Category Archives: Critical Mass

Oh, No Way

Bioethics, Critical Mass, Neat Things I Didn't Author, Right to Life Issues

OH boy!  I snatched up this book from the library, and even in the prologue I found something so utterly horrifying, that I just had to stop reading to let you know:

From “The Clone Age,” by Lori B. Andrews, page 7:  “Is it the wrong time for a pregnancy, but you want to freeze the fetus in case you later want to bring to life that very baby?  Cryogenic Solutions of Houston offers such freezing, even though the technology to ‘reanimate’ such a fetus is not yet available.”

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although, I probably shouldn’t be surprised, it’s not like people don’t already freeze their children — that we don’t have thousands of little kids on ice right now.  But something about how very callous that statement is just struck me in a unique way.  This is not about a couple wanting desperately to have kids and the only way is to conceive in a petri dish.  This is about your personal convenience!  That poor child has already been conceived normally and is growing and thriving in his or her natural environment, and you want to rip him out of your body and freeze him — oh, but hang on there kid, because some day I might decide that I want you?!!?!?!

There is nothing in that decision that has anything to do with love — except for the extreme, selfish love of self of the individual making that horrible decision.

And, supposing you do this, what do you tell your kid???!?  “Hi, honey.  Yeah, well I want you now, but I didn’t want you earlier,”?????  What is that going to do to the poor kid’s self esteem?

This is a sick, sick world in which we live.

Friday, Morning Prayer

Critical Mass, Liturgy of the Hours/Christian Prayer, Prayer/Prayer Requests

I like this one:

God our Father,
you conquer the darkness of ignorance
by the light of your Word.
Strengthen within our hearts
the faith you have given us;
let not temptation ever quench the fire
that your love has kindled within us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Amen, and Yes! Please!

Vocation Week Smacking Me in the Face!

Critical Mass, Jennspeak, Of Trials Opportunities and Gifts, Prayer/Prayer Requests

Here’s a little teaser for you: I think I was just called to do something. Oh boy. Now I am all excited and nervous at the same time. I have no idea how I am going to do this, but if God wants me to do this, then He will find a way to make it happen.

Here I was, worrying about my status. You know, should I be single? Looking for marriage? Finding out about religious life? I felt like I was sitting at a crossroads, waiting for God to push me in one direction or the other. Like I had a big sign on me reading, “PENDING.”

Well, I asked for a vocation. A clear indication of what He wanted me to do. And I got one…I think. But it has nothing to do with single/married/religious life — in fact, I could fulfill this vocation in any of those states of life.

More on this when I finish freaking out! 🙂 Pray for me that I cooperate with His call, and that I follow through — because this will take a while, like the rest of my life. Thanks!

Daytime Prayer

Critical Mass

Hymn (I got to pick, so I’m going in numerical order here):
Breathe on Me, Breath of God

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love the things you love,
And do what you would do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with you I have one will,
To live and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
My soul with grace refine,
Until this earthly part of me,
Glows with your fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
So I shall never die,
But live with you the perfect life
In your eternity.

Bible Study – Session 15, Adventures in Matthew

Bible Study, Critical Mass, Jennspeak, Neat Things I Didn't Author, Prayer/Prayer Requests

This was a really productive Bible study for me this evening. I really enjoyed answering my questions and reflecting upon the Word of God. Here are three things which I came across this evening that were of particular significance to me:

1. “To deny oneself is to disown oneself as the center on one’s existence.” — The Catholic Study Bible (Pg. 1283; MT 16:24)

2. Sin thwarts us in our vocation as God’s children. Pp. 549, Catechism of the Catholic Church

3. Regarding the Transfiguration: “Peter did not yet understand this when he wanted to remain with Christ on the mountain. It has been reserved for you, Peter, but for after death. For now, Jesus says: ‘Go down to toil on earth, to serve on earth, to be scorned and crucified on earth. Life goes down to be killed; Bread goes down to suffer hunger; the Way goes down to be exhausted on his journey; the Spring goes down to suffer thirst; and you refuse to suffer?'” — St. Augustine, Sermo 78, 6: PL 38, 492-493, cf. Lk 9:33

Sin is, to me, a fixation on self. A feeding of that which is of the earth and of ourselves. A selfishness of mind, body and spirit. A turning from His will, in the preference of our own. By pleading with God to remove all suffering from our life, we are asking not to be a part of Christ’s redemptive suffering on the cross. And to choose not to take up our cross and suffer alongside Him, we are choosing also not to share in his Resurrection and kingdom. Instead, we should choose to take up our cross, and suffer alongside our Lord — but not blindly. We should always unite our suffering to his for a purpose. Somehow, God will make our suffering efficacious for those purposes. We should not waste our suffering, but have it be used as redemption for others. Enter fully into the body of Christ and give fully of ourselves — not only the good parts and the surplus of ourselves and our possessions, but of our suffering, pain and need. When we have given of ourselves until we are empty and wrung out, will we truly know what it means to submit completely and receive back all the grace of our Lord. The more we empty of ourselves, the more we have room for Him.

Lord, in the words of John the Baptist on this day of the Baptism of our Lord, help me to decrease in myself, so that He who dwells within me can increase.
Amen.

Also, at the beginning of Vocation Week, let us remember the words of Fr. Mark’s homily today (he quoting someone else, I just forget who): “There is no VAcation from your VOcation.” How true. May we always live according to God’s plan for our life. Please join me in praying for people’s discernment of the vocation God has in mind for them, and the acceptance of this calling, whether to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, married life or single life; may all of God’s people live for the glory of Him according to their state of life.

Forget About New Year’s Resolutions…

Critical Mass, Prayer/Prayer Requests

… I’m going to adopt a New Year’s Psalm-prayer!!  🙂

Send the fire of your Holy Spirit deep within us, Lord, so that we can serve you with chaste bodies and please you with pure minds.

AMEN!

Pray for Me

Critical Mass, Prayer/Prayer Requests

Look on me, Lord, and help me, for I am poor and alone.

My anchors are lifting, my boat is set adrift.  I am being tossed about on the stormy sea, and I cannot find my way.  My heart has sunk into my stomach and I am seized with fear and panic.  Where is my support?  Why are my friends leaving?  My God, please come here and hold me, for I am breaking apart.

I Love You!

Critical Mass, Photography, Prayer/Prayer Requests

DSCN7453

What can I possibly say about someone who was so much more than a sponsor, so much more than a friend? My heart is filled to overflowing with love for you. You are home with our Lord. How comforting, how inspiring to know that.

Godmother. What is a mother? Someone who loves, unconditionally. Who guides. Who supports. Who directs and listens and calms and sympathizes. Who teaches and corrects and informs and shares. Who gives endlessly of herself. Who praises, uplifts, worries and prays. Who nurtures and protects. And you have been all of these things and more to me and for me. An amazing and humbling gift from God.

I have prayed for you, I am praying for you and I will continue to pray for you. As I also hope, with all confidence and trust, that you are praying for me and all of us whom you have loved here on earth.

Epiphany. Of course. Epiphany. Where the wise men, always seeking truth, left the comfortable familiarity of their homes to follow the light of Christ. We prayed for you from your copy of the Liturgy of the Hours. It was beautiful. I loved it.

As with gladness men of old,
did the guiding star behold,
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onwards, beaming bright,
son most gracious God, may we
evermore be led to thee.

As with joyful steps they sped
to that lowly manger-bed,
there to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore,
so may we with willing feet
ever seek thy mercy-seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
at that manger rude and bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure, and free from sin’s alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to thee our heavenly king.

Holy Jesus, every day
keep us in the narrow way;
and, when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed souls at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds thy glory hide.

In the heavenly country bright
need they no created light;
thou its light, its joy, its crown,
thou its sun which goes not down:
there for ever may we sing
alleluias to our king.

Of course, I had a difficult time finding that hymn from Evening Prayer I of Epiphany again! In the meantime, I re-looked at all of the parts of the Liturgy of the Hours, trying to find it again. I found so many other wonderful things that reminded me of you in some way. Most especially, parts from the reading from Isaiah 60:1-22.

Arise, shine out, for your light has come,
the glory of the Lord is rising on you,
though night still covers the earth
and darkness the peoples.

Above you the Lord now rises
and above you his glory appears.
The nations come to your light
and kings to your dawning brightness.

Lift up your eyes and look round:
all are assembling and coming towards you,
your sons from far away
and your daughters being tenderly carried.

At this sight you will grow radiant,
your heart throbbing and full;
since the riches of the sea will flow to you,
the wealth of the nations come to you;

camels in throngs will cover you,
and dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
everyone in Sheba will come,
bringing gold and incense
and singing the praise of the Lord.

All the flocks of Kedar will gather inside you,
the rams of Nebaioth will be at your service.
They will come up, for acceptance, to my altar,
to adorn the Temple of my glory.

Who are these flying like a cloud,
like doves to their cote?
Yes, for me the ships are assembling,
vessels of Tarshish in the front,

to bring your sons from far away,
and their silver and gold with them,
for the sake of the name of the Lord your God,
for the sake of the Holy One of Israel who has made you glorious.

Foreigners will rebuild your walls
and their kings will be your servants.
For though I struck you in anger,
in mercy I have pitied you.

And your gates will lie open continually,
shut neither by day nor by night,
for men to bring you the wealth of the nations
with their kings leading them;
for the nation and kingdom that refuses to serve you shall perish,
such nations shall be utterly ruined.

The glory of Lebanon will come to you,
with cypress and plane and box,
to adorn the site of my sanctuary,
to glorify the resting place of my feet.

The sons of your oppressors will come to you bowing,
at your feet shall fall all who despised you.
They will call you ‘City of the Lord’,
‘Zion of the Holy One of Israel.’

Though you have been abandoned,
and hated and shunned,
I will make you an eternal pride,
a joy for ever and ever.

You will be suckled on the milk of nations,
suckled on the riches of kings,
and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your savior,
that your redeemer is the Mighty One of Jacob.

For bronze I will bring gold;
for iron, silver;
and bronze for wood;
and iron for stone;
I will put Peace in as magistrate,
and Integrity as the government.

Violence will no longer be heard of in your country,
nor devastation and ruin within your frontiers.
You will call your walls ‘Salvation’
and your gates ‘Praise.’

No more will the sun give you daylight,
nor moonlight shine on you,
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
your God will be your splendor.

Your sun will set no more
nor your moon wane,
but the Lord will be your everlasting light
and your days of mourning will be ended.

Your people will all be upright,
possessing the land for ever;
a shoot that the Lord has planted,
my handiwork, designed for beauty.

The least among you will become a clan
and the smallest a mighty nation.
I, the Lord, have spoken;
in due time I shall act with speed.

Thank you, Pat, for sharing yourself with me. You have no idea (or, well, maybe now you do), of just how special and precious a gift you are to me. Give our Lord my love for me, until I can join you both.

I love you!

Proverbs and Theology of the Body

Bible Study, Critical Mass, Jennspeak, Theology of the Body

As long as I am reading into things….  🙂

Proverbs 16:30
He who winks his eye is plotting
trickery;
he who compresses his lips has
mischief ready.

This shows how we are able to lie with our bodies. It brought to mind for me teachings from the Theology of the Body almost immediately, especially when you are speaking of conjugal union between two people who are not married. For in that act, your body is saying to your partner, “everything I have is yours.” If you are not married, this is not true. And, whether you are married or not, if you are contracepting, you are still making a lie of this in that you are withholding your fertility from your partner. You are saying, in essence, “You can have all of me…except this.” So, in the very act in which we are to make ourselves vulnerable and open completely to the other person, we are holding back. We are not making a gift of ourselves, but rather a leasing of ourselves, with stipulations and conditions. Which would you rather have? The free and complete gift, or the conditional lease?

The End Times in the Song of Songs

Bible Study, Critical Mass, Jennspeak

I may be completely out to lunch here, but this struck me while reading my Bible:

Song 2: 12
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in
our land.

The pruning of the vines just sounded so very end-times to me, where the unworthy would be forcibly separated from the vine, while the good fruit would remain with the vine. The flowers appearing on the earth, as a pointing to the New Earth and the New Jerusalem. My favorite part is “the song of the dove is heard in our land.” For in that, I see the Holy Spirit being heard and felt and known by all who dwell within the land. That time of complete unity with God. Here now, so often is the Holy Spirit suppressed and not heard — how wonderful it will be when we are all able to hear the song of the dove throughout the land! 🙂