You can't draw pure water from a poisoned well.

November 20, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog

You can’t draw pure water from a poisoned well.

November 20, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog

A Refresher on the Sacrament of Refreshment

November 19, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog

Like some of you, I grew up learning the basics of my Catholic Faith from the Baltimore Catechism, and I really do thank God and my parents for it.

While it’s widely considered outré these days to promote rote memorization in religion (a.k.a. CCD) classes for kids, I think it’s a bad idea to discourage pedagogy that involves at least some memorization component. In fact, personally, I’d say the more memorization the better. The more effort that’s put into learning the truths of the Catholic Faith by heart the more likely the child will be to remain firmly anchored to the Church as he grows up and navigates through the often spiritually treacherous waters of this world.

Similar to memorizing the times tables in the 2nd or 3rd grade, there is a lot to be said for how we used to memorize the answers to the questions posed in the Catechism, back in the olden days.

Just as I could never forget that 3 x 5 = 15 and (like most people who were taught arithmetic in the 1960s) can mentally calculate multiplication equations instantly and with hardly a thought, I am fortunate to have been taught the Faith in a way that enables me to call up instantly from memory certain theological truths, as well as facts, like the ten commandments, books of the New Testament, etc. That’s how permanently engraved in the mind religious knowledge can be when it’s duly memorized and often recalled from memory. And the beauty part about it is that practically anyone can do it. It just takes some effort and determination.

In any case, all of that is simply an editorial gloss on the section of the Baltimore Catechism on the meaning, purpose, and effects of Christ’s Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist.

We can all do with a refresher, now and then, on such an august subject, don’t you think?

Q. 895. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?

A. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist:

1. To unite us to Himself and to nourish our soul with His divine life.
2. To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul.
3. To lessen our evil inclinations.
4. To be a pledge of everlasting life.
5. To fit our bodies for a glorious resurrection.
6. To continue the sacrifice of the Cross in His Church.

Q. 896. Has the Holy Eucharist any other effect?

A. The Holy Eucharist remits venial sins by disposing us to perform acts of love and contrition. It preserves us from mortal sin by exciting us to greater fervor and strengthening us against temptation.

Q. 897. How are we united to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist?

A. We are united to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist by means of Holy Communion.

Q. 898. What is Holy Communion?

A. Holy Communion is the receiving of the body and blood of Christ.

Q. 899. Is it not beneath the dignity of Our Lord to enter our bodies under the appearance of ordinary food?

A. It is not beneath the dignity of Our Lord to enter our bodies under the appearance of ordinary food any more than it was beneath His dignity to enter the body of His Blessed Mother and remain there as an ordinary child for nine months. Christ’s dignity, being infinite, can never be diminished by any act on His own or on our part.

(continue reading . . . )

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Precursor to Persecution?

November 18, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
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4 Comments

It’s getting closer, I fear. And these people will be in the vanguard when it breaks out.

Heads up, Catholics.

(Courtesy of Michelle Malkin.)

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Tall, Dark, and . . . What?

November 18, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
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Okay, Daniel Pipes has just officially blown my mind with his recent article on a connection of sorts between our new president elect and Muslim “prophecies” regarding the end of the world. See what you think about this:

Ali ibn Abi-Talib, the seventh-century figure central to Shiite Islam, is said to have predicted when the world will end, columnist Amir Taheri points out. A “tall black man” commanding “the strongest army on earth” will take power “in the west.” He will carry “a clear sign” from the third imam, Hussein. Ali says of the tall black man: “Shiites should have no doubt that he is with us.”

Barack Hussein in Arabic means “the blessing of Hussein.” In Persian, Obama translates as “He [is] with us.” Thus does the name of the presumptive American president-elect, when combined with his physical attributes and geography, suggest that the End of Times is nigh – precisely what Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been predicting.

Back down on earth, the Muslim reaction to Obama’s victory is more mixed than one might expect.

American Islamists are delighted; an umbrella group, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Election, opined that, with Obama’s election, “Our nation has … risen to new majestic heights.” Siraj Wahhaj, Al-Hajj Talib Abdur Rashid, the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Islamic Society of North America, the Islamic Circle of North America, and the Muslim Alliance in North America responded with similar exuberance.

Hamas, and Islamist movements in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, India, Indonesia and the Philippines delighted in Obama’s election. Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch generalizes that jihadists and Islamic supremacists worldwide showed “unalloyed joy.” The New York Times finds public reaction in the Middle East mostly “euphoric.” John Esposito ~~of Georgetown University emphasizes the Muslim world’s welcome to Obama as an “internationalist president.”~~

~~(continue reading . . .)~~

http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com

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Tall, Dark, and . . . What?

November 18, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog

Leave a Comment

Okay, Daniel Pipes has just officially blown my mind with his recent article on a connection of sorts between our new president elect and Muslim “prophecies” regarding the end of the world. See what you think about this:

Ali ibn Abi-Talib, the seventh-century figure central to Shiite Islam, is said to have predicted when the world will end, columnist Amir Taheri points out. A “tall black man” commanding “the strongest army on earth” will take power “in the west.” He will carry “a clear sign” from the third imam, Hussein. Ali says of the tall black man: “Shiites should have no doubt that he is with us.”

Barack Hussein in Arabic means “the blessing of Hussein.” In Persian, Obama translates as “He [is] with us.” Thus does the name of the presumptive American president-elect, when combined with his physical attributes and geography, suggest that the End of Times is nigh – precisely what Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been predicting.

Back down on earth, the Muslim reaction to Obama’s victory is more mixed than one might expect.

American Islamists are delighted; an umbrella group, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Election, opined that, with Obama’s election, “Our nation has … risen to new majestic heights.” Siraj Wahhaj, Al-Hajj Talib Abdur Rashid, the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Islamic Society of North America, the Islamic Circle of North America, and the Muslim Alliance in North America responded with similar exuberance.

Hamas, and Islamist movements in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, India, Indonesia and the Philippines delighted in Obama’s election. Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch generalizes that jihadists and Islamic supremacists worldwide showed “unalloyed joy.” The New York Times finds public reaction in the Middle East mostly “euphoric.” John Esposito of Georgetown University emphasizes the Muslim world’s welcome to Obama as an “internationalist president.”

(continue reading . . .)

http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com

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Great Expectations

November 17, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
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2 Comments

(Note: “Great” does not always mean “good.”)

Tom Hoopes, editor of the National Catholic Register, summarizes another article by another writer about “What Catholics Can Expect” from the Obama regime.

Keep in mind that the particular Catholics in question here are those who are outspokenly pro-life. Other Catholics — you know, those of the Douglas Kmiec, Richard Gaillardetz, Kathleen Sebelius variety — will have nothing whatsoever to fear from the new regime. Catholics of that variety can expect even more in the way of blandishments to secure their approval for and cooperation with what is to come and all the emoluments that will accrue to them as a result of their cooperation.

But they should remember that the Lord issued a memo about just that sort of thing in Luke 9:25.

As for us, let’s remember what Christ said about times like these:

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles.

“When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:16-22).

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I'll Be Speaking in Ontario, California, Next Weekend (Nov. 21 & 22)

November 16, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
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1 Comment

Please join us, if you can. I’ll be conducting a weekend parish seminar on apologetics and other Catholic themes at San Secondo D’Asti Catholic Church in the tiny, postage-stamp-sized town of Guasti, Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The parish is literally right across the street from the Ontario Airport and is very easy to get to off the 10 Freeway. The address is 250 N. Turner Ave., Guasti, CA 91743. The number to call for info, etc., is 909-390-0011.

I hope you can join me. Please help spread the word by telling your friends. See you there.

http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com

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I’ll Be Speaking in Ontario, California, Next Weekend (Nov. 21 & 22)

November 16, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog

Leave a Comment

Please join us, if you can. I’ll be conducting a weekend parish seminar on apologetics and other Catholic themes at San Secondo D’Asti Catholic Church in the tiny, postage-stamp-sized town of Guasti, Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The parish is literally right across the street from the Ontario Airport and is very easy to get to off the 10 Freeway. The address is 250 N. Turner Ave., Guasti, CA 91743. The number to call for info, etc., is 909-390-0011.

I hope you can join me. Please help spread the word by telling your friends. See you there.

http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com

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Cardinal Francis Arinze Splains Why “Liturgical Dance” Should be Rejected

November 16, 2008 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog

3 Comments

Included in his remarks is this gem: “Young people’s rock music is good . . . for [a] picnic. But not for Mass.”

Amen.

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