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.