This article makes mention of how the Vatican has linked the Centering Prayer Movement to the New Age. And yet, many "Catholic" retreat centers such as Joseph House (which belongs to the Ste. Marie Parish community in Manchester, New Hampshire), continue to offer Centering Prayer retreats and workshops. See:
http://www.stemarieparish.org/stemarie_nm_JH.htm
Paul.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Mr. Russell Pond, a dedicated pro-life champion from Nashua, New Hampshire, has just sent me the latest edition of his e-newsletter from the Saint Michael Brigade. In this latest edition, Mr. Pond reports that "New Hampshire pro-abortion lawmakers in the legislature are filing legislation to repeal a 2003
parental notification law requiring abortion facilities to tell parents
before they can do an abortion on a pregnant teen."
parental notification law requiring abortion facilities to tell parents
before they can do an abortion on a pregnant teen."
Those interested in Mr. Pond's apostolate may contact him at: melkite4@pngusa.net
Paul.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Shades of Dr. Moreau
Yet another abomination in the works. The hour of chastisement is at hand.
Paul.
Paul.
Monday, December 18, 2006
From Mr. Michael Brown at Spirit Daily:
STRANGE TIME: DE-CHRISTIANIZATION STARTS WITH CHRISTMAS AND HINTS AT PERSECUTION
There is an aspect moving with the attack on Christmas this year that defies conventional explanation and begins to hint at something that Catholics and many Christians have long-feared.
That something is persecution, and an early sign is when a majority of people are in favor of one thing but a minority, a small one, is able to usurp control and herd the rest into following their liking.
In just the last few weeks, extraordinary signs of de-Christianization (which may certainly be the herald of persecution) have exceeded even outrages of last year.
In England, laments the Vatican newspaper, there has been "the disappearance of all religious reference on stamps specially printed for Christmas, which now feature snowmen and deer and no longer the three wise men" or the Star of Bethlehem.
In Pennsylvania, a statue of the Blessed Mother had to be declared a "lawn ornament" for a development to allow it.
In Hollywood, actor Charlie Sheen sang "Joy to the World" with obscene lyrics for a network special.
And from California came the announcement of a horror movie about Christmas to be released on December 25 -- a cynical blackening of the brightest day.
In Seattle, workers took down Christmas trees on the demands of a rabbi (before putting decorations back up after public pressure).
In Riverside, California, a high-school choir was muzzled by a cop after it started singing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" at a public skating rink!
In Delray Beach, Florida, meanwhile, no Christmas tree, Nativity scene, or menorah is allowed in a principal's office, and only "winter parties" and "winter celebrations" (which start to sound pagan) are tolerated. In a Detroit suburban school district, a quota system of thirty percent has been instituted on religious songs that can be sung.
While in many quarters Christians seemed to take back some territory lost in recent times -- with certain cities reversing themselves on displays of the Nativity -- in general the opposition has continued and government leaders have forcefully followed the whims of secularists, atheists, and non-Christians despite a poll that has found more than 95 percent of Americans are not offended by the greeting "Merry Christmas" (and even Muslims defending the holiday).
When so few can predominate over a huge majority, and when they have the tools of government, prosecution can turn into persecution. In some cases, there is a link to Muslim opposition, as when, outrageously, a school head in the United Kingdom removed the word "Virgin" from Mary's name for Christmas celebrations -- so as not to upset pupils whose religion is Islam. ("We cut the name to just Mary because Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, not Son of God," she explained to those few who were outraged.)
Before our eyes, Jesus is being purge from His own holiday -- a signal of what could expand into wider methods of de-Christianization.
Few thought of it as starting with Santa Claus, but the devil is tricky and has succeeded too well in many quarters at turning anything Christian into a slur or insult.
If Christmas can be de-Christianized, so can anything. Intense opposition to this secularization, thus far lacking (including among Church leaders), is needed urgently.
"The traditional Christian values once cherished at Christmas have evaporated, with some countries, especially England, waging a veritable 'war against Christmas,' the Vatican paper Osservatore Romano," noted a secular report on Monday.
Is this how the stage will be set? Is it not worrisome that the trend has persisted now over a period of years -- in many ways, intensifying?
Sometimes, it is subtle: such as the United States Postal Service delivering mail (at least certain types) on Christmas Day, which once was sacrosanct.
But many cases are blatant. In England -- yet again -- "a soundtrack to a BBC trail for Christmas dramas has been slammed by the Church -- because it has lyrics about Satan," reports the London Daily Mirror. "The 30-second promo, featuring TV baddies such as Dracula and Keith Allen as the Sheriff of Nottingham, uses the spoof song Christmas with the Devil by Spinal Tap.
"Its lyrics include the lines 'There's someone up the chimney hole and Satan is his name' and 'No bells in hell, no snow below, silent night, violent night.'"
And it doesn't end there. Several channels have offered programs which claim that Jesus was a troubled youth who resorted to violence and had a relationship with a woman. The Man of Sin is preparing society for his entrance (in an open way) upon the world stage.
Pray.
Paul.
STRANGE TIME: DE-CHRISTIANIZATION STARTS WITH CHRISTMAS AND HINTS AT PERSECUTION
There is an aspect moving with the attack on Christmas this year that defies conventional explanation and begins to hint at something that Catholics and many Christians have long-feared.
That something is persecution, and an early sign is when a majority of people are in favor of one thing but a minority, a small one, is able to usurp control and herd the rest into following their liking.
In just the last few weeks, extraordinary signs of de-Christianization (which may certainly be the herald of persecution) have exceeded even outrages of last year.
In England, laments the Vatican newspaper, there has been "the disappearance of all religious reference on stamps specially printed for Christmas, which now feature snowmen and deer and no longer the three wise men" or the Star of Bethlehem.
In Pennsylvania, a statue of the Blessed Mother had to be declared a "lawn ornament" for a development to allow it.
In Hollywood, actor Charlie Sheen sang "Joy to the World" with obscene lyrics for a network special.
And from California came the announcement of a horror movie about Christmas to be released on December 25 -- a cynical blackening of the brightest day.
In Seattle, workers took down Christmas trees on the demands of a rabbi (before putting decorations back up after public pressure).
In Riverside, California, a high-school choir was muzzled by a cop after it started singing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" at a public skating rink!
In Delray Beach, Florida, meanwhile, no Christmas tree, Nativity scene, or menorah is allowed in a principal's office, and only "winter parties" and "winter celebrations" (which start to sound pagan) are tolerated. In a Detroit suburban school district, a quota system of thirty percent has been instituted on religious songs that can be sung.
While in many quarters Christians seemed to take back some territory lost in recent times -- with certain cities reversing themselves on displays of the Nativity -- in general the opposition has continued and government leaders have forcefully followed the whims of secularists, atheists, and non-Christians despite a poll that has found more than 95 percent of Americans are not offended by the greeting "Merry Christmas" (and even Muslims defending the holiday).
When so few can predominate over a huge majority, and when they have the tools of government, prosecution can turn into persecution. In some cases, there is a link to Muslim opposition, as when, outrageously, a school head in the United Kingdom removed the word "Virgin" from Mary's name for Christmas celebrations -- so as not to upset pupils whose religion is Islam. ("We cut the name to just Mary because Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, not Son of God," she explained to those few who were outraged.)
Before our eyes, Jesus is being purge from His own holiday -- a signal of what could expand into wider methods of de-Christianization.
Few thought of it as starting with Santa Claus, but the devil is tricky and has succeeded too well in many quarters at turning anything Christian into a slur or insult.
If Christmas can be de-Christianized, so can anything. Intense opposition to this secularization, thus far lacking (including among Church leaders), is needed urgently.
"The traditional Christian values once cherished at Christmas have evaporated, with some countries, especially England, waging a veritable 'war against Christmas,' the Vatican paper Osservatore Romano," noted a secular report on Monday.
Is this how the stage will be set? Is it not worrisome that the trend has persisted now over a period of years -- in many ways, intensifying?
Sometimes, it is subtle: such as the United States Postal Service delivering mail (at least certain types) on Christmas Day, which once was sacrosanct.
But many cases are blatant. In England -- yet again -- "a soundtrack to a BBC trail for Christmas dramas has been slammed by the Church -- because it has lyrics about Satan," reports the London Daily Mirror. "The 30-second promo, featuring TV baddies such as Dracula and Keith Allen as the Sheriff of Nottingham, uses the spoof song Christmas with the Devil by Spinal Tap.
"Its lyrics include the lines 'There's someone up the chimney hole and Satan is his name' and 'No bells in hell, no snow below, silent night, violent night.'"
And it doesn't end there. Several channels have offered programs which claim that Jesus was a troubled youth who resorted to violence and had a relationship with a woman. The Man of Sin is preparing society for his entrance (in an open way) upon the world stage.
Pray.
Paul.
Friday, December 15, 2006
THE INCARNATION: THE SON OF GOD'S MOST PERFECT GIFT
VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 2006 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, the Holy Father met with Roman university students after their traditional mass at St. Peter's Basilica in preparation for Christmas, which was celebrated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini.
Benedict XVI stated that "Christmas gifts remind us of the most perfect gift that the Son of God gave us of himself in the Incarnation. (...) Christmas is the day in which God has given himself to human persons and this gift is made perfect, so to speak, in the Eucharist."
"The Eucharistic mystery," he continued "constitutes the privileged point of convergence between the various spheres of Christian existence, including that of intellectual pursuit. (...) The Eucharist nourishes a fruitful unity between contemplation and action in us so that we are regularly sustained with faith."
Making reference to the immanent arrival of Christmas, the Pope indicated that "in the grotto of Bethlehem we adore the same Lord who wanted to make himself our spiritual nourishment in the Eucharistic sacrament, in order to transform the world from within beginning from the human heart."
The Virgin Mary was the "first to contemplate the incarnate Word, Divine Wisdom, made human. In the Christ Child (...) she recognized God's human face in such a way that the mysterious Wisdom of the Son was impressed on the Mother's mind and heart."
"This is why," he concluded, "Mary was transformed in the "Seat of Wisdom" and is particularly venerated with this title by the Roman academic community. There is a special icon dedicated to the "Sedes Sapientiae" that, starting from Rome, has already visited various countries, making a pilgrimage through the universities. It is present here today in order to be given to the delegation from Bulgaria and Albania."
VATICAN CITY, DEC 15, 2006 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, the Holy Father met with Roman university students after their traditional mass at St. Peter's Basilica in preparation for Christmas, which was celebrated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini.
Benedict XVI stated that "Christmas gifts remind us of the most perfect gift that the Son of God gave us of himself in the Incarnation. (...) Christmas is the day in which God has given himself to human persons and this gift is made perfect, so to speak, in the Eucharist."
"The Eucharistic mystery," he continued "constitutes the privileged point of convergence between the various spheres of Christian existence, including that of intellectual pursuit. (...) The Eucharist nourishes a fruitful unity between contemplation and action in us so that we are regularly sustained with faith."
Making reference to the immanent arrival of Christmas, the Pope indicated that "in the grotto of Bethlehem we adore the same Lord who wanted to make himself our spiritual nourishment in the Eucharistic sacrament, in order to transform the world from within beginning from the human heart."
The Virgin Mary was the "first to contemplate the incarnate Word, Divine Wisdom, made human. In the Christ Child (...) she recognized God's human face in such a way that the mysterious Wisdom of the Son was impressed on the Mother's mind and heart."
"This is why," he concluded, "Mary was transformed in the "Seat of Wisdom" and is particularly venerated with this title by the Roman academic community. There is a special icon dedicated to the "Sedes Sapientiae" that, starting from Rome, has already visited various countries, making a pilgrimage through the universities. It is present here today in order to be given to the delegation from Bulgaria and Albania."