Massive 8.8 Quake Strikes Chile

February 27, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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Everyone’s waking up to this grim news:

SANTIAGO (Reuters) – A massive magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck south-central Chile early on Saturday, killing at least 85 people, knocking down buildings, homes and hospitals, and triggering a tsunami.

Yahoo has a large number of pictures of the devastation. It appears that the death toll will be quite high.

Eerily, like a broken watch with its hands frozen at the moment of its demise, some of the Chilean press is (thus far, at least) frozen in its news cycle just before the earthquake struck. Many Chilean press outlets are functional and reporting first-hand news of the quake in Spanish, such as here, here, here, and here.

First, the devastating quake in Haiti 45 days ago, and now this one in Chile. My guess is that more of these disasters will strike more frequently. I hope not, but that’s a hunch. Sooner or later, one of these BIG quakes will strike within the U.S. — Los Angeles? St. Louis? Chicago? San Francisco? New York? It’s just a matter of time, the scientists have been telling us.

Two things we should do:

1) Always be ready to meet the Lord by staying close to him in prayer and the sacraments, especially frequent confession. This is a no-brainer, but it’s amazing how many people, including Catholics, never give the four last things any thought: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell.

And 2) If you haven’t already, start making practical preparations in your own home so that, if find yourself in a quake-stricken area, you and your family can fare better and be in a position to help those around you. Lay in a supply (even if just a small one) of extra water, foods that will keep without refrigeration, medicines like Ibuprophin, a hand-crank radio (no batteries needed), etc. Make a plan with your family, especially your kids, so that they will know where to meet up. You know, those kinds of basic preparations.

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My Friend Monsignor Eugene Morris

February 26, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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I was just recently a house-guest at Monsignor Eugene Morris’s rectory in St. Louis (St. Mary Magdalen), when I was in town for some projects. What a treat!

I’ve known Monsignor Morris for a year or two, though not very well, so it was good to have the chance to get to know him better during my visit. In addition to his being an all-around good guy and a gracious host, I am impressed by his personal orthodoxy, erudition, bon homie, and dedication to furthering the mission of re-evangelizing and recatechizing young Catholics.

Apropos of that, here’s a video clip of the good Monsignor commenting on the many merits of the Didache catechetical series.

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Cremation . . . Jewelry?

February 26, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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I shall pass over this one in discrete silence.

From the website:

Cremation jewelry is, simply put, jewelry that contains some of the cremated ashes of a deceased family member or loved ones. Cremation jewelry has many names and comes in a variety of forms, but no matter the words used, cremation jewelry is among the newest and most popular ways to memorialize loved ones.

(My thanks to the blogger whose site I saw this on, though now I can’t remember where!)

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What if we just said, "Why don't you just get over it?"

February 26, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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The jungle drums of frustration and consternation are beating in reaction to the impending revision of the Roman Missal. Granted, the syncopation is a bit uneven, and the decibel level less than robust, but it’s there.

And it’s . . . it’s simply ineffable.

The Community of Disciples over at America Magazine and their fellow travelers at the National Catholic Reporter are scrambling for the panic button.

They are shocked (shocked!) that the Catholic Church would have the audacity to implement a (long overdue, sorely needed, and eagerly anticipated) new English translation of the Missal without their approval.

On the “What if we just said wait?” website, in the “Statement of Concern,” they agonize …

We are very concerned about the proposed new translations of the Roman Missal. We believe that simply imposing them on our people — even after a program of preparation — will have an adverse effect on their prayer and cause serious division in our communities.

We are convinced that adopting translations that are highly controversial, and which leaders among our bishops as well as many highly respected liturgists and linguists consider to be seriously flawed, will be a grave mistake.

For this reason we earnestly implore the bishops of the English-speaking world to undertake a pilot program by which the new translations — after a careful program of catechesis — can be introduced into some carefully selected parishes and communities throughout the English-speaking world for a period of one (liturgical) year, after which they can be objectively evaluated.

We are convinced that this approach will address the concerns of those many bishops who feel that they have lost their voice in this matter and that it will also give a voice to the People of God whose prayer is at stake and who accordingly have the most to gain or lose by the translations.

The irony here is rich indeed. These are the same people who cheered on (whether because they were alive at the time or, if they weren’t, because they sympathize with those who were) the wholesale imposition in the mid- to late-1960s of radical liturgical changes, often accompanied by serious liturgical abuses, upon unprepared, unsuspecting Catholics who did experience an adverse affect on their prayer and piety as
a result.

But now that the shoe is on the other foot and the Church is well on its way to finally correcting certain deficiencies and implementing the actual letter and spirit of Vatican II’s document on the Eucharistic Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, now these same people are indignant (indignant!) that such a thing should be done. How dare the pope and the bishops impose changes in the Liturgy on the faithful?!

Oh, the humanity!

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It's time for the fastest 2 hours in Catholic radio

February 25, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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Starting my “Open Line” radio show in a couple of minutes. You can listen online here: http://ewtn.com/radio/index.asp (3-5 pm ET).

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Here's yesterday's "Catholic Answers Live" show (2nd hour)

February 25, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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Ronald Reagan's 1960 warning about socialized medicine

February 24, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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Here’s a news report about this newly popular audio clip.

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What goes around comes around, baby

February 24, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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These people’s hypocrisy is staggering, boundless, sickening, but not at all surprising.

Dear Leader & Dems in 2005: complaining that the 51 vote “nuclear option” is “arrogant,” a “power grab against the Founders’ intent,” etc.

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I could listen to this priest preach for days on end

February 24, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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This Spanish priest is literally on fire with zeal for the Lord. His message about sin, hell, repentance, and forgiveness (todo dado en español) is powerful. As a spiritual work of mercy this Lent, I’d suggest you share this around with your Spanish-speaking friends and family. Post it to your FaceBook pages, blogs, etc. I don’t know who the priest is (yet), but he’s really nailed this subject.

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How to Go to Confession

February 24, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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Maybe it’s been a long time since you’ve received this sacrament, or perhaps you’d like to show this to your youngster who’s preparing to receive First Holy Communion. Or maybe you’re not Catholic and you’re just curious what happens when a Catholic goes to confession. Whatever the reason, this video may prove helpful to you.

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Tracy (CA) Residents to Pay Big Bucks For 911 Calls

February 23, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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I was born and raised in Southern California and lived most of my life there. I’ve known for a long time that the state has been run into the ground by the seemingly unending cavalcade of inept and venal politicians who have been running (and ruining) the show there for decades.

I know things in California are going from bad to worse, but I didn’t realize it had come to this:

Tracy residents will now have to pay every time they call 9-1-1 for a medical emergency.

But there are a couple of options. Residents can pay a $48 voluntary fee for the year which allows them to call 9-1-1 as many times as necessary.

Or, there’s the option of not signing up for the annual fee. Instead, they will be charged $300 if they make a call for help.

“A $300 fee and you don’t even want to be thinking about that when somebody is in need of assistance,” said Tracy resident Greg Bidlack.

Residents will soon receive the form in the mail where they’ll be able to make their selection. No date has been set for when the charges will go into effect.

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You're not seeing what you think you're seeing

February 23, 2010 by Patrick Madrid
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Incredible, mind-blowing technology is being used in movies these days that convinces you you’re seeing something that’s not really there, as this series of back-lot scenes from TV-shows and movie sets reveals.

From an entertainment standpoint, I think all this is truly marvelous. I love how they can simulate anything, any location, any situation using green-screen shoots overlaid with computer graphic illustration (and other such technically devised illusions). But this is also a cause for concern if this grand technology were ever employed nefariously in an effort to deceive people on a wide scale — e.g., to make them think they are seeing, let’s say, something menacing or enticing in the sky.

Don’t get me wrong. I am happy to see these amazing advances in technology which allow us to expand our ability to imagine. I’m just a little leery about the potential for its misuse. In any case, sit back and enjoy a few minutes of cinematographic magic.

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