Cons:
Pros:
From the Catholic University law school, an important movement is coming forth.
Americans on Call seeks to provide a nationwide network of people willing to help women choose life. This is the true work of the pro-life movement - helping women who don't want to abort, but who feel trapped, aone, scared.
Here is the homepage of the movement, which includes information on how to become a part of the network of those comitted to helping pregnant woman choose life.
Playing catch up with the Pope again. Here's the general audience address from 1/18/06, kicking off the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Excerpt:
Here's the audience address from 1/25/06, a commentary on Psalm 143 (144): 9-15. Excerpt:
For this reason, the psalm concludes with the words: "Happy the people so blessed; happy the people whose God is the Lord." God is the good of goods, the condition of all other goods. Only a people that acknowledges God and that defends spiritual and moral values can truly go out to find a profound peace and become itself a force of peace for the world, for other peoples, and, therefore, can intone with the psalmist the "new song," full of confidence and hope. It recalls spontaneously the new Covenant, the very novelty that Christ and his Gospel are.
Pope Benedict XVI's long-awaited first encyclical is out. I want to read it before I say anything about it, and time is scarce these days, but in the meantime, I thought I'd provide a link so you can read it for yourselves.
Here it is at the Vatican's homepage
Da Vinci Code Historical SeminarDid you find the historical events in the 2003 fictional best-seller interesting but too fantastic to believe? Actually, most of the background items cited in the book were tied to events purportedly recorded in history.
Just when I'm getting fed up with the president, I read something like this.
No matter how long you wait to change him, your newborn will poop 2 minutes after receiving a fresh diaper.
All I'm saying is, sometimes we try a little too hard to make everybody happy.
Hat-tip to Roman Rob, studying hard, I presume?
Here are the general audience addresses from the past three weeks.. I've been busy, ya know...
December 28, on the second part of Psalm 138(139).
Excerpt:
He is still an "unformed substance" in his mother's womb: The Hebrew term used has been understood by several biblical experts as referring to an "embryo," described in that term as a small, oval, curled-up reality, but on which God has already turned his benevolent and loving eyes (verse 16)
Pretty neat words to come on Charlie's birthday, huh?
January 4, on Colossians 1:3,12-20.
Excerpt:
And so St. Paul points out to us a very important truth: History has a destination, a direction. History moves toward humanity united in Christ and thus moves in the direction of the perfect man, toward the perfect humanism.
In other words, St. Paul tells us: Yes, there is progress in history. There is, we could say, an evolution of history. Progress is all that which brings us closer to Christ and thus closer to a united humanity, to true humanism. And so, hidden within these indications there is also an imperative for us: to work for progress, something that we all want. We can do this by working to bring others to Christ; we can do this by personally conforming ourselves to Christ, thereby taking up the path of true progress.
January 11, on Psalm 143(144):1-8.
Excerpt:
Despite his royal dignity, before the Almighty Lord, the psalmist feels weak and fragile. Then he expresses a profession of humility that is formulated, as he already said, with the words of Psalms 8 and 38. He feels like "a breath," like "a passing shadow," inconsistent, submerged in the flux of time that passes, marked by the limitation proper to the creature (cf. Psalm 143[114]:4).
Ahhh.. there's nothing like waking up to the sound of your son writhing and squealing in a seeming agony, followed by the thunderous roar of his pants being filled.
Good morning!
For Mama-Lu, here's the link to that radio show I told you about a while ago: On Point discusses Chekhov with a new translator of his plays.
What can a Cubs fan feel upon hearing the news that the Cubs traded Corey Patterson to the Baltimore Orioles for two minor league players but sadness?
Patterson has the tools to be one of the best hitters in the game today. Indeed, we've seen flashes of his potential. Unfortunately, his development with the Cubs organization was radically derailed in 2005, and it has been clear to all observers that he had to go.
Patterson has a chance yet to be great, but not with the Cubs. In 2005, Patterson lost the trust of management, fans and the Chicago media. There's no way he can make that up with Cubs, and so if he's going to be anything in the bigs, it will have to be for somebody else. Even then, there's no guarantee he can do it. He has to make up his mind about what kind of player he wants to be, the Orioles need to respect that decision and use him properly (or persuade him to fulfill the role they have in mind for him), and then Corey has to carry through. His career could easily falter on any of those points.
As for the players they received in return: don't expect to hear their names again. They are mid-level prospects who have not played above A-ball. I may be proved wrong, and would love to be, but the only real upside for the Cubs is beng free of Patterson's $3.5 million contract.
A tip to all proprietors of fringe websites:
If the second question in your FAQ has to be "Are you really serious?" you just might need to reconsider your mission.
For a cat-hater, I sure have a thing for fictional cats.
Christianity Today has a great little article on Narnia, Calvin and Hobbes, commercialism, integrity, etc. It's worth a read.
Here are the Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for January:
General intention:
That the effort to bring about the full communion of Christians may foster reconciliation and peace among all the peoples of the earth.
Missionary intention:
That Christians may know how to welcome migrants with respect and charity, recognizing in each person the image of God.
Here's Matthew during his first encounter with Baby Charlie. Matthew was thrilled by this new little person and could not stop giving him kisses. Still, two days later, he loves to curl up next Charlie and kiss him and play with him.
Now we just have to teach Matthew about "gentleness." He's got a bit of a harsh love-tap.
You can also see in this picture the IV on Charlie's right hand. Ouch.
