Good morning crew! Although I neglected to post about it, I hope everyone was able to make the First Friday devotion. Today 8/ the first Saturday of the month and as always, I encourage everyone who reads this to make the “five first Saturdays”. Here is a helpful link. For me, the hardest part of this devotion is the meditation but I have searched for and come across some very good videos (sermons and the like) that do the trick. If anyone has suggestions; I would love to hear them and share them.
Our Lady of Good Counsel, mosaic, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington
Also, today begins a novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. I will see if I can find a text of that to share.
I mentioned a number of novenas I’m currently praying. The one I’m always praying is the St. Rita novena. This is another reminder to send any intentions my way and they will be added in.
“This morning, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, condescended to come and dwell within me, and gave Himself to me!”
Any day that starts with those words is a good day for me.
In fact, any day above ground is a good day for me. But today was a special day in many other ways. First, though, it is Advent and Our Lord has seen fit to give me many opportunities for growth in holiness. I, unfortunately, being a notorious sinner, will probably bungle the whole thing. But here’s what we’ve got… I’ve got daily Mass (Deo Gratias!), my daily rosary (and He’s given me plenty of time in each day to get it done), the St. Andrew Christmas novena, my ongoing St. Rita novena (I am still praying for all of you!), an Immaculate Conception novena, and in a few days, a Guadalupe novena. Couple that with the fact that our parish priests have done such a good job of driving home the need to fast, sacrifice, and mortify more; and this Advent could be the best ever.
But this morning… I hopped out of bed at 6AM more cheerful than I am usually am. I went for my coffee (I take it black, thank you) and said the Angelus. Then I began with my morning prayers. I do this on my front porch with the aforementioned coffee (and usually a smoke). This morning it was a chilly 35 degrees – just like I like it and just perfect for the classic red union suit I wore under my PJ’s and robe. And THEN I went to Mass to celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew, who is my patron saint by way of my confirmation and so I bear his name (buried in the midst of a few others).
I spent most of the day running a few errands. I took my sister to the airport. She had been visiting for Thanksgiving. I spent the rest of a few gift cards I had for Lowes on a giant new tool for my workshop that I’ve had my eye on. Believe me, I’m not a carpenter but woodworking runs in my family and I have done a few projects that I think are kind of cool. With this baby, I will be doing a whole lot more.
Why is any of this important?
You might remember the reference in last night’s post to the Brazilian steakhouse. All of it – Mass, the new tools, lunch with my sister and kids? I was celebrating two of the most significant moments in my life.
Today is my twin sister’s birthday. The problem is that I don’t get to visit her these days. We live kind of far apart but we’ll always be close. It’s a twin thing. I asked another sister if she could pick up my birthday present for the twin and deliver it and she graciously agreed. It’s funny, but I’ve been getting her the same gift for years now. Every year it’s the same old thing. It’s a blanket. It’s my way of taking care of the earthly abode she will one day inhabit again.
Nice arrangementif I do say so myself.
OK, so for those who aren’t familiar, the above is called a grave blanket and they are ubiquitous in the Northeast this time of year. I don’t know if they are as common in other parts of the country but I have not see many outside of my homeland. She would have been 45 today and I think that’s just grand. It is my solemn duty to celebrate for her and I have never let her down on that front. Therefore, the party continues through the night.
But it also continues for another, equally significant reason. You see, 32 years after my twin was born, to the day (and three minutes earlier on that same day), my beautiful daughter was born. Today I can no longer say I have “children” in the proper sense as both of mine are now teenagers. But no matter how old she gets, she will always be my baby girl. I remember joking with my wife when we were expecting our daughter that one day my wife would come home to find me and the daughter watching Hallmark Christmas movies while drinking hot chocolate and eating candy. This, I figured, would be how I would bond with a daughter.
Well, here we are. As I write this, I’m back in my PJ’s. My daughter demanded it. Also, I don’t really have PJ’s. I’m a grown man; they’re lounge pants for sleeping in cold weather. Regardless, we’re nestled on the couch, the dog between us receiving the petting of both of us in an alternating pattern. I just put my hot chocolate down for a bit. On the screen? You guessed it. Kristin Chenowith in a Hallmark Christmas movie. The plots are ridiculously predictable and that’s OK. It was what the daughter wanted and for her birthday, I will comply.
By the way, all those prayers I was eager to pray earlier? It might just have to do a little something with wanting to make sure I stand a chance at getting to spend just one more birthday with my sister. I am three minutes older, but she lives in eternity now so that one’s going to be a little odd. Also, there’s a fun little fact about me buried in the post. I hope you spot it because my late father, the actuary, was truly impressed that I beat all probability with this one.
Word out today is that Antipope Bergoglio has reportedly told reporters that he will not answer the question of whether an unborn human child is a person because “it’s an unsettled question” or something like that. Someone online pointed out that the not always perfectly worded 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church states exactly the opposite.
“How can he say such things in opposition to the Catechism?!” they say.
I ran this past a friend of mine who responded, “No matter. He’ll just change the Catechism.”
Touché
Folks, if you don’t get by now that this man who does everything he can to outright destroy the Catholic faith is NOT the actual Vicar of Christ then you probably never will.
St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Old North End, Boston, MA (unrelated to post topic)
Anyone who’s ever worked with children, or taught children, or held a newborn, or truly observed a woman with child can tell you the truth. But if you insist on jumping backwards through mental, flaming hoops trying to square the circle that a heretic usurper is the one and only living pope, then 1) you will eventually go insane or lose your faith or both and 2) I can’t help you.
For everyone else, Cling to Our Lord, Who Is Truth.
Anticipating the Big Day
I’m just putting it out there, Brazilian steakhouses are amazing. I’ve been on the carnivore diet for the past two months. Incredible results. Some of you know that I took up weightlifting and conditioning hardcore after my second spinal fusion surgery a few years ago. I didn’t have a whole lot to lose but it was time for a shred phase as I had done a bulk over the summer. A restaurant where a team of waiters descend upon you with cuts of expertly cooked and cut meats is the perfect place to celebrate the vigil of a major feast. More on that tomorrow.
I just got off the phone with a dear friend. As many of you know, I spent the better part of fifteen years teaching Catholic moral theology to high school students in addition to my work as a school administrator. This was after my time in seminary and a five-year stopover in the world of broadcast TV news production. I am proud to say that I forged many lasting friendships with the young men and women who were in my charge every day. One such young man is now a college senior in Ohio. It was he who called me just now. And the news he shared was horrifying.
This young man had been born in New Orleans before moving to Texas with his family as a youngster. His father had not always been a Catholic but had entered the Church as an adult. The DRE at their parish in New Orleans, whom my friend describes as the most solid woman he’s known, was responsible for helping his dad enter the Catholic Church. This woman was rewarded for her efforts by becoming the godmother to my friend. They kept in touch over the years and he even says that they spoke regularly on the phone.
This woman – Ruth – was currently working as a pastoral associate at her parish outside of New Orleans. She was in the habit of having the retired pastor over to dinner every now and then. Yesterday (Sunday), she had invited Fr. over to watch the Saints game. A wanton thug apparently broke into the home and abducted the two. He then drove off with them before ultimately torching the vehicle with the pair still inside. He has been arrested and charged with murder.
Please stop right now and pray for the repose of their souls. Then pray that justice – true justice – be done. The man responsible for this deserves no less than the forfeiture of his earthly life and to be sent to God for his judgment.
Go ahead, I’ll wait…
My friend concluded by telling me, “I mean, I know she’s in heaven. She was a good woman.”
And that’s when I stopped him.
“I am sure she was a good woman if you are vouching for her. However, we do not know if any of us are going to make it. In charity for her soul, pray. Pray and have Masses offered for her. If she loved the Church as you say she did, there is nothing she would want more from you at this moment.”
The same all-merciful and all-just God who will deal with her murderer will, we hope, look kindly upon the prayers of those offered for his servants who must still be purified before seeing His Vision. “Lord Jesus Christ, for the sake of the tears of your Mother, hear our prayer and have mercy on us!”
Please pray for her soul and continue to pray for all the dead.
Here is your first penance for this penitential season. Brought to you by VII (and don’t try to tell me it wasn’t)… It’s already cued up to play at just the right moment but if for any reason it doesn’t play correctly, go to 6:55.
Friends, go to Mass. Fast, pray, give alms. Read the Scriptures. Live the Gospel. Remember that Our Lord is not a liar. He cannot be as He IS Truth. He will come again and we know not the day nor the hour; but He’s given us some pretty stellar clues so watch and pray. Pray your rosaries. Do NOT prance about a church sanctuary like Agnes DeMille on Xanax. It will do you no good and it just looks like you have a brain injury.
Folks, I got off all that social media nonsense a while ago. Sorry but I'm not on Twitbook, Facepalm, YouHu, WingWang or any of the others. Maybe an event will happen to make me change my mind like Peter and Paul coming down with flaming swords and commanding it be so. Until then, read the blog and if you feel a comment is in order or you feel like sharing a tip or suggestion for a topic, email me at harvey@harveymillican.com.
Harvey Millican's Blog: Musings of a Trad Dad 