How I caught the Catholic blogging bug

I really don't remember how exactly I started reading Catholic blogs but I think it was from looking at Envoy magazine's blog, Encore Envoy, and I think in that blog, it made reference to St. Blog's parish, a list of Catholic blogs and I was hooked. It is very interesting to see people's opinions on the news of the day with a Catholic perspective, especially reading the broad spectrum of Catholic opinion from the traditionalists to the radical reformers. I enjoy reading all of them; however, since I describe myself as a play-by-the-law Vatican II Catholic, I am somewhat in the middle but probably more leaning to conservative side of the Catholic spectrum. I am pro-life, anti death penalty, pro Social Justice as it pertains to the poor and needy and pro EWTN. However, I am also a Charismatic Catholic, I have been involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for about 14 years now and belong to a Charismatic community that is strictly Catholic. As to the Catholic blogs, I especially enjoy the blogs that some of the priests are doing, especially Catholic Ragemonkey and Saintly Salmagundi, but I also like Amy Welborn's Open book and Bett net - and I read Joe Cecil's blog to get the progressive angle on things.
I wanted to start my own blog thinking it would be interesting, but I have already come to find out it is hard work to come up with interesting things to put in your blog. Hopefully I get some inspiration on topics and such.

Happy Easter

It's been a long Easter day for me, getting up at 6 AM to make it to the 8 AM mass with my daughter. But Easter is the greatest day for Catholics as without Easter, there would be no Catholic Church, the whole Church is based on Christ and his resurrection that gave us new life and a way to heaven. Alleluia! The mass this morning was packed and I always pray that the people who only come on Easter Sunday will be blessed by the Holy Spirit to start attending Mass regularly. Easter is new life in Christ!! Please remember also that the Easter season is 50 days long, so celebrate Easter for that many days!!

Pope's suffering is an example for all of us to follow

I watched the Way of the Cross from Rome on EWTN yesterday and I saw the Pope watching it from his "wheelchair" and it made me sad at first to see him in that state, but then I remembered that he is giving his suffering up for the Church and especially for those who are in a similar state, the disabled and the sickly elderly. The reality of this current world is that there will be a big increase in the disabled and sickly elderly as the Baby Boomers finally get to their golden years and medical science helps them to live but does not remove the illness and disease that will come to them. I have already been exposed to this through my wife's parents, her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about 5 years ago and died last year of prostrate cancer and now her mother has Alzheimer's and is in a Alzheimer's facility a mile from our house. We visit her often and are sadden to see her in her confused state, but we love her and want her last years to be peaceful and as healthy and positive as she can be in her current diseased state. I believe the Pope is trying to impress upon the world that we need to see the disabled and sickly elderly with respect and with love. He wants us to know that these people deserve a chance to live out their lives with as much dignity and care as anyone else, even a Pope. I pray that the world will understand what the Pope is trying to tell us through his last days on this earth and that we will turn our focus on helping the elderly live a productive life even in a diseased state that may come about.
Happy Easter to everyone - May Jesus' resurrection show us that all people, even the disabled and sickly elderly, will rise again after death and meet Jesus at the gates. God bless.

Holy Thursday Mass is awe-inspiring

I went to the Holy Thursday Mass at my parish tonight and it was an awe-inspiring ceremony. I think Holy Thursday is probably the second best Mass of the year after Easter Vigil. At our parish, we have a ceremony with the new oils - the oils that will be used for sacraments throughout the year. Then we have the priests being servants and washing peoples feet - it is great symbolism on the role of priests as servant of all just like Jesus was. Then at the end of Mass, the altar is stripped bare and the eucharist is brought to the Community Center where a very nice altar is set up there. There is a procession that follows the priest so we can all adore Jesus.

U.S. Bishops start campaign to end Death Penalty

I saw news that the U.S. bishops started a campaign to end the death penalty in the United States. I am glad, as a pro-life Catholic, it pains me that my country still puts people to death when it is not needed. I am glad that the statistics show that more Catholics in this country want the death penalty stopped also. All the arguments for the death penalty are not even true, no death row prisoner would ever be let out of jail because of parole, it doesn't cost less to keep prisoner for his/her lifetime because of the costly death penalty appeals, and it isn't a deterrent for criminals. Also, it is shocking how many people are on death row even though they were convicted with just circumstantial evidence. Take Scott Peterson for instance, even if we think he is guilty, no one knows for sure because there isn't super solid evidence against him. And even if he did kill his wife, how do we know it wasn't out of rage and not even premeditated. I pray that there will be a ground swell of support for this and we can convince even the Republicans to vote against the death penalty. Here is the link to the US Catholic Bishop's web site that tells of the campaign: http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2005/05-064.shtml

Parish Seder celebrations was a joy once again

I attended my parish's Seder celebration once again this year and it was a joy to be there. For those who don't know, a Seder is the celebration of Jewish Passover, the re-living of the story of Moses saving the Israelites from Egypt. Our parish combines the traditional Jewish Seder, prayers and food, with the rich symbolism of Jesus in the Passover and as the Lamb of God. It is well done and a good way to start off Holy Week - it is done on Monday of Holy Week, probably due to the Seder being celebrated on the 1st day of the seven day feast - the last day being Easter. The Eucharist was first given at a Passover meal so it is only fitting that Catholics learn about Passover so they can learn more about the Eucharist and about Jesus' sacrifice for us. I would recommend that all Catholic Parishes start a Seder celebration during Lent. Here is a link to information on Seder from a Jewish perspective: http://www.holidays.net/passover/seder.html