Catholic Carnival 88: “Tapestry of Posts”
It is October, and here we are, in the month of the Rosary. I’d like to invite you to join me in praying a rosary today for life, because the month of the Rosary is also Respect Life month. Our Mother mourns with us as she sees how our culture of death prevails, and this week at Mass, Father reminded us that the culture of death is promulgated by the loud minority, and that the majority must not be silent any longer. God has given us voices, and talents, and ways in which we can transform our world into a world of LIFE. Praying a rosary in October for life is but one way to accomplish that goal.
How can you be part of the Catholic Carnival action? Find out here. Why not consider trying your hand at hosting one week? If I can do it, my friends, I assure you that you can too!
Without further ado (and in a slightly different format than I’ve used before), here is this week’s Catholic Carnival!
“Art & Pilgrimage - Fr. Jerome Tupa, OSB,” by Edith OSB at Monastic Musings, is a summary of a talk given at Edith’s college. Here’s a taste of what’s included, in a quote by Fr. Tupa: "You go on a pilgrimage," he said, "because you want, somehow, to encounter God. What you do encounter is, first, the people along the way - the other pilgrims, the generous people who volunteer to cook or clean in the refuges, to support and help the pilgrims on their way. You encounter yourself - your physicality, walking 20 or 30 miles each day, but also the things that well up from deep inside. "
CatholicUK posts “Dorothy L. Sayers on Education.” Digging up a speech by the great Dorothy L. Sayers on real "re-form" in education, at this moment when the West urgently needs precisely that. A little excerpt (because you know I can’t resist): “The combined folly of a civilization that has forgotten its own roots is forcing them to shore up the tottering weight of an educational structure that is built upon sand. They are doing for their pupils the work which the pupils themselves ought to do. For the sole true end of education is simply this: to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction fails to do this is effort spent in vain.”
With the alluring title “Pondering Protestantism: a letter to a friend,” On the Other Foot maintains that today's Evangelicals don't know what a rich, ancient tradition they've inherited in Christianity. Strong claim, you say. Oh, but go read this! It’s worth a bit of reflection and quite a lesson for any of us who wonder just why we’re Catholic and just what that means. “Christianity is not just hymns and a sermon. It's not about the emotions or the bumper stickers or the intellectual study or the "codes." It's not even just the Bible. Those things are expressions of Christianity, and they're the familiar ones to you and me, but they're only the tip of the iceberg.”
From HMS Blog (which stands for “Heart, Mind & Strength, in case you’ve never investigated that…), we get “Being for Jesus.” It’s a reflection on the Mass readings for Sunday 10/1, focusing on the things we have to do to be for rather than against Jesus and to gain our reward. “We can and should serve Jesus and the Church not only in ways that are organized by the hierarchy, but also by doing various kinds of good works, individually and together, on our own initiative. At the same time, we must not set this kind of service over and against obedience and service directly to the successors to the Apostles, when this is asked of us.”
“Peter's Barque,” by 50 Days After, is a poem about Peter's boat as a symbol of theChurch. “We journey to our home, Heaven so remote / Still today we hear his words, "Do not be afraid." / Death and pain may come, but He is our aid / Storms and trials will come, but the boat will not sink”
Have you ever been so busy that you start forgetting things? Sarah has, and in “Finding the Quiet in the Busy,” posted at just another day of catholic pondering, she reflects upon the need she has for prayer and quiet in her busy life. “We certainly don’t live in a world that sees the value in still and silent. But then, we don’t live in a world that sees the sense in the Cross either.”
“Watch a Latin Mass!” courtesy of A Catholic Life. This is a full-length Tridentine (Latin) Mass video. It was filmed on Easter Sunday in 1941 at Our Lady of Sorrows church in Chicago. The film presents the ceremonies of the Solemn High Mass in full detail with narration by Monsignor Fulton J. Sheen. (Since it’s a video, I can’t do an excerpt, but I can say “WOW” and encourage you to click, all the same.)
From Castle of the Immaculate, we have “Seven Prayer suggestions for use with the snooze button.” What happens if you are going through a difficult time and you find it difficult to wake up early for prayer? Here are seven suggestions for praying during theday. Included is this quote from Fr. Boylan, author of Difficulties in Mental Prayer: “Every soul who wishes to advance, should try to look God in the face, in all reverence, at least once a day, without rushing into some form of vocal prayer.”
A reflection on home remodeling, the frustration that ensues, and Christ's blessing upon human labor can be found in Within the Garden’s post “Labor Pains!” As an owner of a fixer-upper myself, I can’t help but very nearly post this excerpt on my own blog…the difference between divine creativity and human creativity: “Divine Creativity - The Spirit hovers, and a great voice proclaims, "it is good!" Human Creativity - Perspiration hovers, and a voice proclaims, "Shoot! If I can just...why won't this...oh, for heaven's SAKE! Honey, can you come here for a minute?" And, lo, the humidity hath softened the paint, causingeth it to tear and peel so that it needeth to be reapplied.”
From Alabama Improper, we get “World Wide Day of Rosary.” She writes, “I have been taking some time to pray the rosary. It has really helped. I’ve been making time at lunch to go to one of the local Catholic churches downtown. Lately, however, I have let a few days skip by for various reasons. I hope, soon, to get back to going a few days a week and maybe this World Wide Day of Rosary will be just the kick start (again) that I need.”
At the age of seventeen, blogger Edward, at Via Quae Stat Ante Me, meets his birth father for the very first time and shares the experience with readers in his post “Meeting my Dad.” “Now that I think about it, I have some resentment towards the man, never wanting to know his son, seeing the financial struggles of a single mother, and really I was angry with this man. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still angry with him, but meeting him, I think is a step forward. I'm not sure if he still wants that relationship.”
My Domestic Church brings us “Guardian Angels,” which is a medley of resources about those guardian angels we all owe so much to. Domestic Blogger shares a few of her favorite images, and also a couple of great books for children and some other great resources for those of us who just act like children. Be sure to check this out!
In “World of Good Blogburst, Caribbean K.I.D.S. Style,” The Scratching Post hooks me right in, starting out “Acts of kindess are all around us. I woke up this morning tired and uninspired. I got my cup of joe and googled aimlessly and in no time at all I had uncovered a group of Hilton hotels that raise money for children's charities in the Caribbean. The ease with which this was found underscores once more how common acts of kindness are. The drumbeat of bad news and evil you get from the news media gives a false impression of the way the world works.”
There’s “A lesson in give and take- love in the community” at Wheelie Catholic, sharing how the losses Ruth has had as a result of her disability have led to receiving what she needs from others and has taught her many lessons about gratitude and humility. “When we see things happen like generosity of spirit and in acts, our hearts and spirits are renewed. Yet we have the choice to live like this every day of our lives. Christ showed us how. It wasn't in the huge miracles, although I'm sure I would have liked to have been there to see them. It was in the daily acts of love given within community.
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Brace yourself, because “Catharsis,” posted at Domestic Vocation, is nothing short of a journey and a revelation. In her submission, Christine writes, “I am hoping that this post is okay for the Carnival. I was asked by a friend to write an article for the NFP newsletter in our diocese, and my story was quite long. Knowing it will be cut in half to keep within word constraints, I wanted to post the entire thing. However, my story is not about my successful use of NFP, but my struggles with hyperemesis gravidarum and the healing I eventually found through the Church after my tubal ligation.” OK for the carnival? Indeed! Thanks for being brave enough to share it, Christine.
In “Cut it Off - But What is It?” Herb Ely looks at Sunday's gospel injunction to cutoff our hand if it causes us to sin and finds a much deeper meaning. Are any other parts of our spiritual or personal selves that we need to cut off in order to find the freedom of the gospel? St. Ignatius provides some guidance. “The challenge of the gospel is for us to learn what it is that causes us to sin by omission or commission. Given the power of the human soul to fool itself, we need to understand that it is only with time, prayer and perhaps the help of a spiritual director, coach or trusted friend.”
Alicia Huntley shares “Humanae Vitae,” which explores Respect Life Sunday, Catholic radio, and assisted reproductive technology. “Many folks don't realize that much of what is done, even short of IVF, is immoral according to natural law and Catholic theology. All too often, folks who are not conceiving as fast as they think they should get on the infertility bandwagon and before they know it, they are thousands of dollars into what can all too often be a real racket. From what I have heard from many sources, mostly patients, there seems to be no real effort to diagnose the cause of the infertility before going through a cookbook set of interventions, each with its alphabet soup.”
You’ll find some thoughts on raising “Culture of Life Kids” courtesy of Living Catholicism, where Jay shares “The Culture of Life and Your Kids.” “The point is that we, as parents, must take responsibility for our children and the future. Culture begins in the home and a culture of life must begin with children learning and believing in that culture. Choose today to act by teaching and showing your children how to grow a culture of life in the home.”
Then, while we’re talking about Culture of Life and such, be sure to visit Deo Omnis Gloria, where “Culture of Life Update” covers Life issues going on around the world. What a great summary of everything you wanted to know, and all in one place!
And, lest we forget that October 1 marks the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, Catholic Fire brings us “Saint of the Day: St. Therese of Lisieux, Virgin.” It’s a brief biography of St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, and messages from her in the form of quotes, including this gem: ““For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and love, embracing both trial and joy.”
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