A New Teaching

This from the Naked Pastor.

The Anchoress was writing about just the same thing today. More or less. She writes: “Perhaps if all of us turned off the TV, shut down the internet, silenced the iPods and spent 15-30 minutes a day taking instruction in his presence or beneath his Cross, our humility would be such that we could never cry out “heretic” without first proclaiming it for ourselves.”

Salient thoughts. And discourse today has gotten so strident. Ouch.

Now, I had really meant to post something about the Burning Bush today, since it was in the daily Mass readings and it was a great source of prayer this morning. I’m just remarkably tired. Or just tired of things as they are.

I am opting out of political discourse I do believe. The world has gone crazy in so many areas. Of course my site is currently called ‘Life and Times‘ of a 21st Century Priest, not just ‘Life’. Maybe I should call it ‘Photoblog of a 21st Century Priest’s Life.’

That’s a real winner. Catchy.

I was going to call it Confessions of a Catholic Priest, but… I didn’t. It’s a long tragic tale, filled with drama and intrigue. It’s the type of thing I never write about here on my dull, lifeless weblog.

I am going to be devoting myself to prayer and discernment of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, and in the world. The future is so bright in many ways.

I have some walking to do before I get to Night Prayer. And then, blessed sleep. The hour, it grows late for such things…

A Couple of Catholic Sites

the chi-rhoI stumbled upon Vox Nova the other day. It’s a google away from the personal website of David Cruz-Uribe, who I first noticed chronicling anti-Catholicism on the web.

Also, found Catholic Tide the other day. Good Catholic news aggregate site, easy on the eyes, solid info and an encouraging section on praying the Liturgy of the Hours.

Fr. McNabb

Speaking of books (we were, weren’t we?), The Church and the Land is on my Wish List.

It’s an essay touching on the modern trend of life in noisome, disconnected cities versus a life lived on the land. Written by Fr. Vincent McNabb,(albeit a hundred years ago,) the preface can be found here.

A Shepherd's Message

Here, a thoughtful response to Pope Benedict’s lifting of excommunications (etc…), and to Notre Dame’s invitation to Obama: A Shepherd’s Message, from Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.

I sometimes receive letters from people who mar their otherwise intelligent or well-taken arguments by such nasty invectives that the whole argument or point of view is put in jeopardy. Vigorous and heartfelt discussion, even debate, needs to be placed in the arms of charity for effectiveness.

Particularly troubling is the Honorary Law Degree since it recognizes that the person is a “Teacher,” in this case of the Law. I think that this decision requires charitable but vigorous critique.

The Rev. Kenneth Allen