The Truth About Easter Eggs

No. No, they're not. 

In the days before Henry VIII stamped out Christianity in England, eggs were listed along with meat in the Church's disciplinary regulations as foods to be avoided during the whole of Lent. On Easter Sunday, after Mass, the parishes of England would celebrate with a big breakfast (break-fast) of eggs and preserved meats: bacon and eggs, ham and eggs, sausage and eggs. 

When Henry VIII and Elizabeth I slaughtered tens of thousands of Englishmen and destroyed their churches, their religion was extirpated, but the springtime egg custom remained--even though everybody had forgotten its meaning. 

That's all that there is to it.

H/T to my FB friend, Kevin Orlin Johnson

That Tiny Little Pencil Mark or the Stroke of One Small Key

When they came for the apostrophe in Presidents’ Day, I didn’t say anything, because I wasn’t a president.

When they came for the distinction between “its” and “it’s,” I didn’t speak up, because not many people know the difference anyway.*

When they took the commas from the magazine cover story about “Rachel Ray—on Cooking Her Family and Her Dog,” I laughed half a cup of coffee through my nose, but failed otherwise to protest.

But when I objected to the misprint that confused the meanings of ‘homoousion’ and ‘homoiousion,’ they said it was all Greek to them;**

And when I insisted there was an eternity of difference between “He’ll be my comfort and my joy” and “Hell be my comfort and my joy,” there wasn’t a soul left that gave a damn.

by D. Powlett-Jones

**Homoousion; Homoiousion

(Greek: of the same substance; like in substance)
Two words used attributively of Christ; the former by the Council of Nicaea (325) which declared that Christ was consubstantial and, consequently, coeternal and coequal with the Father, in order to offset the use of the latter by a sect of the Arians which maintained that Christ, although He was not a creature, was not of one and the same substance as the Father, that He had a beginning and was only like unto the Father. (New Catholic Dictionary)

Notes:
*slightly abridged by Soutenus
H/T Lisa Salinas (thank you!)
TimesUnion.com Daniel Nester  See the UPDATE: @ Timesunion.com about the magazine cover

Messy Mondays: Ten Ways to Get the Right Guy to Like You

Wedding Feasts

This week's readings at Mass are so great!  I can't wait.

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

March in Texas

Oh, my goodness, how I love March in Texas!
I saw my first BlueBonnet today!  I got so excited that my son had serious doubts about my sanity. The Indian Paintbrushes are springing up all over (no pun intended) and the weather has been perfect!

We survived the Ides of March (thank God) and I pray for no friends like Brutus!
And now it is St. Patrick's Day followed soon by the Feast of St. Joseph on the 19th.
Many blessings to all my blogging buddies!
 
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Pot Pourri

(1) First a funny and then (2) a serious . . . . .

Found this on FaceBook:

(1) Remember, there are three religious truths:

1. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
2. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the vicar of Christ.
3. Methodists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or at strip club. 

(2) A Mark Shea's quote and then a link that exemplifies it:  

“Show me a culture that despises virginity and I’ll show you a culture that despises children.”

Sadly, I think that thid is all too applicable in our world. Read The Anchoress' post,  Pedophilia Chic; Criminal Parenting?


SOURCES: Steve Shaffer & The Anchoress

While I'm Not Personally Opposed to . . . .

I found this at a great site with Catholic commentary and cartoons by artist, Paul Nichols. . . .   Sometimes a cartoon makes a better or a more memorable point than mere words!

The artist notes that this cartoon was inspired by, and originated in, the mind of the Curt Jester.  Paul Nichols says that it is such a good idea that he is surprised no other Catholic cartoonists had thought of this one before!


Great idea Jeff!
http://splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/

Cosmic Irony?

I'm sorry . . . . I can't help but laugh at the irony: the same week the media takes the Pope's comments on condoms completely out of context - and Notre Dame defeats the Trojans.

H/T: Mark Hart

Pencil Wisdom

Life without God is like an un-sharpened pencil - it has no point.

~ Rev. Billy Graham.

Mega Church Formula

I found this on Patrick Madrid's FB page. I wasn't going to post it at first because it was so very cynical.  I couldn't get it out of my head. It has been rolling around, and peeking through my days. So, I want to save it here so I can find it later. I decided to include some of the comments over on Patrick's page.

I used to go to a mega-church and then go to Mass because I felt that the "uplifting service" added more Christian fellowship to the day. In the beginning it did feel OK to do this. Our nearby Mega-Church is indeed MEGA but I started worshiping there when it was a group of believers in a school gym. It felt like a "praise and worship" session - like a bunch of friends getting together for a Bible study or prayer group with the added benefit of really good music and fellowship.

I knew that I had not gone to church unless I attended Mass. So, of course, I went to Mass, too. Except for communion at the mega church (which I never participated in) it all seemed copacetic. I got real church (Mass) and Christian entertainment (mega church)

I eventually became a camp counselor for the mega church - I completely bought into the whole "non-denominational-coming-together-to praise-God" thing.
I was subsequently asked to go to their training class for Fellowship Leaders.
That was a bit less, shall we say, "non-denominational."  There was a clear focus on recruiting people. AND, they targeted Catholics who had fallen away and those who were not satisfied with the fellowship at their parishes. Suddenly it hit me --- it was all marketing in the upper echelon.

My image of the "non-denominational-coming-together-to praise-God" was shattered by the reality. Get behind the scenes with the movers and shakers and you learn a lot.

I am just so grateful that God lead me home.
I have heard friends who attend mega church say, "I go because church should make me feel good and they always have a great message. I want to be uplifted and motivated."
All I hear is "Me, me, me, me, me -- make me feel good'"

This funny (and sad) clip strikes dead-on accurate from my personal experiences with our nearby non-denominational, mega churches.



Some of the comments:

• That was my church before I became Catholic three years ago. The emptiness was profound.

• People leave Jesus in the Eucharist for this? CRAZY! 

• People leave Jesus in the Eucharist because 1) they don't understand its significance because eucharistic theology has been downplayed in their Catholic experience, and 2) people in churches like these know how to reach people at a personal level - too many parishes fail in that respect. It doesn't surprise me in the least. Properly formed Catholics would never leave for something like this.

• Really good!!!!! those churches just play on people's emotions and hope that is enough to draw them in.... but in the end it is meaningless worship.... not grounded in real faith and the Eucharist!

• That tattoo was the Name in God in Hebrew, the Tetragrammaton...just noticed that

• By the way, there's a little joke in here. The Hebrew tattoo deliberately incorrectly spells God's name. Instead of God's name (יהוה ), it says, ויהי , translated, "And it came to pass" or "And it was so." Of course the joke here is that people who get Hebrew tattoos really do not know how to read Hebrew at all.   From a great article here: http://www.thesacredpage.com/2010/05/worship-entertainment-vs-liturgy.html

• Yet we have to be careful how we engage evangelicals... we're not gonna convince many of them to come home by calling their services empty... and even the Catholic Church in recent years has acknowledged the truth these ecclesial communities profess... just not in its fulness, and thus never totally fulfilling like the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!

• The funny part is that they were trying to make a point about their own services being too cookie cutter, but ended up showing what the are missing something . . . the Eucharist!

• I was up at EWTN last weekend, I met a nice fellow in the gift shop and we had a great discussion. At one point he had mentioned a protestant friend of his who was a pastor at one of those mega-churches, and he told me something interesting. It seems that you need to have a BUSINESS License to run one of those churches. I don't know, but I find that rather odd.

• Yep it's scary isn't it?!?!?!? I'm also a cradle Catholic but one of my best friends goes to a mega non-denominational church and invited me once.... (Daughtry goes there!).... and that's how it was... trendy music... pastor playing on people's emotions.... people welcoming me and talking and reaching out to me, offering me information ... See Moreand stuff... but after the music and the preaching that was it... I felt like I had gone to a conference... not to a "service" and certainly not to "mass" or anything remotely close!

• I posted this several weeks ago and took sooo much heat from some Protestant friends. Hit too close to home I guess. 

• I felt empty in those pews. I don't know what anyone else felt, but it prepared me for the Catholic church so I can't exactly say it was all bad.

• So thankful to be free of this! 

• Unfortunately, many of the 'Life Teen' Masses I've attended are similar to this megachurch format in their music choices.

• We are all aware of this megachurch, underground Christianity phenomena. It will no doubt be recorded as yet another heresy...

• What is even more intriguing are the Catholics who actually stand up for their faith! Let's do it, folks, in all charity, always begging the Holy Spirit for His words not ours! Let's give ourselves fully to God, and He will write straight with crooked lines!

• I was a worship leader in a church in that vein though not a mega... The pastor wanted us to sing some songs for 20 minutes to bring the "Spirit" down.... I guess the more "worked up' people were, the more the Spirit was present. When we had communion ( maybe once a month) he would always say , "How should we do it this week". The closer I got to the Church (it took me 3 years), the more it bothered me. When I fully believed that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, but had not left the protestant church yet, I couldn't even bring myself to participate in taking communion there. It was a total circus..

• I can't get the opening song out of my head.

• This type of church helped me get back my faith, but something was missing. I figured it out, and couldn't be happier.

• I was a worship leader as well. We reached a point of no return when we were correcting our former pastor during communion. "No. It doesn't say 'represent.' It says 'is!'"

• To be honest I don't know how I feel about this video. As a convert from an evangelical background, having attended a 'megachurch', and was studying to be a minister; I found many of the people very sincere. I have found some of the same problems in Catholic parishes that try to go contemporary with the Mass. I personally enjoy contemporary Christian music outside of worship but haven't felt very comfortable with it in the context of the Mass outside of my time at FUS. The challenge is that for Catholics we know (or should know) that worship is centered around the Real Presence of Christ in our midst and so we have an innate sense that worship should have sense of the sacred. For evangelicals they only have the spoken and sung word and so the emphasis is on these things. I guess I struggle with the video as it seems to imply bad intent or that the megachurch phenomena is just a performance. I may agree with some of the observations but not the spirit of it. my 2 cents.

• As a recently confirmed Catholic convert, I came right out of a mega church right down to the video mentioning CDs at the store and lattes at the coffee shop. What's so sad to me is how now I know the presence of Christ in the Eucharist that was never quite clear at this mega Church. I always felt cheated in a way cause I didn't understand how and why it was so random was communion at this church. I had been to Mass before and NEVER took communion at mass but at the megachurch i felt obligated to do so. I must say I am so much happier at Mass and my conversion was and still is the most amazing point in my life. I like the sweetness of a little Catholic choir that doesn't get all the notes right. We still must teaches those of the megachurches and little ones to come home and come home soon!!!

• This video was on youtube and was removed because the owner (North Point media) claimed copyright concerns. Obviously, it is in the Catholic perspective, a protestant service/church. Here is the original link, along with discussion   http://www.vimeo.com/11501569

• Really funny, but sadly true....Aren't some non-denominational mega-churches franchising now? (I won't mention the name of the one I'm thinking of.)

• I loved the Starbuck's coffee cups being held by some of the people and the credits at the end (Edgy T-Shirt Award, Papyrus Font Award, Informally Dressed Pastor Award....LOL!!!).

• Yeah, at Mom's church the emphasis is on fellowship, small Bible group meetings. MyGroups they're called, but there's a whole book on the cell church. What I love is the pastor makes it a point to say that there's no heiarchy to enforce rules. Yet, Mom's MyGroup meets on a Sunday afternoon, something her church doesn't like. Yep, no rules. Just a pastor who's a dictator, it's his way or the highway.  

• I posted this on my page and had a few people angry at me. They say they enjoy this type of service and "why can't I be entertained while worshipping God?" I agree with many on here that this video is true in most respects and it's very sad. Would the Apostles recognize such a service if they walked into this concert?

• It's all about the 'fellowship'...and believe it or not, I think they do fill a need...people are so lost.

• Certainly contemporary Christian music helps people get closer, while at a Mercy Me concert or in their car. But when it's the Sunday service that puts a greater emphasis on a performance that's a problem.

  

For Trekkies Only

"If Vulcans had a church, they'd be Catholics." 

Science Fiction author John C. Wright

 Live Long and Prosper, ya'll!

SOURCES: 

http://www.splendoroftruth.com/curtjester/

http://www.dappledthings.org/mqa09/interview01.php 

http://quidsit.com/?p=671

http://www.impactwire.com/mbarticle.asp?id=773

Two Types of Couples

MY SON JUST SAID TO ME:

"Mom, you know, there are two types of couples . . . . 

There are the opposites - they fill in each other's gaps.
There are the ones that are the same - they just bond because they go together.

He'd caught me off guard . . . . .  I pondered his 10 year old wisdom for a minute or two.
"Where did you hear that," I asked.
"No where," he said. "I have just been thinking about it."

Then curiosity got the best of me and I asked,  "What are Daddy and I?"

Without missing a beat he said, "You guys are the gap fillers."

Yep, he is exactly right. :-)

Read This Only if You Know Who Mr. T is

This will make you smile!  Or, if you are like me - laugh so hard your children think you have gone a bit over the deep end. Then when you explain it to them they still won't get it! First let me give credit where credit is due -- H/T Mark Hart for observing this (However, the YouTube clip is from yours truly)

When I read Matthew 18:32-33, it's hard for me not to imagine Jesus sounding like Mr. T.
Don't remember it the Bible verses by heart?  Of course, neither did I . . . . .  here is the  Bible link :-)

Read the verse and then, if you are so inclined, watch the 1 second clip below!  :-)

Curt Jester Says it in a Nutshell

  

Stupak has now done his Lucy impression to Charlie Brown pro-lifers. Come on I will hold the football.

A Stupak is born every minute.

Rep Stupak was asked who is his favorite Bible personality - he replied "Esau of course, he was a man who knew how to trade for pottage"

I bet Sen. Ben Nelson is happy right not that pro-lifers have somebody else to turn their ire towards.

Every story about Pro-Life Democratic Politicians should begin "Once upon a time ...."   

Heaven or Hell?

While walking down the street one day, tragically, a US Senator is struck and killed instantly by a bus.

The senator's soul arrives at the entrance to heaven, where he is met by St. Peter.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “But before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the man.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the senator.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.” 

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. 

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. 

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises…

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St Peter is waiting for him.

“Now it’s time to visit heaven.” 

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. “Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.” 

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. 

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. 

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 

“I don’t understand,” stammers the senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. 

What happened?” 

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, “Yesterday, we were campaigning. Today, you voted.” 

BIG H/T to Patrick Madrid

Give Up Yer Aul Sins

Go n-eírí an bóthar leat. (May the road rise with you)

H/T: Henry Karlson and www.thesunblog.com

It's Not About Me

Morning Riddle

This morning my son had a playful twinkle in his eye and he asked me,
Mom, why did the priest bless the man BEFORE confession?

I thought  . . . . sipped my coffee . . . . pondered some more.

I looked at my son and said, "I don't know. Why did the priest bless the man BEFORE confession?"


He smiled and winked and told me . . . . . . . . 
Because he sneezed!

Partners With God?

As you probably remember, back in August '09 Obama said that,

". . . . . we are partners with God in matters of life and death".

Hmmmm, yeah, right.


Does't it make you wonder who he meant by "we"?  The Government?  Himself?  Who exactly does he think is a partner with God?

SOURCES:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09082014.html
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