tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83813297931492299712012-01-18T12:33:56.341-05:00Christiannoreply@blogger.comBlogger451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-11237300722532177262009-03-19T15:15:00.005-04:002009-03-19T15:24:25.871-04:00

I say "Amen" to this! Pope asks priests to smarten upClerics should be more 'recognisable'(ANSA) - Vatican City, March 17 - Priests are under pressure to smarten up their wardrobes after Pope Benedict XVI made an apparent dig at members of the clergy who have been dressing rather too casually.Declaring a 'year of the priest' that will begin on June 19 in a bid to encourage ''spiritual perfection

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-5081968992039167882009-03-16T15:54:00.005-04:002009-03-16T16:31:52.761-04:00

(My emphasis is in bold; see the link to the Holy See Press Office, Vatican Information Service here)HOLY FATHER ANNOUNCES A SPECIAL YEAR FOR PRIESTSVATICAN CITY, 16 MAR 2009 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican the Holy Father received members of the Congregation for the Clergy, who are currently celebrating their plenary assembly on the theme: "The missionary identity of priests in the Church as

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-44941283905679629252009-03-11T20:35:00.003-04:002009-03-11T20:50:43.171-04:00

The following Guest Opinion, posted at Catholic.org by Jennifer Hartline is a must-read for Bishops, priests and deacons, but should be read by anyone discerning a call to the Holy Priesthood. Here are a few excerpts, but I encourage you to go read the entire article. The flock is hungry for priests faithful to the Magisterium and orthodoxy. Answer the call.Guest Opinion: Calling our Shepherds

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-32968542293961605882009-03-04T11:16:00.004-05:002009-03-04T11:28:32.756-05:00

This blog is/was supposed to be more focused on the journey of discerning my vocation. Due to my other interests, many of my posts are not focused on discernment but, rather, items of interest to me. I want to re-focus this blog on discernment, but still want to blog about other Church and State matters.Therefore, I have created a new blog called Ecclesia Militans America - Conservative. Roman

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-43252577479962381992009-02-23T08:25:00.000-05:002009-02-23T08:26:17.898-05:00

From FoxNews, crediting the AP:NEW YORK — Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, a defender of Roman Catholic orthodoxy who led an elite seminary for U.S. priests and became known for his energy, wit and warmth, was named archbishop of New York on Monday.The Vatican said Dolan would succeed Cardinal Edward Egan, 76, who is retiring as archbishop after nearly nine years. The post is the most

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-89737993185954908522008-11-06T11:30:00.007-05:002008-11-06T11:54:17.982-05:00

Just underneath the title of my blog, I have a passage from 1 Kings 19 that was nice to come back to after a very noisy political season. This election cycle was much like the "... strong and heavy wind ..." in which the Lord is not. The crushing earthquake of politics has passed, for the time being, and the "tiny whispering sound" of the Lord can be heard. The noise of the political season was

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-90164878294263641952008-09-28T14:06:00.009-04:002008-09-28T14:20:11.838-04:00

My friend, Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP, has been frequently asked how one discerns his or her vocation. He has posted suggestions on his blog, Domine, da mihi hanc aquam. For the full text, click here. This is most of the article:"... Four things to keep in mind:1). God's grace builds upon the foundation of our given natures. Think of it this way: we have a common human nature (rational animals)

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-49862527347659879942008-09-25T14:38:00.008-04:002008-09-25T14:54:42.881-04:00

H/T to Brad at Roman Catholic Vocations for this breaking news. Excerpts from his posting follow (with my emphasis and comments), but hit his blog for the full story:"... This year’s poster, entitled “In the Footsteps of the Tarheel Apostles,” highlights not only the 16 men in formation for the Priesthood in the Diocese of Raleigh, but also the men in whose footsteps they follow. Most prominent

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-14388589180830838912008-09-24T21:34:00.008-04:002008-09-29T10:03:53.920-04:00

I am a traditionalist and, even still, I have not quite formed an opinion about the new Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, California. I am leaning heavily towards not liking its design. Comments and/or postings on the Cathedral include Thomas Peters over at American Papist and Rocco Palmo at Whispers in the Loggia, among others. I do not get the sense that a lot of Catholics like it (Fr.

Christiannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-85607199409257807532008-09-15T10:03:00.006-04:002008-09-15T10:22:33.153-04:00

Since I am an older vocation, articles like this draw my attention. This, from Pantagraph.com, with my emphasis and comments:Saturday, September 13, 2008 9:54 PM CDTBy Bob HollidayBLOOMINGTON -- In what he calls his past life, the Rev. Geoffrey Horton worked at a Bloomington-Normal insurance company, coached a women’s softball team, owned a home and invested in a 401K.Although life was good,

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-65959626744368973382008-09-03T10:31:00.003-04:002008-09-03T10:41:09.920-04:00

I think it is so wonderful that a mainstream media outlet has a postive article on a Roman Catholic Priest. I read Fr. Valencheck's blog, Adam's Ale, and enjoy it very much. The Akron Beacon Journal provides the following profile of Fr. Valencheck, and it serves to encourage those of us discerning a vocation to the priesthood to read positive profiles of those priests who are going before us.New

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-42720722864737606332008-08-31T18:29:00.030-04:002008-08-31T20:17:57.355-04:00

There are many challenges in discerning a call to the priesthood, not the least of which is distinguishing between selfish desires around personal satisfaction, and doing what God is calling one to, regardless of whether His will is palatable to ones personal comfort. Today's readings (Twenty-Second Sunday, Ordinary Time) give us some guidance in this regard.St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans,

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-78347958547174771752008-08-30T11:13:00.020-04:002008-08-31T18:27:00.489-04:00

One of the reasons I think the Lord may be calling me to the priesthood is to teach. Throughout this political season, we have seen Bishops taking the opportunity to preach the Magisterium to America, and this kind of teaching opportunity presents itself each and every Sunday at the parish level. I am certain that, had proper catechises on the teachings of the Church been preached boldly from the

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-47625961765419201012008-08-29T21:36:00.026-04:002008-08-30T10:21:46.631-04:00

The attempt by the US Democratic party to put "Catholics" on the front line of their campaign is backfiring, big time. There are so many bloggers following the implosion very closely, and this blog of mine is more focused on discerning a vocation to the priesthood than anything else. You may follow the hottest news on Pelosi, Biden and the infanticide promulgated by Obama on Fr. Z's blog, among

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-30484181585990728642008-08-25T19:53:00.004-04:002008-08-25T19:59:10.056-04:00

The Diocese of Raleigh's newest Office of Vocations poster is out. To learn the story behind this poster and the young man in the picture, go to Brad Watkins' blog Roman Catholic Vocations.

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-7556078057385214962008-08-25T11:19:00.002-04:002008-08-25T20:01:50.330-04:00

The relativistic catechises of the "Spirit of Vatican II" crowd is really showing the fruits of its labor in the "Catholics" they have turned out in sowing the seeds of dissent, especially when those "Catholics" are in public office and are quoted a lot. The way politicians who call themselves Catholic dance around issues relating to their Catholicism is the epitome of relativism. Take, for

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-59099770329239769102008-08-23T16:32:00.008-04:002008-08-23T22:54:48.692-04:00

Father Philip Neri Powell, O.P., has a very nice article which presents an insiders look (his) at religious life, and some great suggestions on discernment. A couple excerpts from his blog:Regarding religious life:"... We haven’t yet seen the climax of this [Generational] war. Priests from the JPII/BXVI generation are still too young to be in positions of power and influence. I think the real

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-39239441465699236202008-08-14T22:41:00.019-04:002008-08-16T12:27:30.152-04:00

"... One great mistake made by those discerning a vocation is to think that if God is calling them to His service, He will manifest it to them in some extraordinary way. While an angel appeared to Mary and to Joseph to reveal God’s plans for them, for most, God calls by an interior voice within the deep recesses of the human soul. We may notice that we have a certain spiritual attraction for the

Christiannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-83353085208279270162008-08-14T20:42:00.009-04:002008-08-14T21:10:34.709-04:00

St. Maximilian Kolbe promoted veneration of the ImmaculateVirgin Mary, and was a missionary. He helped hide Jews from the Nazi persecution during World War II, and ended up in Auschwitz himself. When a group of men was selected to die this priest stepped forward, taking the place of another man who had a wife and children. After being left to die in a cell with other men, and suffering from

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-57950043423026235872008-08-12T22:51:00.003-04:002008-08-12T23:02:24.448-04:00

I saw someone walking out of Mass a couple weeks ago with a campaign button on her purse for the following candidate for President of the United States. If you get past the movie-star hype, which I argue is the only reason this candidate is the presumptive nominee of his party, and pay attention to his positions, a faithful Roman Catholic cannot vote for this candidate. The following are excerpts

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-46239417958578071032008-08-09T07:45:00.012-04:002008-08-09T09:11:19.952-04:00

I am always thinking about my vocation and the decisions that surround it. Do you feel the same? When I wake up, I am thinking about where I am supposed to go for the Lord, and when I am fading off to sleep at night, I am wondering what the "final" decision will be - will I be in the diocesan seminary, or will I be in the novitiate of some order. The discernment of His will weaves itself into

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-88090049726357746182008-08-07T20:06:00.004-04:002008-08-07T20:11:44.592-04:00

From Catholic OnlineFeast Day: August 8St. Dominic (1170-1221). Son of Felix Guzman and Bl. Joan of Aza, he was born at Calaruega, Spain, studied at the Univ. at Palencia, was probably ordained there while pursuing his studies and was appointed canon at Osma in 1199. There he became prior superior of the chapter, which was noted for its strict adherence to the rule of St. Benedict. In 1203 he

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-60897636096434586462008-08-04T16:55:00.002-04:002008-08-04T17:04:18.898-04:00

Catholic News Agency"We cannot comprehend the power that a pure soul has over God. It is not the soul that does God's will, but God who does the soul's will." -- Saint John Vianney.Born May 8, 1786 in Dardilly, near Lyon, in a family of farmers, Jean-Marie Vianney started preparing his priesthood when he was 20 with Father Balley, priest of Ecully. He was ordained in 1815 and became Curate in

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-31511652224581958462008-07-27T22:03:00.025-04:002008-07-27T23:18:07.448-04:00

Those of us discerning vocations to the priesthood or religious life are doing a lot of work! My brothers and sisters who are discerning know exactly what I mean. And those of you who have never discerned a vocational call may not be so clear on what I mean.I became aware of the Lord's call some years ago, and since that time I have lived this discernment deeply. When one participates fully in

Christiannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-20636772535953009702008-07-25T09:17:00.024-04:002008-07-26T17:56:45.892-04:00

I have been posting a lot of items lately on the battle we, as Roman Catholics and discerners to the priesthood and religious life, are engaging (and are engaged) in. I have posted that we battle a presidential candidate running around exclaiming how murdering pre-born children will be considered an unchecked "fundamental right" under his presidency; I have posted about the desecration of our

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-6210100455759561972008-07-23T18:09:00.002-04:002008-07-23T21:27:40.877-04:00

(link to Catholic Exchange, original article)Whenever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of the liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment.The above words were penned by our Holy Father Pope Benedict the XVI, (then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) on p. 198 of his book entitled The Spirit

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-32904560422019089802008-07-22T12:59:00.006-04:002008-07-22T13:12:54.103-04:00

[Everywhere we turn, there are more and more reasons why it is time to sell everything and follow the Lord. Our fellow man has strayed so far off the narrow path to salvation, that the need for good, holy priests, nuns, deacons and lay people is crucial. If you follow the direction of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and the radical members of his party, it will not be the Lord you

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-59520445119840332932008-07-19T11:44:00.016-04:002008-07-20T07:43:28.087-04:00

[Stay with me on this one. It is a bit long, but does have an ultimate discernment theme to it.]I have been so troubled, angry, and overwhelmed (at times) with a feeling of desolation at the seemingly endless assault and desecration of our Lord and His Holy Church. With each day, it seems the misinformed continue to come at the Roman Catholic Church with aggressive hate from all directions of the

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-79051948625603243942008-07-13T11:37:00.007-04:002008-07-13T12:15:38.889-04:00

If you are like me, you read Father Z's blog, WDTPRS. However, he is quite the man of mystery. Why does he live on a farm (not a bad gig)? Is he a parish priest here in the US? Or, perhaps the modern-day version of Chesterton's fictional detective, Father Brown? Well, the following article may answer some of those questions. I realize the following article is five months old, and most have

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-77813827843611775212008-07-12T08:51:00.009-04:002008-07-12T11:28:23.490-04:00

I am particularly reminded of the radical nature of discerning a call to the priesthood when I venture into the common life of friends who are not discerning such a call. I like socializing with my friends, and enjoy the conversation and interaction. However, I am constantly aware of the restlessness in my soul, pulling me somewhere other than where I am.And the term "pulling" is very accurate

Christiannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-25371206353171925262008-07-04T08:22:00.011-04:002008-07-05T08:52:36.719-04:00

On this the anniversary of the independence of our nation, let us not forget the men and women who keep us free by serving in our armed forces. Let us turn to our Lord and pray:Lord, hold our troops In your loving hands,Protect them as they protect us.Bless them and their familiesFor the selfless acts they performFor us in our time of need.And give us peace.We ask this in the name of Jesus,Our

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-66030540066616099282008-07-03T07:10:00.005-04:002008-07-06T08:16:11.270-04:00

Bluto: "Was it over when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor?"Otter: "Germans?"Boon: "Forget it, he's rolling."Bluto: "'Because when the going gets tough, the tough get going!"[silence]Bluto: "Who's with me? Let's GO!"[Bluto runs out of the room, arm raised in victory ... no one follows him]These lines are from the 1978 film Animal House, one of my favorites! Bluto's line, asking "who's with me?"

Christiannoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-27915210806506613822008-06-15T08:21:00.060-04:002008-07-03T07:22:36.329-04:00

"At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. ... Then he summoned his twelve disciples ... Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel... ." ~ Gospel, in pertienent part, for

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-45465076577623580922008-02-27T10:23:00.010-05:002008-07-03T12:39:25.740-04:00

"Whoever breaks the least significant of these commands and teaches others to do so shall be called least in the kingdom of God. Whoever fulfills and teaches these commands shall be great in the kingdom of God." –Matthew 5:19Today's Gospel reading sounds innocent enough, but when one really looks at it, Jesus sets a high bar! I have a ticker out to the right that links to the daily readings, and

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-40342506095463125232008-02-27T10:11:00.001-05:002008-02-27T10:12:32.838-05:00

This is so cool. There is a very old monastery for sale, and I would so live there!

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-41503615936602367982008-02-24T12:18:00.004-05:002008-02-24T12:22:52.156-05:00

Anna Arco - February 22, 2008Seminaries throughout the Catholic world will have to teach candidates how to celebrate the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass, it emerged last weekend.A letter from the Ecclesia Dei commission, the body which deals with matters concerning the 1962 missal, said that the Vatican is preparing to order rectors to “provide for the instruction of their candidates in both forms of

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-11594608510778620192008-02-20T20:36:00.006-05:002008-02-23T11:23:29.392-05:00

"Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, 'You are not one of his disciples, are you?' He denied it and said, 'I am not.'" Jn 18: 25. "... a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, 'Didn't I see you in the garden with him?' Again, Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed." Jn 18" 26-27.I am not sure if you do this, but I can admit to it: most

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-63533334746505883162008-02-18T20:43:00.003-05:002008-02-18T20:49:46.506-05:00

Interest in ‘Extraordinary Form’ of the Mass Growing on CampusBY VALERIE SCHMALZFebruary 17-23, 2008 Issue - National Catholic Register Posted 2/12/08 at 12:02 PMWhen Pope Benedict XVI loosened restrictions on celebration of the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass last July, Notre Dame University’s campus ministry immediately began planning how to implement the change.Notre Dame is just one of a number of

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-72752304616313535302008-02-17T19:34:00.008-05:002008-02-17T20:05:10.491-05:00

"And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were." Acts 2: 2.I was saying the rosary this evening, after the sun had set. So the darkness outside was off-set by the votive candles I had lit. As I came upon the third decade, the decent of the Holy Spirit, a strong wind came up outside. As my door was open, I could hear the

Christiannoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-16850035197094755822008-02-16T17:15:00.011-05:002008-02-16T21:09:57.043-05:00

Lent is the time to be reconciled to our Lord as we share in Christ's suffering on the Way of the Cross. Please go to confession ... please. Your life depends on it, in this world and the next! Confession in this world relieves so much temporal suffering, and is a wonderfully healing Sacrament. The Lord has already forgiven you; you just have to go ask for His forgiveness at the pick-up window (

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-70870023674289329162008-02-16T08:49:00.007-05:002008-02-16T17:34:50.330-05:00

[a note about articles I may post: I will cut-and-paste the text of any article directly into the blog instead of just the link, in case the link expires. I also notice many bloggers post personal comments prior to the article. I am not sure I like that. It sets the readers mind on the bloggers' mindset prior to reading the article, thus tainting it. I think I'll make any comments after any

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-80613361094992334862008-02-12T11:02:00.003-05:002008-02-16T17:33:02.431-05:00

In general terms, I think your standard vocational discernment goes something like this: the call goes out, and is received; the man tries to avoid it, but contacts vocation directors "just for some information," but no way I'm joining up; one finally convinces themselves to attend a "come and see" weekend, or meets with a vocation director; excitement sets in, as in "this is it!"; the initial

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-86920993918598982612008-02-10T10:36:00.003-05:002008-02-16T17:32:43.304-05:00

Have you experienced this recently in the early days of Lent: you open the door of your Holy Roman Catholic Church and instinctively go for the holy water, only to find your fingers meeting up with sand! Finding sand instead of holy water usually elicits a frustrated grunt from me. Well, apparently parishes are not supposed to replace holy water with sand! Seriously, doesn't anyone follow rules

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-49226729131181447872008-02-10T07:48:00.002-05:002008-08-13T13:20:57.555-04:00

The Sacrament of Reconciliation has been a very, very big part of my journey towards discerning God's will for me. I went to confession about five years ago for the first time in about 15 years. I walked out of that confessional, after having confessed to a very compassionate and holy Franciscan priest, feeling like a miracle had just occured. In that fifteen minutes (yep, for those who are

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8381329793149229971.post-37252066474258062432008-02-09T13:11:00.001-05:002008-02-16T17:32:19.192-05:00

From Matthew in yesterday's Gospel, we read "The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast." see Mt 9:14-15. So, here we are, in the times where our Lord Jesus Christ is not bodily with us. And we fast. I mentioned to a co-worker the other day that I was going to leave the office a little early so I could make it to Mass on Ash Wednesday. She remarked, "

Christiannoreply@blogger.com0