Are You Steady?

This morning during my prayer time I noticed how steady the candle flame was, burning straight and quietly. Maybe I noticed because the other day I had a candle so flickering and fluttering I had to blow it out. I was beginning to feel dizzy and ill even if I didn't look at it directly.

I'm fascinated by words and as I thought about the steadiness of the candle flame I wondered where the word came from and about it's meaning. I got this from an etymology site:

steady(adj.)

1520s, "firmly fixed in place or station" (displacing earlier steadfast, which came to be used of persons and characters), from stead + adjectival suffix -y (2), perhaps on model of Middle Dutch, Middle Low German stadig.

Silence: wound or healing?

Often when I'm reading, I come across a sentence or phrase that stops me short. What does that mean? How can I process the idea? If it were a signpost on the road, how would it direct me on my journey?

To DYE for: Artificial dyes in the food are just part of the problem.

On Monday while Larry and I were celebrating his 81st birthday with a gone for the day outing, we visited Shendoah River State Park in Bentonville. We stopped at a scenic overlook near the park entrance. What a glorious view of the mountains!

We weren't alone. A young man motorcycling through Virginia on the way to visit his mom in Maryland was also enjoying the view. We had a lovely conversation and I've been praying for him. 

So...Is Catholic Doctrine Immutable or Relative?

Some questions require either a yes or a no answer. Like Scripture says, "Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one." [Matt 5:37] Jesus was no prevaricator. When he spoke, his message was clear. Even his parables, when explained, made perfect sense. If the seed of truth is strewn on soil filled with lies, excuses, rationalizations, etc. it will be choked and rootless, will not thrive, and will not produce a harvest.

I Owe My Parents Everything! Thanks, Mom and Dad.

I was recently reading Roberta Wasserman's article titled "I Don't Owe My Parents Anything." She's a therapist who is estranged from two of her four children. She works with many estranged parents cut off by one or more of their offspring. Interestingly some of those most critical of her work are fellow counselors. She has mentioned several times how shocking it was to be attacked by her colleagues for listening to suffering parents and advising them:

As a professional working with the increasing population of estranged parents, I had created a training to illuminate this popular movement and its emotional impact. The reality that many of the current estrangements were seeded and rooted in therapy rooms compelled me to create space for deeper understanding. Instead, I was met with vitriol and hostility on a professional platform—an intensity that stunned me. Only later did I realize that many of the keyboard screamers were themselves estranged. My words had tapped into their stories and threatened their perceived peace.

When People You Respect Disappoint You

There was a time when I totally trusted Phil Lawler's take on things. I read several of his books with pen in hand and made margin notes to return to later. A trusted source, he was my regular go-to source as I slogged along in the Church crisis. So I was truly disappointed in his recent articles on the SSPX situation and upcoming consecrations. I was staggered when he said there was no state of necessity since it's up to Rome to make that decision. Really? If I see a child about to run into the street and be hit by a car, I'm not waiting for a policeman to tell me I can jaywalk. I also disagree with Lawler's interpretation of Fr. Pagliarani's statement that “In an ordinary parish, the faithful no longer find the necessary means to ensure their eternal salvation.” Perhaps that statement was overbroad, but certainly not untrue. 

Time to Teach Logic 101 at the Vatican. Send Cardinal Fernandez for Remedial Work!

Let's start here with a few syllogisms of logic:

What's Wrong with these Pictures? Say it ain't so, Pope Leo!

Just think! Pope Leo is gracious and welcoming to Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church which has been in schism from Rome since the Council of Chalcedon in 451. He's welcome at the Vatican.

The Canonization of Clergy Sex Abuse and Other Atrocities from the Synodal Church

Are canonizations infallible? If you ever had any doubts, the Vatican's scandalous action of naming a missionary bishop, Msgr. Alejandro Labaka, Venerable, proves that they are not. Being named Venerable is the first step toward canonization. To canonize a missionary nudist who engaged in sexual play with his flock is scandalous beyond belief!

Ascension Thursday: A Feast of Hope in Heavenly Things

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who believe Thine only-begotten Son, our Redeemer, to have this day ascended into Heaven, may ourselves dwell in mind amidst heavenly things.

It is an appropriate day to "dwell in mind amidst heavenly things." Jesus had to go to the Father to break the dependence the apostles had on His physical presence.  "Blessed are those who have not seen, but have believed."My we always be among those who have not seen with our physical eyes, but with the eyes of our hearts.

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee. I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Thee.