The Gargoyle Code

Fr. Longenecker at Standing on My Head has a series of post titled The Gargoyle Code. Written in the style of C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, the series is a very good read.

Start with part one here: The Gargoyle Code

Update on Brittany's student loans

Good news! Brittany at Casting out into the deep, in a JPII sort of way… has raised enough money to pay off her student loans. She plans to enter the convent with the Saelesian Sisters in August.

Catholic Carnival #110

The 110th edition of the Catholic Carnival is up at just another day of Catholic pondering

SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS

Today Pope Benedict XVI released SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS

I look forward to reading it.

Subtle Reminders

Well maybe not so subtle.

From that what I've heard from others it seems that I am not alone in having some particular sin that I struggle with more than others. I won't got into the details here but lets just say that the sin I struggle with most is of the mortal, no communion, need to seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation type.

And seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation is exactly what I did this past Thursday. I went to confession and then to Mass and received communion for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks. And thought to myself....."okay let's try to not have to come back to confession for a few weeks." I'm quickly learning that isn't a good attitude to have. Because two days later, WHAMMY, same sin. TWO DAYS...that has got to be some sort of record. And so my thoughts have been contrite for having offended God but also a lot of regretting having to go back to confession so soon.

So today at Mass as I was sitting in my pew during the communion procession. And as things would turn out the communion hymn was "I've Received the Bread of Life" the refrain of which is, "I've received the Bread of Life, and my heart is filled with joy." What a reminder that my thoughts shouldn't be on self pity for having to go back to confession. But rather, I should be focused on the break in communion with Christ and his Church and the lack of joy in my heart that I created through my actions.

Christ said, "Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you." -John: 6:54

The life we gain when we receive our Lord in the Eucharist is that joy that fills our hearts. Without it we have no life and no joy, for true life and joy can only come from God.

Even though we should be diligent to avoid sin, we must be cautious to not become overly exuberant in our worry about sin to the point that it prevents us from living a life pleasing to God since excessive worrying can cause harm and be sinful in its own right. However, when we do sin we should not dread confession but should embrace and rejoice in this wonderful sacrament.

The latest on Luukas

From his mom:

Luukas had another EEG last Saturday. It showed slight epilepsy so we'll change his medicine again... it gives 50% chance of stopping the attacks. His epilepsy might slow down Luukas' development (which is already affected by his brain damage itself and by his poor eyesight).

Luukas is such a little fighter. When he first got sick about a week after being born the doctors didn't expect him to live. 9 months later he's growing and continually showing signs of improvement. But as you can see he's still has a long way to go and several obstacles to face. Please keep Luukas and all children, born and unborn, in your prayers.

Help getting to the convent

The blogger at Casting out into the deep, in a JPII sort of way… is asking for help in raising enough money to pay off her student loan before she enters the convent in August.

Being a recent college grad with student loans myself I offer my prayers and this link. If you can't contribute financially please contribute in prayer.

From the Pro-Life front:

The Good:

Top India State Court Rules Unborn Child is "Living Person"

An Indian state consumer court has delivered an unprecedented ruling in favour of a woman seeking an insurance claim on the death of an unborn child--the court determined that the unborn baby was a living human being entitled to personhood and required the insurance company to pay the claim.

Granddaughter of Famous US Black Slave Dred Scott Fights for Unborn Rights to End Abortion

In March 1856, a black slave named Dred Scott was judged by the US Supreme Court to be less than a person. Today his great, great granddaughter, Lynne Jackson, is pointing to the case as a beacon of hope that full human rights will be extended to all citizens, regardless of their age, size or degree of dependency.

The Bad, Sickening, Heartless . . . and probably the one in most need of prayer

Boston Woman Suing Abortion Practitioner and Planned Parenthood for Failing to Kill Daughter

The Boston Globe reports that a Charlestown woman is suing Planned Parenthood and one of their abortionists for child support after the latter failed to kill her daughter in 2004.

Jennifer Raper, 45, is including a second doctor in the suit who, she says, failed to inform her that she was still pregnant after the attempted abortion. The suit was filed Thursday in Suffolk Superior Court and is awaiting screening before being allowed to go to trial.

The suit alleges that Dr. Allison Bryant did not "properly" abort the child, who is now two, "causing the plaintiff to remain pregnant."

Catholic Carnival #109

Catholic Carnival #109: Spiritual Reading for Lent

Tennessee Woman Chooses Child’s Life over Her Own

On Thursday, February 15, at the age of 31, Jennifer Ann Carlisle gave up her life to cancer after refusing an abortion that doctors told her might have extended her life.

Jennifer had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005. At two months gestation, long before any chance of saving the child’s life outside the womb, Jennifer was told that she would die from the soccer ball-sized tumour if she did not abort the baby.

Click the title to read the rest.

Prayers for the family and Rest in Peace Jennifer Ann Carlisle.

I believe this verse would apply to a mother and her child.

"Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15: 13

Thumbs up to Bishop Vasa

Bishop Vasa had this to say about Nancy Pelosi and her daughter's brush off of abortion as, "just a choice":

Bishop on Nancy Pelosi: It's "Categorically Impossible" to be Catholic and Hold Abortion is "Just a Choice"

"It seems to me that there are just choices and there are unjust choices," counters Bishop Vasa. "Choices would be the preference for chocolate ice cream over vanilla ice cream or sherbet instead of ice cream. That is just a choice."

"A just choice would be to choose to pay a fair and living wage to employees as opposed to simply meeting the mandatory standard of minimum wage laws," he wrote. "An unjust choice would be to choose to terminate the life of another human being. This is not just a choice and it is not a just choice; it is an unjust choice."

"Furthermore it is an unjust choice which is diametrically opposed to the clear and consistent teaching of the Catholic Church as well as to the clear and consistent teaching of God Himself in the Ten Commandments. The direct, intentional taking of the life of an innocent human being is inhumane and unjust. It is not just a choice!"

And I have to highlight this gem from the article:

the younger Pelosi commented about her mother to the Chronicle saying: "My mother, throughout her entire life, has been faithful o the Church, even though the Church has not been that faithful to her because of her politics. And I think that takes a lot of perseverance. And still, people protest her right to go to her own church."

Wow!

Western society contracepting itself off the map?

That's the arguement of Mark Steyn in his new book, America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It.

Steyn points out that birth rates are rapidly dropping and the populations are aging faster than at any other point in history in western countries that have embraced contraception and birth control.

Review of America Alone

Catholic Carnival #108

Catholic Carnival 108: Themes of Lent

Resisting temptation

For a really good reflection on today's readings I point you to Contemplating Christian

In his homily today Father talked about the need to simplify our lives. We need to learn to practice self denial for the sake of following Christ. Okay point taken.

Then I read C.C.'s reflection on today's reading saying that we have to recognize that it isn't a question of "if" we will be tempted but a question of "when". The answer seem to be with near perfect regularity. Point 2 taken.

Today's reading really came running at me. I had a run in with temptation yesterday and temptation won (this only two days after going to confession....argh). Not being able to receive communion today knowing that I had not been obedient to God really left me feeling empty. But I am comforted knowing that our Lord is waiting to welcome me with open arms in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

another good YouTube video