Ubi Petrus

Fr. Dwight Longenecker has put up a beautiful post on joy. It’s something we talk about all the time, but sometimes some people do a better job with it than others. For me, this is the money paragraph:

…Christian joy is a tough, shrewd realism built on a bedrock of optimism. The energy and determination of joy is formidable. Joy is a steam engine that is unstoppable. Joy laughs quickly, but it also weeps quickly in compassion. Joy is an authentic clarity of vision, a simplicity of style and a direct way of speaking in total honesty, but without a touch of malice. It is honest, open, attractive and infectious. Joy is more than a lift of the heart or the buoyancy of spirit that comes from external circumstances. Joy springs up from the depths of a heart that has been truly converted by the power of the resurrection.

Go read the rest of it. I’d be willing to bet you’ll have a smile on your face when you’re done.

Huh. I wouldn’t have thunk it. Then again, my real desires tend to be a little more interior than the exterior that’s often required of me. And yes, I’d rather be right than newfangled. The soul is not a thing to be trifled with

H/T to Hermeneutic of Continuity.

Let’s see, maybe laying out a timeline will make this the most readily apparent.

• April 11: Senator Gregg (R-NH) votes for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 allowing federal money to be used to murder babies in the name of a singularly unproven overreach by amoral scientists who have found a new fiscal teat from which to suckle.
• April 18: What should otherwise be a joyful occasion as the Supreme Court upholds the ban on partial birth abortions is stained by the dissent of, among others, New Hampshire’s own Justice David Souter.
• April 19: Our illustrious Governor John Lynch has announced he intends to sign legislation establishing civil unions in the state. This after the now Democrat-run House and Senate have promised to roll back the parental notification law that was the source of the Supreme Court case last year. State Republican Chairman Fergus Cullens put it succinctly: “The Democrats are going too far, too fast and Governor Lynch is going along with them,” he said. “These are not the actions of a moderate governor.” Nor, I might add, are they the actions of a moderate government working to protect and serve the greater interests of its electorate.

Sadly, things don’t look like they’re likely to get much better around here any time soon. It was not long ago when the parental consent law was a given and it was allowed to question the propriety of abortion clinics in residential areas. It is amazing how one election can change things…

This should serve as a reminder to anyone reading to never, never take one’s vote for granted. Thanks to the disastrous knee-jerk reaction election of 2006, millions of babies’ (sorry, I’ll use the word “baby” even where others might succumb to the more palatable “fetus”) lives are at risk, a dent is put in the coffin of a heinous and wretched act of pure murder, and the spiritual welfare of those suffering from a disordered inclination has been given the green light for landing at the newly revamped Sodom Airport. It is amazing the destruction Hell can unleash in only six months. Pray for us, brethren, this is going to be a difficult time for anyone who loves Truth and lives in this state.

Okay, so I know that’s not exactly a relevatory statement as subjects go. San Francisco’s Planned Parenthood is coming out with a commercial featuring … hold your hats … two “guardian angels” to promote condom use. Disgusting. But … not surprising. Dawn Eden has the goods (or should that be “bads”) on what’s going on, but I can’t resist quoting one particular part from her post. It’s just simply too important to not read:

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America has received over a half-billiion in taxpayer funds in the past two years alone. That money is fungible; it enables the organization to spend more money on public-relations efforts like “A Superhero for Choice,” as well as on abortions. If you do not want to see your tax dollars go towards such examples of Planned Parenthood’s so-called “comprehensive sexual education,” contact your senator or your representative.

Tags: Catholic, Pro-Life, Condoms

From CWN:

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the senior prelate of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has instructed a Catholic hospital to cease in vitro fertilisation treatments, contraception distribution, and abortion referrals.

…

The new code of ethics will be based on Catholic teaching on the value of human life and sexual morality. In addition to abortion referrals, IVF, and contraception, the hospital will also ban the use of amniocentesis, a test commonly used as a “search and destroy” tool for eliminating handicapped children.

Well I say good for the Cardinal! While this has apparently been some time in coming, the important point at this time is that the Cardinal is doing the right thing. What do those at the hospital have to say?

Far from expressing any discomfort at the criticism, the hospital responded defiantly, saying it was committed to an “ecumenical philosophy and was responsible for the care of all.” In March 2006, the hospital argued that it was obliged under British law to refer for abortions.

The horrors of false ecumenism strike again. Has no one ever told these people that we cannot confirm another in their sin, particularly in one so utterly catastrophic as this. One could say, get with the program or get off the bus…

Denise is right – “only prayer seems to make sense right now“. It is eerie timing that our RCIA schedule this past weekend had us discussing, of all things, suffering. And now this. I find it harshly ironic that I spent the better part of an hour only 48 hours ago explaining the fact that suffering doesn’t have to make sense to us now just because we’re suffering now – that some day God’s plan will be laid out for us and His loving intention will be clear. Perhaps the only thing that helps now is the reminder that the seemingly worst result of suffering in this world, our bodily death, is actually the beginning of our true end and goal, to come to know and love God in Heaven. As Denise said, all we can do now is pray, for those killed, for those injured, and for those affected in any way. And as Christians, we must also pray for the shooter – I have no idea what could cause someone to perform such acts…

And while on the topic of suffering, also keep in mind those affected by the flooding here in New England. Local residents in towns like Goffstown and New Boston have been the hardest hit in our immediate area, but even in the hillier sections I’ve seen hoses flushing water out of basements. Some people are stuck and can’t even get to their homes. What a week already…

In case you haven’t seen already, Fr. Tim Finnegan has posted what looks to be an early access look-see at the new revision of the Ordinary of the Mass. It should prove of interest to any and everyone who loves Liturgy. Clearly, it is not the final variant as people have already noticed an issue with an incorrect translation of pro multis to “for all” instead of the mandated “for many” (or perhaps “for the many” – I believe the Vatican left that as an option). A PDF has been made available here.

Roman curia. The Pope. Unannounced meeting. You guess what it’s all about. As one commenter on the original story said, maybe it’s to make sure no one got him anything from Prada for his birthday. It certainly wouldn’t have anything to do with the Motu Proprio.

Heck, maybe he’s just giving them an earful over the translation problems with the Apostolic Exhortation. That wouldn’t be such a bad thing either.

H/T to Dom.

Oh, and for Isabella too. It’ll be a tough day…

Melanie goes in for her procedure this morning to confirm the results of the last test that indeed she does not have cancer.

For those joining us late: Melanie had a miscarriage at 11 weeks in mid-February. The pathology indicated uterine cancer. The doctor did a biopsy which came back negative for cancer. They scheduled a full D&C and hysteroscopy for Friday, April 13, to double-check the biopsy results.

Ave Maria, gratia plena
Dominus tecum…