Oh Mother Pray for Us!!!!!!

Pray, fast, demonstrate in front of abortion clinics... We need to continue to beg God for renewed hearts and something to give in this self-destructive culture of Death. Its funny, seminary has been one of arming us, to combat the horrors and blatant evil in our midst. Its really terrifying, so much so that I wonder when the Church will wake up.

Freedom is not the liberty of all responsibility. Freedom indeed is the doing the excellent. Freedom is learning the guidelines of life so that you live well. There is a way to live well a Truth to follow. The Church is that way. Period.

On Laughter, or Why Satan Fell

This is an excerpt from George Weigel's book, "Letters to a young Catholic". This is one of the outstanding books we are reading for our J-term class, Christian Theological Tradition. Weigel is currently commenting on GK Chesterton's "Orthodoxy".

Seriousness is not a virtue. It would be a heresy, but a much more sensible heresy, to say that seriousness is a vice. It is really a natural trend or lapse into taking one's self gravely, because it is the easiest thing to do. It is much easier to write a good Times leading article than a good joke in Punch. For solemnity flows out of men naturally; but laughter is a leap. It is easy to be heavy; hard to be light. Satan fell by force of gravity.GKC

His own, that is: Satan fell by force of his own gravity. By taking himself too seriously-by taking himself with ultimate seriousness-Satan fell. His weight became too much for him to bear, and so he fell. Crashed. Cratered. Isn't that rather like the modern gnostic mind-set? Because nothing in the world counts, only I count: only my imperial autonomous self-generating self counts. Now that's heavy; far too heavy. A sacramental outlook on the world teaches us that, yes, we count(and infinitely). But so does everyone else. (Weigel,95)

Jterm

Despite not getting to be in the holy land or Rome... It is a relief to be back at the seminary. I have friends and things to do here at the sem, where as at home I would be lost with nothing in particular to do. I am comforted by being at the seminary because it represents movement from where I was to where I'm going. Certainly, it helps to go home to achieve some perspective and reminder of why I'm even in seminary. It helps to reinvigorate my priesthood calling so to speak. Seeing the lack of faith at home and the utter hopelessness/apathy hidden underneath my own family members various facades. The hope and joy of Christ stands out as something distinct and necessary for true happiness.

However I do see some hope in my own calling. I certainly don't stand alone in coming to the Catholic faith from within he midst of secular culture, but I can in my own way bring something towards the developing of the Catholic culture we desperately need. This is only one of the many reasons I want to be a priest. I mean at one point I thought social work was a field suited for me, but then I saw it as too superficial. I don't mean that in a way you might think. What I really mean is that the human condition and the social structure suppliing physical or emotional needs isn't enough to me. What I found is that I deeply desire to serve peoples true desire, God. I have already found Christ to be everything in my own life and what is left was and is to share that with a society in desperate need. The hope and joy that prevails through my relationship with Jesus is what I want to serve most to people. The relationship with Christ will no doubt serve more people and to greater benefit.

Anyway, Jterm or (January term) has been more than fruitful. And I'm saying that just after the first day! Christian Theological Tradition has been very thought provoking thus far. I am very blessed to be here!

God Bless!
Michael