The New Crusader

The Joy of Advent and Christmas

2007-12-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

-O Holy Night

One of my favorite times of the liturgical year is the Christmas season and the preparatory season of Advent that leads up to it. While the Paschal Mystery we celebrate during Holy Week and especially on Easter Sunday is really the central mystery of the Christian religion, I find that Christmas reveals another aspect of the Gospel message in a very beautiful and touching way. Christmas is fundamentally a feast of Christian hope, making Advent a season of hope. Perhaps that is why the Holy Father Pope Benedict released his encyclical Spe Salvi, Saved by Hope, one day before the start of Advent this year.

The effects of original sin are apparent everywhere we look, and especially every time we turn on CNN or open a newspaper. Before the birth of Christ we were slaves, dying in our sins with no hope of redemption. At times it appears that this is still the case, and we are tempted to proclaim with Qoheleth, "all things are vanity and a chasing after the wind." But Advent announces that a child is coming who will "hear the groans of the prisoners and free those condemned to die" (Ps 102). At Christmas, God reaches across the infinite chasm that separates man from himself and breaks into human history in a radical way: by becoming man, so that he might reconcile us to himself.

When life seems to be nothing more than a valley of tears, Advent reminds us that we have hope, because God has not forgotten us. When Christmas comes, we can peer into the manager and see the face of Emmanuel, God with us, the Prince of Peace, and have hope, for our salvation is near.

SURVIVOR: JOSEPHINUM

2007-09-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my 39th full day at the Josephinum and I have not been voted off the island. The longest I have ever been away from the Nashville area before now was the three weeks I spent alone in Mexico one summer. I am now about 2.5 weeks past that. If this really were survivor, I'd be trying to convince the jury why I should be the $1 million winner tonight. Tonight would be the last night. But this is far from my last day here. I have hundreds in front of me.

But it's not really Survivor, and that is an important thing for guys to keep in mind. The formation faculty is not waiting to pounce on the opportunity to kick a seminarian out. They are not waiting for you to slip up. They don't want to see you fail. They see it as their job to help you overcome and remove obstacles to ordination. And the goal at the end of this journey is far greater than Survivor's: not money, but the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

It's only been 40 days since I left home, but it seems so long since I've seen home or family. It seems like quite some time since I've seen my friends. I would not say that I am homesick, but I am starting to miss people. But there are always reminders of home. There is a Monsignor from home here. The bishop is here today and will be taking us out for dinner tonight. My mom and aunt are coming to see me this weekend, and it's only two weeks until my short fall break, during which I will be flying home.

So, yes, this will be a long and difficult journey. It will be a profoundly spiritual one in which I will encounter both joys and hardships. I will have to give up much, but I will gain more. Even if I don't make it through, I haven't lost. I will discern God's will here and will be secure in the knowledge that He will not lead me astray as long as I am trying to do His will. I have joked with my friends that these years are my exile, but the truth is that they are my time to go out into the desert and grow. It's very comforting to know that I am not alone in the desert and that I don't have to (and shouldn't) rely only on myself here. I have an "alliance" with all my brothers here, my spiritual director, and the formation faculty to help get me through. Not to mention the prayers from folks back at home, including the St. Cecilia Dominicans! But if I make it to ordination, I will have to remember that it is not I who chose this, but God who chose me. That will be the determining factor. If this is God's plan I think it will happen. If not, I think I will be back home sooner than 2013.

There are definitely parallels to Survivor, but in this adventure you don't have to lie, cheat, steal, plot and backstab to win. In fact, your chances of success are far higher if you don't.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2007-09-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. It is also the day that the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum goes into effect. To celebrate I will be attending Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary form tonight. Let us honor the victory of the Cross and thank God for His many blessings.

Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2007-09-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Your birth, O Virgin Mother of God, proclaims joy to the whole world, for from you arose the glorious Sun of Justice, Christ our God; he freed us from the age-old curse and filled us with holiness; he destroyed death and gave us eternal life.
--From Morning Prayer of the Breviary.

Starting Class tomorrow

2007-08-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I have now been at the Josephinum for one week and have finished orientation. It's a great place and I think I will like it. Classes start tomorrow. Continue to pray for me as I discern my vocation in the seminary.

Motu Mania

2007-07-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

As expected the Holy Father released the much anticipated Motu Proprio derestricting the Tridentine Mass. You can read the full text, in English, over at Rorate Caeli.

Traditionalists everywhere have been rejoicing since Saturday

DEO GRATIAS!

Motu Proprio Publication Imminent

2007-06-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

Rorate Caeli has picked up on an OFFICIAL communication from the Vatican's press office. NewCatholic at Rorate provides an English translation of the Italian:

A meeting took place yesterday afternoon at the Vatican, presided by the Cardinal Secretary of State, in which the content and the spirit of the expected "Motu proprio" of the Holy Father on the use of the Missal promulgated by John XXIII in 1962 were explained to the representatives of several episcopal conferences. The Holy Father came to greet those who were present and maintained a profound discussion with them for about one hour. The publication of the document - which will be accompanied by a thorough personal letter of the Holy Father to the singular Bishops - is predicted for within a few days, when the document itself will be sent to all Bishops with the indication of its successive coming into effect.

LOL - Viewer discrestion is advised

2007-06-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

* abortion (6x)
* gay (2x)
* hell (1x)

STOP RUDY

2007-06-21T22:50:00.001-07:00

I guess there is nothing like politics to get me blogging again...

Rudy Giuliani is no different than John Kerry. He should not be immune from criticism of his pro-abortion stance because he is a Republican. Party affiliation makes no difference. On July 4, www.catholicsagainstrudy.com will launch. Stop by for a visit.

Ron Paul!

2007-06-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

2006 in Review

2007-01-03T11:33:00.000-08:00

It's been fully a year since my last post on here, yet my last post is very appropriate to the season.

A whole lot has changed in a year's time, and now we are beginning an entirely new year, 2007. So I might as well make a Year in Review Post for 2006.

Since my last post I have moved - twice. I moved out of my mom's house for the first time to an apartment building very close to school, owned by St. Thomas Hospital. That happened probably a week after that last post. I spent a couple of months there and then moved to an apartment complex about 5 miles from school. Now, it's been almost a year since then and my lease is about to run out. I'll probably be moving back to mom's house, for reasons I will explain below.

Next, I fell in and out of love with an unlikely candidate: a girl who probably is going to be a nun and is from Wisconsin. Yes, that's right, this Confederate was ensared by a Yankee woman. I guess it can happen to the best of us.

In May, after school ended, I went to Ireland with my mom. We had a great time. We started in Dublin, where we met Father O'Neill's brother and his family. They graciously invited us to dinner in their home. Father O'Neill, if I have never said, is the chaplain at my campus. Next we went to Galway, on the other side of the country. We took tours to the beautiful countryside and through the Gaelic-speaking region. We stayed a night on a tiny Island off Ireland's west coast, where the locals speak Gaelic as well. Next it was off to Northern Ireland and the town of Portrush. Northern Ireland felt less Irish and very British. This makes sense, since the majority of the people in Northern Ireland (the Protestants) consider themselves British. We nearly had no place to stay in Portrush as there was some big motorcycle thing going on. On a daytrip from Portrush we saw the beautiful Giant's Causeway. Next it was down to Belfast, where we saw the place the Titanic was built and toured the infamous Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods. I attened Mass in the absolutely gorgeous cathedral in the Catholic neighborhood. We also watched the FA cup final in a standing room only pub. Ah- the pubs. Ireland has the best pubs. I spent at least some time in a pub each day drinking Guinness of course. Then it was back to Dublin to catch our plane back home.

After Ireland I quit my job with my uncle and decided I might like to be a front desk clerk at a hotel. So I applied to a few places and scored only two interviews. One with the Hilton in Brentwood and one at the Drury by the airport. I only got one job offer - from the Drury. I ask myself if it isn't perhaps providential. Drury Hotels owned and operated by a very good Catholic family. Is it mere coincidence that the only job offer I got came from the Catholic hotel company? Anyways, I accepted the job and started in July. My official title is Guest Service Agent and I usually work 4pm-12midnight. I also occasionally bartend for the happy hour. It sounds more impressive than it is. We only make drinks that are really easy to make. However, I did have to get an alcoholic beverage server's permit from the state, which is good for 5 years. I am available for parties.

Working full time and going to school full time was tough in the fall semester, but I pulled it off and got all A's. My most interesting classes were Mariology and Moral Theology. I also learned a whole lot about the Old Testament as I took Intro. to Old Testament and Wisdom Literature.

The year ended with a bang, I would say. After dragging my feet all these years I finally took a big step towards the priesthood. I met with the bishop and got an application to be a seminarian for my diocese. He wants it back by the middle of this month along with a physical. After that he will send me for a psychological examination and give me the application for the Pontifical College Josephinum, where he wants be to attend seminary. I will get up there, God willing, in August to begin my formation. This is why I will most likely be moving back in with mom instead of taking out another lease.

Well, 2006 was a busy year with many highs and lows. I hope God blesses us all in 2007.

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

Hodie Christus natus est:
Hodie Salvator apparuit:
Hodie in terra canunt Angeli,
laetantur Archangeli
Hodie exsultant justi, dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Alleluia.

Merry Christmas!

Abortion

2005-12-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

Fumare has a couple of great abortion-related posts. Check them out!

Abortion and Down Syndrome

What Has This World Come To?

Amazing Weekend

2005-12-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was absolutely amazing. Saturday morning the religious group I'm a part of at school, the Frassati Society, went to pray at a local abortion mill with our campus chaplain. Before heading off, we were going to have Father say Mass. However, the local Vietnamese Catholic community has Mass in our chapel on Saturday mornings, so we attened their Mass. It was very interesting to hear Mass in Vietnamese. I've heard Mass in Latin, Italian, and Spanish before, but I understand a little of those languages. Vietnamese is completely foreign to me.

We stood outside in the street at the abortion mill. It was freezing cold and raining, but all of that seemed secondary to the good we hoped we were doing. After Mass, we went to a local McDonald's for breakfast, where Father met the relatives of a young lady from Honduras, who had recently been murdered along with her 3-year old daughter. Another child, an infant, was not harmed. Father got the adress of the young woman's mother and, after finding the house, we prayed a couple of decades of the rosary with the grieving family members.

Then Sunday, I receieved absolution in the Sacrament of Penance, and received Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Weekends don't get much better than this.

UPDATE: Monday night we went to the funeral home with Father to pray the rosary. Father has arranged for a Mexican priest to celebrate a funeral Mass for the woman and child. Please pray for the repose of their souls.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace.

Eternal rest grant unto them, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

Advent

2005-12-02T09:14:00.000-08:00

O come, O come Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel.
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Israel
To thee shall come Emmanuel

O come thou root of Jesse free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny.
From depths of hell thy people save
And give them victr'y o'er the grave.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Israel
To thee shall come Emmanuel

I hope everyone has a blessed and fruitful Advent season.

Admission of Homosexuals to Seminaries

2005-11-22T18:47:00.000-08:00

Finally, the Vatican document that many anticipated would ban gay men from admission to Catholic seminaries has been released.

New Oxford Review has an English translation posted on their website, here.

The document says,

In the light of such teaching, this Dicastery, together with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, deems it necessary to clearly affirm that the Church, even while deeply respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to Seminary or Holy Orders those who are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture.

But, also, it says,

When dealing, instead, with homosexual tendencies that might only be a manifestation of a transitory problem, as, for example, delayed adolescence, these must be clearly overcome at least three years before diaconal Ordination.

I had hoped for a complete ban on admission of homosexuals to the seminary. At first glance this document doesn't appear to mandate that. However, I think the exception it makes for men who have "clearly overcome" their homosexuality for "at least three years" is referring more to men who may have been confused about their sexuality or were homosexual for a short time because of some other kinds of problems rather than men who are completely sure of their homosexual orientation.

The document also states, "If a candidate is actively homosexual or shows deep-seated homosexual tendencies, his spiritual director, as well as his confessor, has the duty to dissuade him, in conscience, from proceeding towards Ordination." I think this is a bold charge. We will have to see whether spiritual directors at certain seminaries or in certain religious orders follow this mandate from the Congregation of Catholic Education.

One line, though, is relevant to all those discerning religious vocations, including myself. It says, "The mere desire to become a priest is not sufficient." We also have to be qualified. In today's situation where many dioceses have a shortage of priests, it is tempting to accept whoever wants the job. The Church still has to be selective, though, and those of us who are discerning also have to keep in mind that simply wanting to be a priest isn't enough. We have to have the call from God.

Update Soon

2005-11-21T08:52:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has been awhile since my last update. I've gotten busy with papers, speeches, and things like that. Look for an update today or tomorrow.

Carter: Democrats Not in Mainstream on Abortion

2005-11-07T01:16:00.000-08:00

The website of New Oxford Review contains a link to a a Washington Times story that reports that former Democratic President Jimmy Carter believes his party has gone too far with the pro-abortion agenda. The article says:

Former President Jimmy Carter yesterday condemned all abortions and chastised his party for its intolerance of candidates and nominees who oppose abortion [. . .]

"These things impact other issues on which [Mr. Bush] and I basically agree," the Georgia Democrat said. "I've never been convinced, if you let me inject my Christianity into it, that Jesus Christ would approve abortion."

Mr. Carter said his party's congressional leadership only hurts Democrats by making a rigid pro-abortion rights stand the criterion for assessing judicial nominees.

"I have always thought it was not in the mainstream of the American public to be extremely liberal on many issues," Mr. Carter said. "I think our party's leaders -- some of them -- are overemphasizing the abortion issue."

Hopefully, Jimmy Carter is someone that the left-wing democratic leadership will listen to. Pro-life democrats do exist. They have an organization called Democrats for Life. One of Tennessee's Democratic congressmen, Lincoln Davis, is pro-life. However, by and large the Democratic Party has gotten in bed with the radical pro-abortion movement, and has made that movement's agenda its own. The party doesn't even really seem to respect its own members who are pro-life. Maybe Jimmy Carter can talk some sense to the Democratic Party's out-of-touch leadership.

Is Your Honor a Republican or a Democrat?

2005-11-03T00:40:00.000-08:00

Jurist is reporting that the prosecutor in Tom DeLay's criminal case is asking the judge in charge of selecting a new judge for the trial to recuse himself.

You probably know that DeLay's lawyers asked for a new judge because the one they had had contributed money to moveon.org, a radical liberal website which was apparently selling some kind of anti-DeLay t-shirt. Their request for a new judge was granted, and they were assigned an administrative judge to find a new judge for the trial. The prosecution is now asking the administrative judge to recuse himself because he has contributed money to Republican campaigns.

I actually thought that DeLay should get a new judge because, if nothing else, the fact that the judge had contributed to moveon.org just looked bad. If DeLay was found guilty, it could have cast suspicion on the whole proceeding. But the prosecution's request has made me realize how ridiculous this can get.

Since judges are usually political appointees, what judge are you going to find that hasn't contributed money to some politician's campaign at some point in his life? This could go on and on ad infinitum, with each side asking for a new judge. It has to stop somewhere.

Bush Declares War

2005-10-31T09:44:00.000-08:00

I called it on Saturday! Why, oh why, didn't I blog it?! Bush has nominated Judge Samuel Alito to replace retiring justice Sandra Day-O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court. All signs indicate that the Democrats will vigorously oppose this nominee. Unlike with his last nomination, Bush has chosen to fight. Maybe he will prove me wrong after all.

Alito's credentials on abortion seem encouraging, especially his dissenting opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey in which he voted to uphold a Pennsylvania law that required married women to notify their husbands if planning to have an abortion. However, he did vote with the majority in a decision that struck down a New Jersey law banning partial birth abortion.

The buzz in the blogosphere and other places on the internet seems to be that Alito would be one to vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. I am still unsure if Chief Justice Roberts would do this, though. Some Democrats indicated that they didn't think Roberts would. He also made some statements suggesting he considers Roe to the settled law of the land. However, those statements could have been political maneuvers and nothing more. Thus, I think there is cause for hope.

According to Infoplease Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Roberts are all Catholics. Alito would make 5 Catholics on the Supreme Court. I say: Thanks be to God.

As far as the religion of the other justices goes, O'Connor (retiring) and Souter are Episcopalians, Stevens is a nondescript Protestant, and Ginsburg and Breyer are Jews.

One last note. Alito's nickname is "Scalito".

More coverage on the nomination and the man over at Project Nothing!

Good News for Pro-Lifers in Europe

2005-10-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

Portugese Court Strikes Down Abortion Referendum

This seems like really good news from Europe, where there doesn't seem to be a large pro-life movement or many serious pro-life political parties. Since the symbol of the Portugese is the cross of Christ, I'm glad to learn that they have some of the most strict abortion laws on the continent. The article reports that voter turnout for the referendum was expected to be low, perhaps indicating that there is little interest among the voters in liberalizing abortion laws.

Bravo.

2005-10-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Miers Calls it Quits

Harriet Miers has decided to take herself out of the Supreme Court confirmation process. This is for the best. Her qualifications were suspect, and it is not clear whether or not she would have been a real conservative if she had gotten on the bench. That being said, I feel sorry for her. I mean, the woman has had to hear people make empassioned arguments that she is unqualified. Some have even said she lacks basic writing skills. That had to be tough.

Mr. Bush: Give us a real pro-life nominee! I have never had confidence in your commitment to the pro-life cause. Prove me wrong!

Proof that God Cares About Sports

2005-10-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

1) Eagles miracle win over San Diego on Sunday.

2)Pope will watch World Cup, says German team is strong

Now if I can only prove that God likes cigars and beer....

Catholic Lawyers and Guilty Clients

2005-10-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

At a time when the culture war is being fought more fiercely than ever before in the legal system, I believe that our nation is in need of more good Catholic and good Christian lawyers and judges. However, today's political correctness dictates that people "compartmenatlize" their lives. Thus lawyers, judges, and politicans can be religious, but many expect them to check their religion at the door when they get to work. They are expected by many to have a "professional compartment" and a "religious compartment" that never intersect with each other. A good Catholic or Christian, however, is not supposed to do this. The teachings of Christ are supposed to pervade all aspects of the Christian's life.

With that in mind, along with the fact that criminal law is a large area of pratice in our legal system, I would like to pose a question. Can a Catholic or Christian attorney, in good conscience, defend a guilty client? A Notre Dame professor who has great things to say about being a Catholic lawyer in a secular society says there is no problem with defending a guilty client. This blogger disagrees.

This article about an SSPX legal issue quotes something that Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote in his Summa Theologicae:

"'Now it is evident that an advocate provides both assistance and counsel to the party for whom he pleads. Wherefore, if knowingly he defends an unjust cause, without doubt he sins grievously, and is bound to restitution of the loss unjustly incurred by the other party by reason of the assistance he has provided. If, however, he defends an unjust cause unknowingly, thinking it just, he is to be excused according to the measure in which ignorance is excusable.' (ST II-II.71.3)"

Aquinas' words would seem to be definitive. But what did he mean by an "unjust cause"?

Our justice system in the United States is based on the axiom that it is better that 100 guilty men go free than that one innocent man be convicted. That is why defendants in criminal cases have so many rights. That's why everyone accused of a crime has the right to an attorney and a fair trial. That's why the burden of proof in our system is on the prosecution and why the prosecution must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Notre Dame professor says that sometimes a guilty defendant pleads "not guilty" to request that the government prove its case against them beyond a reasonable doubt. This is what our system requires of the government. Would it be an "unjust cause" to make the government do the job it is required to do when it decides to charge someone with a crime?

If you found yourself facing criminal charges, would you choose not to seek the services of a defense attorney? Even if you were innocent, you would be hard pressed to find a good criminal defense lawyer that had never represented a guilty client. Would it be hypocritical to condemn them for what they do in their profession, but then avail yourself of their services when you need them?

I tend to think that trying to get an obviously guilty client acquitted would be sinful. But I also think there are cases when the guilty person doesn't deserve a harsh sentence. He obviously needs a lawyer to argue his case, because the prosecuation will try to get the stiffest sentence they can get. Wouldn't a Catholic lawyer be justified in defending these clients? Also, the Catholic Church's stance on usuing the death penalty only in cases where there is no other way to protect society from the guilty person would seem to justify a Catholic attorney representing a guilty client facing execution (at least during the sentencing stage).

What do you think? Can a Christian or Catholic lawyer, in good conscience, defend guilty clients?

First Post

2005-10-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

I've been blogging on livejournal for some time now. However, livejournal just doesn't seem like the right place for my political punditry sometimes. Add to that the fact that anyone who isn't a live journal user has to comment anonymously and you get....a new blog on blogger! So, I'll be publishing my political punditry here from now on, and using livejournal for more personal things.

Livejournal url: http://www.livejournal.com/users/calix_vitae/