Archive for May, 2006

Monthly Archive
Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

But When the Son of Man Returns…

 
…will he find faith on earth?
 
Zenit.org had an interview a few days back with Father Richard John Neuhaus that is quite interesting. He hits the nail on the head with this question and answer:
 

Q: Are the main problems in the Church today primarily intellectual or spiritual?
 
Father Neuhaus: The main problem in the Church today [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Tuesday, May 30th, 2006

The FOCCUS Inventory

 
Katie and I just took the FOCCUS inventory to help us find out what topics and areas we need to communicate better about.
 
I had heard of this inventory before from the “ABCs of Choosing a Good Wife”, so I was excited (and so was Katie) to take this inventory. The questions are good, and [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Love and War by Devman
Monday, May 29th, 2006

Stress from Work Can Hurt Pregnant Women

 
I read this article on the internet about a recent study done analyzing the effects of stress on pregnant women and their babies, especially stress due to working full-time or even longer hours.

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Sunday, May 28th, 2006

Young Aggie Priest and Blogger Passes Away

 
I had read Father Todd’s blog off-and-on over the past few years–priest’s blogs are always an incredible blessing. I never knew that he was a Texas A&M Aggie until I read his obituary.
 
I just realized that I was listening to the radio on the day he died or the day after, and they [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Saturday, May 27th, 2006

Man and Woman: A Gift for Each Other

 
John Paul II explores the idea that God made man and woman to be a gift to each other—their very persons, expressed through their bodies, become a gift to one another. In this chapter of the Theology of the Body, he explains what this means in more depth:

1 Comment » - Posted in Love and War, Theology of the Body by Devman
Saturday, May 27th, 2006

Movie Review: X-Men III the Last Stand

 
I enjoy trying my hand at movie reviews from time to time, and the more I do it the more I realize how good Steven Greydanus at decentfilms.com is at writing them. Read on for my review…

1 Comment » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Friday, May 26th, 2006

LC Official Response: Father Maciel

 
A note from the publisher
of the National Catholic Register
 
The founder of the Legion of Christ, Father Marcial Maciel, has been accused of terrible crimes. Considering his advanced age — he’s 86 — and his frail health, the Holy See decided not to conduct a canonical trial. Father Maciel is confined to a life of prayer [...]

1 Comment » - Posted in Catholic Life, Love and War by Katie
Thursday, May 25th, 2006

Sweet Rewards

 
Today is the last day of school before the bliss of summer. If you had been so blessed as to visit Miss Bateson Language Arts class today, you would have received a Candy Award.
 
You might have received a PayDay, meaning “You’ve earned my respect.” Or, you might have received a few Hershey’s Kisses, [...]

1 Comment » - Posted in Catholic Life, Love and War by Katie
Wednesday, May 24th, 2006

Taylor Wins on American Idol

 
It could have been my vote that put him over the top….
 
I hope Katharine gets a recording contract, too, because she is a very talented young lady. The one thing she should do is dress more modestly and not give in to the pressure to be immodest.

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006

I Admit It…

 
…I voted for one of the people on the American Idol finale tonight.
 
Richard likes the show a lot and records it on the DVR, so we can watch it without commercials, and I confess that I have gotten into it in these last four episodes. They are both good singers, and Katharine has much [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Monday, May 22nd, 2006

Tradition and the Holy Spirit Explained

 
I’ve always found the Holy Spirit and the Church’s Tradition to be quite mysterious and at times confusing. Just how does the Holy Spirit perpetuate and communicate the Tradition throughout history to us in the present time? Pope Benedict talked about this recently and enlightened me with some vivid metaphors:

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Monday, May 22nd, 2006

No Servant Is Greater Than His Master

 
“I glory in nothing but the cross of Jesus Christ.” (St. Paul–paraphrased :))
 
I guess my RC Women’s Team leader, Laura, expressed my sentiments best. She said, with regard to the Vatican’s invitation to Father Maciel LC. to enter a private life of prayer and penance, “You feel like you’ve been knocked over, but you [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life, Love and War, Saints and Angels by Katie
Sunday, May 21st, 2006

My Take on Father Maciel

 
Many of you probably have heard about the Vatican’s statement concerning Father Maciel and the investigation done into the charges made against him.
 
Father Maciel is the founder of the Legionaries of Christ and of Regnum Christi, the lay movement of the Legionaries.
 
The National Catholic Reporter assumes his guilt and condemns him along with John Paul [...]

1 Comment » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Saturday, May 20th, 2006

The Christian Dartboard Analogy

 
I love analogies that use dartboards to explain ideas.
 
I have used one in particular to explain to friends why I converted to Catholicism from Evangelical Protestantism, and now I came up with another one that is helping me understand Catholicism better. I will describe the first below and save the latter for another time:
 
The [...]

2 Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Friday, May 19th, 2006

If George Weigel Has a Newsletter…

 
…I’d like to sign up for it.
 
His article on CatholicExchange.com today is another concise and insightful wake-up call to the West (and also to Muslims who truly desire peace) to realize that there has to be mutual good-will in interreligious dialogue with Islam, rather than one-sided concessions in the name of “tolerance”.
 

Similarly, as in the [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Thursday, May 18th, 2006

Let’s Evangelize!

 
I received an awesome e-mail inviting me to join in the Da Vinci Code prayer protests happening all over the country this weekend. You can find your local protest at the following TPF website.
 
The TPF group organizing these prayer vigils received the following encouragement from Cardinal Rigali: ““I encourage all those who are [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life, Love and War, Saints and Angels by Katie
Wednesday, May 17th, 2006

Da Vinci Code Bombs

 
…at Cannes–the movie stinks, basically, from an entertainment-value standpoint alone.
 

1 Comment » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Tuesday, May 16th, 2006

“You Must Call to Mind the Heavy Sufferings of Others…”

 
“…so that you may more easily bear the little things you suffer. For nothing, no matter how little, that is suffered for God’s sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God.”
 
Nick was born with no arms and no legs, and yet he is more courageous than I am in so many ways! [...]

1 Comment » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Saturday, May 13th, 2006

Not Everyone Is Like Me

 
This fact should come as no surprise to me, and on an intellectual level, I know it, but I realize that in practice I am having to learn it.
 
Here is an example of what I am talking about: I sometimes wonder whether God would want me to write a book about, say, purity, or [...]

2 Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Wednesday, May 10th, 2006

National Catholic Reporter Continues to Distort and Twist the Truth

 
There are two newspapers with the acronym “NCR”:
1. The National Catholic Register
2. The National Catholic Reporter
 
Their names are similar, but everything else about them is diametrically opposed with regard to the Catholic faith.

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Tuesday, May 9th, 2006

China Is the Model for Family Planning

 
So says Cecie Starr, the editor of my second-hand purchased Biology textbook. And your children are learning it soon at a public school near you!

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Monday, May 8th, 2006

REB

 
Jane and Devin send a big “Gig ‘em, Aggies!” to Robert on this special day:
 

No Comments » - Posted in Love and War by Devman
Monday, May 8th, 2006

The Surplus Population

 
Unfortunately, so many people have taken Ebenezer Scrooge’s words to heart about sending people to workhouses and prisons to “thus decrease the surplus population” that we now have the opposite problem.
 
In the paraphrased words of Hudson from the movie Aliens, “Maybe you haven’t been keeping up with current events but most of the first-world countries’ [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Love and War by Devman
Sunday, May 7th, 2006

The Man-Person Becomes a Gift in the Freedom of Love

 
JPII on original man’s nakedness free from shame:

No Comments » - Posted in Theology of the Body by Devman
Saturday, May 6th, 2006

Richard’s PhotoBooth

 
Gerardo and my new roommate, Richard, has a Mac computer with a camera and a program called PhotoBooth that can make you look weird. Enjoy the weirdness!
 

1 Comment » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Friday, May 5th, 2006

Majella Society Banquet Reloaded

 
That wasn’t the official title of the 2nd Annual Majella Society Banquet, but I always like saying something is “reloaded” for Aggie reasons.
 
The banquet was excellent! The food was good, the people were great and Senator Zell Miller gave a solid keynote speech. In it, he pointed out that Planned Parenthood is the [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Thursday, May 4th, 2006

He’s got the whole world in His hands…

 
I’m joyfully engaged to Devin, which means I’m also engaged in the work of planning our wedding. We’re excited at the thought of sharing our joy with our families and friends and welcoming them with good food and beautiful flowers and lovely music.
 
With that said, there’s a reason for all the jokes about stressed-out [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Adoration, Love and War by Katie
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006

Rescuing Women from Evil

 
I heard a segment on Relevant Radio today on the show “Kresta in the Afternoon” (via Ave Maria Radio) about a Christian non-profit group in Memphis who help women escape from the sex-for-sale industry (topless bars and prostitution).
 
The program within the broader organization that does this work is called “A Way Out”, and I read [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Catholic Life by Devman
Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006

The Interior Gaze in the Mystery of Creation

 
In the audience entitled “Creation As a Fundamental and Original Gift” in the Theology of the Body, John Paul II expounds upon the original nakedness and innocence of man as God created him in the beginning.
 

Nakedness signifies the original good of God’s vision. It signifies all the simplicity and fullness of the vision through [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Theology of the Body by Devman