Fr. Z's Blog | Catholic commentary by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

All Alone in the Night

Posted on 5 July 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A reader alerted me to this video, which is way too cool. Time-lapse video taken from the International Space Station when on the night-side of our little blue marble.

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Posted in Just Too Cool, Look! Up in the sky! | Tagged aurora, International Space Station, ISS
4 Comments

“The things of the spirit come first”

Posted on 5 July 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From Bill Bennett’s American Patriot’s Almanac we have this entry for today, 5 July:

“The things of the spirit come first”

On July 5, 1926, in a speech in Philadelphia commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President Calvin Coolidge reminded Americans that “in its main features the Declaration of Independence is a great spiritual document.”

[COOLIDGE SAID:]

Our forefathers came to certain conclusions and decided upon certain courses of action which have been a great blessing to the world. . . . They were a people who came under the influence of a great spiritual development and acquired a great moral power. No other theory is adequate to explain or comprehend the Declaration of Independence. It is the product of the spiritual insight of the people. We live in an age of science and of abounding accumulation of material things. These did not create our Declaration. Our Declaration created them. The things of the spirit come first. Unless we cling to that, all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp. If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the fathers who created it. We must not sink into a pagan materialism. We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed. We must keep replenished, that they may glow with a more compelling flame, the altar fires before which they worshiped.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Just Too Cool, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices | Tagged Bill Bennett, Calvin Coolidge, Declaration of Independence
9 Comments

Archbishop Chaput’s sermon for the closing of the Fortnight for Freedom

Posted on 5 July 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

On 4 July, Most Rev. Charles Chaput delivered the sermon for a Mass to close the Fortnight For Freedom.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged 1st Amendment, anti-catholicism, Archbp. Chaput, Fortnight for Freedom, Pres. Obama, religious liberty
7 Comments

Request for help from readers: LCWR “state of the question”

Posted on 5 July 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I have received several requests for a succinct summary of what has transpired between the Holy See and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR – a subsidiary of the Magisterium of Nuns).

It would be good to have such a summary in the form of a brief factual bullet-pointed time line.

Readers: Is there one? And, if not, shall one be created?

Posted in Magisterium of Nuns |
5 Comments

The Nuns On The Bus went ’round and ’round – with the help of George Soros group!

Posted on 5 July 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Quite a while ago now I posted an entry entitled Group funded by George Soros poised to attack US Bishops for the “Fortnight for Freedom”.

It seems that Soros was also involved with the Nuns On The Bus. They were able to go ’round and ’round in their polluting bus because one of Soros’s tentacles backed them.

The Nuns On The Bus (NOTB) went ’round and ’round with a political agenda – attacking Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) under the usual left-winger mask of concern for the poor.

The best source for this is the blog Laetificat, which was an early and thorough reporter on the Nuns On The Bus.

There are various pieces to this. Look to Laetificat for more.

Here is something interesting. Embedded with the NOTB was one Casey Schoeneberger who did their media relations. She works for the lobby Faith In Public Life and before that with NETWORK. As Laetificat points out:

As Sr Mary Ann Walsh of the USCCB quoted from this page that has all the details, they are “a group founded with help from a pro-abortion group long directed by John Podesta called the Center for American Progress. . . (CAP); like the CAP it has received funding . . . from billionaire atheist George Soros. . . . ”

And you will remember the concerns of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR – a subsidiary of the Magisterium of Nuns) not be involved with NETWORK Lobby.

Laetificat also goes into the tall brush looking for FIPL’s connections. Among them are ACORN and the Industrial Areas Foundation (i.e., Saul Alinksy).

On a different theme but still related to the NOTB, Laetificat also posted this:

On June 27th, Sr Simone [Campbell of NOTB and director of NETWORK] was interviewed by a reporter for Bill Moyers’ PBS show. Her reponse to “Tell us about your own personal journey. Who are your greatest influences?” does not mention Jesus, or any Catholic leader. Her response to “What does being Catholic mean to you?” has only vaguely to do with Catholicism, but entails a rejection of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, in favor of a materialist interpretation of the story that George Soros would find entirely satisfying.

Fredericks: What does being Catholic mean to you?

Sister Simone: To me it’s that amazing history of spiritual practice, social engagement, witnessing to the fact that Jesus lives in our world now and says that there is enough if we share. The miracle of the loaves and fishes — one of the accounts says 5,000 men ate. Well, the reason they only counted the men was the women and children knew it was the women who had brought all the food! Only the guys thought it was a miracle, the women knew it was about breaking bread and sharing it. This isn’t biblical — this is just my interpretation of it, but to me the miracle was sharing.

Yikes. She’s right that isn’t Biblical. Neither is it Catholic.

Posted in Biased Media Coverage, Dogs and Fleas, Magisterium of Nuns, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ACORN, Casey Schoeneberger, Faith in Public Life, FIPL, George Soros, Industrial Areas Foundation, NETWORK, Nuns On The Bus, Saul Alinksy, Sr. Simone Campbell
33 Comments

Of caskets

Posted on 5 July 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Have you thought today yet about the fact that you are going to die?

Here, let me help.

I was recently told about a maker of caskets in the USA: Marian Caskets.

They are inspired by Pope John Paul II’s casket.

One day delivery in the Seattle area.
Two day delivery available throughout most of the U.S.

Pre-need purchasing available.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Four Last Things, Our Catholic Identity, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged casket, coffin, death, Marian Caskets
27 Comments

Home Organization Tip

Posted on 5 July 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Wow… this is my objective right now.

Posted in Brick by Brick, Lighter fare | Tagged clean out your junk
15 Comments

Gibbons’ 1876 revision of Archbp. Caroll’s “Prayer for Government”

Posted on 4 July 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Sent by a reader:

In 1876, the centenary of the Declaration of Independence was commemorated with a months-long Exposition in the text’s birthplace. Though he was still to be named to the Premier See in the footsteps of John Carroll– a cousin of the Declaration’s lone Catholic signer, and in his own right a formidable leader of the Revolutionary cause — such was Gibbons’ reputation that the 42 year-old bishop of Richmond was asked to deliver the invocation at the event’s opening.

Taking as his springboard Carroll’s famous 1791 Prayer for the Nation, here’s James Card. Gibbons’ 1876 revision:

We pray thee, O God of might, wisdom and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides, by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion, by a faithful execution of the laws, in justice and mercy, and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all their proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge, and may perpetuate to us the blessings of equal liberty.

We pray Thee for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We pray Thee, especially, for the Judges of our Supreme Court, that they may interpret the laws with even-handed justice. May they ever be the faithful guardians of the temple of the Constitution, whose construction and solemn dedication to our country’s liberties we commemorate today! May they stand as watchful and incorruptible sentinels at the portals of this temple, shielding it from profanation and hostile invasion.

May this glorious charter of our civil rights be deeply imprinted on the hearts and memories of our people! May it foster in them a spirit of patriotism! May it weld together and assimilate in national brotherhood the diverse races that come to seek a home among us. May the reverence paid to it constitute the promotion of social stability and order, and may it hold the aegis of its protection over us and generations yet unborn, so that the temporal blessings which we enjoy may be perpetuated.

Grant, O Lord, that our Republic, unexampled in material prosperity and growth of population, may be also, under Thy overruling providence, a model to all nations, in upholding liberty without license, and in wielding authority without despotism!

Finally, we recommend to Thy unbounded mercy all our brethren and fellow-citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law, that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give, and, after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, descend upon our beloved country and upon all her people, and abide with them forever! Amen.

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged Archbp. Caroll, James Card. Gibbons, Prayer for Government
5 Comments

Happy Birthday “Ara Pacis”

Posted on 4 July 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A tip of the biretta to Rogueclassicism for the reminder that today is the anniversary of the dedication of the Ara Pacis in Rome in 13 BC.

The Ara Pacis, which has new digs that look rather like a poorly designed gasoline station, now stands hard by the Mausoleum of Augustus Caesar. The long wall of the supporting structure bears the entire Res Gestae Divi Augusti in embedded bronze letters.

The first panel:

Try reading part of it aloud:

Annos undeviginti natus exercitum privato consilio et privata impensa comparavi per quem rem publicam a dominatione factionis oppressam in liberatatem vindicavi.

One of my favorite parts is where Augustus boasts about the accomplishment of closing the doors of the Temple of Janus. These doors were closed only where there was a state of peace. This was probably the occasion of the fullness of time, when the Roman state, so important for the foundation and “culture” of the Catholic Church Christ founded, was at peace… and therefore ready for the birth of our Lord into this our vale of tears.