Abbey-Roads2

Benedict and Bartholomew.

Some photos are simply prophetic!

From a Roman priest’s webpage…

“Today I started early, as most days,

it was rather long.
I was at it by 06:30.
After Mass, office, scanning news,

catching up on the Pope in Turkey;
lunch with a friend - a fellow staff member.
I have been on the fly

until meeting some folks for supper…
mercifully at a place near where I live.
It is nearly 1AM now.”

He continues with a mention of what he ate and the wonderful restaurant - with a recommendation to drop his name if you ever visit there. Then there are pictures of his lunch, and of his work, and several other posts for today’s news. That is a busy day!

Sweet life!

But they are getting better!

Remember a few months back I did a sort of review on a modest fashion company called “Upstream Girl”. I didn’t like what they had to offer, I thought it too old for young girls or teens, and rather dated. They were just starting out as a company and I didn’t give them a chance by comparing them to established retailers. They have a needed concept and niche market out there; and they are responding by attempting to offer modest clothing for young women and girls.

On my way home tonight, I listened to their ad on Relevant Radio - it actually sounded rather hip - more so than I expected. So I took a look at their website to see what I’d find. I expected “Anne of Green Gables” and was surprised to find a collection of rather ‘with-it’ looks.

What they offer today is a huge improvement, sophisticated style, remaining modest, with good price points. I’m pretty sure, if they can get this product moving, they will continue to improve their selection and content, as well as style choices. If you’re shopping for a Christmas present for a young woman, maybe consider Upstream Girl.

The fledgling company may yet need better presentation and photography - that comes in time, nevertheless, the clothes are no longer dowdy - they are young and decidedly more hip. (I’d still encourage them to stay away from cutsie stuff though. Continue with the simple and classic!

I wish them continued success! They are on a mission from God!

A very funny guy.

He got his start on John Stewart’s show - and was the Goodyear nerd in television ads for Mr. Goodwrench. Dry, witty, humor - and very smart. (I got a few emails asking who he is.)

He’s like me - not that I’m as funny - but people are never sure when he’s serious or not - that’s about it as far as likeness goes.

Last night he did a segment on Benedict XVI - which I am convinced was more or less serious. Gerald has the best post with a YouTube segment on the bit - click: Cafeteria Is Closed.

Here is Colbert’s text:

“My man of the year every year is the pope - no matter who he is….Turkey is getting a healthy dose of vitamin B16…upon arrival the Pope spoke today about reaching out to Muslims (Pope’s quote)… Sorry Holiness that is too ecumenical, I liked you better when you were John Paul’s rottweiler… the ecumenical movement seeks to bring people together… the Pope’s visit is designed to bridge the gap between Christians and Muslims…the Muslims are a tad miffed, alright homicidally outraged, over a speech the Pope gave criticizing Mohamed as evil and inhuman…the Pope is trying to make amends and that is a big mistake.. Mohamed happens to be wrong (crowd is a bit shocked Colbert points at audience members and tells them sit back down)….hear me out, I am a Roman Catholic, the one true faith, (the Microsoft of religions) I know Roman Catholicism is the one true faith because Roman Catholicism tells me it’s the one true faith… I am sorry Islam, inherent in my belief is your wrongness… Muslims believe Mohamed ascended to Heaven on a horse, horses can’t fly, Jesus can!… the 72 virgin huggers are going to say Muslims do believe in Jesus, yah they believe that Jesus was just God’s friend, I hate to break it to you but anybody can be God’s friend, even Ted Haggard, God is a people person… the truth is Jesus is the only son of God (recites The Creed to applause) that’s the hometown crowd! Now what I just said is the complete truth or the Muslims are right and I am an infidel. I’ll tell you, the one thing I respect about Muslims is that at least they have the balls to say I am wrong… now when Christians try to be ecumenical we just look weak in our faith… if religions have to agree lets just agree on the one thing we both believe, the other guy is going to Hell!”

He’s got ecumenism wrong of course, as most people do - some claim that it has no meaning - I think he was trying to stir things up, be funny, but expressed a core belief in Catholicism. (Like I said Keevin, his humor is smart and very dry, and you don’t think we are funny

Benedict is fairing very well in Turkey, praise God. Aside from the prayer of the faithful, I wonder if his friend Bl. John XXIII is not offering special protection, since the Holy Father entrusted this trip to his intercession. Perhaps to reward John XXIII, the Holy Father will canonize him soon.

The media hypes this trip as something done to make peace with Islam after the uproar over the Holy Father’s remarks at an address at Regensburg in Germany awhile back.

The point of the pilgrimage, or Apostolic Visit is to meet with the Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the “First Among Equals” of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church. It is an effort to restore union to the Church. His courage in going to a land where his life has been threatened, must demonstrate dramatically to the Orthodox the Pope’s sincerity and love for The Eastern Churches, as well as his hope for unity. I think the entire world must also be impressed by his courageous actions.

May St. Andrew, the Apostle of the Eastern Churches, whose feast we celebrate tomorrow, hasten this union and continue to protect our Holy Father, Benedict XVI.

It would appear so. Doctors of the Catholic Medical Association have requested the Bishops halt the use of their controversial sexual abuse protection program, echoing almost verbatim, Fr. Altier’s impassioned criticism of the program, which many believe was the cause of his being silenced and exiled in the past year.

Catholic Parents Online and Desert Voice have been vocal supporters of Fr. Altier, while CPO has been militant in decrying the “abuse of the abuse” in the Bishop’s Abuse Prevention program - both organizations have been virtually blacklisted by the chancery in the process.

During the association’s annual conference in Boston last month, the CMA released a 55-page study that condemned programs such as “Talking About Touching” as ineffective, out-of-step with child development, and not in keeping with the Church’s teaching on the appropriate sex education of children, the National Catholic Register reported last week.

The report, entitled To Prevent and to Protect: Report of the Catholic Medical Association Task Force on the Sexual Abuse of Children and Its Prevention, echoes complaints from parents and pro-family groups against the safety programs implemented at the bishops’ 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Opponents criticized the programs for exposing young children to sexual concepts inappropriate to their age, and for burdening children with the responsibility of protecting themselves against sexual abuse. -continue, LifeSite News

What does Our Lord say in the Gospel? “Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed.” Will the Bishops now ignore the Doctors of the Catholic Medical Association as well?

Kulture Klash - not Klub…

Muslim men go through a purification process before prayer, ritual ablutions. It’s a pretty elaborate ritual. KQ was talking about it today on their “Morning Show” - I listen while I’m doing sales figures for the Store.

Today they were complaining about Muslim cab drivers who refuse to pick up blind people with seeing eye dogs - because the dogs are impure. Neither will the Muslim cab drivers pick up people carrying alcohol - Islam forbids alcohol, but I think it’s okay when they are out night clubbing - oh, wait, they can wash.

The conversation steered toward the accommodations employers make for Muslim workers, providing time for prayer as well as private spaces for the practice. The morning crew proceeded to discuss ritual ablutions. In many instances, the Muslim washes his genitals in a public washroom. In one instance an entire line of sinks was in use in one facility with Muslim men, fully exposed, washing their junk. Now employers are providing small bowls for the men to perform their ritual in the restroom stalls - I suppose for the sake of modesty. It sounds odd doesn’t it?

Why do they do this? It’s purification before prayer, much the same as suicide bombers and other ‘martyrs’ shave their bodily hair before their sacrifice, they must be ritually pure before going to prayer. Sounds pretty Old Testament doesn’t it. The washing of the genitals must be done if there has been any bodily emission, urine, seminal fluid, etc. My understanding is that even toilet paper is not enough after a bowel movement, although I haven’t heard of washing there. Here is a piece I found on the ‘normal’ ablutions:

or “The partial ablution
Before offering the prayer one must be in good shape and pure condition. It is necessary to wash the parts of the body which are generally exposed to dirt or dust or smog.
Declare the intention that the act is for the purpose of Worship and purity.

Wash the hands up to the wrists three times.
Rinse out the mouth with water three times preferably with a brush whenever it is possible.
Cleanse the nostrils of the nose by sniffing water in to them three times.
Wash the whole face three times with both hands if possible from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin and from ear to ear.
Wash the right arm three times up to the far end of the elbow and then do the same with the left arm.
Wipe the whole head or any part of it with a wet hand once.
Wipe the inner sides of the ears with the forefingers and their outer sides with the thumbs. This should be done with wet fingers.
Wipe around the neck with wet hands.
Wash the two feet up to the ankles three times beginning with the right foot.
At this stage the ablution is completed and the person who has performed it is ready to start his prayer. When the ablution is valid a person may keep it as long as he can and may use for as many prayers as he wishes.” - Muslim Prayer (So why can’t they do it at home?)

Can you imagine the water all over the floor after they are finished?

Now if they would only convert to Catholicism, all they would have to do is go to confession, then they would be really purified. (Of course, Baptism would take care of it in the beginning. Confession is only necessary for sins committed after Baptism.)

Virgil Burns+

He had been a Dominican third order member, yet transferred to the Carmelites, while his wife Joel remained a Dominican. His son is a hermit priest, founder of a religious community of Carmelite hermits in Lake Elmo. He is building a wonderful monastery with individual hermitages. His community came under the auspices of the Carmelites of the Primitive Observance a few years ago.

Mr. Burns was very proud of his son. He also began a hermitage for lay retreats, which worked well with his counseling services. He helped many people through his Catholic counseling and spiritual direction. He was a very kind and compassionate man, deeply prayerful and devout, may he rest in peace. For those of you who may have missed his obituary, it is reprinted below.

Burns, Virgil A. Age 81 Of Saint Paul died at Veterans Admin. Hospital on Sat. Nov. 18th. A loving husband, father, grand & great-grandfather, and a friend to many. Veteran of the WWII Merchant Marine & US Army Korean War. Graduate of De LaSalle H.S., St. Thomas College and the U. of M. Masters in Social Work. With his wife Joel Ann, founded the ENTHEO Retreat Center at Waconia, MN. A Secular Discalced Carmelite and a member of Knights of Columbus Council # 397. Survived by: his wife Joel Ann (Ullrich); daughters Maria Ann McCoy (Larry), Theresa Burns, Madeleine Haselman (Dan), Catherine O’Sullivan (Michael), & Cmdr. Patricia Burns (John Stephen) US Navy; sons The Rev. John Mary Burns O.Carm. , & Michael (Eileen); grandchildren Joshua, Anton, Matthew, Nicholas, Benjamin, Milissa, & Jillian; great grandchildren Deja, Matai, & Briahna; and brothers Jerome & Ralph Burns. Mass of Christian Burial 10AM Friday November 24th, 2006 at THE CHURCH of ST. MARK, Dayton & Moore Aves. St. Paul. Visitation Friday at church beginning at 8:30AM prior to Mass. Interment Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the Carmelite Monastery. Arr. O’HALLORAN & MURPHY 651-698-0796

Today is the commemoration of the apparition of the Immaculate Conception to St. Catherine Laboure at Rue d’ Bac, Paris in 1830.

Pictured is the image of the Blessed Virgin as she appeared to Alphonse Ratisbonne, an agnostic Jew, effecting in him an instantaneous conversion to the Roman Catholic Church. (The Church is in Rome and is called S. Andrea della Fratte.) Ratisbonne had been persuaded by a friend to wear the Miraculous Medal, or as it was first known, the medal of the Immaculate Conception.

As a result of his conversion, the devotion of the medal swept Europe, thus gaining recognition as the Miraculous Medal, due to countless graces generated through the devotion.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourseto thee.