Catholic Ragemonkey

Forced Out Into the Open

2009-12-08T09:07:00.002-06:00

Greetings, all. If you are reading this, then you haven't given up on my meandering musings. If you aren't reading this, well, it still exists regardless of your having read it.If you are wondering why I have been silent for so long, it's called life or something like it. I have been transferred to another parish and also teach high school in Oklahoma City. (That's why this will be short,

Shameless Promotion of My Friends and Allies

2009-04-04T20:45:00.001-05:00

Got to love Mark Shea. Jolly dinner companion, able and artistic speaker, prodigious defender of Catholic things, great and small, and now, feature film actor. Check out this link and then make plans to show this delightful movie. I am anticipating this more than the summer movie run.

It's Back

2009-04-04T20:39:00.001-05:00

This is a show I love because anyone who can turn a pile of cloth into clothes just amazes me. Sorry, I guess I am easily amused. The real question is will Gunn tan or burn in the L.A. sun?

Keep Drinking

2009-04-04T15:19:00.003-05:00

Here I am stuck between a rock and a hard place, so I am going to float an observation past you all. See what you think.I have a lovely couple of friends who, for good or ill, are struggling with their weight. I struggle with them because I don't know how to encourage or support them properly. On one level, I do want to be of assistance to them; on the other, I know that they have to come to

What Would Ignatius Do?

2009-04-04T15:13:00.002-05:00

I took personal interest in this matter as I drove past St. Joseph's University on a regular basis during my illustrious term at St. Charles Seminary. With that in mind, the word of the day is "vet" as in careful examination. If this is what constitutes education in the Jesuit tradition, then it merely reinforces what I said when I was a naive newly minted Catholic seminarian.A brother

Necessary Wish List That Amazon Cannot Provide

2009-04-04T08:17:00.002-05:00

So, last week I lost 4.5 lbs. This week, I'll be surprised if I lose anything. It's been a stressful week, being Lent and all. Also, a friend of the family's father is dying and I visited with them on Thursday. It was rough to see them under those circumstances. So, on a personal front, my focus has been all over the grid. As I need to reset my brain and remotivate myself before going into

You Can't Have It Both Ways

2009-04-04T07:01:00.002-05:00

In for a penny, in for a pound as the old saying goes. I knew that once I commented on the Obama/Notre Dame flap, I knew I would find a thousand more articles that would demand my attention. Sigh! Okay, here's the next piece.William Daley has decided to come to the aid of our dear President because of the mean ol' Cardinal George calling Obama's visit precisely what it is - a scandal and a

Good and Faithful

2009-04-03T20:13:00.002-05:00

As the tide of voices rises in opposition to the full fledged ridiculous actions of Notre Dame University, I am pleased to note my own Archbishop has thrown his hat, ... well, his miter, into the ring. See here for the actual letter sent to Fr. Jenkins. Please make sure the Archbishop knows of your prayers and your support for him because his public witness.In other episcopal stand up news,

Tangled Up and Bruised

2009-03-20T15:01:00.002-05:00

Just when you thought there wasn't another thing I could on my weight loss journey, I have crossed a new personal bridge. I started taking Kung Fu instruction. Frighteningly, I like it; more frighteningly, I think I am good at it. That's what the Sifu tells me. (Sifu = instructor). The aftermath is something less than desirable.Today, as I was doing my morning abultions, I looked down at my

Caveat Emptor

2009-03-20T05:47:00.002-05:00

Good morning, all. Yes, I am back from a moment of quasi-exile. It's more inattention and loss of focus than out and out leaving the planet. Hope you missed me.I realized that a really great way to get ready for my appearance on Morning Air would be to put up a synopsis of my thoughts here. I enjoy the interaction between Sean and I so I don't really want to "script" out all of my nuggets of

Depends Upon Where You Are Sitting

2009-01-05T10:40:00.002-06:00

To the people of Detroit, congratulations. To the people of Oakland, commiserations (that is, until the replacement is named.)Now, you are free to speculate about who is going to Oakland. Just don't put my name into the hopper, please. I just got my rectory in order.

Kingdom Not of This World

2009-01-03T08:53:00.002-06:00

I was chatting with a couple of friends over lunch about the uselessness of Dan Brown's writing and general sense of history. Personally, if he wanted to make amends for the literary abuses he's inflicted, he could offer a literary award for worthy writing; it's like Nobel's effort to make up for the discovery of dynamite. The centerpiece of that conversation had to do with the existence of the

Resolutions

2009-01-02T15:20:00.002-06:00

Greetings, all. A Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a joyous whatever-other-holiday I might overlook. Welcome also the new followers of this blog as well. Glad you have found a warm cave in the otherwise cold expanse that is the internets.Looking at the last check-in date, you'll notice I have been away from writing for a fair bit. No big surprise given the chaotic schedule that Advent and

Accusation

2008-12-12T06:00:00.002-06:00

I know that this is not our president-elect's fault that these are coming out. It is the fault of our culture who can't tell secular messianism from true messianism, either of a Christian or Jewish stripe.The article comes from Reuters online. This is particularly apt given we are in the season of Advent. As we read the prophet Isaiah, we must recognize within its pages the same dichotomy that

Take That, Axl!

2008-12-01T09:43:00.001-06:00

Talk about missing your moment. When you wait 17 years between albums, people might have moved on to other stuff. What I love is that in the UK, a trio of singing Catholic priests beat GnR. That's the best part.

A Case for the Infant Jesus of Prague

2008-12-01T09:39:00.002-06:00

Please pray for this Eastern Rite priest and his family. This is a sad situation and will be most difficult. As the season of Advent, let us be reminded that the wood of the cradle is the wood of the Cross. These little girls are living that truth right now.

The Last Acceptible Prejudice Revisited

2008-12-01T09:35:00.003-06:00

I have been gratified by Fr. Longenecker's writing over the last several months and this thoughtful piece has much to commend it. The main thing that drew me to the article was the link headline "Will lapsed Catholics become the next anti-Catholics?" To be fair, there are lots of reasons for lapsing from the practice of the Faith. It seems to me the problems crop up when one lapses from the

Reproducible?

2008-12-01T09:32:00.002-06:00

Okay, here's your task after reading this column. Figure out three practical things you could do in your parish to replicate this effect there. I'll give you one to start with: promote marriage as the seedbed for all vocations through the promotion of Theology of the Body and NFP.Now it's your turn.

Bargain Bin

2008-12-01T09:29:00.002-06:00

In seminary, we used to say, "If you have to explain why you own something to a parishioner, you probably shouldn't own it." That issue came up when I mentioned how much I like BMW and would love to buy one used. The image, however, created of Father, rolling up in his Beemer effectively showed me, at least, why that won't work. However, if this is true, and the car goes on sale, could I have

There Is One Savior of the World and He Doesn't Have Mouse Ears

2008-12-01T09:19:00.002-06:00

I wanted to disagree with the good abbot about his comments found here but upon examination I think he is on to something. Essentially, if I am reading him correctly, the problem is not that Disney stories don't point to the essential truths about greed and other vices; the problem is that Disney suggests, according to him, the solution to these vices are found in Disney stores. If that's the

What Did I Come In Here For?

2008-12-01T09:17:00.001-06:00

Finally an explanation for why my brain goes flat at random intervals. It's the Golden Arches fault! Yet another good reason to skip the drive through.

Spell Check

2008-12-01T08:53:00.002-06:00

I must apologize for the prolonged periods of silence. I have been overextended, this time due to illness, and frankly, now I should be able to get back on the ball. I have about twelve articles in the queue so let's get underway.Spotted this on Drudge Report earlier in the week, and happily it was still there today. My initial reaction to the headline was, "Typical Gnostic nonsense." After

Freud Would Be Proud

2008-11-29T08:45:00.003-06:00

I am disappointed to hear about this. Granted, one of the strengths of this character is his humanity and mortality; one of the weaknesses has been the desire to preserve this character despite the injury (cf. Knightfall sequence).The follow up question is simple: what does this do to the franchise on film? Further, who is going to be the new Batman in the comics? I would stand in as a model

The Sound of Silence

2008-11-27T20:44:00.002-06:00

This was pretty much to be expected. This woman is so unpopular that she should have a negative Q rating. I'll put it to you another way.If she is so smart and savvy as many others claim she is, then she should be in quantum physics because figuring out what the audience want is not her forte.

Helpful Notes for Black Friday Shopping

2008-11-26T15:49:00.000-06:00

I know you are going to be looking for great deals on Friday but could you keep your eyes open for this Vigilance is Key!

Was It Something I Said?

2008-11-21T18:32:00.002-06:00

This article caught my attention principally because as someone who puts his attempts at humor out for public sampling, I would be afraid of hearing stormtroopers kicking in the door.

Not Lovin' It

2008-11-21T09:36:00.002-06:00

I am finally off the merry-go-round. I am completely brain fried at this point. Last week, I had a presentation at one of the local high school that according to my informants went off swimmingly. Then last night, I was at a local Catholic parish doing one of those "Ask Father" things. Between the Powerpoint and the desserts we made it through to today. Got up and was semi-coherent on

Creeptacular

2008-11-15T09:08:00.002-06:00

Normally, I don't go in for conspiracy theories unless it is about Elvis and whether or not he fled fame by getting an obese stand-in to cover for his absence. Mark Shea would put a post like this in the pile "They are tunneling under your house." When I read this article, I thought I could hear the far-off, yet strangely proximate, sound of picks and shovels.People of good will and religious

A Moment of Rest

2008-11-15T08:38:00.003-06:00

I cannot tell you how much I am both pleased and irritated by the repair of my computer. Yes, the system is up and running, and I am confident that I have no spyware or zombie ware on the system. But I can't tell you how long it is going to take me to get the unit running efficiently - principally reinstalling all that other stuff I was using, like Word. So, I am back, with internet access,

Providence, Grim or Merry, Depending Upon Your Stance

2008-11-08T21:05:00.002-06:00

Tonight we had our raffle drawing as part of the parish's newly established Octoberfest. (Please don't comment upon the fact that it is taking part in November - that is a whole different issue.) Anyway, as the good pastor that I am, decided to donate a dinner for 8. These are the infamous wine-soaked, home cooked, baccanals that are swiftly becoming legend around the state.As I was standing

200 or A Little Knowledge Creates Major Headaches

2008-11-07T13:27:00.002-06:00

So, the dingbats who engineered the virus on Facebook have cost me $200.00. I had to send it out to professionals to get the crud off of my system, but given that I have done one of those hard purges before, I am more than willing to let someone else do it. I seriously contemplated going to OKC and buying a MacBook, but my prudence overrode that plan. I don't have the money access to just

Hack

2008-11-04T10:32:00.001-06:00

What an apt word. It describes, first off, yours truly. As a writer, I hack my way through the ideas in my head and my infantile use of grammar to arrive at something readable.Of course, today, the word is perfect when paired with "political." I got up and voted and unlike many people, I still believe one vote counts. More on that later.Still further, the word applies to what happened to my

The Terms of the Argument

2008-10-30T09:08:00.003-05:00

I found this through my contacts in KC-St. Joe, specifically one of the monks of Conception. It's from Bp. Robert Finn and I think you'll see why I liked it. Makes me happy for the future of the Church.I am on the road and I might have a few notes over the weekend.

Hell? No!

2008-10-29T10:17:00.002-05:00

A hallmark of Our Lord's ministry was liberating people from the powers of Satan. Many moderns discount this suggesting that those allegedly possessed by Satan were in fact only mentally ill. However, Msgr. Romano Guardini made a good observation about this in his book, The Lord. He wrote that if Our Lord called it demonic, then we should take him at his word. So, it shouldn't surprise us

Respect

2008-10-29T10:14:00.002-05:00

More prayer needed. I am not sure where to go with this. Certainly we should be saddened for our brothers and sisters in the UK because of this terrible assault. At the same time, we should be saddened because it reminds us of how much the world has changed and respect for religion and other people has gone by the boards. More to the point, it reminds me how much I still have to do to promote

Pray for the Need of St. Ignatius's Sons

2008-10-29T10:09:00.002-05:00

I found this on Spirit Daily. It saddens me because it seems to me that the one thing that Russia could use is an authentic encounter with Christ. There seems to be a lot of lingering hostility to Christianity in the old Soviet Republic due to allegations (and verifications) of Orthodox clergy collaborating with the KGB. The old animosities has to go somewhere and unfortunately, these innocent

Voting for Monarchy

2008-10-24T13:38:00.002-05:00

It's stories like this that leave me yearning for the oppressive reign of a hereditary monarch. I am going to get a cup of coffee and hope that this will all go away. (Sorry, I meant to link this, but my laptop refuses to comply. Go to Drudge Report and I'm willing to bet you can guess the one I am thinking of.)

Lock

2008-10-24T09:57:00.001-05:00

Well, more financial bad news. Read it here. More things for the princes of this world to spin and to deflect from.

Stock

2008-10-24T09:51:00.002-05:00

It's winter and that means cozy home cooking. Face it, when it is hot, no one wants to cook anything for more than ten minutes unless it involves beer and a grill. When winter comes, then slow cooking and toasty ovens come into play. While many love the smell of baking bread, for me, it's the smell of chicken stock.Throughout the year, I gather the leftover bones and such from my chickens and

Two

2008-10-24T09:31:00.003-05:00

I often marvel at the inability of some of my fellow Catholics to get it. Now, this is not a slap; it's an observation about perception. You see, I have this experience as a convert that most Catholics who were raised in the Faith don't have and never get to have. (Yes, it's a generalization so if it doesn't fit, I'll admit fault and let you to the secret club. Handshake notes are on a secure

Smoking

2008-10-24T09:23:00.002-05:00

I have the pleasure of counting Fr. Philip Neri Powell, O.P. among the Ragemonkey Hegemony. He came to Alva and preached a very effective parish mission right before I left the parish. He now serves the Church in Rome working at the Angelicum. This hasn't stopped him from blogging ferociously.Funnily enough, I was alerted to this post of his that coincided with my diatribe offered on the same

Barrels

2008-10-24T09:12:00.002-05:00

As with most situations in my life, it's best to end on a joke.The retreat last week was really profitable. Not that I am changed completely or instanteously. I am still in need of conversion and making the work of Faith real through changing the way I live. However, as with Pentecost, I hope that the Divine Fire of the Holy Spirit can melt the glacial cap on my heart. That's some global

Show Notes - Updated

2008-10-23T21:18:00.004-05:00

Evening, All. I needed to put together my notes for tomorrow's show. Yep, after retreat, I am still enough of a media maven that I am not cancelling my appearance.So, what's on the docket?1.) Retreat: As much as I would like to say that every Catholic understands the importance of retreat, that would be untrue. Retreat is a time of renewal in one's lived relationship with God. Hence it is usually

Improv

2008-10-22T20:38:00.003-05:00

There are a list of lessons that I have been taught by the list of fascinating life experiences that I have encountered/been inflicted with. Recently, a sneak attack by spice cake forced a lesson in the consequences of eating poorly and being hungry. Tonight's lesson entails a lesson that I have many of my friends repeating. Say it with me: "You need to be a whole lot more tidy and organized."

My Kind of Saint

2008-10-22T09:23:00.002-05:00

Found this in my Magnificat during retreat. The miracle in question sounds so much like the mirth of God, that joy which wells up from the heart of Love. I have scanned this directly into the computer so if you like it, go to Magnificat and order a subscription.Saint Bercharius (626-685) A Native of Aquitaine, France, Bercharius was ordained a priest by the archbishop of Reims, Saint Nivard,

Poetry Tuesday

2008-10-21T14:10:00.002-05:00

Greetings, All. Thank you for your prayers and best wishes while I was on retreat. I'll have a few posts from that up today and tomorrow, but at the same time respecting the principles of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross - some things must remain secret.I am working on a longerish piece concerning priesthood and discipleship that might be ready for display next week. As we have had two longer

English Majors Want Ad

2008-10-11T21:44:00.002-05:00

Only English Majors will find this funny. Well, that's not true. I would suspect theologians, historians, art scholars, undrunk folks, and no one currently writing for American sitcoms. There that's more like it.Oh, to be reassigned to London...actually probably won't be good. I'd get nothing done apart from sitting near Tottenham Court Road looking for the Tardis.

Reminder

2008-10-11T16:18:00.001-05:00

Just a reminder with so little time left before the election, how this whole democracy thing works.

Advance

2008-10-11T13:42:00.003-05:00

Starting tomorrow, I am going to be away for the week. I headed back to the college seminary I attended for a week of retreat. As I missed the retreat for the diocesan priests offered by the diocese, and I am required by canon law to make a retreat each year, I thought this would be a good chance to get up there and spend some time reconnecting with the roots of my vocation. As it is a retreat,

Countdown

2008-10-11T13:38:00.001-05:00

I was watching something from the UK on YouTube and it reminded me of my trip to England (go figure). There was this great, very low budget game show called Countdown. The premise of the show was that contestants in the first round selected a set number of consonents and vowels and then had to form the longest word possible from those letters. The bonus round consisted of a math problem where

Psalm 146

2008-10-11T10:17:00.005-05:00

While working on the laptop, I unplugged it and carried it to another room. The system popped up a message that I had never seen before. It read "The battery can recharge normally, but it is reaching the end of its life." This is only the second laptop I have owned and this is the first one to ever inform me of imminent collapse. It is rather like a doddering old chap who's only conversation

Terrior

2008-10-11T10:04:00.002-05:00

I learned a new word today: "terrior." I was watching John Cleese's terribly useful program "Wine for the Confused." As someone who strives to be a bon vivant and home entertainer, I find that good wine knowledge and versatility is indispensible. He confirmed a personal bias of mine concerning wine, namely that your taste trumps. If you like sweet, find sweet wines and drink those. Just

Overboard

2008-10-10T10:00:00.002-05:00

Folks, I am probably going to regret posting this link, but what the hey? I didn't come by the title "Ragemonkey" accidentally, now did I?I have had my eye on the boys at South Park for many years now for their generally puerile and ham-handed efforts at humor and satire. There was the Steve Irwin incident and my personal favorite, Issac Hayes' faux outrage at the lampooning of religious belief

Unintended

2008-10-10T06:29:00.002-05:00

Blogger allows you to enable a feature that moderates comments. I have mentioned that I am a stickler for the comments to be on point and not hateful. Well, even with my high rating in tech, I still make gaffes, prinicipally, when I am moving fast.I tell you this, that you might have gotten your comment blocked either because I decided too quickly or hit the wrong button. Favre, that means you

Variant

2008-10-09T20:36:00.002-05:00

Going back to the conversation I mentioned in the "Coach" post, I wanted to say right here, right now, how grateful I am for that friend and for all my friends. That friend, who provided the cool new Ragemonkey logo, a logo that will remain until Fox sues me, has been a major lifeline and source of hope for me. He may not realize it but he is. This post is dedicated to him.After our

Live and Memorex

2008-10-09T20:32:00.002-05:00

Just a friendly Ragemonkey reminder, you can catch me tomorrow morning on your Relevant Radio affliate during Morning Air. I'll be on during the 6:00 a.m. segment and then it will be re-broadcast during the 9:00 a.m. slot. You can also listen online.Here's a little taste of what tomorrow brings. Hear Fr. discuss culture and its import to the modern Christian. Marvel at Fr.'s ability to

Coach

2008-10-09T20:20:00.002-05:00

In the ongoing effort to 1.) find an exercise that I can sustain for a long time and 2.) corrupt my fellow clergy to my personal hegemony, I decided to take tennis lessons. This wasn't my idea; another priest of the Archdiocese fell into my trap. I took my first lesson on Tuesday.Truth be told, I am not half bad. My instructor ran me through a lot of basic drills to get a read on my athletic

...I Can Never Finish A Whole One.

2008-10-09T07:36:00.001-05:00

This link is either true or a great hoax. Given that it comes from the Sun in the UK, either proposition could be true.

Unspeakable

2008-10-08T10:06:00.002-05:00

No, this is not an outrage post. It's a facts of life post.As a priest, I must confess to having a bawdy sense of humor. Face it, there is 18 years of pre-Christian programming working against the Christian Faith in my heart and mind. So, sometimes I will be talking with someone and get a far away look in my eyes. I left the conversation to file away something that would be very funny and

Bumblebee

2008-10-08T09:37:00.003-05:00

Morning, folks. Hope you were able to manage without me.As part of the ongoing work on my health and weight and fitness, I am upgrading and replacing my wardrobe. I did this back in January and happily the clothes are now generally too big. Therefore, to reward, but more to reinforce, my success, I am replacing a shirt and slacks when I lose another five pounds. This week, I managed to lose

Poetry Tuesday

2008-10-07T07:56:00.002-05:00

Because last week you had to endure lackluster poetry, I thought I would treat you to poetry that is all luster. Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The feast commemorates the victorious battle of the Christian West over the invading Muslim Turks. The Pope at the times, Pius V, asked the Christian people to pray the Rosary in hopes of a victory at Lepanto. Since

The New Verb

2008-10-04T20:43:00.002-05:00

Social networking is the new thing. I thought you would like to know about your Ragemonkey opportunities on Facebook. First, because I am a man of the people, you can friend me by looking up my name and sending a request. Second, if you really want to share in the trinkets of power after my rise to power (I just put a down payment on a new underground base) then join the Catholic Ragemonkey

No Matter How Small or "Horton Hears a Heartbeat"

2008-10-04T19:16:00.004-05:00

The following essay is based upon the homily I preached for Respect Life Sunday 2008. In case you might have missed it, that was this weekend, October 5. Respect Life is to be distinguished from Pro-Life Sunday in that Respect Life Sunday touches upon all Life issues. However, given the proximity of the election and the general misunderstanding of the Church's teaching concerning the Sanctity

Good King Wenceslaus

2008-10-04T09:34:00.005-05:00

I promised this essay as part of my appearance on Relevant Radio on the occasion of my parish's patron feast which was last Sunday. Being quick of wit but slow of hand, I am just now getting to this essay. Also, I am drafting a homily/essay for this weekend of Respect Life that I hope to publish here in first draft before the weekend's out. Hey, you folks in the back, stop laughing.Those

Paradox

2008-10-03T20:34:00.004-05:00

The germ for this post burst upon my brain while fiddling with my IPod at the gym. However, I will not reveal the real genius of this post until it is in its final essay form. With that said, in an effort to arrive at the essay, I wanted to flesh out the point of the essay, hoping to cram the characters into place. History, whether it be factual or fictional, holds great weight for us because

Made for the Job

2008-10-03T18:39:00.004-05:00

Evening, all. As some of you know, I previously had an arrangement with Relevant Radio in which I presented a 30 minute round up of the happenings in culture. I know, big surprise. Anyway, about two years ago that relationship came to end. It was amicable although I suspect that my assertion that Tom Cruise's lawyers were spying on me probably contributed to my departure. It was fun while it

Apples and Oranges

2008-10-03T14:32:00.004-05:00

A quick post to tell you that there has been a cosmic shift here at Ragemonkey. You see, Fr. H is the more, ah, technologically limited of the two of us. I often resort to elves, gnomes, and dwarves to explain the intricate inner workings of the computer and tech world. So, Fr. H's computer finally had a full blown nervous collapse and died. He was remorseful; he was lost, so in fraternal

My Loss, Their Gain

2008-10-03T13:20:00.002-05:00

Afternoon, all. Sitting here getting ready to hit the office after lunch, I got to thinking about a program Weight Watchers is running and the concrete effect it could have.For the last several weeks, Weight Watchers International pledges to donate $1.00 for every pound lost by members, up to $1,000,000. Of course, my branch couldn't leave well enough alone and so we added a bonus project. For

Jump

2008-10-01T20:51:00.002-05:00

I hate having to retract a position in favor of the one I had initially rejected. But I am here to tell you all, that, I have a retraction. I was wrong about my posture to the Extraordinary Form of the Sacred Liturgy.Okay, everyone, calm down and stop getting all of your exercise jumping to conclusions. The issue in my mind was simple: if people wanted it, great. As for me and my house, we'll

Making the Most of the Year

2008-09-30T15:42:00.002-05:00

Howdy, all. I have an appointment in about 15 minutes, but I want to share an idea with you. First, a question.Have you forgotten who this year is especially dedicated to? It's been about 3 months of the Year of St. Paul, and becuase I don't want this to slip under the radar, I want to share an ongoing project of mine. I have been spending this year, re-reading St. Paul. Once I am through

Wait, Do They Mean That Kim Catrall Was There?

2008-09-30T15:35:00.003-05:00

Click the title. Follow the link. Wonder aloud why cops do what they do. Wonder aloud why city politicians don't fund police departments adequately. Wonder what you would do without them.St. George and St. Michael, pray for them!

Alive and Kicking Liturgy

2008-09-30T15:29:00.003-05:00

Again I have done that tricksy thing and the title is the link. I think you will enjoy what you find.The best part of people like this, who blog in this fashion, is simple. It confirms that I am not the only crazy one around here. Also, go into the comments and find your way to the one posted by Dr. Brant Pitre. I have the singular honor of spending a week in the summer with Dr. Pitre, Dr. Hahn

Worth Doing Badly: Poetry Tuesday

2008-09-30T07:13:00.004-05:00

Hello, all. Weigh in was bad, up another pound. That makes four in two weeks. But don't despair; resistance is not futile - I fully intend to fight back against this personal Wolf 359. But more on that as the week progresses.Further, I do intend to take some pictures today, primarily of my office, my two parish churches, and other things. The camera's memory is limited to eleven shots unless I

Secret of my Success

2008-09-29T15:19:00.002-05:00

I'll get back to the "day in the life" series as soon as I take care of a piece of business. The esteemed friar, Fr. Philip Neri, O.P., asked in a comment about how did I manage my weight loss. It is pretty shocking to see the change even though I am a ways from my goal weight. However, kickboxing this morning can't hurt.Initially, my thought was to talk about Weight Watchers, but that is the

The Very Real Outcome

2008-09-28T17:51:00.001-05:00

My sinuses suddenly sealed shut. I am looking for my squirt relief junk and can't find it. I better not be out. This sums it up. Not a good state right before RCIA.

A Day in the Life of A Rural Priest: Day One

2008-09-28T14:24:00.008-05:00

Since I am asked regularly what a priest does, I thought I would share some photos of yours truly in action.On Sunday, my day begins at 6:00 a.m. That's usually enough time to shower, shave, eat, and pray, as well as open the church and get ready for my first Mass at Meeker. I am available for confessions from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. and then Mass is at 9:00 a.m. After Mass at Meeker, I leap back into

Fifteen Minutes and Counting...

2008-09-27T15:42:00.004-05:00

I have a confession to make. I love celebrities. I love movies. I love the popular media. Yes, I know, it sounds weird, but there is it. I think the whole realm of celebrity culture (a reality now referred to as "celebreality" by VH1) offers fascinating insight into what we, as Americans actually value and believe in.At the same time, I can see, I hope, the celebrity world with a certain gimlet

Stealth

2008-09-27T12:36:00.003-05:00

N.B. The link to the article in question is the title of the post. Click away.Catholics of any stripe have complained for many years about how a bishop goes about the task of being bishop. A lot of those comments are based upon perceptions the person possesses that has little if anything to do with reality. Fundamentally, though, I think these expectations are a good thing and it's good that

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

2008-09-26T22:17:00.003-05:00

Evening, All. I stepped out this evening for our local high school football game. Prague played Eufaula and were losing when I left. At the half, the Eufaula band played a medley of music from The Lion King, a movie that still holds a pride of place for me. As I listened, I thought of all of the good in my life right now. I was especially moved to think of my

Prayer Request

2008-09-26T12:55:00.002-05:00

Carl Olsen is one of the yeoman workers for the Gospel at Ignatius Press. Please remember him and his family, and especially Eleanor in your prayers. St. Thomas More, St. Wenceslaus, ora pro nos.

Christmas in September

2008-09-26T11:57:00.004-05:00

I am headed out the door to take care of some business for the parish. Before I depart, I had to share with you some of the lovelies that showed up in the mail.From time to time, I will update my library, both DVD and literary. It's part of an overall strategy of good general theological and cultural formation. At worse, unhelpful books can hit the local library. What was in this drop from

2008-09-26T11:13:00.002-05:00

Solutions Found in Avoiding Asteroid CollisionsAn anonymous reader asked about what to do about exercise when they have little time to themselves and no cash for a gym membership. Believe it or not, I achieved much of my success with nothing more than a treadmill or just walking out doors. Certainly, making time for a busy mom is tricky but there are still good ways. To my mind, it's exactly like

2008-09-26T11:12:00.001-05:00

The Multiform World of General InfidelityI mentioned earlier that I gave a talk on John Paul II's Theology of the Body to the youth leadership of St. John's in Edmond. It was a good talk and from early reviews, the talk went over smashingly. One of the points I made was that infidelity can come in more forms that just the usual manner. (If you don't know what I am referring to, just flip on

2008-09-26T11:10:00.001-05:00

Junk ScienceMorning, Folks. Hope you had a pleasant Monday. I know I did. This morning, I am going to be taping a bit for Relevant Radio about the patron saint of my parish here in Prague, OK, Saint Wenceslaus. If the mood and urge hits, I'll post the essay here and elsewhere. But before I do that, I had to share with youse guys an article I found that chapped my fur.According to the Times of

2008-09-26T11:07:00.002-05:00

Don't Ask The Cookie To Do Something It Can'tI have to get over to the office to complete preparations for RCIA tonight (those are the sessions through which we prepare people who are not Catholic to enter the Catholic Church - as a convert, they are big fun), but I wanted to share with everyone a book I literally (or literarily) just finished reading. Before telling you about the book, let me

2008-09-26T11:04:00.002-05:00

The Grammar of AssentI have the care of a mission parish 15 miles due west of me. As I was driving to today, I spotted a message posted at one of the local ecclesial communities that proves my obsession with grammar and its usage is not sick, but necessary. Fr. H gets a kick out of one of my favorite comments about disagreements I have with folks sometimes. The line, "I would like to agree with

2008-09-26T11:02:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the Junta!Afternoon, all.Remember when I mentioned that I quit blogging because it became too much work. One aspect of that comes from the comboxes. Some blogs managed just fine without comboxes. I personally always thought the combox was a good idea because it allows for immediate feedback and discussion; that and I am a full blown approval junkie and loved get those "great post"

2008-09-26T10:59:00.001-05:00

Local Boy Makes GoodHello, all. Just popping in before I get everything ready for Mass tonight. If I am particularly diligent, after 6:00 p.m. Mass, I intend to get three things done: 1.) clean out car, 2.) pack bag for Y, and 3.) post my homily notes for this weekend. The last part is muy importante as this year is dedicated to Saint Paul and to the role of the Bible in the life of the Church,

Or Maybe It'll Be A Sqeaker

2008-09-26T10:12:00.003-05:00

I don't often venture into the world of politics and despite what this link will take you to, the post really isn't about that. Biretta tip first to Drudge Report for carrying this link. The point of the article goes like this: "This election could end in a landslide, even though the candidates are polling tight right now." Now, forgive me, but really, isn't that the only two outcomes of an

2008-09-26T07:33:00.003-05:00

Okay, That's RubbishI mentioned that I would be migrating old posts from the new site to this, the old site, so that that could be new old posts. Well, I am scrapping that. The fifteen or so posts are available here. I'll be sending folks back over here, so do your best to make them feel welcome.

2008-09-26T07:30:00.003-05:00

No One Expects A Spiritual InquisitionEvening, All. I just back from the gym and rocked it. 30 minutes of treadmill and 25 minutes of weights...hmmm, can't wait to hop into the shower before bed. But before bed, let me note something, somewhat obliquely, because it's one of those things.Priests have lots of experience with those things conversations. It happens often enough. I have a conversation

2008-09-26T07:24:00.000-05:00

It'll Be Worth The Round Trip(I previously posted this on the new Ragemonkey site. Now that I have access to this original site, I am coming back here. I am reposting this for the benefit of readers who might have missed the migration.)Tomorrow I head off to my home parish in Edmond, OK to do an inservice for the adult leadership of the youth program as well as some of the confirmation sponsors

2008-09-26T06:44:00.002-05:00

Psalm 133The Forty Hours is complete. After four days, at ten hours a day, the parish has completed its Forty Hours of Adoration. People from across the area came to worship our Lord present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. As part of the services, each evening, the parish hosted a solemn preached Holy Hour. (Don't worry. I know I mentioned this on the other site. I'll be bringing those posts

2008-09-25T21:20:00.003-05:00

I'll Be Moving Back PromptlyJust when you thought you knew where to find me, I am going back home. It will take some time to move the new posts over, but now it's time to get the word out. I can feel the dark power of the Rage coursing through me.Saddle up, boys. It's goin' to be a large one.

2008-09-25T14:08:00.002-05:00

Oh, man, I know I am going to regret this. I just know it.16 months ago, I, with my esteemed fellow blogger, Fr. Stephen Hamilton, decided to shut down this blog's progenitor, Catholic Ragemonkey. We shut it down because I didn't have the time to get the stories that would serve as good fodder for the site. So, we closed up shop and moved on. I'll be danged if it pulled me right back in. I guess

2007-02-22T19:26:00.000-06:00

So Long and Thanks for All the Fish...On the good news from my weight, I am wearing a pair of jeans which I had confined to the back of the closet because I was too big for them. I was about to say that the jeans were too small, but that's not fair to the jeans. They didn't change; I did. I am anxious to see what my weight will be when I weigh in on Monday. However, you probably won't be able to

2007-02-20T19:11:00.000-06:00

So...what's the plan, then?Time for an update, ladies and gents. I got the good news on Monday that I am down another 4.8 lbs. for a grand total of 9.2 lbs. lost. I wonder what that is British stones?

2007-02-13T15:33:00.000-06:00

"We're Not Using the Zed-Word"Okay, so some of you might be feverish with anticipation about how the Weight Watchers thing is going. And yes, this is not going to become Catholic SlimMonkey anytime soon. But I do think that it is useful for folks to hear that everyone has something to work on in order to get their lives in order.I weighed in the first week after being very good and very

2007-02-13T14:20:00.000-06:00

Rules ClarificationAs with a new blog template, I also changed the way comments are posted to the blog. Currently, we are using the Blogger comments and these allow me to moderate comments as they come in. I know, I know, I should be able to just let anyone and everyone comment freely to their hearts' content, knowing that no one would ever say something insulting, vulgar, prattling, or insane

2007-02-09T09:50:00.000-06:00

Latin. Good for the heart...It certainly is good for this pastor's Roman heart. After morning Mass today I stuck around the church to assist the children's choir of our school with pronunciation and singing of Latin Mass parts. We will be making more use of the Latin parts during Lent. It is also nice to hear children's voices leading music, especially at Mass. I am happy they are learning