Earlier, I posted a "revisionist" look at pornography and argued that the authors were seriously misguided. Here is an article (from a secular source) that exposes the reality of pornography. This article is probably rated PG-13, so be warned. However, it is an open, honest, and ultimately sad (considering the pain and destruction porn causes in many lives) look into online sexual addiction.
My prayers and thoughts are with the souls and loved ones of those who died in the Russian plane crashes. Many of them were our Orthodox brothers and sisters. Although all deaths are very tragic, these are made even more so by the new revelation that the crashes were caused by terrorism. In spite of humanity’s best efforts, evil is still alive and flourishing. All I can think of is “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Along with your saints, O Christ, give rest to the souls of Your servants in a place where there is neither pain, nor grief, nor longing, but life everlasting. (From the Orthodox funeral service)
Weeping icon from Orthodox Photos
I finally got my CD , Andrea Bocelli’s Sacred Arias. This is an amazing set of sacred songs done in an amazingly beautiful style with the amazingly beautiful voice of Andrea Bocelli. The first four songs are all versions of Ave Maria, which makes the CD worth the price alone! It contains songs by Handle, Mozart, Rossini, Schubert, and many more talented composers from the past. As an extra treat, Bocelli sings the Christmas songs Silent Night and Adeste Fideles, enriching them with his unique talents. The CD ends on a rousing, praise filled (but highly dignified) number, Gloria a te Cristo Gesu. The songs are sung and written in foreign languages (Latin, Italian, etc.) and the album’s distributors are kind enough to provide both the original lyrics and the English translation within the CD booklet. I highly recommend this album for anyone who wants the best of Catholic (and other Christian) sacred music done in a style befitting the glory, majesty, and dignity of our Lord and his holy, Catholic Church.
Image from Amazon.com
Another federal judge has declared the ban on partial birth abortion unconstitutional. I’m amazed how any human being with an ounce of morality or even decency can consider partially delivering a baby and ripping out its brains constitutionally protected. From a secular standpoint, our courts too often nullify the overwhelming will of the people based on their left wing ideals. From the more important spiritual standpoint, it reminds us that we must fully trust in God and live for him regardless of whether society around us does. It also blows to pieces the notion that America is somehow God’s nation (as if our rampant materialism, greed, and sexual licentiousness didn’t already). I pray for our country frequently and right now we need it more than ever.
Here’s a new way to tell the world I’m Catholic. All that live your faith and tell people about Jesus stuff is just way too subtle. 
Many, many thanks to Fr. David, my Anglican friend, for buying me this amazing hat on the occasion of my reception/confirmation!!! I’m sure it has to rank up there as the most original confirmation gift ever! Also, this is meant as humorous, neither I nor my friend are anti-Catholic in any way. So have a good laugh!
Incredibly a new study claims that viewing pornography is not only a good thing, but a very good thing. It even states that over 90% of people reported it has a "positive effect" in their lives. The study also concluded that viewing pornography strengthened marriage, gave people a healthier sexuality, and made them less judgmental about other body types.
Uh huh, yeah right.
I think a good followup study would be to interview the families and spouses of those who participated in the surveys and see how they perceive matters. My guess is that the 90% figure would go way way down. I find it hard to see how objectifying others could make people happier and healthier, but then again, given our high divorce rates, many people wouldn’t even know how to define a "healthy" sexuality or marriage. The Catholic Catechism, not mincing words, correctly describes pornography:
"It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants…since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials."
Society is so permissive that adult pornography is now practically considered mainstream. Of course, for the Christian it can never be mainstream, but always gravely sinful. Fortunately the Church has setup ministries for people addicted to pornography. And those men and women involved in them can tell you it’s not a positive thing. Here are two ministries I found on the web:
The Serenellians: An Apostolate of Hope for the Sexually Addicated (and their loved ones)
Image is of St. Mary of Egypt, patron Saint of sexual temptations. From Miniature Stories of the Saints
by Rev. Daniel A. Lord, S.J
The one emotion that I felt most after becoming Catholic: joy. I also felt that I was spiritually coming home. My first confession/reception/confirmation/communion was amazing in so many ways. All I felt like doing was smiling! The graces of God are manifold! My first Holy Communion was especially wonderful. I was almost in a daze and was trembling slightly. I was meeting my lord! Throughout the whole day, I knew that I was submitting to something (and someone) much larger than myself. In an age when more and more people feel isolated, this is very important and quite refreshing. Of course, it also means submission to holiness and following Christ’s commandments, things I know from Protestantism. However, unlike with Protestantism, the Church is there to keep me on the straight and narrow! A wonderful and also sobering thought!
Now that the initial excitement has died down, I am focusing more on the realities of being a Catholic. I love the day to day elements of the faith: the Hours, the devotions, the intimate connection with our Lord. However, being a Catholic is not always easy (thank God for that)! Sin seems to always be crouching at my door. I fear, especially at first, I’ll be at confession more than I originally had planned. But, that’s ok, after all that’s what it’s there for: forgiveness and growth into holiness. I feel now that I’m on the path to serving God where he wants me to be. It’s not always going to be a bed of roses and will be full of struggle (after all Jesus didn’t have it easy), but I know in my heart it’s the path God is calling me to go down.
Well, it’s official. I’m a member of the Catholic Church. Everything today was simply amazing! The experience of God’s many graces is totally overwhelming. I’ll write more tomorrow when I am more able to assess it.
Today is the big day. At 1:00pm I’ll be doing first confession, reception, and now confirmation (the latter was a surprise). I’m going to take the name Justin after St. Justin Martyr. I’ve chosen him for several reasons. First, he’s a figure who bridges East and West since he was born in the East and died in Rome. I want to help bridge that current gap as a Catholic. Second, he’s a lay figure who taught and defended the Faith. Third, he was a philosopher who wore their academic garb. I want, as a layman, to teach and defend the Faith at the university level. Fourth, Justin was the first Church Father I ever read all the way through. And finally, he died for his faith courageously and without hesitation, the ultimate sacrifice that all who seek to follow Christ may be asked to make.
It all starts at 1:00pm and I’m both scared and excited. It’s a big step in my life, but one I have to make. I want to thank all those who have been supportive of me through this: my girlfriend, my many online friends (especially David and Chuck), my Anglican friends who have been incredibly supportive (esp. my former Rector and other priests who are fighting the good fight), and my family (who reacted far better than I could ever hope). For the readers of this blog, please keep me in your prayers. This is, I believe, the big step of a journey that began in 1998. It’s incredible.
Icon is of St. Justin Martyr from St. Hilaron Monastery
Last night I finally got the courage to tell my dad about my decision to become a Catholic. I had told my mom and my grandma a week earlier. They are all evangelical, but also pretty open. Still, it was a difficult (but necessary) thing to do. All of them seemed pretty shocked. Looking back I should’ve been more open about where my journey was taking me. I assumed that they understood that as an Anglican I was close to Catholicism anyway. I guess they weren’t aware of how close I actually was. They definitely weren’t aware of how Catholic my theological and social thought had become in the last 6 months. Their response was generally quite supportive, but with some reservations (which from their vantage point I wholly understand). But, taking the honest, direct approach allowed me to clear the air on the whole religion issue, which I think will allow us to be more honest about it in the future. I love and trust my family and looking back alot of my fear was unwarranted. Considering nearly every one of my Christian friends growing up no longer attends any church, I think they’re happy I’m somewhere doing my best to discern God’s will.
I always love hearing about politicians who propose “self-regulating” procedures for companies. I can’t remember the exact statistic, but in one such case of self regulation about 12% of companies complied. The other companies, for obvious reasons, decided it wasn’t worth the bother. This is often the case for Christians as well. Their sins are between them and God and it’s no one else’s business. God, however, is a gentleman: he won’t (normally) get in the way of our sinning if we will to do it. Other than the occasional consequences, sin largely goes unpunished in this life too, especially in our permissive societies. So, sinful behavior essentially becomes self-regulated. And we know how well that works!
Although uninformed people may dismiss it as simply legalism, the idea of confession of our sins provides freedom to many people. My first confession is soon and I’m scared as hell, but I know it’s the medicine I have to take. Why does anyone want to go through confession some would ask? For me, it has several sides to it. First, I simply want forgiven. I believe that God gave the Church the keys and this is the way to clean my soul. I am sorry for my sins and want the absolution. I want to be restored to God and his Church. Second, there are alot of things I’d like to get off my chest, do the penance/restitution (if necessary) and get on with my life. Some things weigh us down for too long. This is the way of saying “hasta la vista.” Third and finally, I hate my sinning, especially particular sins. I have failed in “self regulation” for so long. It simply doesn’t work. I want a confessor who is firm (and also caring) to help me grow in holiness and out of the patterns of sin that infect my life. Sure it may not happen immediately, but we have to start somewhere. I know I can’t heal myself; I need God! And God gave us his Church as the standard vehicle for that healing. Submitting to the judgment of the Church, although difficult for a 21st century American, is (paradoxically to some) incredibly freeing.
My first confession is Saturday and I still have alot of anxiety and fear. But I also can’t wait to do it. In fact, I crave it. I’ve been sick for too long; I’m ready for the cure. Please keep me in your prayers.
While President Bush and the world ignore the radical Islamist roots of terror, Christians die and churches burn. Pat Buchanan provides an important perspective on the terrible reality many Christians face today at the hands of radical Muslims in the Middle East.
Can anyone be surprised that praying the ancient Liturgy of the Hours would express perfectly my current longings and journey? Prayer hallowed by tradition tends to do that! Today during Morning Prayer, I was struck by how sections of Psalm 84 prefectly expressed my feelings about coming to the Catholic Church. I’ve had a long, blessed, and sometimes very difficult spiritual journey since I started reading the Church Fathers in 1999. I know that the Catholic Church will not always be the perfect house, but I believe in my heart and soul it is the perfect home.
My soul is longing and yearning,
is yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and soul ring out their joy
to God, the living God.
They are happy who dwell in your house,
forever singing your praise.
They are happy whose strength is in you,
in whose hearts are the roads to Zion.
As they go through the Bitter Valley
they make it a place of springs,
the autumn rain covers it with blessings.
They walk with ever growing strength,
they will see the God of gods in Zion.
One day in your courts
is better than a thousand elsewhere.
The threshold of the house of God,
I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked.
O Lord, show Your mercy to me and gladden my heart,
I am like the man on the way to Jericho
who was overtaken by robbers,
wounded and left half dead:
O Good Samaritan, come to my aid.
I am like the sheep that went astray:
O Good Shepherd, seek me out
and bring me home in accord with Your Will.
Let me dwell in Your house all the days of my life
and praise You for ever and ever
with those who are there.
St. Jerome (342-420)
Taken from the New St. Joseph People’s Prayer Book
Eliott Bougis wrote a blog about the fear he had about telling his evangelical friends he was interested in Catholicism/Orthodoxy. I too feel his pain. Even when I was an Anglican (Anglo-Catholic) I used to joke that some kids would sneak out of their parents house to drink or do drugs: I sneaked out to go to confession. Given my upbringing and geography (southern Ohio), joining the Catholic Church is a revolutionary, rebellious move. Parents here somewhat expect their kids to sow their wild oats with sex, drugs, and strong drink, but joining the Catholic Church (sowing holy oats?) is often beyond the pale.
My region is culturally evangelical Protestant. We have “dry” counties and townships, our summers are filled with “revivals,” and individualism runs rampant, especially in religion. People don’t submit to anyone or anything else on religious matters. This is probably why we have tons of Methodists, Wesleyans, Nazarenes, and Christ in Christian Union churches. All trace their roots to John Wesley, but they just couldn’t quite get along. The solution to most religious quarrels is just to start another church.
I’ve been striving towards the Catholic faith for about 4.5 years and I’m going to be received into the Catholic Church in exactly a week and a day. I grew up Methodist and converted to Anglicanism in 2000. Although people around me saw the Anglican Church as too liberal (they were right) and too catholic (they were wrong), the fact that Anglicanism was Protestant probably helped alleviate their fears. Although I loved liturgy, Catholic devotions, and Church history, at least I was still a Protestant. In a week that won’t be the case. I’ve always loved and believed the Catholic faith, now I’m formally submitting to it, a radical concept in an individualistic culture.
I, like Eliott, feel the anxiety and get the increased heart rate whenever it comes time to bring up my decision to become a Catholic. I still haven’t told both of my parents and I ask for the prayers of those who read this blog. I take seriously the command to honor my father and my mother, so I want to tell them in the most direct and loving way possible. I have so much joy at finally “coming home” to the Catholic Church and I want to be able to finally share that joy with all of my evangelical friends and family. I always thought of myself along the lines of St. Justin Martyr, a seeker who finally came to the fullness of the truth. It’s hard to believe I could be thought of as a Catholic James Dean. Me, a Catholic rebel? Perhaps.
