still want to be registered at the parish so that they can have envelopes and contribute more easily.

Before the end of Mass? That has never seemed to me the best time for announcements.

Yes… I know I am temporizing a bit….

What do you think?

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000 | Tagged ,
47 Comments