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Hilarious Video

2/28/2013

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Yesterday, while perusing my RSS feeds, I came across a video on Fr. Z's site that I found to be hysterical called Chose Your Pope! It is produced by the Lutherans but they got it right. The big problem is that it is not only funny, but true. How is it that some Lutherans get the Catholic Church more than some Catholics do? Anyway, enjoy the VIDEO.
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What's His Name?

2/26/2013

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Just about an hour ago, the Vatican Information Service (VIS) released the comments of Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office who said that Pope Benedict XVI will be “Pontiff emeritus” or “Pope emeritus”. So now we call him "Pope Emeritus, His Holiness, Benedict XVI"? Wow! There are some canon lawyers I know who are consuming large amounts of Tums with their blood pressure medication this morning. But I digress... The Vatican went on to release details about the Pope's final days in office and how he will transition out. you can read the full press release HERE. It is short, but VERY interesting. Some excerpts:
  • More than 50,000 tickets have already been requested for the Pope's final general audience tomorrow morning
  • On 28 February, the Pope's helicopter will land at Castel Gandolfo at 5:15pm
  • The Sede Vacante will begin at 8:00pm and the Swiss Guards assigned to him at Castel Gandolfo will take their leave, as their corps is dedicated to the safe-guarding of the Roman Pontiff. Instead, the Vatican Gendarmerie will take over the Pope emeritus' safety detail.
  • The task of destroying the “Fisherman's Ring” and the lead seal of the pontificate falls to the cardinal camerlengo and his assistants. 

Let us continue to pray for Pope Benedict XVI in these, his final days of his pontificate.
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The Motu Proprio has been released!

2/25/2013

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Earlier this morning Pope Benedict XVI released the Motu Proprio Datae we have been waiting for over the last few weeks. Entitled  Normas Nonnullas, it gives the College of Cardinals the ability to derogate from the prior 15-day waiting period to begin the next Conclave, but only on the condition that all of the cardinal-electors are present and a majority consent to proceeding on an expedited timetable.
 The Holy See has only issued the document in Latin and Italian and it is available on the Vatican website.

One of my favorite sites Whispers in the Loggia has several articles on the documents worth reading. His most recent post on the document can be found HERE.
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Bishop Sheridan Remarks on NCR

2/24/2013

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I am always pleased when Bishop Sheridan speaks out on a topic and I get to brag that he is "my" bishop. I am blessed to be studying for the diocese of Colorado Springs under his guidance. His most recent comments are no exception. Below is an article where he calls (and rightly so!) the National Catholic Reporter "an embarrassment to the Catholic Church". You can see the complete article HERE.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Feb. 22, 2013, (LifeSiteNews.com) - A Colorado bishop is supporting the local bishop in his call for the National Catholic Reporter to drop the name "Catholic."

Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs told LifeSiteNews.com in an interview this week that the national paper is “an embarrassment to the Catholic Church.”

The newspaper is often called the "National Catholic Fishwrap" by conservative Catholics because of its stances against Church teaching.
Fr. John Zuhlsdorf / WDTPRS.com
In January, Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City, where NCR’s offices are located, published a column reminding the paper and the faithful that NCR has been forbidden from using the name “Catholic” since 1968.

The Code of Canon Law stipulates in canon 216 that no organization can use the name Catholic without permission of the ecclesiastical authority.

NCR is renowned for opposing Catholic teaching on women’s ordination, contraception, homosexuality, and other issues, yet still enjoys privileged access to many Church leaders and regularly features ads paid for by Catholic dioceses and parishes.

“I believe exactly what [Bishop Finn is] saying,” said Sheridan. “That is a big deal for me…I don’t understand why some of these publications use the word Catholic when in some of their editorial stances they stand absolutely opposed to Church dogma.” 

Even if the paper continues to defy the bishop, he continued, churches should “absolutely not” make it available to parishioners on their magazine racks.

In his January 25th column, Bishop Finn noted that NCR’s “positions against authentic Church teaching and leadership have not changed trajectory” since the original ruling in 1968 by Bishop Charles Helmsing.

“In light of the number of recent expressions of concern, I have a responsibility as the local bishop to instruct the Faithful about the problematic nature of this media source which bears the name ‘Catholic,’” he added.

Nevertheless, the paper has remained defiant. “NCR is proud to call itself a Catholic publication,” wrote Thomas Fox, the paper’s publisher, on January 27th. “We report and comment on church matters including official teachings. We also report and comment on those who call into question some of these official teachings.”

Fox also pointed out that NCR is a member of the Catholic Press Association, which is approved by the Catholic Church.

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Semper Fidelis

2/23/2013

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A lift of my glass to my Brothers in Arms the United States Marine Corps. Thank you for all you do. 


On this day in 1945, Marines from 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Division of the United States Marines Corps raised the American flag on the summit of the 500′ high Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima.

A second flag was later raised and photographed.

22,000 Japanese defended Iwo Jimo and only 200 were taken alive. In the battle of Iwo Jimo 6000 Marines died and 17000 were wounded.

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My New Pet

2/18/2013

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Meet Hammy. He will live on the sidebar of my blog for a while. Stop by to feed him anytime.
This lively pet hamster will keep you company throughout the day. Watch him run on his wheel, drink water, and eat the food you feed him by clicking your mouse. Click the center of the wheel to make him get back on it.
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The Conclave

2/18/2013

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I came across an excellent little blog from a canon lawyer earlier today. He had a short article on the upcoming conclave that I found enlightening as to what Canon Law says. His blog can be found HERE. His article is set out below.

UPDATE: I have had several questions about UDG referenced in the article below. UDG stands for Universi Dominici Gregis an Apostolic Constitution promulgated by JPII on February 22, 1996. the complete constitution can be found HERE.

This morning’s post was about what the pope might do in regard to the next conclave. Apparently, we now have to ask what the Curia might do in regard to the next conclave.

According to USA TODAY: Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said that Vatican rules on papal succession are open to interpretation and that “this is a question that people are discussing. It is possible that church authorities can prepare a proposal to be taken up by the cardinals on the first day after the papal vacancy” to move up the start of the conclave, he said.

I don’t see that, not at all.

There is nothing ambiguous about the two-week waiting period set out in UDG 37 and—long story made short--ambiguities in the law, notinconveniences, are what are subject to ‘interpretation’. Any other changes to the plain text of pontifical law of UDG can be made only by the pontifical Legislator. Sede vacante nihil innovetur. If Benedict leaves office without having taken action on UDG, and the date of the conclave is moved up (or back for that matter), for any reason outside of accommodating unforeseen impossibilities, it will be at odds with the normative text of UDG and would set a very dangerous example for future conclaves.

I agree that March 15 is far too long to wait to begin choosing a new pope. But the proper solution, in my view, is for the Legislator to derogate from UDG 37 by either (A) setting an earlier conclave start date or (B) expressly delegating the interregnal cardinalatial commission to fix an earlier date.

The legalities of papal conclaves are among the last things on earth that should be thrown into question.

Added:

UDG 1. During the vacancy of the Apostolic See, the College of Cardinals has no power or jurisdiction in matters which pertain to the Supreme Pontiff during his lifetime or in the exercise of his office; such matters are to be reserved completely and exclusively to the future Pope. I therefore declare null and void any act of power or jurisdiction pertaining to the Roman Pontiff during his lifetime or in the exercise of his office which the College of Cardinals might see fit to exercise, beyond the limits expressly permitted in this Constitution.

UDG 4. During the vacancy of the Apostolic See, laws issued by the Roman Pontiffs can in no way be corrected or modified, nor can anything be added or subtracted, nor a dispensation be given even from a part of them, especially with regard to the procedures governing the election of the Supreme Pontiff. Indeed, should anything be done or even attempted against this prescription, by my supreme authority I declare it null and void.

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GO TO CONFESSION

2/16/2013

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GO TO CONFESSION

Here are some interesting facts:

For one year in the United States according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control):
  • Number of deaths: 2,468,435
  • Death rate: 799.5 deaths per 100,000 population
Number of deaths for leading causes of death:
  • Heart disease: 597,689
  • Cancer: 574,743
  • Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 138,080
  • Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 129,476
  • Accidents (unintentional injuries): 120,859
  • Alzheimer's disease: 83,494
  • Diabetes: 69,071
  • Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 50,476
  • Influenza and Pneumonia: 50,097
  • Intentional self-harm (suicide): 38,364

GO TO CONFESSION

Why do I care you say. Note the heart disease number. This translates into heart attacks most of which are sudden and unexpected. Note the accident numbers which are unexpected. Note the stroke numbers which, like the heart attacks, are sudden and unexpected. That’s 6,762.84 people dying each day, 281.78 each hour and 4.69 each minute. So slightly less that 5 people in the United States are being called before the Judgment Seat of God every minute of every hour of every day.

GO TO CONFESSION

Are you ready to go? Is your soul ready to meet your maker? We will all receive God’s judgment whether we want it or not, but His MERCY is there for the ASKING. Why risk eternal damnation when all you have to do is GO TO CONFESSION!!!

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Lenten Thoughts

2/15/2013

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As Lent begins there is much talk about penance and what people are giving up for Lent. This is of course a wonderful thing. The Church teaches us about the three wonderful practices of penance, fasting and almsgiving. But I find it interesting that people always talk about penance in the negative way, that is to say what I give up for Lent, what I can’t have. I would like to propose a new way of thinking. What can I add!

What can you add to your life that will improve your spiritual life and your relationship with God? After all, isn’t that the idea of Lent, to prepare the way for the Lord? To change what we do for 40 days so that it becomes a habit? If your struggling for some ideas here are some suggestions:

  • Go to Confession regularly – weekly or biweekly. START TODAY!
  • Say the rosary daily
  • Go to Mass more often – the Sunday obligation is the MINIMUM!
  • Pray EVERY DAY for an end to abortions
  • Spend more time with your family and less in front of the TV
  • Spend 30 minutes each day alone talking to God. Talk to Him like a friend. Tell him what you’re thinking and doing. Don’t just recite prayers written prayers, but TALK to Him.

These are just a few suggestions of ways to ADD something during Lent. They don’t take a lot of time and the rewards are immense. Try it, it’s only 40 days!

What other things can you think of? I would love to hear your suggestions!

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Papal Resignation

2/15/2013

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I don't care who you are, that's just funny!

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    I am a Roman Catholic Priest for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. I am currently assigned to St. Dominic Catholic Church in Security, CO.


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