ECCE HOMO

Finding Humility After You Have Degraded Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:37:00 +0000

Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

In the Greek Rites, today is the first of the Pre-Lenten Sundays. In the Latin Rite, Septuagesima isn't until next Sunday. The Season of Septuagesima is observed in the Eastern Rites, but the Latin name obviously isn't used. Simply called "Pre-Lent", it lasts four Sundays (as opposed to the Roman three), with Great Lent beginning the day after the fourth Sunday (Clean Monday). For those who are wondering, Eastern Catholics typically use the Gregorian calendar, so the Greek liturgical calendar is super-imposed on the same civil calendar we use, thus Pascha is on the same date as us. Whereas Orthodox Christians typically use the Julian calendar, so for them the Sunday of the Publican & the Pharisee isn't for another two weeks.

Today we have the juxtaposition of the self-righteous pharisee concerned with external appearances and not internal sanctity with the corrupt publican, considered more vile than an adulterous whore, who humbled himself by admitting that God is all-holy while he is wicked and doesn't deserve anything because of his sinfulness. This shows us that those who make excuses for sins, claiming that they aren't that bad or that God understands, are repeating the arrogance of the pharisee, who felt it was acceptable to do as he pleased as long as he went to temple and observed what the law commanded. Whereas those who regret their sins, admitting that they degraded themselves by running off into sin, are repeating the humility of the publican, who desired that union with God replace his sinfulness while admitting that he does not deserve union with God because he ran away from God into sin. This reality about sin is something to think about and constantly keep in mind during the 40 days of the Great Fast.

The Biblical Sources of Church Teachings

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:23:00 +0000

Via Facebook, I have found out about a new site (at least it's new to me) that gives the scriptural foundations of just about everything the Church teaches. Check it out: ScriptureCatholic.com

The Bride of Christ Does an About Face

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul - III Class

I written on conversions before. I have a strong devotions to penitents (female saints who were neither virgins nor married). I've written on St. Margaret of Cortona and St. Pelagia of Antioch. I need to do something soon on St. Mary of Egypt after recently reading her life. St. Paul's conversion was not the result of sexual sins, but it is still great cause for us to take heart today with so many of our loved ones living as fallen away Catholics or just outright persecutors of the faith. We all know these people. It hurts all of us to see someone we love degrade themselves through a sinful lifestyle. God created for a certain dignity, but they run away into a fake man-made life. St. Paul was the greatest persecutor of the early Church and he was converted into the greatest evangelizer of the early Church. This did not happen slowly over time with gradual reform. No, this was all at once when St. Paul had the reality of God and His Love revealed to Him. The conversions of Sts. Margaret, Pelagia, and Mary were all sudden and all at once. St. Margaret had the death of her lover. St. Pelagia had the sermon of St. Nonnus. St. Mary had her inability to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The devil is powerless when God blitzes him. God is still trying to work such conversions today, because He wills that all men be saved. We need to do our part by making known the truth of the love of Christ the Bridegroom, who so loves His Bride the Church, that He destroyed Himself to wash away Her sins in His own Blood. He has been waiting for Her to return to Him for a long time. Let us pray that Bridegroom and Bride are reunited.

The Hypocrisy of Abortion

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:53:00 +0000

The Vortex - The March 01-24

Apparently abortion saves lives. How delusional or gullible do you have to be? Also, it appears someone failed first grade math. I mean really? The woman will die if she stays pregnant, which is what her body is naturally programmed to do, and no one dies if she gets an abortion? You need to drink the kool-aid quite a bit to believe the pro-death arguments. *rolleyes* Abortion is no more than putting one person to death (the baby) for the comfort of another (the mother) and it treats a natural function of the body (pregnancy) as if it's a disease-and apparently it's now fatal. *facepalm*

Instead of giving you the link, I'll give you the actual CIA episode, so that you can learn what we are doing to ourselves as a society.

Simultaneously Proud & Embarrassed to Be a Bruins Fan.

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Earlier today, the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins (it still feels great to write that) visited the White House as a part of the American tradition where the national champion in each sport has it's turn to be received by the president. With the Bruins in town to play the Capitals tomorrow, today was the Bruins' turn. Super-star goaltender Tim Thomas refused to show. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs and won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender and is a major star in the sport. His is also the first-choice goaltender for the US National Team, having led the US to silver in the last Olympics. His refusal to be received by Obama in what is a major event for any championship team certainly creates a lot of waves.

Tim Thomas & the Stanley Cup

He released the following statement explaining his protest:

"I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.

This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.

Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.

This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT"

I was beaming with pride as I read that. That makes me so proud to be a Bruins fan. He is dead on accurate. He is right about the indefensible tyranny of the Obama administration and he is right that both parties have their share of the blame. He is setting such great example. He, someone in such prominent position, is speaking up against the leftist extremism. This is something in which we can take heart and something we should emulate. Bruins President Cam Neely followed with this statement:

"As an organization we were honored by President Obama's invitation to the White House. It was a great day and a perfect way to cap our team's achievement from last season. It was a day that none of us will soon forget. We are disappointed that Tim chose not to join us, and his views certainly do not reflect those of the Jacobs family or the Bruins organization. This will be the last public comment from the Bruins organization on this subject."

I wanted to pelt Cam Neely with eggs for making such a disgraceful and embarrassing statement. To defend the current administration is to defend all the sin they force on the public, calling the ability to degrade human beings a "right". They claim it is a "right" to degrade the act of mutual self-sacrifice between bridegroom and bride, where they pour out everything to each other, even their very bodies, providing the environment for God to create new life, to a mere act of physical or emotional pleasure through legalized sodomy and legalized contraception. Then they make sure that the marital sacrifice remains degraded to physical & emotional pleasure by defending the "right" to legalized murder-that a child must be put to death for the "comfort" of the mother. All of this is forced on the public-and using the public's own money.

It is a sad day and you know there is no moral fiber or self-control when passions and emotions are defended as "rights". God did not create us to live according to our emotions and what we feel is right. God created us to live in the love in which He dwells. It is a love that is self-sacrificial, where the lover willingly completely destroys himself to get the beloved to the dignity for which she was created by God, which is to dwell in that same self-giving love. It is with this love that Christ loves His Bride, the Church, and we are to love with this same love. To paraphrase St. John Chrysostom, love does not seek the favor of the beloved, but rather her benefit.

I suppose this makes me a typical New England sports fan: love the players, hate the front office. Also, it should not be lost that this comes at the same time as the March for Life, which was happening simultaneously across the street.

We Pray for the Children Condemned to Death

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:35:00 +0000

Rogation Day for the Victims of Abortion
This day should be put on the Church calendar in each country on the anniversary of the legalizaton of murder in that country. In the United States, it's today.

If I had a copy of the Akathist of Repentance for One Who Has Aborted a Child, I would post an excerpt of that since it is such a powerful prayer, but I'll make due with a tropar (antiphon) from the Office for the Victims of Abortion:

Again we pray for the children of God condemned to death by the unjust judgement of men: that the Lord our God would soften the hearts of those who seek their violent destruction, and rescue those who are being led forth to the slaughter, we diligently pray Thee, O Lord, hearken and have mercy!

Though I Walk in the Valley of Shadows...

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:10:00 +0000

For though I should walk in the midst of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. (Ps 22:4)

When He was suffering on the Cross, Christ feared no suffering because the Father was with Him.

When she was visited by an angel, the Virgin Mary feared no suffering because the Lord was with her.

When we go about the suffering of our daily lives, we have no reason to fear any misery or trouble because the Lord is with us through our reception of the Holy Eucharist, which is the Crucifixion made present.

The Lamb of The Lamb

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:13:00 +0000

Feast of St. Agnes - III Class
Union with Christ in and of itself destroys all sin and gives strength against all temptation:
"If I love Him I shall be chaste, if I touch Him I shall be clean, if I embrace Him I shall be a virgin indeed."-2nd responsory at Matins

God does not think as men do:
"According to tradition, it was in her thirteenth year that she suffered martyrdom. How despicable the cruelty that sparred not even this tender age! But how great the power of faith that found even that age its witness"-St. Ambrose

On the lips of children and of babes...

OOH-RAH!

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:56:00 +0000

The Vortex - Young Catholic Men 01-20

Part 4 (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3):

God is raising an army to defend and clean His Church:

The Golden-Mouthed Doctor: "The person who does not become irate when he has cause to be sins. For an unreasonable patience is the hotbed of many vices. It fosters negligence, and stimulates not only the wicked, but above all, the good to do wrong.”

"Equality Does Not Equal Sameness"

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:12:00 +0000

The Vortex - "Catholic" Women's Lib 01-19

Part 3 of the series (Part 1, Part 2)

Some people struggle with very basic concepts in life, like the fact that boys and girls are different. While boys and girls are of equal dignity, that does not in anyway imply that they are the same. They must be different because they are designed by God to be complimentary: each has different strengths and they rely on each other to form a completed whole (see my comments on part one, linked above). When one fails, the other fails too. As Michaels explains, as the female grows immature and proud, the male follows. Neither can survive without the other. While each has the dignity of a puzzle piece, they must be different in order to make a completed whole. When one pretends to be complete on it's own and independent from the other, their relationship will fail and this is what we have seen in society over the last 5-8 decades.

A Real Man Sacrifices Himself

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:25:00 +0000

The Vortex - Catholic Men and the Church 01-18

Part 2 of the series (Part 1):

A real man sacrifices himself for the good of others: "Jesus Christ was the perfect man. It is from Him that all men must incline and begin to understand what masculinity is .. and what higher purpose it serves."

What a Good Priest Does as the Ship Goes Down

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:37:00 +0000

From the Catholic Herald via iPadre:

“A Catholic chaplain aboard the sinking Costa Concordia rushed to consume the Eucharist in an attempt to protect it as the cruise liner began to sink on Friday night.

Fr Rafaeli Mallena, 70, described his ordeal to Fr Giacomo Martino, director of the Apostolate of the Sea for the Italian bishops’ conference.

He said as he realised the ship was in serious peril he had two things at the forefront of his mind: protecting the valuables, which the staff had entrusted to him, and protecting the Blessed Sacrament.”

In the Byzantine Rite of Ordination, shortly before Communion, the Bishop takes a Lamb (Host) and gives it to the newly ordained saying, "Take this gage, and guard it until the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are going to be asked for it back by Him." The priest then returns to his place with the Lamb and says "Lord have mercy" and Psalm 50 in full. He then gives the Lamb back and not long thereafter, when the clergy receive Communion, he receives first.

Male vs. Masculine (i.e. 12yo Boy vs. Mature Man)

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:25:00 +0000

The Vortex - Masculinity and Catholicism 01-17

The Church does not have an over abundance of the feminine, but rather a dangerous overabundance of the female.

The female sees men as slaves designed to serve women and never out-perform them. She arrogantly sees herself as a completed whole that can survive without men. The female only defends herself through the sin of pride and such pride only causes men to respect her less, which I find hilariously ironic.

The feminine on the other hand sees men as guardians and providers (of which St. Joseph is the perfect example). She sees herself as only part of the whole and the man as the remainder. She sees that the man and herself must remain different as they are complimentary halves of a single whole: his strengths make up for her weaknesses and her strengths make up for his weaknesses. Neither can survive or be complete without the other.

There is an equivalent distinction among men, which Michael already elaborated on. The male sees women as objects of sexual pleasure. That's it-that's a complete analysis. He is absolutely ruthless and manipulative in this regard. He will use as much lying as necessary to defend himself. He will fake an entire loving relationship if he has to-and they often do.

The masculine will see women as sustenance and support-making up in herself what he lacks. He gives everything of himself to take care of her and she submits everything of herself to him. Neither keeps anything for him/herself. In this Divinely created design, neither can survive without the other. They are completely dependent on each other. Each works on improving the other's flaws and lives for the sake of the other. Neither man nor woman can survive alone or is complete alone. Even these explanations of the feminine and masculine are complimentary.

The Church and society have the same lethal problem in that they are full of the female and have a dangerous lack of the feminine. The Church has a lack of the male (which is good) and a lack of the masculine (which is bad). Society, which actually has a noticeable amount of men to begin with, has the equivalent problem with men as it does women: an abundance of the male and a dangerous lack of the masculine.

A General Keeping His Commanders in Line

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:31:00 +0000

From RCTV, comes (very welcome) news that Abp. Nienstedt of St. Paul-Minneapolis has threatened to suspend any priest or deacon of his archdiocese that dissents from Church Teaching on homosexuality in the lead-up to a vote on a constitutional amendment in the state of Minnesota defining marriage as between one man and one woman-and Abp. Nienstedt has always been one of the greatest champions for this amendment. It is always a great scandal when any cleric publicly opposes Church teaching and such disobedience in the run-up to such a critical vote would have devastating effects for the Church. We need priests to be brave and defend the Catholic Faith in the face of persecution. We need bishops to defend such priests and knock the disobedient leftist priests back into line (not create scandal themselves by doing the reverse). Abp. Nienstedt is certainly setting an excellent example for his brother bishops by enduring individual persecution for years for his support Church Teaching on marriage in the Land of a Thousand Lakes. He has made himself one of the model bishops in the US just on his handling of this issue. Let us pray that he continues his work and that God strengthens other bishops to likewise defend Church Teaching from the wolves in their dioceses.

Christ is Not Common Food and Shall Not be Treated as Such

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:19:00 +0000

I would like to call your attention to a new blog run by two priests supporting the use of Communion on the tongue exclusively in the Roman Rite. It's aptly called "Restore Communion On The Tongue Only". They have a petition to the Holy Father saying:

Your Holiness, We are convinced of the great spiritual harm inflicted on the Catholic faithful, and the profanation of the Blessed Sacrament that often occurs by the practice of Communion received on the hand.

We implore Your Holiness to personally intervene to restore once again the normative practice of reception of Holy Communion on the tongue alone.

As a side-note, by tradition, Communion at the Last Supper was distributed kneeling and on the tongue. Why? I suppose because Communion via a spoon (practiced in the East-Particles are put into the chalice and pulled out with a gilded spoon) wasn't invented until a couple centuries later. The Church experimented with various methods of distributing Communion, but Host-only on the tongue and Both via a spoon were the only ones that the Church ever felt comfortable with in terms of reverence. Sadly the spoon never caught on in the West. It's our loss. All the other methods were banned as not sufficiently respectful of the Sacred Nature of the Holy Eucharist.

Con-celebrating clergy (common in the East; practically non-existent in the West) were given a special method for receiving. Clergy take a Particle off the paten, but the tips of the fore-finger and thumb are the only parts of the hands ever allowed to touch the Eucharist. They go one at a time up to the chalice, which presumably was the method used at the Last Supper, since the Hosts were distributed kneeling on the tongue. The deacon however, cannot simply go up to the paten or chalice in the manner of a priest, he must be invited up by the priest. In the Divine Liturgy, there is a little ritual done twice (for each Body and Blood) where he is first invited by the priest to approach, then the deacon asks for the Eucharist and is allowed to partake.

Another note, have you ever wondered why in depictions of the Last Supper, everyone is on the same side of the table and facing the same direction? It was ad orientem.

A Lesson About Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:39:00 +0000

Giotto, The Wedding Feast at Cana, 1304-1306, Capella degli Scrovegni, Padua.

II Sunday after Epiphany - II Class

I find it hilarious that Giotto decided to make the head-waiter so fat. I'm curious as to who the guy with the white beard is, since he has a halo, but there aren't any holy characters in this story other than Our Lord & Our Lady. One of the apostles perhaps?

Anyway, this event teaches us (amidst many other lessons) that Our Lord will always provide for couples during hard times, no matter how outwardly humiliating the situation might be. They just need to let Him be in charge and decide what will happen to them; to "do whatever He tells them", instead of trying to fix it themselves on their own efforts.

Eye Candy: A Faithful Bishop in a Majestic Liturgy

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Via Rorate comes this video of a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (Pontifical Mass) for the Solemn Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. This Liturgy was served by Bishop Milan Šašik, Eparch of Mukachevo, in the Ruthenian-Greek Rite. This was only last week as Dec. 25th on the Julian Calendar (used by many Eastern Rites) coincides with Jan 7th on the Gregorian Calendar.

I present this for two reasons. First there is the liturgical eye candy of a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in Church Slavonic (the liturgical and historical equivalent of Latin in Slavic lands), which is every bit as awe-inspiring and beautiful as a Latin Rite Pontifical High Mass. Second, the Latin Rite con-celebrant is Archbishop Thomas Edward Gullickson, Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, who himself is a blogger and ardent supporter of the Traditional Latin Rite and has called out his brother-bishops for not promoting it, back when he was stationed in the Caribbean.

NICE!

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:19:00 +0000

From the Pulp.it via Padre Zed:

That's right.

Today the Bridegroom Appears

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:41:00 +0000

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - II Class

This day * is the Church joined unto the Heavenly Bridegroom, since Christ hath washed away her sins in Jordan; the wise men hasten with gifts to the marriage supper of the King; and they that sit at meat together make merry with water turned into wine. Alleluia.
-Benedictus Antiphon this morning for the Feast of the Baptism.

IDK If I Support Santorum Yet, But He's Got a Point Here...

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:15:00 +0000

The Vortex - Immigration, Politics, Bishops 01-12

Santorum is speaking out against trouble-makers in the Church. Those who hate Santorum typically hate him because he a) has morals and b) emphasizes moral issues over economic issues. When sodomites hate you that much, you must be doing something right. Now, there is a lot of time before the election in November and much can change before then, but these are good signs for him.

Bells and Smells-Together!

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:38:00 +0000

I can't resist posting this video (h/t to NLM) of Vespers for the Feast of the Theophany (Baptism) of the Lord, which on the Byzantine Calendar is on January 6 (so this is taking place the evening of January 5, since all liturgical days in the Eastern Rites go from sunset to sunset). One of the things that makes this interesting is that this is the Russian Rite, which is among the smallest Eastern Rites, so it is good to see them represented. Their size is a stark contrast to their Orthodox counterpart, as the Russian Orthodox Church is the largest of the Orthodox Churches. Similarly, the Ukrainian Rite is the largest of the Eastern Rites.

The video, at St. Michael's Church in New York City, shows the incensation of the tetrapod (a large icon stand outside the sanctuary where many ceremonies other than the Divine Liturgy are held) surrounded by acolytes with the cross, candles, and ripidia (fans). If you're wondering "What's with the bells on the thurible?", each part of the censer (to use it's Greek name) has its proper symbolism. The bowl of the censer symbolizes the earth. The coal symbolizes us. The hardness and blackness of the coal symbolizes our sinfulness. The fire symbolizes the grace of the Holy Ghost. The fire turning the coals white and soft symbolizes the Holy Ghost purifying us by fire and suffering. The incense symbolizes prayer. The smoke rising symbolizes our prayers rising to Heaven. The lid symbolizes Heaven. The three main chains represent the Holy Trinity. The convergence of the chains at one handle represents the One-ness of the Trinity. The bells represent the 12 apostles (there are 4 bells on each of the 3 main chains). The ringing of the bells represents the teaching of the 12 apostles. Ergo, one must be at least a deacon (and thus able to deliver homilies) to swing the censer. Acolytes (and lay men substituting for them) may carry the censer, but not swing it.

Glory to Christ Jesus! Glory For Ever!

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:04:00 +0000

"Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names: That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: Emptied himself: exinanivit, made himself as of no account. And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:6-11)

The Nymphios decked in glory

This is how the Divine Bridegroom loves His Bride. He does not seek any pleasure, happiness, or good times for himself, but instead emptied Himself, sacrificed and immolated Himself, offering Himself up to the Father for the good of His Bride the Church. Receiving Him, God joins the Nymphios to His Eccelsial Bride and He gives His entire self to Her, even His very body, which she receives in the Eucharist. For this reason, in the Latin tradition, altars are supposed to have canopies over them, imitating a four post marriage bed, as the altar is the marriage bed of the Church. Christ and the Church each desire nothing for themselves, but rather each completely sacrifices himself up to God for the sake of the other. They give themselves entirely to each other through the Heavenly Father and because of this mutual sacrifice for each other, God greatly exalts them, giving them supreme glory, honor, and victory over their every adversary. Because of His sacrifice, Christ is given all honor, and if His Bride offers Herself to Him in all submission, eating His Flesh and drinking His Blood, she shall join Him in the same heavenly glory.

An Eastern Wedding Crown. This one (with
its icon of the Theotokos) is for the bride.
The bridegroom's crown has an icon of Christ.

This is the reality of marriage. This is how bridegroom and bride are to love each other. A wedding is a liturgy of the Church where a man and a woman sacrifice themselves completely to God for the sake of each other, and having received them, God joins them together. They give themselves to completely to each other through God. Because of their self-sacrifice for each other, God crowns them each with glory. Victory and honor is achieved only through sacrifice. In the Eastern Churches, the bridegroom and bride each receive crowns. Wreaths (ancient symbols of victory and fertility) may be used in place of crowns. Because the have sacrificed themselves completely to God for the sake of each other, God crowns them with glory. They are, as the rite says, crowned for each other. In the West, the Latin tradition is different. We use rings in place of crowns, with the two being bound into one. Now, in North America, rings are symbols of victory and honor and are given to sports teams when they win a championship and to students when they complete a degree, so rings actually do fit into this theology of being crowned with glory by God because of the complete sacrifice of yourself for the sake of your beloved.

Voris Answers Archdiocese of Detroit

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:32:00 +0000

The Vortex - Prayers for Detroit 01-09

Click to Read LifeSiteNews.com Article

I've said it before that these attacks are coming from individual officials speaking on the basis of their own opinions attacking the name "RealCatholicTV" based on can. 216 of the CIC simply because they do not personally agree with the message presented under that name. Their problem is with the message, not the name, but they'll claw at anything to stop the message. Voris' message is the same regardless of what the media outlet is called, so to attack the name is silly and childish. They have no way of stopping his message, as it is protected by Church Law (in can. 216 no less!). The only thing they could attack is the name, but even then, if it is changed to any other Catholic name, so long as the actual word "Catholic" doesn't appear in it, the AoD no longer has any recourse against him and his message would still be the same defense of the faith in the face of internal and external enemies and those same enemies would still be just as enraged by Voris calling attention to the evils they freely commit. That just goes to show you just how childish and superficial this whole thing is.

This is What a Family Should Look Like

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Feast of the Holy Family - II Class

Through His Holy Family, Our Blessed Lord shows forth what families are designed to be. It can be tempting to say that the family life is something secular that Our Lord "dignified" by entering into it. Our Lord does not submit to secular, God-less things (they must submit to Him). He only submits to things that are Godly. He submitted to the Law of Moses (which we celebrated last Sunday on the Feast of the Circumcision) because the Law was from God. Therefore, the family life is not secular but from God, holy, and a vocation.

The family life is no more than just an expansion of Marriage. Marriage is a holy union, not secular and of the world, but from God. Marriage is when a man and a woman offer their entire selves to God as a sacrifice for the good of each other and God, having received the two, joins them together in a union where they constantly give their entire selves, even their very bodies, to each other. God then uses this union to create children. This union is the same as that between Christ and His Church, who likewise give themselves to each other in the same self-less sacrificial Divine Love, albeit on a much larger scale. Both of these unions in turn, are the same as that of the Holy Trinity, where God the Father and God the Son give themselves to each other in the same Divine Love, albeit on yet a even larger scale. So we can see that the Holy Ghost, the purest Love from on high, unites Father and Son, the Divine Bridegroom and Ecclesial Bride through all seven sacraments, and every bridegroom and bride united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony; each sharing the same love on each their own scale.

Marriage is a sacrament. That excludes the possibility of it being a secular or natural institution. Marriage is a Divine and Supernatural Institution. The sacraments are not natural. If they were, then we would be able to save ourselves, which is clearly not possible. The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is not an elevation of marriage existing as a natural union, rather the natural union is a degradation of the Divinely created union because it lacks the grace of God, which is the presence of the above mentioned Holy Ghost. It operates in a similar manner as to how lustful, pleasure-oriented sex is a degradation of self-giving sex performed in the love of the Holy Ghost, which always was the plan of God, and not the latter being an elevation of the former. God designed marriage to be a complete and self-less giving and man turned it into selfishness or a mere contract.

However, when the marital sacrifice is performed properly, with the husband and wife having given themselves to each other completely through God, a family emerges as the masterpiece of the Divine Artist according to His plan for their life as a couple. And among all families, the perfect one is the one we celebrate today, completed by the birth of Christ, who was "born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (Jn 1:13). Through the Holy Family, God doesn't elevate the family life to a new height; He elevates the family life back to the level where it was originally designed to be before sin degraded it.

I Can't Believe I'm Posting This

noreply@blogger.com (Clifford Carvalho) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:12:00 +0000

The Vortex - 50 Yard Line 01-06

I can't believe I'm posting this video about hand-egg (I refuse to call it "football"; football is played with your feet and an actual round ball), but Michael's got a really good point and he's spot-on about the run-down condition of the Church and the vast internal corruption. As silly as the analogy might sound, It's dead-on accurate. This is why people hate Michael Voris. This is the only reason why people hate Michael Voris. He calls out internal corruption and problems in the Church and those that are a part of the problem hate him for it. They childishly attack Voris' use of the word "Catholic" in his branding (more here), because his brand name isn't protected by Church law, even though his product is protected by the previous sentence of Canon Law (canon 216). Their problem is with the product, not the branding, but they'll claw at anything to stop the message.