In a ceremony held at St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI elevated 24 new Princes of the Church. Among those called to the Sacred College of Cardinals are two Americans: Raymond Cardinal Burke, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, and Donald Cardinal Wuerl, cardinal archbishop of Washington. Among the others worthy mention here include Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, cardinal archbishop of Columbo, and 93-year old Domenico Cardinal Bartolucci, the maestro in perpetuo emeritus of the Sistine Chapel.
So when I read this story from MSNBC, it was obvious that I needed to defend what I love in the name of chivalry.
Until I found out what this quiet little story was about.
Here's an excerpt of the article:
"An 18-year-old man is dumped and "unfriended" by his girlfriend, who starts "friending" several new young men sooner than he can handle, writes Dr. Gennaro D'Amato, of the High Specialty Hospital A Cardarelli in Naples, Italy. The patient, who isn't named in the report, is clearly a savvy Facebook stalker: When he could no longer access his ex's profile, he created a new nickname for himself on the social networking site and added her once again. What he saw took his breath away. Literally. Every time he looked at her profile -- paging through her pictures, scrolling through her status updates -- he had an asthma attack."
If you're looking for pity, you ain't gonna find it here. If use Facebook to interact with friends and family (or post stupid stuff like I do), then cool, you're a pro. But if you're gonna be a perv, then I'm sorry, but you brought it on your own self.
I'll pray that you get the help you need, but stop being a creeper for your own health's sake.
To say that the 2010 midterm elections were a huge victory for the pro-life movement would be an understatement. But there is one newly elected congressman whose story strikes home with many of us who see the potential of all human lives.
In Arizona's fifth Congressional District, there's no doubt that there was a huge difference between challenger David Schweikert (R) and his opponent, incumbent Rep. Harry Mitchell (D). Schweikert, who most recently served as Tresurer of Maricopa County, received the endorsements of such pro-life organizations such as the Arizona Right to Life and the Concerned Women Political Action Committee (CWPAC). Rep. Mitchell, on the other hand has compiled a pro-abortion record, opposing such key pro-life issues such as the ban on the Mexico City Policy and the Stupak-Pitts Amendment.
But Dave Schweikert's stance on the Right to Life issue goes even deeper than that of a debate on political ideology.
In 1961, an single woman in Los Angeles was faced with a very difficult situation: she recently discovered that she was pregnant. She was confused, not sure what to do. Eventually she decided that in her situation, the only choice she had was to have an abortion. Considering that this was prior to the infamous Roe v. Wade decision, the only way someone could obtain an abortion was to have it done illegally, a very dangerous gamble then as it is now. However, while she was being driven to the place where the abortion was to be performed, the young mother suddenly decided that she did not want to go through with the abortion.
She eventually did give birth to a beautiful baby boy on March 3, 1962. Despite the joy the mother had for her newborn baby, she knew that she was in no financial situation to take care of a child. It was because of this issue that the mother made the decision to give her child up for adoption so that her child would receive, not only the love of both a mother and a father, but also have the opportunity to reach all the goals that this child may want to acheive.
It was thus that the Schweikert family from Scottsdale, AZ took the baby into their home. Thorugh the lessons, support, and encouragement of his adopted family, David Schweikert went on to earn a BA in Finance and Real Estate in 1985 from Arizona State University and an MBA in 2005 from ASU as well. In 1990, Schweikert was elected to serve Arizona's 28th legislative district in the Arizona State House of Representatives. Upon winning reelection in 1992, he became majority whip. In 1995, Gov. Fife Symington, III (R-Arizona) appointed Schweikert to be chairman of the Arizona State Board of Equalization. In his tenure, which ended in 2003, he oversaw the dozens of tax protests of the citizens and businesses in Arizona. In 2004, he was appointed Chief Deputy Treasurer of Maricopa County, and later that year Treasurer.
Despite losing the 1994 Republican primary to incumbent freshman Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R) and the 2008 race against Rep. Mitchell, in 2009 he announced that he would once again be running for Congress. And now, after finally defeating Mitchell 53%-43%, David Schweikert, that preborn child whose mother changed her mind at the last minute and chose life, is now just a little over a month away from being sworn into the United States House of Representative to represent Arizona's 5th district.
In addition to his distingushed resume of being a public service, Schweickert and his wife, Joyce, are devout Catholics and parishioners of St. Maria Goretti Roman Catholic Church in Scottsdale, AZ. His Catholic and pro-life activities include membership in the Knights of Columbus and the Arizona State Right to Life.
In 1998, 36 years after he was adopted by the Schweikert family, Dave was given the contact information of his birth mother. The congressman-elect recalls:
"After a family discussion, and sending a hand-written note, days later I received a joyful phone call. And through the tears, she just kept asking me if I was happy, if I was healthy. She wanted me to know that every single day of my life, she'd pray for me."
While Representative-elect David Schweikert is bound to be noted for his strong conservative positions on such issues as defending our 2nd amendment rights, offshore drilling and drilling in ANWR, cutting taxes, his commitment to erasing the National Debt, and opposing the radical Obama administration overall, he will always be, for me, evidence of the potential that every human life possesses. I pray that his story will inspire those of us in the pro-life movement to continue to fight the good fight for the most vulnerable in our society and will inspire mothers who face the same challenges that Rep.-elect Schweikert's mother faced, to choose life for the potential success story that God has blest them with.
To hear Rep.-elect Schweikert's story in his own words, click here.
Yesterday, history was made for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops with the election of Archbishop Timothy Dolan as its president and Archbishop Edward Kurtz of Louisville as its vice president.
Abp. Dolan, 60, has served as archbishop of New York since April 2009. He previously served as archbishop of Milwaukee and auxiliary bishop of St. Louis. Dolan has been noted for his strong defense of Catholic teachings on such issues as abortion, marriage, priestly celibacy, and the an all-male clergy. The archbishop's election as president of the USCCB comes as a surprise as he defeated Bishop Gerald F. Kinkanis of the Diocese of Tucson, the first time a sitting vice-president standing for the presidency was not elected to the top USCCB post.
Abp. Kurtz, 64, has served as archbishop of Louisville since June 2007. He previously served as bishop of Knoxville. He currently serves as chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Marriage and Family Life, being the USCCB's leader in the defense of marriage. In January 2010, Kurtz has stated that if the voter-approved Proposition 8 in California which defends traditional marriage were to be struck down it “will have a moral, legal, and cultural impact...akin to Roe v. Wade”.
Perhaps it's just me, but judging by this, I think the tide towards Christ in the USCCB is starting to happen.
Today, over 340 Knights of Columbus in New Jersey's Second District (Southern Diocese of Metuchen to the Diocese of Camden) were declared members of the Fouth Degree. It was an awesome day and a great weekend overall for the new Sir Knights and their ladies as these men have answered the call of Christ to be His visible followers and to lead the counterculture fight for our American Society (we are coming off a huge win in court to keep the words "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance). A special congratulations to my new brother Sir Knights from Bishop Justin J. McCarthy Assembly.
All of us have our favorite saints: St. Anthony, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, and those we know of heroic virtue by making the ultimate sacrifice out of love for Christ and His Church like St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Thomas More, just to name a few. However, today I want to focus on one of my favorite saints whose sacrifice was to save Catholicism in his land from the schismatics. To find this saint, we have to go to the east. Even beyond that, we take temporary leave (though not really) from the Roman Rite of the Church and enter the Ruthenian Rite, common in the Slavic countries in that area. We find, in what is now Belarus, the archbishop of Polotsk, Josaphat Kuntsevych.
Now St. Josaphat is only one of four Eastern Rite Catholic saints after the time of the Greek Fathers to also venerated in the Roman calendar, along with Cyril and Methodious of Moravia, and Sharbel Makhluf of Lebanon.
Why?
St. Josaphat grew up as a child at a time of great tension in the then-unified Ruthenian Church. In fact, by the time Josaphat entered the monastery for the Basilian Fathers, hatred among the two parties in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Greek-Catholic Party who wanted to remain in communion with Rome and the Anti-Union Party, the more violent of the two parties who promoted schism and secession from union with Rome (they also had their own hierarchy). It was at this time of intolerance that Josaphat was ordained to the priesthood, and eventually consecrated a bishop.
While physical fighting amongst the parties, Josaphat remained quiet and humble. He defended the Catholic Church and the authority of the Pope, not with weapons in the streets, but with his sermons from outside of the doors of the iconostasis. He was known as a man of prayer, fasting, self-mortification and extreme penances, and a desire of the monastic life which he entered as a young man. His example converted many major figures of the region to the Catholic Faith, including Patriarch Ignatius of Moscow and a relative of Emperor Paleologus of Byzantium.
By 1623, the people of Polotsk and Josaphat's former eparchy of Vitebsk have come to the point where they desired blood and power more than anything else. When Josaphat returned to Vitebsk to quell the violence between the Catholics and the Orthodox, he was viewed as an enemy by the Orthodox and an impediment by Catholics. He knew he risked his life, but stated he was not afraid to die "if I am counted worth of martyrdom".
It was on the morning of November 12, 1623 that an Orthodox priest by the name of Elias, probably sent by Josaphat's rival bishop Meletius Smotrytsky, father of modern Church Slavonic, to have a reason to attack the Catholics, came to the rectory and began to taunt and shout insults at Josaphat. This had been going on for a few days. Josaphat gave his servants permission to apprehend the priest until he had finished praying his Office. This incited the Orthodox to riot in front of the house and attack the bishop's servants, to which Josaphat responded: ""My children what are you doing with my servants? If you have anything against me, here I am, but leave them alone!"
With shouts of "kill the papist!", St. Josaphat was beaten, bludgeoned, and shot to death. His body was thrown into the Dvina River with his dog who tried to save his master's life. Ironically, while the Catholics hid in fear, it was the Jewish people of Vitebsk who protected Josaphat's friends, accused the Orthodox participants of the mob of the murder of the bishop, and even mourned him publicly.
As time progressed, both sides began to regret the death of Josaphat. Upon reflections of those in the mob on the life of Josaphat, many were converted to the Catholic Church, including the one who probably incited the riot, Josaphat's rival Meletius Smotrytsky. Josaphat Kuntsevych was canonized by Blessed Pius IX in 1867.
Josaphat understood through the readings of the Greek Fathers of the Church, who are venerated by both Catholics and Orthodox alike, that the Catholic Church is the "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church". It was not a matter of power or pride to Josaphat that he took the strong stand that he did, because of authority given to St. Peter by Christ Himself. We see the strong progress under this papacy with not just the Orthodox, but with the Anglicans, Lutherans and other Christians. So long as the spirit of St. Josaphat is strong, so will we continue to strive towards Christ, in Whom there is no east or west.
St. Josaphat, pray for us.
"You people want to kill me. You wait in ambush for me in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, in the marketplace, everywhere. Here I am; I came to you as a shepherd. You know I would be happy to give my life for you. I am ready to die for union of the Church under St. Peter and his successor the Pope." - St. Josaphat
You would think that after last Tuesday's Democrat House election debacle that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA8) would take a back seat as her party tries to figure out how to regroup (I know what they need to do, but that's a different discussion for another day).
Instead, Nancy has decided that she wants to stay on as the leader of the House Democrats, leading to infighting amongst her fellow Democrats whose plan for if and when they became the minority party now has a major monkey wrench thrown in.
While everyone knows I'm no fan of these left-wing loons in DC, you kinda have feel sorry for this three-ring circus gone wild within the Democratic caucus. The most prominent of all the challenges within the House Democrat leadership is who will be the minority whip (assistant minority leader to Pelosi). The current minority whip Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC6) is in a heated battle with current majority leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD5) to keep his position.
In any case, regardless of who gets the number 2 spot, it leaves other "rising stars" in the Democratic caucus, such as Chris Van Hollen (D-8) and Joseph Crowley (D-NY7), seem more like falling stars shot down by the same, dried-out leadership of the party of "hope and change".
(Come to think of it, it's not really that sad)
The point is, Nancy still doesn't get that the message (as other Democrats likewise don't get) that it was her policies as a firm stalwart of liberal-socialist causes that cost her party's majority in the House and turned the Senate into a near-disaster, though the Democrats still hold a weakened majority. While she states that she has no regrets, needless to say there are more than 60 people going home in January that certainly feel a degree of remorse for supporting the ObaPelReid agenda that leaves the Nation in worse shape than it was two years ago.
And now that the damage has been done to the House Democrats, and the cracks and dents have turned into a full collapse, Nancy doesn't seem to be satisfied with the damage she has done to her party. She is either clueless or in denial over the fact that she has failed as a leader in her party and now must go back to simply representing the people of California's eighth congressional district who are radical enough to keep her in Washington.
The reality is that the longer Nancy Pelosi remains in power, Democrats will not be able to get rid of the scar left by the Speaker's radical, yet ineffective, tenure, culminating to the point where desperate Democrats fighting for their political lives stopped campaigning against their Republican opponents and began campaigning against her, many of them losing their seats thanks to the impression left upon them by their leaders, whether they agreed with them or not. A few members understand this point, which is why accoring to PoliticoReps. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH9) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR4) have asked for a delay on the vote on Pelosi, opening the gates for other challengers to throw their hats into the ring.
While she may remain the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, if they ever plan on regaining the House, Nancy has to step back and humble herself. Fortunately for Republicans, it doesn't seem that that would be an option.
GENERAL: That victims of drugs or of other dependence may, thanks to the support of the Christian community, find in the power of our Saving God strength for a radical life-change.
MISSIONARY: That the Churches of Latin America may move ahead with the continent-wide mission proposed by their bishops, making it part of the universal missionary task of the People of God.
According to NESN and sources close to the Boston Red Sox, it appears that the Phillies are interested in C Jason Varitek (the guy who won't let Zdeno Chara be the only guy in Boston to wear the letter "C" on his uniform) to backup Carlos Ruiz. Personally, I don't see it happening unless someone else takes on Brian Schneider's contract.
Chances of that? Probably the same as President Obama getting the message.
For those of you who haven't seen this yet, Fr. Z at WDTPRS posted this photo of Queen Sofia of Spain at the Basilica of La Sagrada Familia receiving the King of Kings and Lord of Lords...IN THE HAND!(ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!)
(Notice the look of discontent on the Pontiff's face and the horror of some of the priests in the background)
While Her Majesty may be regal and refined before various heads of state, perhaps she needs a lesson in reverence before her Creator and Redeemer.
I was reading through Damian Thompson's blog for the Telegraph, and needless to say the series of posts dating back to Saturday did much to humor me on the state of the continuing collapse of the Church of England and reclaimation of Old Blightly to Christ and His Church.
It began on Saturday when Damian reported that Dr. Rowan Williams, archbishop of the suppressed See of Canterbury, announced that two Anglican bishops, the Rt. Rev. Keith Newton, 58, bishop of Richborough and the Rt. Rev. Andrew Burnham, 63, bishop of Ebbsfleet, have decided to accept Pope Benedict XVI's invitation in the Holy Father's Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus and convert to the Catholic Church, joining the Rt. Rev. John Broadhurst, 68, bishop of Fulham, who will actually be returning to the Catholic Faith. Anglican Coetibus would set up personal ordinariates for Anglicans fed up with the extreme liberalism that is taking over the Church of England. It permits these Anglicans to maintain to a certain degree their identity as people of Anglican heritage while fully accepting the authority and primacy of the Vicar of Christ on earth. Newton is expected to lead the new ordinariate.
Then yesterday, we find that the actual number was not three, but five bishops converting to Roman Catholicism. In addition to Broadhurst, Newton, and Burnham, the Rt. Rev. Edwin Barnes, SCC, 74, president of The Church Union, an Anglo-Catholic advocacy group within the Anglican Church, and Newton's predecessor as bishop of Richborough, and the Rt. Rev. David Silk, 74, bishop emeritus of Ballarat (Australia) would also join the Catholic Church. (To see Bishop Barnes' statement to The Church Union on Anglicanorum Coetibus, click here)
The five bishops released a joint statement yesterday on their decision to convert to Catholicism:
Like many in the catholic tradition of Anglicanism, we have followed the dialogue between Anglicans and Catholics, the ARCIC process, with prayer and longing. We have been dismayed, over the last thirty years, to see Anglicans and Catholics move further apart on some of the issues of the day, and particularly we have been distressed by developments in Faith and Order in Anglicanism which we believe to be incompatible with the historic vocation of Anglicanism and the tradition of the Church for nearly two thousand years.
The Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum cœtibus, given in Rome on 4th November 2009, was a response to Anglicans seeking unity with the Holy See. With the Ordinariates, canonical structures are being established through which we will bring our own experience of Christian discipleship into full communion with the Catholic Church throughout the world and throughout the ages. This is both a generous response to various approaches to the Holy See for help and a bold, new ecumenical instrument in the search for the unity of Christians, the unity for which Christ himself prayed before his Passion and Death. It is a unity, we believe, which is possible only in eucharistic communion with the successor of St Peter.
As bishops, we have even-handedly cared for those who have shared our understanding and those who have taken a different view. We have now reached the point, however, where we must formally declare our position and invite others who share it to join us on our journey. We shall be ceasing, therefore, from public episcopal ministry forthwith, resigning from our pastoral responsibilities in the Church of England with effect from 31st December 2010, and seeking to join an Ordinariate once one is created.
We remain very grateful for all that the Church of England has meant for us and given to us all these years and we hope to maintain close and warm relationships, praying and working together for the coming of God’s Kingdom.
We are deeply appreciative of the support we have received at this difficult time from a whole variety of people: archbishops and bishops, clergy and laity, Anglican and Catholics, those who agree with our views and those who passionately disagree, those who have encouraged us in this step and those who have urged us not to take this step.
The Right Rev'd Andrew Burnham The Right Rev'd Keith Newton The Right Rev'd John Broadhurst The Right Rev'd Edwin Barnes The Right Rev'd David Silk
That takes us to today, where we find avowed Cranmerfile Diarmaid MacCullough, professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University, steaming mad over what he sees as the death of Christianity to the absurdity of Romish popery. A member of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, a UK-based organization praying for "an inclusive church", a high-profile member of British academia (do my fellow Americans see any similarities to our educators in our universities?), and a deacon of the Church of England, scoffed at the idea of a personal ordinariate that maintains Anglican elements. MacCullough is quoted as asking of the Holy Father's offer:
"Perhaps they’ll bring Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer? Not a book for which the flying bishops (the nickname of the five bishops for their visits to Rome to discuss the possibility of conversion) and their clerical mates [sic] have shown much enthusiasm in the past."
MacCullough personifies the attitude of the stubborn, arrogant left-wing, ecclesistical-socialist who vainly tries to defend a cause that is all but lost in the eyes of those observing the current religious tide. It is not reverence to God that they seek, but rather relevance to the world. Unfortunately for the liberals who seek to make Christianity a worldly, almost humanistic institution, the people of God are turning to the traditions of the Church, sacramental and moral, to seek refuge from the world cherished so dearly by the left whose morality and culture is contrary to the Gospel of Christ.
Continue to pray Our Lady of Walsingham for the full conversion of England to Christ and His Church, for the five bishops, other Anglicans, and all who seek union with the Catholic Church, and for the intentions of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, the pope of Christian Unity.
END NOTE: To see these articles, and others by Catholic Telegraph blogger Damian Thompson, click here
Yep, I haven't posted anything over here for months, missing key moments like the American electorate taking back Congress (well, kinda). Now I'm back to rant about Faith, politics, or whatever. So stay tuned for the ride!
GENERAL INTENTION: (Justice in Electing Those Who Govern) That in every nation of the world the election of officials may be carried out with justice, transparency and honesty, respecting the free decisions of citizens.
MISSIONARY INTENTION: (An Urban Culture of Justice, Solidarity and Peace) That Christians may strive to offer everywhere, but especially in great urban centers, an effective contribution to the promotion of education, justice, solidarity and peace.
Blessed John XXIII once stated: "The world can still set itself right and always will be able to, because the voice and Blood of Christ cry out for pity and mercy... Devotion to the Precious Blood is the devotion of our time...It is devotion for all souls, for the whole world". These past few days, we have focused on the blood of the martyrs, that of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of the First Martyrs of Rome. However, this day, and throughout the month of July, we commemorate the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Blood shed for our offenses, the Blood of the Lamb which the martyrs have washed their garments into to be pure white. It is that same Blood shed everyday, on the Catholic altars throughout the world as Christ offers Himself continually for the human race which constantly needs to be refreshed by that unending Font of Mercy.
This feast was celebrated as early as the 16th century in Spain. Devotion to the Precious Blood was introduced in Italy by St. Gaspar de Bufalo and was extended to the entire Holy Roman Church in 1849 by Blessed Pius IX. In 1933, Pope Pius XI made this feast a double of the 1st class to commemorate the 1,900th anniversary of the Death of Christ.
Unfortunately, the Feast of the Most Precious Blood was abbrogated in 1970 as a result of the institution of the new Roman Calendar, and was combined with the Feast of Corpus Christi. To think, the reason for this feast and devotion was to commemorate the greatest act of love that the world has ever known. And in the blink of an eye, it was gone.
Fortunately, with the recent resurgence of Tradition (especially among younger Catholics), devotion to the Precious Blood has remained alive and well. What further evidence do we need of Christ truly present and alive, both physically and mystically, in our Catholic Church, in our unbelieving society, in our contrite hearts? The continual Sacrifice of Christ continues, as His Nature has taken on suffering. Not only does it continue through the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but also in the mockery of Our Lord in this godless society.
Please continue to pray and make reparation to the Most Precious Blood for the offenses committed against Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
“Precious Blood, Ocean of Divine Mercy, flow upon us! Precious Blood, Most Pure offering, procure us every grace! Precious Blood, Hope and refuge of sinners, atone for us! Precious Blood, Delight of the Holy Souls, draw us! Amen.” - St. Catherine of Siena
The is an old German hymn attributed to St. Bede the Venerable entitled The Hymn For Conquering Martyrs Raise. The final verse of this hymn goes like this:
O city blest o’er all the earth, Who gloriest in the Savior’s birth, Who are His earliest martyrs dear, By kindred and by triumph here; None from henceforth may call thee small, Of rival towns thou passest all: In whom our Monarch had His birth, O city blest o’er all the earth!
Today, Holy Mother Church commemorates the Feast of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. These first heroes, the first to imitate Christ's passion, were the ones whose witness convinced many a pagan in Ancient Rome to find something that was greater than themselves, more powerful than their graven idols. These early Christians truly went into battle for their King, and won the victory. However, instead of killing in the name of their King, they gave up their lives in imitation of their God. It was their heroism, it was their Faith, that convinced others to lay down their hedonistic pagan way of life and carry their cross with Jesus Christ.
For a pagan to convert to Christianity at the time was certainly not an easy thing to do. To choose to bow one's head over the baptismal font under the waters of baptism one morning, held the risk of resting one's head on the executioner's block under his axe the next day. However, this was a risk that they chose to take, to ensure that this small sect, deemed dangerous by the Roman Emperor, would live on. Their blood watered the seed, planted by the Gospel, that shook the foundations of the Roman Empire from its core, a shock so strong that the impressive statue of Jupiter amongst the mythological creatures was crushed into dust, conquered and replaced with the image of Christ crucified, bleeding for the sake of man's redemption. The shock has reached the further corners of the earth, trumping cultures and traditions with the Truth and salvation given from Christ through His Church.
Since then, the blood of the martyrs continue to flow in the places where the Christian Church continues to be persecuted, and they continue to this day. Such names as Justin, Cosmas, Damian, Marcellinus, Peter, Agnes, Philomena, and Cecilia, have certainly inspired such names as Goretti, Jägerstätter, Kolbe, Popiełuszko, Pro, Romza, and countless others. They have proven that the victory lies in Christ, not human recognition. They recognized a love greater than themselves, and focused on that crown that gives them eternal recognition of the ultimate love for Christ and for His Church.
Please continue to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world that they remain steadfast in the Faith.
For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye, Saw the bright crown descending from the sky, And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify. Alleluia! Alleluia!
The title of this post is taken from the third and fourth line of the special verse in Horatio Bolton Nelson's hymn By All Your Saints Still Striving dedicated to the holy apostles Peter and Paul. In a way, it calls us to continue on that missionary spirit of Sts. Peter and Paul to today's world that is returning to a materialistic entity as was the world of Ancient Rome that Peter and Paul sought to evangelize, and eventually, they conquered.
Why so much focus on Rome? Why as Catholics do we center our Faith on Rome as opposed to say, Jerusalem where Our Lord offered His life for us and where the Holy Spirit descended on Our Lady and the apostles on the birthday of the Church? Because Christ triumphed over the barbaric Roman Empire and its bloodthirsty emperors who waged war against Him, all falling to their demise. The blood shed on the cross by St. Peter as he hung upside down in his humility, that of St. Paul's on the executioner's block and axe, and the blood of the early martyrs, watered the seed that was planted through the Word of God which was preached to Jew and Gentile alike by the two apostles. Though their imitation of the Master's passion, the Sacred Heart of Jesus triumphed in conquering heart of the Roman Empire, and since then, the entire world.
Today, the Church of Rome faces attacks from each corner of the world from the neo-pagans that seek to destroy the Church as Nero and Diocletian attempted. Caught in the middle again are Peter in the person of the Holy Father. Caught are Paul, and John, and James, and Simon, and Thomas, and the other apostles in the persons of the cardinals and bishops of the Church. We are called to stand up for Christ in the face of the unbelieving world. Are you willing to carry the cross and follow Him as well? Follow Christ from this moment, carry the cross, run the race, finish the course, and keep the Faith.
We praise you for St. Peter; We praise you for St. Paul. They taught both Jew and Gentile That Christ is all in all. To cross and sword they yielded And saw the Kingdome come: O God Your two apostles Won life through martyrdom.
In a ceremony held at St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI elevated 24 new Princes of the Church. Among those called to the Sacred College of Cardinals are two Americans: Raymond Cardinal Burke, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, and Donald Cardinal Wuerl, cardinal archbishop of Washington. Among the others worthy mention here include Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, cardinal archbishop of Columbo, and 93-year old Domenico Cardinal Bartolucci, the maestro in perpetuo emeritus of the Sistine Chapel.
