The Myrmidon Journal

The Tragedy of Dissent

2008-07-29T09:29:00.001-04:00

In this article, Cardinal Stafford explains the happenings of the very unfaithful dissent around Humane Vitae. It's very interesting and sheds great light on a very turbulent time.Pax Christi tecum.

"Social ills" with a side of Pelagianism

2008-06-12T08:32:00.002-04:00

This new story at CNS is interesting. It's about a Jesuit journal - and this part may be difficult to believe - defending - that's right, I said defending - the traditional seven deadly sins. Near the beginning the CNS article notes,The seven deadly sins are still key to understanding and healing the social and personal ills plaguing humanity today, said an influential Jesuit journal.Now, here is

Our Lady to Rosario Toscano at Belpasso: sufferings offered to Our Lord become sweet roses

2008-06-05T12:44:00.005-04:00

On Wednesday June 18, 1986 Our Lady said the following to Rosario Toscano:Sufferings are thorns, but if offered to Jesus they are roses.There is no need to grumble, because Jesus has suffered more than anyone else, and He complained so little.Jesus grants you His love when you offer Him the humiliations that you receive.Jesus offers you His love when you offer Him the insults that you

A Vision for 2058: God is Dead

2008-06-04T13:40:00.006-04:00

A collection of essays entitled "The Way We Will Be 50 Years From Today," edited by Mike Wallace, is recounted at this news site. Here is the final conclusion of what we can expect from the year 2058 and the "progress" the world will make:20 PREDICTIONS FOR 20581. We'll all know our personal DNA sequencing, allowing medical treatments and health-prevention strategies to be tailored to our genetic

Tony Blair's new mission to unite the religions of the world

2008-06-02T15:18:00.002-04:00

This Telegraph article details former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's new mission to unite the religions of the world. Mr. Blair is quoted as saying: In an interview with Time magazine, Mr Blair said faith could be “a civilising force in globalisation”, bringing different peoples together to solve the world’s problems.The disturbing phrase there is "globalization." Religion is often

A Message from Our Lady in Belpasso to Rosario Toscano

2008-05-30T12:28:00.004-04:00

The following was said on June 18th, 1986 by Our Lord to Rosario Toscano at Belpasso in apparitions (quote taken from Spirit Daily) that have been favorably accepted by the local Archbishop:My dear children, I am glad to have your prayers, they are very useful for your souls.Continue to pray for the conversion of the world.This is what I say to the world: convert and do so in the name of

Protestantism and Divorce: Is it any wonder?

2008-05-08T11:59:00.004-04:00

As I was perusing the Catholic Encyclopedia entry on the Sacrament of Marriage, found here, I was struck by some quotes from the Protestant "Reformers". Jean Calvin states,"Lastly, there is matrimony, which all admit was instituted by God, though no one before the time of Gregory regarded it as a sacrament. What man in his sober senses could so

Pope St. Leo the Great on Our Lord's Ascension into heaven

2008-05-01T12:36:00.002-04:00

"Accordingly, dearly-beloved, throughout this time which elapsed between the Lord's Resurrection and Ascension, God's Providence had this in view, to teach and impress upon both the eyes and hearts of His own people that the Lord Jesus Christ might be acknowledged to have as truly risen, as He was truly born, suffered, and died. And hence the most blessed Apostles and all the disciples, who had

Marini and the New Mass

2008-04-29T09:15:00.002-04:00

Reading this article today made me, in all honesty, quite angry. It appears to me that Archbishop Piero Marini - one of the key figures involved in the institution of the New Mass - is right out deceiving people with his words. When speaking of the traditional Latin Mass and the wider permission given for it by Pope Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio, he says, "The pope's decision has so far not

Technological progress of Babelonian proportions

2008-04-03T11:54:00.004-04:00

I was just reading the following article, "Humanizing Animals."It is frightening the extent to which fallen mankind will go when reason is made its god and restraint is forsaken in the name of absolute liberty. The main question this article asks is whether it would be moral to have human-animal hybrid beings who are "happy slaves." The author asks,[...] what about uplifting animals by boosting

Brett Favre: real Catholicism

2008-03-31T09:41:00.004-04:00

I'm just going to offer one quote from this article on Brett Favre's (Green Bay Packers quarterback) faith:"If I were to make a list, I would include the interceptions, the sacks, the really painful losses. Those times when I've been down, when I've been kicked around, I hold on to those. In a way those are the best times I've ever had, because that's when I've found out who I am. And what I want

Pope Wants to Make World Youth Day a Real Celebration

2008-03-13T09:25:00.002-04:00

A Zenit article quotes Rome's diocesan director for youth ministry as saying the following up the upcoming World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI:Monsignor Mauro Parmeggiani, Rome’s diocesan director for youth ministry, explained to ZENIT that the Pope wants to transform the traditional meeting with the youth, “which was a sort of party, into a real celebration, not only an external celebration."

God bless Bishop Devine

2008-03-13T09:08:00.002-04:00

An article (link is in post title above) quotes Bishop Devine, from Scotland, as saying:"I want to ask you if you are able to see the giant conspiracy that's taking place before our eyes, even if we didn't see it at the time. I take it you're beginning to see that there is a huge and well-orchestrated conspiracy taking place, which the Catholic community missed."He went on: "In this New Year's

Oddly enough, the Pope is not set to rehabilitate Martin Luther

2008-03-12T09:44:00.002-04:00

Catholic News reports that Pope Benedict XVI is not ready to rehabilitate Martin Luther, contrary to previous reports.Who woulda thought? :) That's why we don't listen to Cardinal Kasper's opinion.Pax Christi tecum.

Pope Benedict XVI: Luther Not a Heretic?

2008-03-06T09:11:00.006-05:00

A Time Online (UK) article is stating that Pope Benedict XVI, at a seminar with 40 other theologians at Castelgondolfo, will state that he doesn't think Martin Luther was a heretic. The article states: "According to Vatican insiders the Pope will argue that Luther, who was excommunicated and condemned for heresy, was not a heretic." Now two questions come to mind: (1) who are these "Vatican

Can we find Carmel, even in the world?

2008-03-03T23:29:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since I've last posted on here - partly because I've yet to get this whole blog thing going (which means no one is really reading anything I post haha) and partly because I've not had the time. Lately, however, I've been delving deep into Carmelite spirituality. It is a spirituality to which I am deeply and powerful drawn. It is a fit with me and God's work in my life. Hopefully

Von Balthasar and the New Theologians

2008-01-07T17:17:00.000-05:00

I came across this passage from the New Oxford Review article, "Whatever Became of Hell" by Hurd Baruch. The article states:"One of the leaders of the attack on the actuality of eternal damnation was the late Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar. He tried to overturn the literal language of the Gospels and 20 centuries of Tradition by proclaiming not only that we should hope that all men are

Condoms and the spread of immorality

2008-01-04T18:34:00.000-05:00

We've all heard it, haven't we? "There must be a change in the opinion of the church regarding contraception in HIV-laden countries." Or perhaps "condoms will help our young people be more responsible and protect them from harm." Isn't it amazing how those wolves come dressed as sheep? I wonder if they get a bulk discount on their wool orders.There is an interesting blurb in the New Oxford Review

Papal teaching on gender roles in the married state

2007-12-31T14:43:00.000-05:00

Over at The God Fearin' Forum, a small discussion exists in the comments about the difference between Pius XI's (in the encyclical Casti Connubii) and John Paul II's (in the apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem as well as in his Theology of the Body audiences) teaching on gender roles in the married state. It is a very, very interesting issue to me - particularly because I read a lot of these

In the fullness of time, Christ comes to us

2007-12-30T15:55:00.001-05:00

"While all things were in quiet silence and the night was in the midst of her course," explains the Introit in the traditional Latin liturgy, "Thine almighty Word, O Lord, leaped down from heaven from Thy royal throne." The Nativity of Our Lord, His glorious day of birth we celebrate, occured at the fullness of time according to Divine Providence. During this liturgical season, we are often quite

And man thought himself to be God

2007-12-18T13:10:00.000-05:00

This Washington Post article, "Synthetic DNA on the Brink of Yielding New Life Forms," shows the arrogance and hard-hardheartedness of modern man. While most of them reject the very idea of God they attempt to take his place: to create. Holding up Darwinian evolution as dogma they exclaim that not only did God not create everything ex nihilo (out of nothing) but that now they shall take his place

Now we're talkin!

2007-12-16T08:57:00.000-05:00

God is good. Don't have much time to write but check out the link in the title (http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/ukcorrespondents/holysmoke/dec07/trainee-priests.htm).

Is Vatican II fading into the sunset?

2007-12-10T13:54:00.000-05:00

The Toledo Blade has an interesting article on Pope Benedict XVI's new encyclical Spe Salvi ("Saved by Hope"). The link to it can be found by clicking on this entry's title. Here is an especially interesting part of the article:One especially noteworthy element of the encyclical, both Father Bacick and Mr. Gaillardetz said, is that Pope Benedict makes no reference to the Second Vatican Council

The sickness unto death rampant in a God-less society

2007-12-06T12:49:00.000-05:00

The article linked to in the title of this post is about the gunman who went on a shooting rampage in Omaha, Nebraska. It begins:OMAHA, Neb. - Robert Hawkins had been kicked out of his family’s house, fired from McDonald’s and had broken up with his girlfriend. He was 19, about the same age another sick man was when he terrified the state of Nebraska and the nation 50 years earlier.Hawkins left a

Benedict XVI - Fighting Behind Closed Doors

2007-12-05T10:08:00.000-05:00

I really find the linked article (in the post title) both interesting and encouraging. Among some the sedevacantists who claim greater faithfulness than the Pope himself, Benedict XVI is merely the latest installment in a modern line of anti-popes. While I can agree Benedict XVI does not appear to us in the mold of a Pius X or Pius XII or Leo XIII in every respect, we must not overlook the great

Celebrating the evolving ape

2007-11-27T12:50:00.001-05:00

Today is a sad day for many as Washington Redskins professional football player Sean Taylor has died from a gunshot wound he suffered yesterday. May the Lord have mercy upon Him and let His face shine upon Him in love.It raises, however, a existential question about the human being. We're told in this day and age that there is no such thing as an eternal soul; there is no spiritual aspect to man.

Despising oneself with love

2007-11-09T16:44:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately today is simply one of those wherein everything seems to be blank, dull and mute. There is no song in my heart, no dreams in my mind. The body seems to go through its routine out of necessity rather than consciousness. However I can conjure up one thought.Dom Scupoli in The Spiritual Combat makes despising oneself essential for spiritual progress. This principle is nothing new -

Conversions to witchcraft? Or, thank you Harry Potter.

2007-11-01T11:19:00.001-04:00

This Reuters article - click the title of this post to view since I do not know how else to do it - is very telling to say the least. In my personal meanderings, both electronic and human, I've encountered many a person - and many a Christian - who will claim that Harry Potter is a wonderful story of good versus evil where magic may be employed but certainly not to any dangerous extent. The

2006-05-13T12:28:00.000-04:00

Oh Canada! I really, really like Canada for some reason. Perhaps because it is seems so clean to me or because of all of the natural beauty - or just because of the occassional "eh?" Regardless, I've just returned home from a post-Spring semester trip to Canada. It was a beautiful trip. We had an amazing miracle at the casino, betting on sporting events. One baseball game was won by the team we

2006-04-19T15:30:00.000-04:00

Lost ... and about loveMust I be someone for you to love me?Today, I feel lost. Nothing is desirable, not because nothing is beautiful and valueable, but because there is a greater value out there than what I have possessed in my own experience thus far. I long for a reality that is more true than what is real, and I long for the One Who brings peace to the weary soul. Life in this world is hard

2004-11-26T21:15:00.000-05:00

What does it mean to love God? How do we love God? We're finite and God is infinite. He is perfect. You and I? We're imperfect. Yet we're called to love God. How can we do that? I long for it. I long to love Him with a pure, perfect and stable love but so often it wavers and falters. I tell Him I love Him and I do believe that deep within me I do, but it is a difficult thing to maintain. Maybe

2004-11-25T13:55:00.000-05:00

How does the society which I am in view disabilities? Don't we all search for perfection, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual? If the goal is perfect, how can we understand the imperfect? Those who are not physically perfect because they cannot walk or cannot see. Those who are not emotionally perfect because they do not yet know how to love or how to forgive - themselves or

2002-12-28T21:14:00.000-05:00

What is ministry? This is a very interesting subject. We've thought we know what ministry is to be. We've enrolled people into classes and told them that they can be prepared for ministry by going through certain things. It's not that these things are bad per say nor is that they are wrong when used correctly. It seems to me, more and more recently, that ministry is an expression of life. If I "

2002-12-28T20:56:00.000-05:00

Well I decided to finally enter into the Blogger world. I had thrown about the idea of developing my own web site (since that is what I've done for the last few years) but I just know that's not what I need to be doing right now. I definately lack the focus to do it too. I suppose I'll post here some comments of anything I'm reading recently, Scriptural study, theological issues and anything else