A Deo et Rege

Well, this is it, the day (November 30th) before I take the GRE.  I feel somewhat prepared, but one can never tell exactly.  I’ve re-learned alot of math skills and learned many, many new words.  The problem is, many of them I may never use again and if I do, I’d probably get blank stares from all but the most educated of academics.  Oh well, nothing like a three hour test determining your whole future!  And to think of the blood, sweat, and tears I poured into university!  Ok, I’m starting to ramble. 

I believe I’m called to serve God in teaching, specifically to bring the Catholic Faith to everyday people, in a way that doesn’t compromise it, but allows even the uneducated to appreciate its Truth and Beauty.  I also feel called to work towards East-West Church relations.  I’m hoping to go to a Catholic PhD program next fall to pursue my calling and taking the GRE is one part of that.  For those who come by this blog today, I ask you to offer up a short prayer on behalf of me and my brother David (who is also taking the GRE today).  Last time I asked for the prayers and advice from bloggers, God answered them in a big way.  He hears his people!  Thank you in advance for all of your prayers.

Jeff Miller, in his blog The Curt Jester, consistently writes on important topics in a way that is both humorous and relevant.  His latest post, on a fake movie starring Chevy Chase called American Vocations, is extremely hilarious.  Head over and have a laugh.

Pontificator, an Anglo-Catholic Anglican, has initiated an excellent and needed discussion on "fixing" the modern Western rite. He gives ten points for reform that should keep people talking for awhile! Jamie, at Ad Limina Apostolorum, a Catholic blog, has added an eleventh.  All their suggestions are excellent food for thought for all Catholics.  Go over and have a look; comment if you feel so inclined.

Image from Two Hearts Design: Catholic Clipart

As many of you know, Catholic-Orthodox Church relations have been a major concern and interest of mine for a number of years.  We still have a long way to go, but there are signs of hope if a person knows where to look.  The newest sign of hope was the return of relics to the Orthodox Church by the Vatican.  The Catholic Church has proven that it is willing to work toward reconciliation, and to a lesser degree, so have many in the Orthodox Church.  We still need to continue to work, especially on the local level, toward the prayer of Jesus: "that we may all be one."

Since I don’t have anything particularly original to say, I’ll just point you to the insights of my friends and fellow bloggers.

Charles on Advent

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam has Navarre Commentary on the Advent Gospel

Steve on Family Christmas traditions

Enbrethiliel: It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Advent

Carmel on Advent

David on Advent Among Other Things

Alicia speaks about the Season of the Midwife

These should keep inquiring readers busy for awhile.  Blessed Advent to all who come by this blog!

St. (Pope) Leo the Great from Sermon 16, Section II (On the Fast of the Tenth Month) [this period is similar to our Advent]

And while all seasons are opportune for this duty, beloved, yet this
present season is specially suitable and appropriate, at which our holy
fathers, being Divinely inspired, sanctioned the Fast of the tenth
month, that when all the ingathering of the crops was complete, we
might dedicate to God our reasonable service of abstinence, and each
might remember so to use his abundance as to be more abstinent in
himself and more open-handed towards the poor. For forgiveness of sins
is most efficaciously prayed for with almsgiving and fasting, and
supplications that are winged by such aids mount swiftly to God’s ears:
since as it is written, "the merciful man doeth good to his own soul
," and nothing is so much a man’s own as that which he spends on his
neighbour. For that part of his material possessions with which he
ministers to the needy, is transformed into eternal riches, and such
wealth is begotten of this bountifulness as can never be diminished or
in any way destroyed, for "blessed are the merciful, for God shall have
mercy on them ," and He Himself shall be their chief Reward, who is the Model of His own command.

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent

Image used above and information on St. Leo at Doctors of the Catholic Church: St. Leo the Great.

I don’t usually do net quizzes, but this one was interesting. Thanks to Alicia at Fructus Ventris for pointing me to this quiz. The results are only surprising in that “Jewish” was my second choice. I guess there is far more emphasis in Judaism on tradition, community, and obedience in religious matters than Protestant Christianity.

I have a alot to be thankful for: friends, family, my girlfriend, and the many blessings God has given me over the years.  I’m thankful to everyone who reads this blog and links to me; I consider you my friends!  I am especially thankful this Thanksgiving that God has led me into the Catholic Church and that I am at last spiritually "home."  Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!

Image from Kid’sDomain

As a newcomer to the blog world and the Catholic Church, I unfortunately discovered A Catholic Blog for Lovers only a few short months before its author departed this earth.  I  always appreciated Gerard’s thoughtful and gentle spirit.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

From the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp (AD 69-155) Chapter 9.

Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice
from heaven, saying, "Be strong, and show thyself a man, O Polycarp !" No one
saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present
heard the voice. And as he was brought forward, the tumult became great when
they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the proconsul asked
him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing that he was, [the proconsul]
sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, "Have respect to thy old
age," and other similar things, according to their custom, [such as]," Swear
by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists." But
Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked
heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with
groans he looked up to heaven, said, "Away with the Atheists." Then, the
proconsul urging him, and saying, "Swear, and I will set thee at liberty,
reproach Christ;" Polycarp declared, "Eighty and six years have I served Him,
and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my
Saviour?"

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent

Today, Sunday November 21st, is the Solemnity of Christ the King, a day to recognize Christ’s Kingship over all creation.  With the uncertainty of our times and mankind’s ever-growing hubris, this solemnity is all the more important. You may want to visit an old article of mine, Christ the Crucified King: Reflections on Christ the King Sunday.

Image of Christ Pantocrator (the all powerful) from Greek Culture Homepage

My friend David V. Morrison has contributed an excellent new article to Ancient and Future Catholics entitled ‘Tis (Not Quite) the Season…but There’s Still Plenty to Celebrate.  Here, he re-affirms the importance of Christians (especially Catholics) keeping the Christian Calendar and not falling into secular trends that start the Christmas season in October. He also reminds Catholics that we have plenty of Holy Days leading up to Christmas and gives suggestions to keep us busy.

Clement of Alexandria, from The Stromata (Book 7, Chapter 12)

So is he [i.e. the one who possesses true knowledge] always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of
angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of
their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of
the saints standing with him.

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent.

St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) from the City of God (Book I, Chapter 10)

They lost all they had [in the sack of Rome]. Their faith?
Their godliness? The possessions of the hidden man of the heart,
which in the sight of God are of great price? Did they lose
these? For these are the wealth of Christians, to whom the wealthy
apostle said, "Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we
brought nothing into this world, find it is certain we can carry
nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith
content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a
snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all
evil; which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent.

St. Ignatius of Antioch (AD 50-?, d. from AD 98-AD 117) from his Letter to the Trallians (Chapters 2 and 3).  Since Ignatius wrote this letter near his death, he provides an extremely early witness to the threefold character of the Church hierarchy, including the concept that apart from this order there is no Church. He also adds that one should respect the bishop as one would respect Jesus.

CHAPTER II.–BE SUBJECT TO THE BISHOP, ETC.

For, since ye are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, ye appear to
me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who
died for us, in order, by believing in His death, ye may escape from death. It
is therefore necessary that, as ye indeed do, so without the bishop ye should
do nothing, but should also
be subject to the presbytery, as to the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is our
hope, in whom, if we live, we shall [at last] be found. It is fitting also
that the deacons, as being [the ministers] of the mysteries of Jesus Christ,
should in every respect be pleasing to all. For they are not ministers of
meat and drink, but servants of the Church of God. They are bound, therefore,
to avoid all grounds of accusation [against them], as they would do fire.

CHAPTER III.–HONOUR THE DEACONS, ETC.

In like manner, let all reverence the deacons as an appointment of
Jesus Christ, and the bishop as Jesus Christ, who is the Son of the Father,
and the presbyters as the sanhedrin of God, and assembly of the apostles.
Apart from these, there is no Church. Concerning all this, I am persuaded
that ye are of the same opinion. For I have received the manifestations of
your love, and still have it with me, in your bishop, whose very appearance is
highly instructive, and his meekness of itself a power; whom I imagine even
the ungodly must reverence, seeing they are also pleased that I do not
spare myself. But shall I, when permitted to write on this point, reach such a
height of self-esteem, that though being a condemned man, I should issue
commands to you as if I were an apostle?

Read the whole letter at NewAdvent.

Image from St. Charles Borromeo Church