Tuesday, June 22, 2010

"If we are to serve others,...

...for Christ’s sake, we need to be very human. If our life is less than human, God will not build anything on it, for he normally does not build on disorder, selfishness or emptiness. We have to understand everyone; we must live peaceably with everyone; we must forgive everyone. We shall not call injustice justice; we shall not say that an offence [sic] against God is not an offence against God, or that evil is good. When confronted by evil we shall not reply with another evil, but rather with sound doctrine and good actions: drowning evil in an abundance of good."

-from Christ Is Passing By by St. Josemaría Escrivá

Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Answer Is...

Pope Leo XIII wrote Rerum Novarum in 1891 AGAINST Socialism as a viable solution to poverty. I quoted yesterday the opening paragraph of this timeless encyclical.

Some time ago I posted a quote from Rerum Novarum, to which one of my readers responded that it was considered "too old" to be taken seriously anymore.

After almost a year of pondering it, my doubts regarding his assessment have considerably grown.  In other words, I don't believe it's the document's age that keeps it in shadow, but it's content.

Pope Leo XIII absolutely denounces Socialism in his visionary encyclical that many call a capstone of Catholic Social Teaching. In just paragraph 4 he links the socialist ideal to one of the seven deadlies: "To remedy these wrongs the socialists, working on the poor man's envy of the rich, are striving to do away with private property, and contend that individual possessions should become the common property of all, to be administered by the State or by municipal bodies.(emphasis mine)"  He affirms that it's the family--not the state--that is the rightful centerpiece of society, with marriage as its foundation, fatherhood the authority and private property an extension of the Natural Law.

He was most definitely ahead of his time, denouncing Communism decades before the Soviet regime and their socialist counterparts behind the Iron Curtain imposed tyranny upon millions. Soviets coerced, imprisoned, tortured and murdered as many Catholics (and later other denominations of Christians) as they could get their hands on--bishops, priests, religious and laity were all targeted, because to an admittedly atheist government, the Church is its primary enemy.

Think about what an encyclical is: a document designed to guide and direct our Priests and Bishops in teaching us the faith. The contents of this document were of course taken very seriously, and still are. Every pope after him has stood firmly upon what Pope Leo XIII teaches.

If you've never read an encyclical, Rerum Novarum is the one with which you should start.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Wednesday Morning Quiz

That the spirit of revolutionary change, which has long been disturbing the nations of the world, should have passed beyond the sphere of politics and made its influence felt in the cognate sphere of practical economics is not surprising. The elements of the conflict now raging are unmistakable, in the vast expansion of industrial pursuits and the marvelous discoveries of science;...in the enormous fortunes of some few individuals, and the utter poverty of the masses; the increased self reliance and closer mutual combination of the working classes; as also, finally, in the prevailing moral degeneracy. The momentous gravity of the state of things now obtaining fills every mind with painful apprehension; wise men are discussing it; practical men are proposing schemes; popular meetings, legislatures, and rulers of nations are all busied with it - actually there is no question which has taken deeper hold on the public mind.

In what year was this paragraph published?

A)1996
B)1891
C)1939
D)2009

Answer tomorrow...with commentary.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Christian Dynamite


I can't wait until the series is completed.  To get a sneak preview of The Catholicism Project, click here.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

A Decision Will Be Made Today--Please pray it's the right one!

Today Mahoning Valley Health is meeting to decide the fate of their newly aquired property.  Please pray for the board members that they discern well what to do with the facility and property.

The property in question was an abortion facility.  Mahoning Valley Health, an organization of Pro-Life physicians and activists who raised funds to purchase the building.  Click here to read more about how they acquired this facility.

Several suggestions have been made, all of which are being taken under advisement.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn, pray for them.

UPDATE: THE MEETING TO DECIDE THE FATE OF THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FRIDAY.  Please keep Mahoning Valley Health in your prayers.
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