The Coming Jihad

According to Professor William Kilpatrick this soon could be what the Miss America Pageant looks like.

In Christianity, Islam and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West,  recently published by Ignatius Press, former Boston College professor Kilpatrick says that we have been engaged in a culture war with Islam for decades and that we are losing.

According to Kilpatrick, there is no such thing as radical Islam.  The teachings of Islam demand that Muslims rule the world and that non-Muslims either submit to Muslim rule or be killed.  Kilpatrick says that politically correct multiculturalism plays into the hands of Islamic jihadists who are bent on turning Islam into the majority religion in the world.  Once Muslims are entrenched in politics and culture, then sharia law will become the law of the land.  Professor Kilpatrick says that Western Europe is imminently facing this fate.

This is an interesting and important book.  Highly recommended.

Religious Tension Between Jews at the Western Wall

Apparently, there is some tension at the Western Wall in Jerusalem between Ultra Orthodox Rabbis who do not want women wearing prayer shawls and other religious items usually worn by Jewish men, and women who are members of Reformed Congregations.  Read the entire article from Haaretz here.

The Annunciation of the Lord

O Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sake didst vouchsafe to descend from thy throne of glory to this world of pain and sorrow; who wast conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and was made Man; Make, we beseech thee, our hearts a fit habitation for thyself.  Beautify and fill them with all spiritual graces, and possess them wholly by thy power.  Give us grace to prepare for thy coming with deep humility, to receive thee with burning love, and to hold thee fast with a firm faith; that we may never leave thee nor forsake thee.  Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

The Poor State of Free Speech

We Americans must never take our right to Free Speech guaranteed by the First Amendment for granted.  How long will it be before we wind up like Europe and Canada with "hate speech" trials.  

The Book of Job

I'm reading Rabbi Kushner's book now.  Hopefully, I will have a post about it in a week or two.

Iranian Diplomat: If We Don't Like You Then You Are a Zionist

According to this Israeli blog, the Iranian Ambassador to Russia has said that anyone who Iran doesn't like must be a Zionist.

LSU Photoshots Student Picture to Remove Crosses

Incredible.  We live in a society in which a college feels compelled to photoshop a photograph of some kids to remove crosses painted on their chest.  So I take it that no public expression of Christian faith is now allowed - That seems to be the message.  Full story here.

The Process of Canonization

It takes a lot to get "raised to the altars."  Interesting post about the canonization process underway for Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

Throwing Father Groeschel Under the Bus

My favorite priest, Father Benedict Groeschel, has been thrown under the bus by a few ill chosen comments. Like a Stalinist publication, EWTN has now removed any reference to anything Father Groeschel ever did for them.  Read more here.

The Obama Administration: Waging War Against the Catholic Church While Appeasing Islam

Great post with links to the Politico from The American Catholic.

BBC Assumes Christians Are Lunatics

Full story here.

We Are Catholic!

Pagan Territory

A very good sermon about how our modern Western World is becoming a land without grace.  Read it here.

The Modern World

Powerful Video

Food For Thought

Give Up Your Religion or Give Up Your Business

Welcome to the Brave New World!  The Department of Justice has responded to a lawsuit filed by a small business that if the owners must either comply with Obamacare and violate their beliefs as Catholics or if they refuse to abandon their backward religious beliefs they must give up their business.  Full story here.

Colorado Priest Tells It Like It Is

A Colorado priest was asked to give the opening invocation at the Colorado Republican Party Convention.

Alleluia! He is Risen!

The Lord Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!


Almighty God, who through Your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life; Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Source: 1979 BCP p. 222)

Norwich Cathedral and Julian

A very interesting post from Carl McColman about the memorials to the mystic Julian of Norwich in Norwich, Enlgand.  (Photo of stained glass window in Norwich Cathedral by Ian-S).

New York Times Ad Calls on Liberals to Leave the Church

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has run a full page ad in the New York Times urging "Progressive Catholics" to abandon religion and leave the Church.  Read about it at Creative Minority Report.

Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity, Martyrs

Today the Church commemorates the martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicity who suffered martyrdom at Carthage in the year 203. A most accurate account of their death still exists, derived partly from their own testimonies and partly from a writer of the period.

Perpetua was a young Roman noblewoman and Felicity was her servant girl. When Perpetua was arrested for being a Christian she was pregnant and her execution was delayed until after she gave birth.

Perpetua, along with other Christians of Carthage, went bravely to her death while admonishing other Christians, "Stand firm in faith, love one another and do not be tempted to do anything wrong because of our sufferings."

Not being killed outright by the beasts, Saint Perpetua guided the sword of a frightened gladiator assigned to kill her to her own throat. The ancient account of her death says "Such a woman - one before whom the unclean spirit trembled - could not perhaps have been killed, had she herself not willed it."

Several years ago, I read an excellent scholarly book about the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Septimus Severus and the martyrdom of Saint Perpetua and the martyrs of Carthage. The book is called Perpetua's Passion.

PRAYER: FATHER, YOUR LOVE GAVE THE SAINTS PERPETUA AND FELICITY COURAGE TO SUFFER A CRUEL MARTYRDOM. BY THEIR PRAYERS, HELP US TO GROW IN LOVE OF YOU. WE ASK THIS THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.

King Henry Obama

Father Dwight's post which I linked to in my previous post creates a scenario in which President Obama has taken on the role of Good King Henry to found a new church.  I found this image while trolling the net and couldn't resist posting it.

Great post from Father Dwight Longenecker about "The Coming Persecution."  

You Tell 'Em Newt!!

Mitt Romney on Mormon Eschatology and Views on Abortion

Second Sunday of Lent

The Old Testament Reading for the Second Sunday of Lent is the Binding of Isaac from Genesis Chapter 22.

The Gospel Reading was the Transfiguration of the Lord from the Gospel of Mark Chapter 9.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him."


Abraham was asked to sacrifice his beloved son, the son of the promise.  In faith, Abraham obeyed but God  spared his son.  For love of the world God sacrificed His beloved son, the true son of the promise.  Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son prefigures God's sacrifice of Christ on cross.

COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT: O GOD, WHO HAVE COMMANDED US TO LISTEN TO YOUR BELOVED SON, BE PLEASED, WE PRAY, TO NOURISH US INWARDLY BY YOUR WORD, THAT, WITH SPIRITUAL SIGHT MADE PURE, WE MAY REJOICE TO BEHOLD YOUR GLORY. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.

Ex Muslim Discusses Muslim Supremicism

A very interesting post from a former Muslim in Pakistan.  Read it here.

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

"As Christians, we look to Jesus to teach us how to pray. . . . As a Jew, he certainly prayed the Psalms, as did all his people. . . . A Rabbi told me that traditionally, devout Jews constantly recite the Psalms in order to make the Word become part of them, instantly available for application to life's circumstances."

                                                                                      M. Basil  Pennington

                                                                                      Poetry As Prayer: The Psalms 

Dom Basil Pennington, O.C.S.O.

          

First Sunday of Lent

The Gospel reading for the First Sunday of Lent is Mark 1: 12 - 15:

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.  He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:  "This is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel."

In his homily, our Deacon said that we are tempted by the temptations of the world every day.   Jesus' forty day vigil faced with temptation mirrors our own struggle with sin.  If we stay close to God, the angels will minister to us just as they supported Jesus.

COLLECT FOR THE 1ST SUNDAY OF LENT:

Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observance of Holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 Christ of the Desert

  

 

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

O God, who teach us that You abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by Your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to You.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Saint Paul Miki and his Companions, Martyrs

From The Liturgy of the Hours:


"Today is the memorial of St. Paul Miki and his Companions.

St. Paul Miki was born in 1580 in Japan.  He was a Jesuit brother known for his ability to inspire people to authentic conversion.  At the time, many disparate cultures were present in nearby Southeast Asia; vying for spices, resources, influence and territory.  Many of these cultures were traveling northwards into Japan.  In 1587, when approximately 200,000 Christians were identified, Japan issued an edict of persecution to all those faithful to the Bible.

St. Paul and his Companions were a group of Franciscans, Jesuits, and Japanese Christians identified through the edict.  The 26 individuals were arrested, mutilated, and martyred, in 1597, at the hill of Nagasaki.  They are remembered for their courage, dedication, and joy despite the religious persecution they endured."

PRAYER:  "O God, strength of all the Saints, who through the Cross were pleased to call the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life, grant, we pray, that by their intercession we may hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Sanity at Last!

Michigan University student Julea Ward's discrimination lawsuit against Eastern Michigan University will go to a jury.  Ward was expelled from the graduate counseling program due to her religious beliefs against homosexuality.  An excellent opinion by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Full text of the opinion can be found here.

The Angelic Doctor

Today, January 28th, the Church honors Saint Thomas Aquinas.  Thomas was born about the year 1225 into the family of the Count of Aquino.  He first studied at the monastery of Monte Cassino and later at the University of Naples.  Afterwards he joined the Friars Preachers and completed his studies at Paris and Cologne, his instructor being Saint Albert the Great.  Becoming himself a teacher, he wrote many learned volumes and was especially renowned for his philosophical and theological studies.  Saint Thomas died near Terracina on 7th March 1274, but his memory is honored on 28th January, the day his body was transferred to Toulouse in 1369.

God Our Father, You made Thomas Aquinas known for his holiness and learning.  Help us to grow in wisdom by his teaching, and in holiness by imitating his faith.  Grant this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Pope Warns of Grave Threat to Religious Freedom in U.S.

The Pope warned visiting American Bishops of "the grave threat to religious freedom" now brewing in the United States due to the policies of the Obama Administration and other radical secularists.  Read the full story here.

Solemnity of Mary Mother of God

Sorry that I've been AWOL for awhile. The demands of professional and personal life have taken their tole on me lately. I'll try to post more often as we enter the new year although the Bad Catholic is going to be VERY, VERY busy with a professional/personal project during the new year. Today, January 1st the Church honors Mary the Blessed Mother of God.

Elvis and Icons of the Blessed Mother, you can't do any better than that! Happy New Year everybody!