Irish Saint Of The Day:FINNIAN Of Clonard






The “Teacher of the Irish Saints.” He was born in Myshall, in County Carlow, Ireland in the year 470. Trained by Sts. Cadoc and Gildas in Wales, Finnian returned to Ireland where he built schools, monasteries, and churches. Clonard at Meath was his most famous foundation, and under his direction it became a renowned scriptural school. He is listed as a bishop, but it is possible that he was not consecrated in the office. St. Columba was one of his students, as he trained the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland” at Clonard. He died there during a plague in 549.

For a great book about one of St. Finnian's pupils (also one of the twelve apostles of Ireland) read Brendan by Frederick Buechner. It also has some great depictions of St. Finnian as well.

Favorite Bible Verse?






What is your favorite verse in the Bible? As you might have guessed mine is from 1Peter 3:15: "Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you." The apologist in me can't help but make that verse my favorite!

Another one of my favorites is "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) Jesus says here to the Apostles and to all of mankind that he regards us not as slaves, but as his friends. Through him we see the Father. Christ chose us and revealed God's Word (Jesus Himself) to us and is willing to give freely his own life to redeem ours. Truly, there is no greater love!

God hasn't changed his mind!


When my former priest decided to leave the Episcopal Church and thereby leaving his post as chaplin to the Epsicopal University Center at Florida State University, the Bishop of Florida quickly replaced him with a revisionist priest who fit in with the bishops agenda. Staying behind to sort out a few things was the lay chaplin of the E.U.C. (Episcopal Univeristy Center).

A couple of days after the new priest arrived he got into a discussion with the lay chaplin about the state of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion and couldn't understand why the lay chaplin would not agree to same sex marriages and gay priests and bishops.

The priest asked him, "Do you think God has finished? He's unable to do new things?"

The lay chaplin, without hesitation, replied, "No, I think God hasn't changed his mind!"

Thinking about the Vatican's recent document prohibiting gay clergy from seminary and the mess that has become the Episcopal Church (as well as the Anglican Communion), I feel it needs to be restated that God has in fact, NOT changed his mind.

Over two thousand years of Christian teaching plus thousands of years of Judiasm's teachings have told us that homosexuality is outside of God's intention for human sexuality and that it is a sin. There is no way around it. God does not make mistakes!

I have heard revisionists say that God created the people who are homosexuals and since God doesn't make mistakes, being gay isn't a sin and it is blessed by God.

To that I say, it is not God who has made the mistake, it is man's rebellion against God where the mistake is made. Just because you call a sin not a sin, doesn't make it not a sin. Sin is sin no matter what you choose to call it. Whether it be same sex attraction, adultery, or whatever.

When man has become so selfish in his sin that he refuses to admit that something is a sin, then that is where his soul is in the greatest of danger!

"Surely I, the Lord, do not change" (Malachi 3:6).

What's The Rush?!

In the two months since my wife and I have decided to leave the Anglican Church for Catholicism, we have been to three different Catholic Churches. In these three churches I have seen the same thing happen. Something that, in my opinion, is cause for great concern. As the mass is nearing completion and the priest says the post-communion blessing, he then says that the mass has ended and to go in peace to love and serve the Lord. The people respond, "Thanks be to God!" And then we sing the closing hymn.

So far I have no problems.

My problem is, that before the hymn is even finished, people are rushing out the door in a hurry to leave church. Sometimes they leave as soon as the hymn starts playing!

Why the rush to get away from worshipping God? Will two minutes more of worshipping the Almighty God who created you really interfere with whatever you have to do on Sunday? Because if it does, then I suggest rethinking your priorities!

As messed up as the Anglican Church has become, at least they stay until the last hymn is completed. They aren't in a hurry to leave church as the Catholics I have seen are.

Are all Catholic Churches like this?

Why doesn't the priest put a stop to it?

Or better yet, why doesn't the priest say that the mass has ended after the hymn, when the mass has actually ended?!

Mustangs+Snow=No Go!


Thursday night here in Pittsburgh we had a big snow storm. I happened to be closing at work that night and leaving as the storm was at it's worst. I found out right away just how bad it is to drive a mustang with rear wheel drive in the snow! It took me two and a half hours to get home when it normally only takes 45 minutes....and I didn't even make it all the way home. I had to park my car over night at a police station and have my wife come pick me up, because my car couldn't make it up a hill that was five minutes away from my home.

The worst part of all this is that I have to trade in my mustang! I've always wanted one, but I see now that they aren't the best cars when living up north. If I was still in Florida I wouldn't have any problems, but alas....

I'm currently thinking about trading it in for either an Explorer, a Trailblazer, or a Jeep Cherokee. We'll see which one I get...

The Cafeteria Is Closed!

"In an age that has come to think of the teaching of the Church as a cafeteria line where one picks and chooses what one wants to believe, the Catechism is a reminder that the whole meal is necessary for a well-balanced spiritual diet. The Catechism provides completeness."

-Bishop of Pittsburgh Donald Wuerl, from his book The Catholic Way.

Critics help beatification process, archbishop says

From Catholic Online.

KRAKOW, Poland (CNA) – Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, who for 27 years served as former personal secretary of Pope John Paul II, said that criticisms by dissident theologians only reinforces the beatification process of Karol Wojtyla.

In remarks made to the Polish news agency PAP, the archbishop, referring to a campaign launched by some theologians against the beatification of John Paul II, said that “this kind of manifestation only hastens the beatifications process.”

“Of the Holy Father,” the archbishop said, “we can only say that he always defended man before false ideologies and their preachers and history vindicated him.”

“I think it’s one more opportunity to acknowledge the sanctity of John Paul II,” he added.
He added that “there is no reason to fear for the beatification process, because nobody serious will consider these critics.”

The Rome Diocese vicariate, where the case for beatification has been opened, is seeking testimonies concerning the holiness of John Paul II, and has made available an to which witnesses can contribute.

Due to the significant number of testimonies and the limited staff involved in the beatification cause, they have only considered the serious testimonies, well detailed and supported by documents, preferably in Italian or English.

Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian


"As for theologians, by virtue of their own proper charisms, they have the responsibility of participating in the building up of Christ's Body in unity and truth. Their contribution is needed more than ever, for evangelization on a world scale requires the efforts of the whole People of God."

This paragraph comes from the Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1990. It is 14 pages long, but definitely worth reading.

Pope chooses Polish Dominican as theologian of papal household


Pope Benedict XVI has chosen a 54-year-old British-born Polish Dominican to serve as theologian of the papal household. The Vatican announced the appointment of Father Wojciech Giertych Dec. 1. He succeeds 83-year-old Swiss Cardinal Georges Cottier, a Dominican who held the position since 1989. The theologian of the papal household serves as a private theological consultant to the pope, living in an apartment in the Apostolic Palace. He also serves as a consultant to the congregations for the Doctrine of the Faith and for Saints' Causes and to the International Theological Commission. At the time of his nomination, Father Giertych was serving as assistant to the master general of the Dominicans with special responsibility for Dominican schools, universities and the intellectual life of the order's members. He is a member of the Dominican general council in Rome and a professor of moral theology at Dominican-run Angelicum University in Rome. Born in London Sept. 27, 1951, he made his profession as a Dominican in 1976. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1981 and is a member of the Dominicans' Polish province. He earned a master's degree in history and a doctorate in theology at Angelicum University. The theologian speaks Polish, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian, the Vatican said. According to the Vatican yearbook, the first theologian of the papal household may have been St. Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers. In 1217, he served as "master of the sacred palace," or papal theologian, under Pope Honorius III. The yearbook said that for a time the master of the sacred palace was in charge of a school of theology directly under the pope's authority. After the school closed, the master was given responsibility for choosing preachers for papal chapels, approving their sermons and examining theological questions. Pope Paul VI gave the job its current title in 1968.

From Britain and Ireland's best-selling Catholic newspaper, The Universe.

Which Action Hero Would You Be?


I scored as William Wallace.

The great Scottish warrior William Wallace led his people against their English oppressors in a campaign that won independence for Scotland and immortalized him in the hearts of his countrymen. With his warrior's heart, tactician's mind, and poet's soul, Wallace was a brilliant leader. He just wanted to live a simple life on his farm, but he gave it up to help his country in its time of need.

I think I scored as Wallace because I said that I hate the English. I don't really hate the English....only when they are oppressing the Irish!

Take the quiz yourself here.