Agnus Daily

War, Economy, and Life

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:31:40 +0100

Dear Stealth:

As a Catholic convert, I spent the election season talking with friends, priests, and politicians, listening to Relevant Radio, trying to learn the Church's stance on issues.

I heard, hundreds of times, this idea:
"The war and the economy don't matter. Life matters."

Never once though, did they explain HOW war isn't a Life issue. And that's the part I never understood.

I thought the church was against unjustly killing anyone, be they babies or big people.

Could you please explain this to me?
Thank you! Bless you!

Idealistic in Chicago

Whew... this whole apologist thing is not quite what I expected. The questions that you people ask are tough! I was kind of hoping to get questions like:

Hey Stealth man, what's going on?

To which I respond: Not much my friend! Thanks for the question!

Greetings Stealth Apologist! Would you like some money?

My response: Fo' Shizzle!

All of your questions are far too complex, and require me to do some actual research. It's getting to the point where my brain is active for more than 15 minutes per day (yes, I said more than 15 whole minutes). That being said, if you can stick to questions that require a binary response (e.g. yes or no, true or false, 1 or 0) that would be fantastic. Oh, and throw in some money for good measure.

So, Mr. Idealist in Chicago, you want to know about life eh? Rather, why so many pro-lifers within the Church seem to be adamant about the sanctity of life in regards to abortion, but ignore the destruction of life posed by modern warfare, then you have come to the right apologist.

Modern Politics and Purple Haze

The politics of today is very similar to the politics of ancient Greece. My main man in Inglewood, Socrates, brought to light the problems Athenians were facing when they put their faith in leaders who did not seek the good and the true by means of reason. Rather, politicians of Socrates' day relied on rhetoric to make their case to the people. That is, whoever could convince the crowd that they were right, whether or not their reasoning was valid, was often seen as the purveyor of social justice and good. Socrates despised this vehemently and suggested to an interlocutor, Gorgias, that rhetoric “creates a belief about the just and unjust, but gives no instruction about them.”

Modern politics seems to do just as Socrates describes. Liberals try to convince their constituents that abortion is a compassionate means of improving the quality of life for the mother, that the war in Iraq is an unnecessary waste of American lives for the sake of an unjust cause, and the economy will impact the lives of millions of Americans. Conservatives, on the other hand, generally seek to persuade the masses as to the evil involved in abortion, the necessity of the just war in Iraq, and that the economy is not as bad as many make it out to be. It's a messy fog of human emotion and fallacious reasoning.

Focus, Focus, Focus

Because of all the muddled attempts at persuasion, political issues concerning life have become blurry and skewed. People are passionate by nature, more so than they are reasonable. You don't think that is true? I'll prove it to you. What is more frightening: crossing a wide and stable wooden plank over a 2 foot deep chasm, or a 1000 foot pit using the same plank? I would confidently argue that the majority of people would find the latter scarier because of human fear and imagination. The emotional prospect of falling to their death outweighs the reasonableness of being able to walk safely on a stable plank no matter the height of the fall. If that's not proof that people are more emotionally driven than they are reasonable, then I don't know what is.

Now that I've proven that people are more emotional than reasonable (and also that we are scared wussies when it comes to walking on planks), I can finally get to the crux of your question. In order to fight the rhetoric spewing liberal media, defenders of life and Church teaching need to clear away the haze of emotion driven argument. In order to do that they tend to present their arguments in absolute terms. Sometimes, as in the case that you present, they move so far to the absolute that their arguments become hyperbolic. They are right to an extent when they say that economics and war are not life issues, but only in certain situations.

Gambling on a Loser

The recent presidential election pit two polar opposites against each other. One candidate was a relatively strong pro-life supporter, and the other was a staunch pro-abortion candidate. According the the Church, abortion is an intrinsic evil. War and bad economics, on the other hand, are not always evil. War is sometimes justified, and even necessary to prevent evil. The economy, also, is a very significant issue but doesn't carry the same moral weight as abortion or war. So, in effect, what the pro-life supporters are trying to do is show that because of the issue of the abortion (an act that is always evil), all other issues are off the table because all other issues do not carry the same moral weight. Let me put it another way: say you are in Las Vegas and you are looking to double the money you got from selling your unwanted Christmas gifts on EBAY this year. While looking for the best hotel to gamble in, you notice that one stands out among the rest. The hotel is decked out flashy lights, offers all the lobster you can eat, and lavishes you with free drinks. Emotionally, the hotel looks fantastic. However, your handy dandy Gambler's Guide to Good Gambling that you got from the Internet says that this particular hotel has a 0% chance of paying out any winnings. Would it be reasonable to invest your money in that establishment, even if it does offer free drinks and free lobster? I don't think so, because the significant loss of all of your money isn't worth the small frills. Unfortunately, Americans did just that in this last election.

Abortion is always wrong, and will never be good. Even if a politician offers to reduce war and fix our economy, but also supports abortion, they are investing the soul of our nation in something that will never payout returns of social justice (I'm trademarking that phrase right now!).

Way out of Proportion

One more reason why there is such a strong focus on abortion, which causes it to eclipses other life issues such as war is due to proportionality. The amount of innocent lives lost to abortion far outweighs those that are lost in modern warfare. In essence, the more innocent human lives lost, the more grave the issue is.

If abortion was not an issue and two candidates were up for election, war might certainly be an important life issue. If one candidate is a war monger that seeks to expand power through the use of violence, and the other candidate does not, then a Catholic would have a moral responsibility to vote for the candidate that does not seek war. In addition, if both candidates were war mongers, but one was less of a war monger, then a Catholic would be morally obliged to vote for the lesser of two evils. Anyway, you get my point: more innocents killed = more badder. (yes that's bad grammar)

In Summary

War and the economy are indeed life issues, and if we were living 100 years ago, they would have been pivotal issues in American elections. Unfortunately, because we face the potential of having leaders who support moral issues that can be nothing other than evil, war and the economy fall off the map when it comes to the Catholic vote. We no longer have the luxury of voting for candidates solely on economic and foreign relation issues as we did in the past. We are now called to elect leaders that will not destroy the most innocent among us, under the guise of compassion and justice.

Prayer for Advent: Week One

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:22:01 +0100

Lord, why does Advent have to come so late? Seriously, I think your Church needs to get with the times. I've seen at least 4 stores selling Christmas goods in October. If their anticipation for our Lord's arrival is so great that they feel the need to start preparing almost 2 months prior to Advent, can't we at least meet them half way? My friends say that these businesses have alterior motives, but I don't think so.

USCCB Looks at Changes for Inner-City Mass

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:50:10 +0100

Compton, CA – It is a well-known fact that many young people in the inner-city view the Catholic Church as old, outdated, and boring. These urban youths feel that the church lacks a common ground of communication, leaving a gap that nowadays seems impossible to cross. It is because of this generation gap the the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is looking into revamping some of the liturgical practices specifically focused on reaching out to teens in the inner-city. The new liturgy, would embrace the growing and ever-changing language of modern urban areas while still maintaining the overall spirit of the mass.

“The changes will be noticeable, but that is the point,” said Archbishop Thomas Hedering, “the youth will see that the Church hears their concerns, and will adapt accordingly.”

Some of the proposed changes to the liturgy will include the following:

The entrance hymn can be played by either traditional instrumentation, or by a drum machine or beat box. Beats must be “fresh,” which the USCCB defines as lively or energetic.
If deemed necessary, “Amen” can be replaced by “Sho' nuff!” after short prayers during the liturgy.
The homily may now consist of spoken word poetry.
“Gangsta Leans” are not necessary, but are encouraged when moving to and from the altar.

Priests may wear up to 3 gold or platinum chains during Mass, and up to 5 outside of Mass depending on whether they are physically capable of bearing that much weight on their neck without significant damage to their spinal column.

In addition to the change in liturgy, the USCCB is looking to encourage parishes to offer RCIA and other catechetical programs that are geared toward the younger urban audience. Among these proposed programs are "The Lil' Homies of St. Francis,” a club reminiscent of the boy scouts that focuses on charitable giving and evangelization.

It is important to note that all of these proposed changes are still in their beginning stages, and it is not likely that we will see any of them within the next few years. However, as the Spirit of Vatican II continues to move, it should not be surprising that many in the Church leaders will seek to adapt the liturgy to pop culture.

Same-Sex Marriage Protesters Confused About California Legal Process

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:35:06 +0100

Santa Barbara, CA - A survey of 500 Proposition 8 protesters in California suggests that the majority of pro-same-sex marriage advocates were under the impression that the vote on proposition 8 was only a poll sponsored by the state. The apparent result of past court action in regard to overruling the vote of the people seems to have left a sizeable amount of people confused about the political process within the state.

"I've always thought that the courts made the laws in the state," groaned Sandra Neiberger, a protester and resident of Santa Barbara, "every time we had a 'vote' in the past the courts would strike down the so called 'will of the people.' I just assumed that the whole voting thing was a just a nice way of letting people feel like they were making a difference. I didn't think that it actually would affect the laws of the state!"

Sandra was not alone in this belief. As the survey points out, about a third of polled protesters believed that the California state government consisted of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and their celebrity spokesman Arnold Schwarzenegger. The mere mention of the legislature welcomed blank stares, the squish of saline drenched blinking, and the occasional line of saliva leaving the mouths of questioned activists.

Another find from the polling suggested that a majority of protesters believe that the Mormon and Catholic Church played a major role in the decision. "It's not fair," cried Samuel Ebermen, another protester, "how can I trust a government that allows the stupid religious majority to makes laws that scholarly and wise judges can't change when it's for the good of the people?" When asked why he thought that those opposed to the measure were "stupid" he retorted, "because they are. What other proof do you need? I also believe that these Church officials are hiding evidence of the Roswell Incident and the 9/11 inside job. And I am pretty sure they are behind the disappearance of the Loch Ness Monster as well."

Hopefully, state legislators will make themselves more well-known to their constituents in order to relieve some of the misunderstandings plaguing the state. Until then, the protests will rage on, and confusion will continue to fan the flames of activism.

Stealth Apologist: The Emerging Church Movement

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:00:21 +0100

Josh from Ohio writes:

Dear Mr. Stealth,

I've been hearing a lot about the "emerging church" from within certain Protestant circles. Can you help explain this movement within Protestantism?
Thanks,

-------------------------

Josh, now that's a question I don't mind answering. And since you are from Ohio, I'll do it for free (but you owe me!).

New Church for a New Millenia

The emerging church movement is a branch of evangelical Christianity that basically says, “Hey gramps, get with the times man! We need a church that Generation X and Y can understand! You are just way too much talk and no substance!” At least, that's what the movement would say if it were an adolescent teenager.

Imagine you are at a Thanksgiving dinner. Catholicism would be like the main course with all of the fixings; mainline protestantism and evangelicalism would be the Turkey salad that your cousin Susie made for herself because she thought that the main course was too fattening; finally, the emerging church would closely resemble your Aunt Gloria's famous gelatin mold that melted on the table last year and got all over everyone's food and clothes.

The emerging church concept is a sort of anti-evangelicalism in that, rather than taking the fundamentalist stance against post-modernism that most evangelical Christians did, it embraced post-modernism as a means to living the Christian life. Now, the movement itself does not have a centralized and formal teaching, so you have various groups within the movement that differ in their view of their participation in post-modernism. Typically, you can break emerging church members into 3 categories: those that witness to post-modernists, those that witness with post-modernists, and those that witness as post-modernists. In essence, some followers of the emerging church may not uphold the ideas of post-modernism and simply view it as a means to have common ground with those who do. On the other hand, some members hold all of the ideas of post-modernism, to include the idea that absolute truth cannot be known (i.e. relativism *shudder*).

Now, the emerging church is like your Aunt's melted gelatin mold in that it subsumes whatever theology and liturgy it finds that suits its needs. The whole idea of the movement is to provide an experiential Christianity that is not simply abstract ideas about God, but a tangible experience that brings you closer to Him. That being said, if you want a plethora of religious practices that are aimed at making you feel good, but aren't really focused on seeking objective truths about God, then the movement is perfect for you! Depending on the group, the movement takes bits and pieces of liturgical practices from Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, and Evangelicalism. Some members, use the sign of the cross, recognize Ash Wednesday, and a whole host of other things. However, only those practices that enhance their experience with God are accepted, which can be pretty arbitrary.

Evangelicalism and the Emerging Church Movement

It's ironic that evangelicalism is seen by emerging church adherents as “too traditional, abstract, and dogmatic.” It is almost like a reformation of the reformation. Evangelicals, seem to have no idea how to react to the movement. The majority of them disapprove of it, even going so far as to say that it is a path to the “false church of Roman Catholicism.” That is, the emerging church movement is somehow like a gateway drug to harder drugs like Catholicism I suppose. To which I reply, “that would be sweet.” Others, like the famous pastor Rick Warren (author of The Purpose Driven Life) seem to embrace the concept as a necessary change in Christian thought.

What Should Us Catholics Think?

How should we as Catholics view the movement? Well, as with anything there are truths that are indeed good in the movement. For example, we should all have an experiential relationship with Christ, we should witness to those that espouse post-modernist ideas, and Christianity should be an intrinsic part of our lives rather than an abstract concept. On the other hand, the egalitarian view that all religious and moral traditions hold the same amount of truth is reasonably not the case. To embrace theological and moral relativism is to move away from one extreme (fundamentalism), to another. In short, the movement falls way short. But, there is some common ground there that would allow a dialogue between us and emerging church adherents.

All-in-all, this is why it is great that we have the Church. We don't have to worry about making a new Christianity for every new century that comes our way. Fashion doesn't dictate our belief and practices. If it did, I'd advocate that everyone be required to wear a hood and a mask.

Sincerely,

The Stealth Guy

President-Elect Barack Obama Calls on Citizens of the World to Expect Higher Tax Rate

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:52:22 +0100

Washington, DC - President-Elect Barack Obama - the man many have begun to call "The world's President" - announced today that due to the global economic crisis, everyone will have to do their part to end the financial tailspin. His revolutionary plan calls for the global community to pay their fair share in what he calls the "World Stimulus Tax."

"You've stood side-by-side with me during my election," said President-Elect Obama during a press conference addressing the world yesterday, "thousands of you even came to America to vote for me and I greatly appreciate that. But now I am asking that you help me to help you. Next year, I will be calling on each and every one of you to make the financial sacrifice that America and the world needs. That's why I will be instituting a 15% flat tax for non-American nations. I am America's President, I am your President, and with your help we can turn this economy around."

Many Republicans have argued that this simply cannot be done, but those in favor of it say that just because it has never been done before doesn't mean that it is impossible. "The difference is that Republicans are always focusing solely on America," explained Vice President-Elect Joseph Biden, "we've adopted a whole new strategy of world dictatorshi.... *ahem* world leadership. The entire world voted for the President this election cycle. Now it's time for the world to pay its fair share of the tax burden."

The President-Elect's plan has not been published as of yet, but is expected in the near future. There have been no comments from foreign leaders regarding the issue, but judging from their extensive participation in the election, most will likely follow suit with the plan.

Prayer for the New President-Elect

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:07:41 +0100

Dear Lord, dear Lord... oh my dear Lord. Have you been hearing my prayers at all? I specifically requested that a certain candidate be elected, and I am not sure if you noticed but the candidate that was elected was not him! Was it because I skipped a decade of the rosary last week? Or was it because I told my prayer group that I couldn't attend this week's meeting because I had planned to physically mortify myself that evening, when I really intended to level my warrior on Guild Wars™? Either way, I am sorry. I promise I will strive to do better next election cycle so that you will acquiesce to my next election prayer request. Amen.

Archeologists Find Solomon's Temple; Lose it in Card Game

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:25:14 +0100

Jerusalem - Archeologists Dr. Michael Dunklin and Dr. Zane Barrett have spent over 10 years of their life searching for the famed Temple of Solomon, a central monument in biblical archeology. According to Christian Tradition and Scripture, Solomon's Temple was the first temple that housed the Holy of Holies - where God himself resided.

Last month, while searching in Jerusalem, the two archeologists stumbled on a wall that had the name Solomon inscribed at the base. "We immediately knew that we had come across something big, “said Zane Barrett, "you typically see bogus inscriptions like these on ancient architecture, but the composition of the markings were astonishing and definitely dated around the time of Solomon." The two continued to unearth further evidence of the temple throughout the day.

That night, as the scientists were about to retire, something happened that unexpectedly changed their expedition for the worse. "Two men that we had met a week earlier at a local golf course were waiting at our tent," explained Professor Dunklin, "they were as cheerful as we remembered them and offered to prepare dinner, serve wine, and provide entertainment for us that night. How could we refuse such hospitality? Especially since they came to our tent just for the sake of making us feel comfortable."

Throughout the night, the two guests treated the two professors like royalty. "They did everything they promised, and even made dessert. Afterward, they challenged us to a game of good ol' Texas Hold'em.During the game, horrible noises from outside began to resonate throughout the tent. "We asked our guests what was up with the noises," sighed Dr. Barrett, "but they assured us that it was normal and that it was just angry camels fighting outside. I argued with them and said that it sounded exactly like a Ford F150 with a 5.4 L (330 CID) Triton V8 engine. Brushing me off, they said that most outsiders say that exact same thing when camels fight."

As they continued to play, both archeologists became increasingly agitated over the noise that was being heard outside. Dr. Barrett got out of his seat to investigate, only to be blocked by one of the locals who assured him that it would be safer to remain inside. "I got upset and swore that I heard the distinctive sound of a Caterpillar inc. D11 tractor with a CAT 3508B (D11R CD) engine blasting away outside. My local friend responded hesitantly in his broken dialect saying 'No sir, that is the camel passing the gas. They are very angry sir.'"After about an hour, the noise died and the two men bid a hasty farewell to Dr. Dunklin and Barrett and went off - never to be seen again.

The next morning the two archeologists prepared to continue their research only to find a huge hole in the ground where their inscribed wall once stood. The entire Temple of Solomon was stolen out from under them. Lamenting, all Dr. Barrett could tell us without shedding tears was "if it weren't for the flatulent angry camels, we wouldn't have lost this piece of history to thieves."

Obama Clarifies His Stance on Life Issues

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:00:00 +0100

Cleveland, OH - Because of a recent media campaign blitz that has been set on on attacking Senator Barack Obama's "liberal" views on abortion and various other life issues, the Junior Senator from Illinois took the opportunity to clarify his position at a rally in Ohio last night. Senator Obama asserted that life-issues were and integral part of his health care plan, and were necessary to ensure that all Americans had the opportunity to take advantage of medical care that enhances the quality of life.

"The right-wing media is busy trying accuse me of saying that I want to kill babies," said Senator Obama, looking over the crowd, "that simply is not the case, and my record proves that. However, I believe that everyone should have the choice to leave their child in the hands of medical professionals should a procured abortion become unsuccessful or if they feel that they cannot bear the burden of responsibility of the child. Likewise, medical professionals should have a choice of whether or not to care for that baby. Sometimes caring for the child may not be the best medical option. You see, John McCain wants to take away the freedom of choice from everyone seeking and practicing good health care!"

Pausing under the cheers of the crowd, Senator Obama continued, "Furthermore, should a person also have an elderly or mentally handicapped relative that is in need of decent medical care, I say that they should have the right to bring them in as well. If doctors decide that the best solution is to neglect them until death so that their overall quality of life is better, then they should not have their professional medical opinions regulated by the Government."

The McCain camp argues that neglect constitutes a direct affront to life and the dignity of the human person. Senator Obama, on the other hand, says that it is "simply compassionate health care" and "should not be confused with religious banter." Both camps seem to agree that this is an important issue this election cycle, and have sought to make both of their positions clear to the voters in battleground swing states.

On a final note, Senator Obama assured the crowd that his views do not contradict the foundational beliefs of this country. Rather, they are simply a broader interpretation of what the founding fathers meant by life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. "Some people cannot be liberated or happy if their life is hindered by someone else. We will change that in 2008, I promise you that!"

Local College Offers Scholarship for Catholic Music Directors

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100

Monterey, CA - The Monterey City Council voted yesterday to approve a measure that enables Catholic churches in the area to take advantage of local government subsidies in order to improve their music programs. The aptly named "No Cantor Left Behind" measure seeks to give Catholic music directors and musicians the opportunity to attend formal training without having to worry about the increasing cost of tuition.

"Our goal is to give every Catholic musician the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of music theory and performance," stated Council Member Arnold Granger,"all too often it seems that these musicians have either had no training, or have had a vocal impediment that can be detrimental to the whole music program."

Mr. Granger - a Catholic himself - spearheaded the controversial measure citing that it was not just a religious concern, but was an issue that affected everyone in the community. "Numerous times we've had complaints that there were horrible sounds coming from inside some of the local parishes, " explained Councilman Granger, "on one occasion a citizen jogging next to a particular parish called 911 Emergency Response because she had thought that there was a murder occurring within the church! We can't have incidents like this happen in the future because it costs local tax-payers, and could potentially be hazardous."

Parishes in the Monterey area will be able to select up to three candidates for the program. When completed, the candidates will receive a certificate in Music Theory or Music Education. If they choose, they could potentially receive a Baccalaureate degree if they complete a few more required courses. Local pastors in the area are excited about the measure, and expect to see positive results in the near future.

Halloween Prayer

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:13:00 +0100

Lord, I've seen ghouls, goblins, ghosts and spiders. I've been haunted by wolves, pirates, ninjas, and gladiators. It happens everytime around this year consistently, but this year is far more scary because of the chance of an Obama Presidency. Amen

McCain Leads Polls by 69%

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:33:46 +0100

According to the historically accurate Agnus Daily Reader’s Poll, John McCain is likely to win approximately 69% of the popular vote this election year! Out of 55 likely voters that visited the site, John McCain was able to gather a whopping 43 voters over to his side. Barack Obama, on the other hand, was only able to garner 10% of the votes, tying the hero of the pot smoking populous, Ron Paul.

Below is a visual representation of the Agnus Daily Reader's poll:

In a surprising 4th place, 3.2 percent of voters sought to elect myself as the next President. The odd thing is that I was not vying for the Presidency, nor did I campaign anywhere in the United States. I would like to thank all of my supporters, and ask that they vote for John McCain rather than me since he is the most likely pro-life candidate to be elected this year. Perhaps in the coming years I might try to run, but with my 20-years of experience as a journalist I suspect that I would be more effective as an arbiter of information.

End-Time Prophets Battle with Environmentalists Over the End of the World

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:58:19 +0100

Independence, WA - The Organization of Denominational End-Time Acceptance and Responsibility (ODEAR) has organized a debate with multiple well-known hard-line environmentalists such as Daniel Olsten, Mary Aberdeen, and Peter Hanger. ODEAR feels that these leaders of the environmentalist movement, and others, are encroaching on their territory of end-time prediction, an area that end-time theologians have solely enjoyed for the last 200 years.

"It's hard to do biblical research and market research at the same time," explains David Westrom, President of ODEAR, "Many of our members just don't have the time to do this while still maintaining their day jobs on the farm or at Wal-Mart." Many of ODEAR's members have left because of the financial and intellectual strain put on them in the past few years. Mr. Westrom goes on to assert that "if these wacko environmentalists don't stop preaching about the destruction of the earth they'll eventually have half or even all of the market, especially if they start to make their predictions earlier than we do."

Peter Hanger, one of the founders of Green Thinking American Radicals (GTAR), doesn't see themselves as encroaching on anything. He feels that if you look at the the scientific facts, their position on the destruction of the earth is the only viable view. "Many Christian end-time prophets seem to think that we are out to steal their believers. That's not the case at all," asserted Mr. Hanger, "we simply see the scientific truth that the world will end sooner than their Jesus will return. I expect that in the next 10 years, overpopulated places like India and the African Continent will end up falling into the earth because of the weight of so many people. Don't get me started on global warming; all I can say is that you should invest in a Speedo and some cocoa butter soon."

The debate will likely be held within the next month, and will include a wide range of topics. Although the attendee list has not been formalized, it is likely that Peter Hanger and David Westrom will be the primary debaters. Agnus Daily will report more on the event after it happens.

Prayer for the Election

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:37:15 +0100

Heavenly Father, please bless our nation that was founded on the principles that you gave to us. Look past the fact that we destroy and harvest the organs of our young, kill our old and lesser citizens, redefine your definition of marriage and sexuality, and glorify violence and vice, while looking down upon virtue. I mean, everyone has their faults right? At least we have the intentions to do good, Lord. I am sure that if our economy improves and more people are able to live healthier and more comfortable lives, much of our black spots will disappear. I know history hasn't proven this, but we're smarter than those guys. Amen.

Exclusive: Prayer with the Carthusians

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:28:51 +0100

After 3 years of requesting permission, Agnus Daily was able to get exclusive access to view and record the spiritual life of the French Carthusian monks. The abbot of the monastery, Ab. Jacques Tailliez, hoped that if enough young Catholics were able to experience the peace and joy that the monks immerse themselves in on a daily basis through prayer, more of the youth might desire to live the monastic life. Because of that wish, we were given the opportunity to film Ab. Tailliez during his morning and evening prayers. This rare and special opportunity is one that we at the staff are very honored and pleased to present to our readers.

Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, our staff was unable to transfer the video into a digital format in order to it post online. However, we thought that this opportunity was too important to let any roadblocks get in the way. That being said, we present to the readers the transcript of Ab. Tailliez's private morning prayers:

.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................*sniff*............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................*ahem*.................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................*scratch*....................*scratch*..................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................*cough*................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
........................*sigh*........................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................*sniff*..................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................

The power and beauty of prayer is magnified to infinity with these holy monks. Even though Ab. Tailliez has taken a vow of silence, you can feel the strentgh and passion of his spirituality.

As soon as our staff is able to transfer the video into a digital format, we will post the rest of this amazing experience. Until then, we hope that this will suffice to show young and old alike the unique wonder of the monastic life.