This is the way all stories go, says my younger brother.
Bliss: the First Step. Two young adults get married, and it is the happiest time of their life, filled with bliss, bliss, and more bliss. They know this is the best time in their lives. Next is the second step: Miss. Husband goes off to war and is gone for a very long time. They miss each other very much. These are the unhappy times, when they each are dying to see each other but don't even know if their spouse is still alive. Next comes the third step: Kiss. This happens when the husband comes home from the war. they are very happy and they kiss. These are by far even happier times than the "bliss" period. And then, as all stories end, they live happily for the rest of their lives.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Jetter to Jackie (Commander John J. Shea, U.S.N.)
Commander John Shea served aboard the U.S.S. Wasp, an aircraft carrier, during WWII. He wrote this letter to his young son, and it still stands as an example of honor, patriotism, and Catholicity.
June 19, 1942
Dear Jackie:
This is the first letter I ha e written directly to you my little son. I am thrilled to know you can read it all by yourself. If you miss some of the words, Mother will help you, I am sure.
I was certainly glad to hear your voice on the long-distance telephone. It sounded as if I were right in the living room with ou. You sounded as if you missed Daddy very much. I miss you too, more than anyone will ever know. It is too bad this war could not have been delayed a few years, so that I could grow up again with you and do all the things I planned, when you were older.
How nice it would have been to come home early in the afternoon and play ball and go mountain climing and see the trees and brooks, to learn all about woodcraft, hunting, fishing, swimming and other things like that. I suppose we must be brave and put these things off now for awhile.
When you are a little bigger, you will know why Daddy is not home so much any more. We have a big country, with ideals as to how people should live and enjoy its riches, how each is born with equal rights to life, freedom, and pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, there are countries in the world wehre they don't have these ideals; where a boy can't grow up to what he wants to be -- such as a great priest, a statesman, a doctor, a soldier, or a businessman.
Because of these countries who want to change our nation, its ideals, its form of government and way of life, we must leave our homes and families to fight. Defending our country, ideals, homes, and honor is a duty which Daddy must do vefore he can come home to you and Mother. When it is done, he is coming home to be with you always and forever. So wait just a little while longer. I'm afraid it will be more than the two weeks you told me on the phone.
Meanwhile, take good care of Mother, be a good boy, and grow up to be a good young man. Study hard at school. Be a leader in everything good in life. Be a good Catholic, and you can't help being a good American. Play fair always. Strive to win; but if you lose, lose like a gentleman and a good sportsman. Don't ever be a quitter, either in sports or in your work when you grow up. Get all the education you can. Stay close to Mother and follow her advice. Obey her in everything, no matter how you may at times disagree. She knows what is the best and will never let you down or lead you away from the right and honerable things of life.
If I don't get back, you'll have to be Mother's protector because you will be the only one she has. You must grow up to take my place as well as your own in her life and heart. Love Grandmother and Grandad as long as they live. They, to, will never let you down. Love your aunts and see them often. Last of all, don't ever forget Daddy. Pray for him to come back; and if it is God's will that he does not, be the kind of boy and man Daddy wants you to be. Kiss Mother for me every night. Goodby for now. With all my love and debotion for Mother and you,
Your Daddy.
Commander Shea went down with his ship during the Battle of the Solomons in November 1942, just 5 months after writing to his son.
June 19, 1942
Dear Jackie:
This is the first letter I ha e written directly to you my little son. I am thrilled to know you can read it all by yourself. If you miss some of the words, Mother will help you, I am sure.
I was certainly glad to hear your voice on the long-distance telephone. It sounded as if I were right in the living room with ou. You sounded as if you missed Daddy very much. I miss you too, more than anyone will ever know. It is too bad this war could not have been delayed a few years, so that I could grow up again with you and do all the things I planned, when you were older.
How nice it would have been to come home early in the afternoon and play ball and go mountain climing and see the trees and brooks, to learn all about woodcraft, hunting, fishing, swimming and other things like that. I suppose we must be brave and put these things off now for awhile.
When you are a little bigger, you will know why Daddy is not home so much any more. We have a big country, with ideals as to how people should live and enjoy its riches, how each is born with equal rights to life, freedom, and pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, there are countries in the world wehre they don't have these ideals; where a boy can't grow up to what he wants to be -- such as a great priest, a statesman, a doctor, a soldier, or a businessman.
Because of these countries who want to change our nation, its ideals, its form of government and way of life, we must leave our homes and families to fight. Defending our country, ideals, homes, and honor is a duty which Daddy must do vefore he can come home to you and Mother. When it is done, he is coming home to be with you always and forever. So wait just a little while longer. I'm afraid it will be more than the two weeks you told me on the phone.
Meanwhile, take good care of Mother, be a good boy, and grow up to be a good young man. Study hard at school. Be a leader in everything good in life. Be a good Catholic, and you can't help being a good American. Play fair always. Strive to win; but if you lose, lose like a gentleman and a good sportsman. Don't ever be a quitter, either in sports or in your work when you grow up. Get all the education you can. Stay close to Mother and follow her advice. Obey her in everything, no matter how you may at times disagree. She knows what is the best and will never let you down or lead you away from the right and honerable things of life.
If I don't get back, you'll have to be Mother's protector because you will be the only one she has. You must grow up to take my place as well as your own in her life and heart. Love Grandmother and Grandad as long as they live. They, to, will never let you down. Love your aunts and see them often. Last of all, don't ever forget Daddy. Pray for him to come back; and if it is God's will that he does not, be the kind of boy and man Daddy wants you to be. Kiss Mother for me every night. Goodby for now. With all my love and debotion for Mother and you,
Your Daddy.
Commander Shea went down with his ship during the Battle of the Solomons in November 1942, just 5 months after writing to his son.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
The One Thing Necessary
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, one of the holiest men in the last century, spoke on prayer on many occasions. Regarding the difficulties facing the world today, someone asked him what was the greatest crisis in the present day. He did not mention wars, crimes against humanity, genocide, abortion, contraception, the lack of respect for the sacred, unfaithfulness, sexual promiscuity, materialism, or the breaking of the family. He responded that the single most regretable and dangerous evil of our day is the lack of prayer. It is so great, that the world is being lost to the Devil because of it. St. Pio went on to say that one who prays very much will be saved; those who pray little are in great danger; and those who do not pray are lost. (Yipe!)
There is and has been for many centuries an over-emphasis on works to the extent where prayer itself was left unfinished or completely done away with. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is known for her work and helping the poor, but she always spent several hours every day, at least two (not including communal prayer and Mass) in prayer. It is what allows us to do works, to merit for Christ.
May God bless us and guide us, and keep us safe. And may the souls of the Faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
There is and has been for many centuries an over-emphasis on works to the extent where prayer itself was left unfinished or completely done away with. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is known for her work and helping the poor, but she always spent several hours every day, at least two (not including communal prayer and Mass) in prayer. It is what allows us to do works, to merit for Christ.
May God bless us and guide us, and keep us safe. And may the souls of the Faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Excuses! Excuses!
My favorite is the fifth one =). Some of these you have to think about for a bit before they strike you as funny. Think about it in the context of what the person was really trying to say.
Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.
The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intentions.
I thought my window was down, but found it was up when I put my hand through it.
A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.
The guy was all over the road! I had to swerve several times before I hit him.
I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and drove over the embankment.
In my attempt to kill a fly I drove into a telephone pole.
Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don’t have.
The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intentions.
I thought my window was down, but found it was up when I put my hand through it.
A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.
The guy was all over the road! I had to swerve several times before I hit him.
I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and drove over the embankment.
In my attempt to kill a fly I drove into a telephone pole.
The Narrow Path (original post June 26)
I heard a sermon this morning (6-26-07) that struck me very deeply. It was on Matt 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
The path to heaven is narrow, and few find it. The road to hell is wide, easy to find, and many choose it. Father (meaning the priest) pointed out that everyone knows the wide road, the path of least resistance. No matter what culture, religion, or education a person has, the wide road is easily accessible and readily available at all times. The choice is so very easy that people don’t even have to think about it or deliberate their choices. I know the wide road, the road of materialism, selfishness, license, envy, discontent, ingratitude, pride, etc. I engage in them so often without even realizing it. Our Lord says in today’s gospel (6-25-07) that it is the road to hell, and is much traveled.
The Narrow Path, on the other hand, is difficult to find. Father said this means one must make a conscious effort to search for it, must persevere and stick it out for the long haul because this path takes a while to find. Furthermore, when one finds it and begins to travel the road of righteousness, he discovers many times along the way how he is still desiring to travel the wide road, and perhaps he is actually following it though he thought he was on the narrow road. Few find it, and even fewer decide to follow it. Few? Ack! I’m in trouble!
Father’s homily today led me to thinking, about whether I am on actually on the wide path. Do I just find comfort and satisfaction thinking I’m on the narrow when I’m only tricking myself? The choices I make everyday, to disagree with someone on account of my pride, even if only inwardly, are ultimately what leads to one road or another. The choice to talk or think ill of someone; the choice to continue to ruminate over things that have passed; the choice to read an “inspirational story” instead of praying or reading the Scriptures; the choice to take a second helping when I don’t need it and could very well offer it up for poor sinners; forgetting to pray for our priests, an end to abortion, those on death row, the poor, the pope, the Holy Souls in Purgatory; I choose to make some disrespectful gesture, such as rolling my eyes; inwardly seething about a rude customer; thinking disrespect or judging those who deserve my respect by virtue of their stature in my life; omitting my prayers in order to sleep, listen to music, etc.; gossiping, or even if not engaging in gossip myself, listening to it. The little things of every day are ultimately the choice of the narrow or wide.
Perhaps it is a coincidence, but today is also the feast of St. Josemarie Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. The society’s main focus is to encourage its members to live the Life in Christ, to live their Catholic Faith, out every day in their every thought, word, and deed. St. Paul said that you must “pray without ceasing,” but I have met very few people who think that those words were to be taken literally, or even could be. After careful deliberation and many experiences to the converse, I submit that we are to pray always and it is possible. When I am driving to work, I’ve an entire 15 minutes by myself, time to talk to God instead of listening to music. Or, when I’m doing the laundry, I could very well be praying instead of thinking about the latest thing that has come along to irritate my all too touchy sensitivities. Opus Dei, like the Little Way of St. Therese, encourages people to make each act of the day into a prayer, a little act of love for God and His people. Making your bed (if you do that every day ;-)), rinsing dishes, cleaning the toilet, setting the table, waiting at a red light, giving up extra portions and curbing road rage (you know, little words and feelings you let out when other drivers do something stupid or dangerous), and actually offering a compliment or encouragement to family members are all times when a good may be offered to God that will contribute to someone’s salvation. One of the most difficult of sacrifices is to forgo fighting back. Someone gets angry at you, and you choose to remain calm and not get angry, even internally. I have never yet succeeded at this one (sigh).
The Narrow road is the shortest road and in a certain sense the easiest. It is direct, and also ensures that once begun, you will continue to see more and more things which keep you from following Our Lord with your entire being. Once you start down the wide road, it takes a long time to find the narrow again, and it is very difficult to stop sinful behaviors because they become addictive, especially judging, gossip, sexual sins, gluttony, and falsehoods.
Thank God for a universal Church! All of our elder brothers and sisters in the faith, the Saints and the Holy Souls in Purgatory, testify that we can definitely make it to heaven, and they want us. They never tire night or day, guarding us, praying for us, and seeking to guide us in any way possible. God did not stop there in His efforts to get us to heaven! He gave us the Crown of Creation, Our Lady Mary, as our own mother. The most perfect of all things created by Our Lord, she is the model and the fascination of all virtues. Since He cannot refuse her requests, I would highly recommend taking anything and everything to her Immaculate Heart. Further, there are the guardian angels, a holy and pure being assigned to care for and watch over you and only you! Just you, and your angel, together in the battle blessed by the Lord.
Though the Narrow road be hard to find and difficult to travel, Our Lord has, in my opinion, given us many helps along the way. All we’ve got to do is snatch them up. Go ahead, be greedy! These assets are there just so you can find heaven. Don’t think that you are the only one having difficulty on the Narrow, because I certainly am! We’ve got to pray for each other on the way. If you sanctify yourself, and you will sanctify your families, your workplaces, our society and our country.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
The path to heaven is narrow, and few find it. The road to hell is wide, easy to find, and many choose it. Father (meaning the priest) pointed out that everyone knows the wide road, the path of least resistance. No matter what culture, religion, or education a person has, the wide road is easily accessible and readily available at all times. The choice is so very easy that people don’t even have to think about it or deliberate their choices. I know the wide road, the road of materialism, selfishness, license, envy, discontent, ingratitude, pride, etc. I engage in them so often without even realizing it. Our Lord says in today’s gospel (6-25-07) that it is the road to hell, and is much traveled.
The Narrow Path, on the other hand, is difficult to find. Father said this means one must make a conscious effort to search for it, must persevere and stick it out for the long haul because this path takes a while to find. Furthermore, when one finds it and begins to travel the road of righteousness, he discovers many times along the way how he is still desiring to travel the wide road, and perhaps he is actually following it though he thought he was on the narrow road. Few find it, and even fewer decide to follow it. Few? Ack! I’m in trouble!
Father’s homily today led me to thinking, about whether I am on actually on the wide path. Do I just find comfort and satisfaction thinking I’m on the narrow when I’m only tricking myself? The choices I make everyday, to disagree with someone on account of my pride, even if only inwardly, are ultimately what leads to one road or another. The choice to talk or think ill of someone; the choice to continue to ruminate over things that have passed; the choice to read an “inspirational story” instead of praying or reading the Scriptures; the choice to take a second helping when I don’t need it and could very well offer it up for poor sinners; forgetting to pray for our priests, an end to abortion, those on death row, the poor, the pope, the Holy Souls in Purgatory; I choose to make some disrespectful gesture, such as rolling my eyes; inwardly seething about a rude customer; thinking disrespect or judging those who deserve my respect by virtue of their stature in my life; omitting my prayers in order to sleep, listen to music, etc.; gossiping, or even if not engaging in gossip myself, listening to it. The little things of every day are ultimately the choice of the narrow or wide.
Perhaps it is a coincidence, but today is also the feast of St. Josemarie Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. The society’s main focus is to encourage its members to live the Life in Christ, to live their Catholic Faith, out every day in their every thought, word, and deed. St. Paul said that you must “pray without ceasing,” but I have met very few people who think that those words were to be taken literally, or even could be. After careful deliberation and many experiences to the converse, I submit that we are to pray always and it is possible. When I am driving to work, I’ve an entire 15 minutes by myself, time to talk to God instead of listening to music. Or, when I’m doing the laundry, I could very well be praying instead of thinking about the latest thing that has come along to irritate my all too touchy sensitivities. Opus Dei, like the Little Way of St. Therese, encourages people to make each act of the day into a prayer, a little act of love for God and His people. Making your bed (if you do that every day ;-)), rinsing dishes, cleaning the toilet, setting the table, waiting at a red light, giving up extra portions and curbing road rage (you know, little words and feelings you let out when other drivers do something stupid or dangerous), and actually offering a compliment or encouragement to family members are all times when a good may be offered to God that will contribute to someone’s salvation. One of the most difficult of sacrifices is to forgo fighting back. Someone gets angry at you, and you choose to remain calm and not get angry, even internally. I have never yet succeeded at this one (sigh).
The Narrow road is the shortest road and in a certain sense the easiest. It is direct, and also ensures that once begun, you will continue to see more and more things which keep you from following Our Lord with your entire being. Once you start down the wide road, it takes a long time to find the narrow again, and it is very difficult to stop sinful behaviors because they become addictive, especially judging, gossip, sexual sins, gluttony, and falsehoods.
Thank God for a universal Church! All of our elder brothers and sisters in the faith, the Saints and the Holy Souls in Purgatory, testify that we can definitely make it to heaven, and they want us. They never tire night or day, guarding us, praying for us, and seeking to guide us in any way possible. God did not stop there in His efforts to get us to heaven! He gave us the Crown of Creation, Our Lady Mary, as our own mother. The most perfect of all things created by Our Lord, she is the model and the fascination of all virtues. Since He cannot refuse her requests, I would highly recommend taking anything and everything to her Immaculate Heart. Further, there are the guardian angels, a holy and pure being assigned to care for and watch over you and only you! Just you, and your angel, together in the battle blessed by the Lord.
Though the Narrow road be hard to find and difficult to travel, Our Lord has, in my opinion, given us many helps along the way. All we’ve got to do is snatch them up. Go ahead, be greedy! These assets are there just so you can find heaven. Don’t think that you are the only one having difficulty on the Narrow, because I certainly am! We’ve got to pray for each other on the way. If you sanctify yourself, and you will sanctify your families, your workplaces, our society and our country.
Riverdance: American Wake
In the deep night, in a dark place, I hear voices calling out in heartache;
They are wounded, they are broken, but their spirit rises when awoken.
Chorus
Yes, they may be poor in birth, but, yes, how great each one is worth!
Heal their hearts! Feed their souls! Their lives can be golden if Your love enfolds.
In their dream times, in their visions how they always hunger after freedom,
Every heart, Lord, every dark road, leads them on to reach a new horizon.
Chorus
Lord, where is our freedom?
When will our hope begin
Lord what of the promise you made; when will it come?
We have waited for the time for the truth to live, when justice will shine.
Too long those hands of freed held on and made us bleed!
When will your people breathe? Lord will it come?
Lord what of our children?
Will they always depend on You?
Lord why are they scattered and torn, and their young hearts in chains?
How they hunger for liberty, feel their hatred of poverty.
Let their spirits rise soaring free!
Lord let it come!Our day will come!
Lord where is our freedom?
When will our hope begin?
Lord what of the promise you made; when will it come?
We have waited for the time for the truth to live, when justice will shine.
Too long, those hands of freed held on and made us bleed!
When will your people breathe? Lord will it come?
When will your people breathe? Lord let it come!
They are wounded, they are broken, but their spirit rises when awoken.
Chorus
Yes, they may be poor in birth, but, yes, how great each one is worth!
Heal their hearts! Feed their souls! Their lives can be golden if Your love enfolds.
In their dream times, in their visions how they always hunger after freedom,
Every heart, Lord, every dark road, leads them on to reach a new horizon.
Chorus
Lord, where is our freedom?
When will our hope begin
Lord what of the promise you made; when will it come?
We have waited for the time for the truth to live, when justice will shine.
Too long those hands of freed held on and made us bleed!
When will your people breathe? Lord will it come?
Lord what of our children?
Will they always depend on You?
Lord why are they scattered and torn, and their young hearts in chains?
How they hunger for liberty, feel their hatred of poverty.
Let their spirits rise soaring free!
Lord let it come!Our day will come!
Lord where is our freedom?
When will our hope begin?
Lord what of the promise you made; when will it come?
We have waited for the time for the truth to live, when justice will shine.
Too long, those hands of freed held on and made us bleed!
When will your people breathe? Lord will it come?
When will your people breathe? Lord let it come!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
I did pass the test! I passed my CNA exam, both parts! Thank God. When I took the woman's pulse, I got a 51, and thought that it was definitely not right, so I just wrote down 58. apparently, the 58 was within two marks of the tester's reading, so I passed! Hurrah! God is truly good.
I am working at a home for severely disabled children for the summer as an activities assistant. I'm going to be posting a few posts on the kids later.
I am working at a home for severely disabled children for the summer as an activities assistant. I'm going to be posting a few posts on the kids later.
Decaloug for Drivers (copied from Catholic.org)
In a June 19 release of the document "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road" in the Holy See Press Officer here, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People focused on pastoral care of road users, street children and the homeless and pastoral ministry for the liberation of street women.
The document notes that driving can be a positive spiritual endeavor if drivers accept their responsibilities of living their faith behind the wheel.
“Those who know Jesus Christ are careful on the roads...They don’t only think about themselves, and are not always worried about getting to their destination in a great hurry,” it adds. “They see the people who ‘accompany’ them on the road, each of whom has their own life, their own desire to reach a destination and their own problems. They see everyone as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God. This is the attitude that characterizes a Christian driver.”
While acknowledging that “road vehicles give us many advantages” as rapid means of transport, the Vatican document they “may also be abused.”
It points to the some 35 million people who lost their lives in road accidents and to the about 1½ billion who were injured in the 20th century, adding that in 2000 alone there were more than 1.2 million deaths, with 90 percent of accidents estimated to be due to human error.
“The harm caused to the families of those involved in accidents, as well as the protracted consequences for the injured, who all too often are permanently disabled, should also be borne in mind,” it says. “In addition to harm to persons, the enormous damage to material goods should also be taken into account.”
Among unhealthy actions and “unbalanced behavior” that lead to potential accidents, injury and death and certain physical and spiritual danger include: disregard for road signs as “almost a curtailment” of supposed rights; “domination” of other drivers through reckless passing, over-acceleration and/or excessive speed; showing off; driving when physically or mentally incapacitated, under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs or in a state of exhaustion; reckless use of motorbikes and motorcycles; road rage; cursing and rudeness.
“For some drivers,” the document says, “the unbalanced behavior is expressed in insignificant ways, whilst in others it may produce serious excesses that depend on character, level of education, an incapacity for self-control and the lack of a sense of responsibility.”
Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, said that the document’s aim "is to guide and coordinate all the ecclesial bodies in the world of the pastoral care of the road, and to encourage and stimulate episcopal conferences of countries in which this form of pastoral care does not exist, to organize it."
"Church and state, each in its own field, must work to create a generalized public awareness on the question of road safety and promote, using all possible means."
Referring to the evangelization of the road, the president of the pontifical council recalled that the church also aims at "the religious formation of car drivers, professional transporters, passengers and all those people who, in one way or another, are associated with roads and railways." In this context, he recalled the fact that in many countries there are "fixed or mobile highway chapels, and pastoral workers who visit motorway service areas and periodically celebrate liturgies there."
The "Ten Commandments" for drivers, as listed in the document, are:
I. You shall not kill.
II. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
III. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
IV. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
V. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination and an occasion of sin.
VI. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
VII. Support the families of accident victims.
VIII. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
IX. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
X. Feel responsible toward others.
The document notes that driving can be a positive spiritual endeavor if drivers accept their responsibilities of living their faith behind the wheel.
“Those who know Jesus Christ are careful on the roads...They don’t only think about themselves, and are not always worried about getting to their destination in a great hurry,” it adds. “They see the people who ‘accompany’ them on the road, each of whom has their own life, their own desire to reach a destination and their own problems. They see everyone as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God. This is the attitude that characterizes a Christian driver.”
While acknowledging that “road vehicles give us many advantages” as rapid means of transport, the Vatican document they “may also be abused.”
It points to the some 35 million people who lost their lives in road accidents and to the about 1½ billion who were injured in the 20th century, adding that in 2000 alone there were more than 1.2 million deaths, with 90 percent of accidents estimated to be due to human error.
“The harm caused to the families of those involved in accidents, as well as the protracted consequences for the injured, who all too often are permanently disabled, should also be borne in mind,” it says. “In addition to harm to persons, the enormous damage to material goods should also be taken into account.”
Among unhealthy actions and “unbalanced behavior” that lead to potential accidents, injury and death and certain physical and spiritual danger include: disregard for road signs as “almost a curtailment” of supposed rights; “domination” of other drivers through reckless passing, over-acceleration and/or excessive speed; showing off; driving when physically or mentally incapacitated, under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs or in a state of exhaustion; reckless use of motorbikes and motorcycles; road rage; cursing and rudeness.
“For some drivers,” the document says, “the unbalanced behavior is expressed in insignificant ways, whilst in others it may produce serious excesses that depend on character, level of education, an incapacity for self-control and the lack of a sense of responsibility.”
Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, said that the document’s aim "is to guide and coordinate all the ecclesial bodies in the world of the pastoral care of the road, and to encourage and stimulate episcopal conferences of countries in which this form of pastoral care does not exist, to organize it."
"Church and state, each in its own field, must work to create a generalized public awareness on the question of road safety and promote, using all possible means."
Referring to the evangelization of the road, the president of the pontifical council recalled that the church also aims at "the religious formation of car drivers, professional transporters, passengers and all those people who, in one way or another, are associated with roads and railways." In this context, he recalled the fact that in many countries there are "fixed or mobile highway chapels, and pastoral workers who visit motorway service areas and periodically celebrate liturgies there."
The "Ten Commandments" for drivers, as listed in the document, are:
I. You shall not kill.
II. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
III. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
IV. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
V. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination and an occasion of sin.
VI. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
VII. Support the families of accident victims.
VIII. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
IX. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
X. Feel responsible toward others.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
I just got back from taking the Virginia State Board of Nursing Certified Nurses Aid examination. I hate pulses. I can't find radials on anybody, and when I do, the pulses goes away. Darn! I really hope that pulse actually was 58BPM. Sigh.
Other than that, life is pretty dull, with a few high points. Yesterday I got home from work and was greeted by Daniel knocking on my door before I could open it. The big eyed kid was eager to tell me "something horrible happened while you were gone." Peter broke his hand. Today, Bernadette stepped on a bee and her foot has swelled up. I have been coerced into watching Freaky Friday (the old one) so more update later.
Other than that, life is pretty dull, with a few high points. Yesterday I got home from work and was greeted by Daniel knocking on my door before I could open it. The big eyed kid was eager to tell me "something horrible happened while you were gone." Peter broke his hand. Today, Bernadette stepped on a bee and her foot has swelled up. I have been coerced into watching Freaky Friday (the old one) so more update later.
Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears
(this song is beautiful, and offers an adventure for the heart into the history of your ancestors if they, like mine, are from Ireland.>
On the first day of January Eighteen Ninety-two,
They opened Ellis Island and they let the people through.
And the first to cross the threshold of the Isle of hope and tears
Was Annie Moore from Ireland who was all of fifteen years.
Chorus
Isle of hope, Isle of tears, Isle of Freedom, Isle of fears,
But it's not the Isle I left behind;
That Isle of hunger, Isle of pain, Isle you'll never see again,
But the Isle of home is always on your mind
In her little bag she carried all her past and history
And her dreams for the future in the Land of Liberty.
And courage is the passport when your old world disappears,
'cause there's no future in the past when you're fifteen years.
When they closed down Ellis Island in nineteen forty-three
Seventeen million people had come there for sanctuary.
And in the springtime when I came here and stepped onto its piers,
I thought of how it must have felt when you're only fifteen years.
The Isle of home is always on your mind.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Loneliness
“At times (more often than I’d like to admit) I get a feeling that I’m totally cut off from the world, that there is no one out in the great big world who cares about me, and no one would miss me if I were to suddenly vanish. I want them to miss me. I want someone to talk to, with whom to share my deeper feelings, but I have no such friend. They would probably be glad not to have to send an extra Christmas card…”
Well, that sort of thinking is a little extreme toward the end, but, it expresses a certain sentiment which all social beings experience at one time or other: loneliness, the feeling that one is alone and has no one to turn to… and not by choice. Loneliness is a kennan knowledge, a knowledge which cannot be known definitions and study, but by experience. It is subjective, hence the word meaning of Lone=alone. Certain persons, by virtue of their unique temperaments, are more prone to loneliness than others, and these temperaments therefore face more difficulties in that they must be careful not to wallow in self-pity, and must make a conscious effort to prevent these thoughts from controlling them.
These persons who are particularly beset by loneliness often forget that the reason behind the loneliness is usually their own doing, is a severely self-centered feeling. Furthermore, loneliness is usually brought on by cutting the self off from one’s fellow men, either in actuality or in the mind. This is not to say that loneliness can be unavoidable, say for instance, in the case that several of his dearest friends have double crossed a certain man and then abandoned him. He is very like to feel not only sadness at the loss of friendships (or that which was perceived as such) but also loneliness, precisely because he finds himself alone. Therefore, loneliness is at times unavoidable and legitimate. At other times, though, it is one of those battles for mastery over one’s failings.
I was in one of my very lonely bouts during a difficult time in school and emotional health (they seem to affect each other overmuch for some strange reason), and my sister called me on the phone. She didn’t know what I was going through, but was excited to offer a reflection that she had recently read. “The basic cause of loneliness is the excessive desire to be loved, for this creates an atmosphere of lovelessness. The more we seek to be loved, the less we are loved. The less we are loved, the less lovable we become. And the less lovable we become, the less capable we become of loving anyone else. Like a bird caught in a net, we deepen our tragedy.” Sort of made a lot of sense, and made me feel sort of, shall me say, ashamed? =D
Cures for loneliness? I submit performing acts of charity, constant mental prayer, and focusing on doing things for other specifically because it helps others and not because you are seeking any reward or returned feelings.
Well, that sort of thinking is a little extreme toward the end, but, it expresses a certain sentiment which all social beings experience at one time or other: loneliness, the feeling that one is alone and has no one to turn to… and not by choice. Loneliness is a kennan knowledge, a knowledge which cannot be known definitions and study, but by experience. It is subjective, hence the word meaning of Lone=alone. Certain persons, by virtue of their unique temperaments, are more prone to loneliness than others, and these temperaments therefore face more difficulties in that they must be careful not to wallow in self-pity, and must make a conscious effort to prevent these thoughts from controlling them.
These persons who are particularly beset by loneliness often forget that the reason behind the loneliness is usually their own doing, is a severely self-centered feeling. Furthermore, loneliness is usually brought on by cutting the self off from one’s fellow men, either in actuality or in the mind. This is not to say that loneliness can be unavoidable, say for instance, in the case that several of his dearest friends have double crossed a certain man and then abandoned him. He is very like to feel not only sadness at the loss of friendships (or that which was perceived as such) but also loneliness, precisely because he finds himself alone. Therefore, loneliness is at times unavoidable and legitimate. At other times, though, it is one of those battles for mastery over one’s failings.
I was in one of my very lonely bouts during a difficult time in school and emotional health (they seem to affect each other overmuch for some strange reason), and my sister called me on the phone. She didn’t know what I was going through, but was excited to offer a reflection that she had recently read. “The basic cause of loneliness is the excessive desire to be loved, for this creates an atmosphere of lovelessness. The more we seek to be loved, the less we are loved. The less we are loved, the less lovable we become. And the less lovable we become, the less capable we become of loving anyone else. Like a bird caught in a net, we deepen our tragedy.” Sort of made a lot of sense, and made me feel sort of, shall me say, ashamed? =D
Cures for loneliness? I submit performing acts of charity, constant mental prayer, and focusing on doing things for other specifically because it helps others and not because you are seeking any reward or returned feelings.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Granny's Condition
Well, my grandmother's condition demands special prayers because she is on her way to the next life. She has been on a ventilator for the past 3 years, 3L of O2 24/7, and now she is no longer eating. (This is actually a normal part of the dying process because blood no longer flows to the stomach as much. The body is shutting off, so it is, at this point, cruel to force them to eat or to put in a feeding tube.) During the ordeals of the last three years, as she has suffered very much and her body has slowly deteriorated, she has returned to the practice of the Faith. She had stopped practicing the Catholic Faith (or any for that matter) 21 years back, and has now turned to God. For the past 2 years my father has brought her communion after mass, and two nights ago, she asked for Holy Viaticum. She has pneumonia (again) and this time, we are told, it can only be managed and not gotten rid of.
My mother is the only one of Granny's 10 children who is practicing any sort of faith, with the possible exception of one Aunt. My Grandfather, who is a Baptist and never converted, is taking the whole thing very hard and is very sad, worn out, and tired all around.
I am certain she is in the last stage of her life. Please keep her, my grandfather, and the rest of the family in your prayers. Offer Rosaries and Masses for her if you are able. Her name is Anne.
Lord, guard all those who will die tonight and allow them to turn to your mercy in the last moments of their life. Give to them peace and comfort, especially those who must die alone. May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
My mother is the only one of Granny's 10 children who is practicing any sort of faith, with the possible exception of one Aunt. My Grandfather, who is a Baptist and never converted, is taking the whole thing very hard and is very sad, worn out, and tired all around.
I am certain she is in the last stage of her life. Please keep her, my grandfather, and the rest of the family in your prayers. Offer Rosaries and Masses for her if you are able. Her name is Anne.
Lord, guard all those who will die tonight and allow them to turn to your mercy in the last moments of their life. Give to them peace and comfort, especially those who must die alone. May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
Friday, May 18, 2007
Some favorite slogans and quotes
"When you call me that, smile."
"He's two, but I'm two three."
"You three-faced triple crosser."
"I child-proofed my house, but they still keep getting in."
"Girls are from the dark side, and exist solely to make boys lives difficult and give them a reason to rely on God." Fr. Moss
"When I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!"
"I brought you into this world and I can take you out!" (an enraged parent)
"The Soprano, she's a big...ah...well, she carries alot of weight through the Opera. She's about 4 and a half feet tall, lying down. And she comes in from the left side of the stage in a single pile."
"It isn't my fault! I didn't want to be a monster! The gods willed it!"
"You want hair, marry a monkey."
"He's the only man I know who was born at the bottom and went down in the world."
"He's two, but I'm two three."
"You three-faced triple crosser."
"I child-proofed my house, but they still keep getting in."
"Girls are from the dark side, and exist solely to make boys lives difficult and give them a reason to rely on God." Fr. Moss
"When I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!"
"I brought you into this world and I can take you out!" (an enraged parent)
"The Soprano, she's a big...ah...well, she carries alot of weight through the Opera. She's about 4 and a half feet tall, lying down. And she comes in from the left side of the stage in a single pile."
"It isn't my fault! I didn't want to be a monster! The gods willed it!"
"You want hair, marry a monkey."
"He's the only man I know who was born at the bottom and went down in the world."
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Well, it is one week into summer break from school. I am finding that jobs are rather evasive little imps, and everything I seem to apply for just sort of disintigrates, or turns out un-get-at-able for one reason or another. I'm hopefull of two, at least.
Break began in a wirl. I lost my powercord to my computer enroute to the Homeland, and it has not yet turned up. I'm hoping it didn't come out at one rest stop or another. That weekend, two of my brothers and my father went off on a boy scout campout in Wakefield. They went to Jamestown (which, by the way, is celebrating it's 400th aniversary!) and had a first rate experience, but all we got to hear about were the knives on display, the latrine, and the racoons at night. Boys are great for details, I'm findin'. =) I started a job hunt, from which I have not rested until today. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places. However, I think I've found an in.
It is quite funny to be "free" when one's family is still engaged in attempting to finish the school year. One thing is for sure, that if I will not do Seton with my children. I don't wish them to have as difficult a teenage life as I did, but of course most of that was just my own fault aside from Seton. If I hadn't read so many books, I'd have had an easier life. It is quite a wonderful thing to be free with school. I've reread three of my favorite books (Letzenstein Chronicles by Meriol Trevor) already, and am starting a fourth, more serious book.
I broke my camera in the last week of classes, and have continued to put off doing much in the way of talking with the company to see if they will rectify the situation for me, since I only had it for a few months.
As I was driving home the other day with several of the natives in the car, there was an elderly, heavyset lady walking down the road somewhat unsteadily with her fists planted very firmly on her hips. "You know what she's doing Naomi? That Lady's holding herself together!" How the heck am I supposed to keep them in line if they are so funny. I was not blessed with wit, but they seem to have got my share.
Break began in a wirl. I lost my powercord to my computer enroute to the Homeland, and it has not yet turned up. I'm hoping it didn't come out at one rest stop or another. That weekend, two of my brothers and my father went off on a boy scout campout in Wakefield. They went to Jamestown (which, by the way, is celebrating it's 400th aniversary!) and had a first rate experience, but all we got to hear about were the knives on display, the latrine, and the racoons at night. Boys are great for details, I'm findin'. =) I started a job hunt, from which I have not rested until today. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places. However, I think I've found an in.
It is quite funny to be "free" when one's family is still engaged in attempting to finish the school year. One thing is for sure, that if I will not do Seton with my children. I don't wish them to have as difficult a teenage life as I did, but of course most of that was just my own fault aside from Seton. If I hadn't read so many books, I'd have had an easier life. It is quite a wonderful thing to be free with school. I've reread three of my favorite books (Letzenstein Chronicles by Meriol Trevor) already, and am starting a fourth, more serious book.
I broke my camera in the last week of classes, and have continued to put off doing much in the way of talking with the company to see if they will rectify the situation for me, since I only had it for a few months.
As I was driving home the other day with several of the natives in the car, there was an elderly, heavyset lady walking down the road somewhat unsteadily with her fists planted very firmly on her hips. "You know what she's doing Naomi? That Lady's holding herself together!" How the heck am I supposed to keep them in line if they are so funny. I was not blessed with wit, but they seem to have got my share.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Snapshots of my Family
My little sister was doing the laudry with my father one summer evening in the garage. She looked out the door and saw several of our elderly neighbors walking down the road. She turned to my father and said, "Daddy, do you know what that is?" "Well, that's a bunch of our elderly neighbors going for a walk," replied the serious patriarch. The witty gleam infected her eye (it does this periodically, you see). "No, Dad. That's the Antiques Roadshow!" (my poor father was then faced with the familiar scenario of trying to correct his disrespectful child while attempting to check his own laughter.)
My macho little brother (11 years old) walks up to my sister Deborah and says, "Deborah, I'm a man." She responds with a characteristic, "Um...I think you're mistaken. You're a boy, not a man." "I am too a man!" "You are too immature, selfish, small, and irresponsible to be a man..." she proceeds to enlighten the young rascal. He puffs out his chest and responds: "Yeah, well, I'm more of a man than you'll ever be!" Deborah laughs in his face "You're sure right about that, bud!"
Joseph stood up when he had finished his dinner one day and very graciously asked my father, "May I pweeez be exacuted?"
Our little philosopher, Daniel, walked up to my mother one day in his 2nd year and informed my mother, with the serious look of an intellectual behind his batting eyelashes, that "Boys make noise, Mom."
Daniel was running around in the commons area at church when he was three. My parents don't let us do this, so my father scooped him up under one arm, with his head sticking out back and his behind out front. The enraged boy flailed and cried out, "Unhand me!" (this is the point where my father glares at us and says "who taught him that!).
My macho little brother (11 years old) walks up to my sister Deborah and says, "Deborah, I'm a man." She responds with a characteristic, "Um...I think you're mistaken. You're a boy, not a man." "I am too a man!" "You are too immature, selfish, small, and irresponsible to be a man..." she proceeds to enlighten the young rascal. He puffs out his chest and responds: "Yeah, well, I'm more of a man than you'll ever be!" Deborah laughs in his face "You're sure right about that, bud!"
Joseph stood up when he had finished his dinner one day and very graciously asked my father, "May I pweeez be exacuted?"
Our little philosopher, Daniel, walked up to my mother one day in his 2nd year and informed my mother, with the serious look of an intellectual behind his batting eyelashes, that "Boys make noise, Mom."
Daniel was running around in the commons area at church when he was three. My parents don't let us do this, so my father scooped him up under one arm, with his head sticking out back and his behind out front. The enraged boy flailed and cried out, "Unhand me!" (this is the point where my father glares at us and says "who taught him that!).
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