"Excuse me while I filter my politics through my faith rather than the converse."
Thank you. That's what I've been trying to say.
Michelle Malkin ticked me off the other day. I really don't recall the Holy Father ever saying we should open our borders and let everyone in, but since he's in-line with Holy Mother Church and not Holy Mother Party, he's anathema.
Then again, she also says on her blog that she left the Catholic church, in part, for "its stance on illegal immigration".
Is it just me, or is that just totally backwards?
Lest anyone stumble onto this post and hang me for an amnesty enthusiest, let it be known I'm not. I think people should play by the rules, dadgummit, and people who don't pay and have never paid taxes shouldn't get tax-payers benefits (which seems like a "duh" to me). I also think Christians are called to do what they can to uphold human dignity and preserve families.
Wait... I think I just mixed parts from two opposing political view points. Crap! Take cover! Your monitor is about to explode!
I hate politics. Have I mentioned that?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Pope Posts, pt 3: A Flashback
When I was a college sophomore, long ages ago (she quipped, with tongue firmly in cheek), Pope John Paul II went home. I was, like many other Catholics, especially young Catholics, deeply affected by his passing and could not imagine having a different pope than the one I had known my whole life.
On a Tuesday morning, about two weeks after John Paul's death, a week and a half since his burial, and a day since the Conclave had begun, I was passing through the student center between classes. It was my habit to get something fast and unhealthy to eat while doing the reading I'd put off to the last possible. There was a study lounge that had once been a church, and despite the taupe paint and aisles of couches rather than pews, it still had a peaceful stillness about it that made it my go-to after I was done eating. If memory serves, that's where I was headed when I got a call (perhaps it was a text?) from my mom.
"There's white smoke!"
I stopped dead in my tracks. Where's the nearest tv?, I thought,and spun around, bolting back to the food court. Thankfully one of the monitors was already on a news network, because at that moment I had no qualms whatsoever with changing it from MTV, no matter how many people were watching. Suddenly oblivious to my peers, I dragged a chair under the TV and turned the volume up as loud as it would go, which still barely carried over the din of shuffling, munching, and gossip. My mom and a church friend were both sending me play-by-play texts as I stood under the TV with my hands over my heart and my jaw hung open.
I'd made it in time to catch that remarkable announcement: "Habemus Papam!" The sense that I was caught up with a billion other Catholics and untold other interested parties in a monumental moment grew as I watched the scores of faithful in St. Peter's doing exactly the same thing I was doing. I remember hardly being able to breath, and laughing at myself because I was about to start crying in the middle of Trabant. I never cry.
I thought, "I wonder if it's Ratzinger." His was one of the few "candidate" faces I was familiar with because he had presided at John Paul II's funeral, which I had stayed up all night to watch. I had decided I liked him.
And sure enough, his was the name called. He would now be called Benedict, and as he emerged onto the balcony, I found myself grinning ear to ear (probably looking utterly nuts to my more secularly minded bretheran), and excited. For what, I didn't know. Probably whatever it was God had in store for us through this man.
Last week, just days before the third anniversary of his election, as I was sitting in Nationals Stadium waiting for the Holy Father's arrival, my mind wandered back to that day and I again felt that unique sense of unity. Again, I simultaneously teared up and smiled.
God never disappoints.
On a Tuesday morning, about two weeks after John Paul's death, a week and a half since his burial, and a day since the Conclave had begun, I was passing through the student center between classes. It was my habit to get something fast and unhealthy to eat while doing the reading I'd put off to the last possible. There was a study lounge that had once been a church, and despite the taupe paint and aisles of couches rather than pews, it still had a peaceful stillness about it that made it my go-to after I was done eating. If memory serves, that's where I was headed when I got a call (perhaps it was a text?) from my mom.
"There's white smoke!"
I stopped dead in my tracks. Where's the nearest tv?, I thought,and spun around, bolting back to the food court. Thankfully one of the monitors was already on a news network, because at that moment I had no qualms whatsoever with changing it from MTV, no matter how many people were watching. Suddenly oblivious to my peers, I dragged a chair under the TV and turned the volume up as loud as it would go, which still barely carried over the din of shuffling, munching, and gossip. My mom and a church friend were both sending me play-by-play texts as I stood under the TV with my hands over my heart and my jaw hung open.
I'd made it in time to catch that remarkable announcement: "Habemus Papam!" The sense that I was caught up with a billion other Catholics and untold other interested parties in a monumental moment grew as I watched the scores of faithful in St. Peter's doing exactly the same thing I was doing. I remember hardly being able to breath, and laughing at myself because I was about to start crying in the middle of Trabant. I never cry.
I thought, "I wonder if it's Ratzinger." His was one of the few "candidate" faces I was familiar with because he had presided at John Paul II's funeral, which I had stayed up all night to watch. I had decided I liked him.
And sure enough, his was the name called. He would now be called Benedict, and as he emerged onto the balcony, I found myself grinning ear to ear (probably looking utterly nuts to my more secularly minded bretheran), and excited. For what, I didn't know. Probably whatever it was God had in store for us through this man.
Last week, just days before the third anniversary of his election, as I was sitting in Nationals Stadium waiting for the Holy Father's arrival, my mind wandered back to that day and I again felt that unique sense of unity. Again, I simultaneously teared up and smiled.
God never disappoints.
Pope Posts, pt 2: A Plethora of Papa Pictures
Truthfully, it's not quite a plethora, but I couldn't let an alliteration like that go.
I've yet to figure out how to slow the blasted thing down. You can click through one at a time, or see the pictures bigger and at your own pace by clicking on the little logo in the bottom right corner.
I've yet to figure out how to slow the blasted thing down. You can click through one at a time, or see the pictures bigger and at your own pace by clicking on the little logo in the bottom right corner.
Monday, April 21, 2008
My room exploded
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Pope Posts, pt 1.5: Promise to Post More
I know, I'm the lamest blogger ever.
I have quite a few pictures and puny thoughts to share, but have not yet gone through the process of picking which from the well of the aforementioned I will actually thrust upon you.
In the meantime, check out the little thingy on the right, in which you will see some of my "shared" posts from other, better blogs. Good stuff.
I have quite a few pictures and puny thoughts to share, but have not yet gone through the process of picking which from the well of the aforementioned I will actually thrust upon you.
In the meantime, check out the little thingy on the right, in which you will see some of my "shared" posts from other, better blogs. Good stuff.
Pope Posts, pt 1: A Pleasant Surprise
My internal monologue sitting in Nationals Stadium reading the program after communion: Oh, I love Panis Angelicus. Good choice. Wait, wha--? Placido Domingo?? Like, the actual guy? No way. (Placido appears on the giant screen) Well look at that. Cool! Hey! Everyone quit clapping, we're at mass!
- Panis angelicus
- fit panis hominum;
- Dat panis coelicus
- figuris terminum:
- O res mirabilis!
- Manducat Dominum
- Pauper, servus et humilis.
- Te trina Deitas
- unaque poscimus:
- Sic nos tu visita,
- sicut te colimus;
- Per tuas semitas
- duc nos quo tendimus,
- Ad lucem quam inhabitas.
- Amen.
Translation:
- The Bread of Angels
- becomes the bread of men;
- The Bread of heaven
- ends all prefigurations:
- What wonder!
- a poor and humble servant
- consumes him, the Lord.
- We beg of You,
- God, One in Three
- that you visit us,
- as we worship You.
- By your ways,
- lead us who seek
- the light in which You dwell.
- Amen.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A few more people than yesterday
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Papal choir practice
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