Fr. Stephen on the Saints

All Saints and Their Intercession

As they say in Narcotics Anonymous, playing on the initials NA: "Never Alone, Never Again".

Juneteenth Day

Speaking of those who have gone before, some of whom are Saints (including, surely, Pierre Toussaint, although he has yet to be beatified or canonized), today is "Juneteenth Day" or "Emancipation Day". Historically, it marks, specifically, the end of slavery in Texas and celebrates, more generally, the demise of slavery in the United States as a whole, in the wake of the U.S. Civil War.

As I was looking for the article on Toussaint, I came across information concerning another Saint of African extraction, one who is canonized and who was a slave, but who was not African-American. Her name is Josephine Bakhita.

Arturo on the Saints

Speaking of Saints, Arturo's latest blog entry is a rerun concerning veneration of the Saints and seeking their intercession. It is well worth highlighting here.

On the Cult of the Saints

Implicit in his discussion are points I made along ago on my AOL page:

"To honor the Saints and to seek their intercession is to worship God in that, without God, the Saints have nothing, are nothing. In the Saints, God has become 'all-in-all' already; each Saint is a fully developed example of what it means to be 'in the image and likeness of God."

"Not only do the Saints bring us closer to God, but God brings us closer to the Saints. The more we are friends of God, the more we will also be friends of God's friends, and these are the Saints. Given my background, I knew the Lord Jesus long before I knew His Blessed Mother, but when the time was right, the Lord introduced me to her and to other Saints as well."

"One of the biggest problems with Protestantism in general is the abandonment of the teaching on the Communion of Saints. The Church on earth and in heaven (including what the Roman Church calls "purgatory") is one in Christ; it is nconceivable that those in heaven, perfected in the image of Jesus and in direct, unmediated communion with the Most Blessed Trinity, would be unconcerned about the welfare of the Church and her members on earth. See Hebrews 12:1"

The Saints are our elder brothers and sisters. Since they too are "members of Christ," they are also members of each of us and we are members of them, since all who are "members of Christ" are "members one of another," in the words of St. Paul.

As Arturo rightly points out, "we must have a correct vision of the whole Christ, Head and members."

Speaking of Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us" (RSV)

In case it is not clear, that "cloud of witnesses", those fans in the stands, are the Saints in heaven, as Hebrews Chapter 11 makes clear.

"All you Saints, pray for us!"

Russert: Santo Subito?

Probably not, but I hope that the RC Diocese of Buffalo will consider opening a cause for his canonization after the five year period mandated by Roman Catholic Canon Law.

Oh, and if anyone from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston (SC) happens to read this, contact me. I've got a couple of names for ya.

Christians in Iraq: the crisis continues

"Iraqi Bishop: Americans need to know there is a Christian presence in Iraq"

Yes, yes we do, and to be reminded again and again.

(HT: Fr. Theodosius and Vladyka Symeon)

Doug Kmiec on his Latest Meeting with Barack Obama or "Come, let us reason together"

Kmiec is an "Obamacon", a conservative for Obama. In this case, a Roman Catholic conservative. Kmiec is a constitutional law expert who served in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and the elder George Bush. He has already been denied Holy Communion at least once for supporting Obama, since the presumptive Democratic nominee is not 100% anti-abortion; however, as Kmiec points out, neither is John McCain: both are essentially "pro-choice" but not "pro-abortion". "I do not endorse either Senator Obama's or Senator McCain's positions on life. As a Catholic, I believe both fall short of the ideal," writes Kmiec. Kmiec's position is that while neither candidate is satisfactory on abortion, Obama is, overall, more "pro-life" than is McCain. After reading the following, what do you think? (Note well: I will not hesitate to spike comments which, among other things, demonize anyone, including John McCain. I am looking for well-reasoned, thoughtful analysis and opinion here, not rhetorical bombast. And do not comment if you do not read the article linked below in its entirety.)

EXCLUSIVE: DOUG KMIEC - 'After Meeting with Barack'

Wonder How THIS Will Go Over In Some Quarters?

"Traditional Mass for 'all the parishes"

And it is interesting that Cardinal Hoyos refers here to the Traditional Latin Mass as the "Gregorian Rite," a term often used by Anglo-Catholics and [Western Rite] Byzantine Orthodox, but which has been rare in Roman circles.

Tim Russert, 1950-2008

NBC Washington Bureau Chief and Moderator of "Meet the Press", Russert was only 58. He died this afternoon of an apparent heart attack while at work. A top notch journalist, devout Roman Catholic, and family man who hailed from a working class Irish neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, he will be greatly missed.

Requiem in Pacem!

Memory Eternal!

"NBC's Tim Russert dead at 58"

Free Will Baptist Youth Feeding Homeless Folks at St. Dee's

The pro-cathedral parish of the ACCA, St. Demetrios, Knoxville has long had a good relationship with another nearby East Tennessee congregation, Forest Grove Free Will Baptist Church. This is largely due to the fact that Avva Zakkai, priest at St. Dee's, was once heavily involved with Forest Grove and has maintained close ties. When St. Demetrios moved into its current building, back in early 2004, Forest Grove donated many items, including chairs, folding tables, and a pulpit. One of Avva Zakkai's friends at Forest Grove, Chad Huskey, often attends Qurbana at St. Demetrios and others from Forest Grove do as well. Chad is responsible for the St. Demetrios MySpace page, linked above and on the right. Chad works with the older youth at Forest Grove. The slideshow above depicts Forest Grove youth (and adults) preparing a meal, taking it to St. Demetrios, and serving it to homeless people. Way to go, guys! God bless you!

Oh, BTW, now that I know that I can successfully embed stuff from YouTube: Watch out, y'all!

Fr. Jonathan's Madcap Proposal

I am speechless. I am in absolute awe. All I can say is, "Read it. Read it all."

A Madcap Proposal