Still Running Off at the Keyboard

AS WE AWAIT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

the following passage, taken from “The Winter Pascha,” by Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, SVS, sent to me in email, places the Nativity into the context of the entire life of Christ rather than focusing upon it as an isolated event.

Christians live between the two comings of Christ. They remember His first coming to be sacrificed. They anticipate His second coming to reign. This is vividly portrayed in traditional Orthodox church buildings where the “royal gates” of the icon screen in front of the altar table are flanked by the icons of the Theotokos and Child on the one side, and the Lord Jesus in glory on the other. To the uninitiated it may seem as though these are simply pictures of Mary and Jesus put on the same level. This is not so. The icons which frame the Orthodox altar are images of the two comings of Christ.

Mary is not alone in her icon; she is holding the Christ Child, who is not shown as a baby, but as the Son of God incarnate “in the form of a slave. . . in the likeness of men” (Phll 2:7). This is the icon of Christ’s first coming. And the icon on the right of the doors is not a picture of Jesus as He was on the earth. It is His image in glory as King and Lord, the icon of His second coming.

The two comings of Christ are held together in Christian thought, action, and prayer at all times. They cannot be separated. When they are, it is the end of Christian faith, life and worship. The first coming without the second is a meaningless tragedy. The second coming without the first is an absurd impossibility. Jesus is born to bring God’s kingdom. He dies to prove His kingship. He rises to establish His reign. He comes again in glory to share it with His people. In the kingdom of God there are no subjects. All rule with the risen Messiah. He came, and is coming, for this purpose alone.

You have taken me captive with longing for You, 0 Christ, and have transformed me with Your divine love. Burn up my sins with the fire of Your Spirit and count me worthy to take my fill of delight in You that dancing with joy, I may magnify Your two Comings.

* * * *

Christ our Judge commands us to be vigilant.
We wait expectantly for His visitation,
For He comes to be born of a virgin.

At Your awesome second coming, 0 Christ,
Number me with the sheep at Your right hand,
For You took up Your abode in the flesh to save us.

At Your first coming to us, 0 Christ,
You desired to save the race of Adam;
When You come again to judge us,
Show mercy on those who honor Your Holy Nativity.

A newborn baby is one of life's greatest joys; but once we leave childhood behind, unqualified joy will never come again. It is always tempered by the losses we've experienced.

There are only 366 dates on the calendar. With millions of people in the world, in the normal course of time it is inevitable that sadness will touch our lives at some moment when the world is rejoicing, and the natural human reaction is to cry "Why now?" "Why me?"

This reflection of Fr. Hopko places the birthday of the Christ Child, who grants us a release from the prison of sorrow, into the very context that we dread--the inevitable loss of death that is guaranteed by any new birth. But then there is the Resurrection. Then there is the promise that death is only a temporary separation. Unqualified joy will one day come again from this Baby who saves the world from the permanence of death. Only that promise can make Christmas worth the celebration.

JUSTIN'S NEWBORN SON IS BEING BAPTISED TODAY

Welcome to the family of God, Joseph Michael.

EXIT CHRISTMAS TREE, ENTER MAGIC TREE

Hint--it's the same tree.

Some parents are scratching their heads after school administrators insisted students call a Christmas tree a "magical tree," the color red was removed from green and red elf hats, and songs from "Jesus Christ Superstar," were pulled from a winter concert.

"I can see a religious holiday being offensive to those who don’t celebrate it," said Dale Fingar, whose sixth-grade son brought home 10 red and green elf hats Monday and requested she replace the red fabric with white. "But red and green hats? Come on."

This is taking place in Florida, and the parents are reacting:

Handfuls of parents said they were upset with the administration’s handling of "a couple" of complaints from parents who were offended by Christian religious themes in the middle school’s holiday programming.

Snip...

Paul Danehy was perturbed yesterday morning after leaving his third-grader’s holiday concert at Memorial School. Instead of "We Wish you a Merry Christmas," the students sang, "We Wish you a Swinging Holiday."

Danehy also has a sixth-grade son, who had been practicing his lines from "Jesus Christ Superstar," for three weeks.

"I’m not advocating for a Christian-based celebration," Danehy said. "But don’t ignore the white elephant in the corner called Christmas."

He said he was "sent into orbit" after learning students were encouraged to call a Christmas tree a magical tree.

"I know what a menorah is," Danehy said. "I’m not calling it a candleholder."

Sixth-grade parent Anne Pendleton said she comes from an interfaith family, Catholic and Jewish.

"Enough is enough," Pendleton said. "If my daughter wants to go call it a Christmas tree, she should be able to call it a Christmas tree."

A few people in our culture are trying to foment a religious war of words. They are pitting one faith against another, whether intentionally or not; and this year the Christian majority has started to push back.

What none of the parents seem to realize is that they have not been given secular language when the Christmas tree was morphed into the magic tree. Instead, they have been given the religion of occultism which has managed to nudge Christianity out of the language in this instance because the Christians being pushed around are ignorant of what is overtaking them.

Blogger credit to Spirit Daily.

THE OFFENSIVE AD IN "AMERICA" MAGAZINE

If you surf the blogs, you no doubt already know about the ad in "America" for the laytex-draped statue of the Blessed Virgin. Now there is additional fuss being raised in Vatican circles according to Catholic News Service:

Messori's commentary, published in Corriere della Sera Dec. 22, was unusual in several respects. It gave the impression that the magazine itself was offering the statue for sale, it did not mention America's explanation and apology, and it used the ad to launch a verbal attack on the church in the United States.

"All of this in a church like the American church, reduced to economic bankruptcy and the unanimous abomination of a clergy that too often, it seems, likes to fondle seminarians' genitalia," he wrote.

Jesuit Father Jose M. de Vera, spokesman for the Jesuits in Rome, said Messori apparently failed to realize that America had inadvertently published the ad and apologized for the error.

Father de Vera said Messori generally has high credibility in the church, and because of that his commentary may have a "deep impact in the official circles in the Vatican," even if based on incomplete information.

Father de Vera said he was sending Messori the explanation given by America, in the hope that Messori would add clarification to his article.

The ad, which ran on page 36 of the 38-page issue, offered what the advertiser called a "unique contemporary religious artwork" for $300 by an art student in Great Britain.

I suppose the new editor of "America" is wondering if he is out of a job. Actually, I do believe that "America" was hoodwinked. I also have to wonder about the artist's response when contacted by a reader. According to the article:

The advertiser, who identified himself as "sculptural artist Steve Rosenthal," told a reader who contacted him that his work was intended to be "an assault on Catholic faith and devotion," America editors said in their disclaimer.

Rosenthal. You probably can guess what I'm wondering about the name, after Tal Brooke's letter on the assault some Jews are waging against the Catholic Church which I blogged earlier this week.

Hat tip to Spirit Daily for the link.

CONFESSING BRIDE

Justin sent in a link to this picture of a priest absolving a bride after she's confessed right before her wedding.

Here's another beautiful wedding dress. With sleeves.

The longer I look at the picture, the more it speaks to me. This woman is minutes short of walking down the aisle. In those minutes before a wedding, what is an American bride thinking about? Most likely the last thing on her mind is confession or sin or maybe even God. Rather her thoughts are on whether the cake will arrive at the reception on time, or did someone remember to take the unity candle to the hall, or is the photographer getting pictures of the groom and their parents, or is Uncle Charles here yet--in other words thoughts related to her role as hostess, because the wedding as show and party is so important.

Maybe she's wondering if the groom has arrived. In those minutes before I got married my mother-in-law was convinced the groom was not going to show up because if he were going to go through with this, he would already be here. She recalled that he had always said he would get married after the Pope does. She conveyed her doubts to me, and I just smiled at her. I knew he would be there, just not why he seemed to be delayed. Turned out the top button on his shirt had come off when he was buttoning it, and he and his best man were trying to deal with the problem without the aid of a woman. He got there before the music started.

The last thing on my mind was confession.

And so this bride being absolved by this priest is a study in contrasts for me. The priest in his long black robe with his white hair and beard speaks of otherworldly concerns. The bride in her dress and veil speaks of the familiar wedding process of this world. The picture is counter-cultural. It takes for granted that a man and woman on the verge of marriage will deal with certain urges in a way that may not be completely in tune with God's desires. It's realistic. This confession is taking place at the last possible moment when the opportunities for offending God yet again are over. It makes allowances for human weakness while at the same time giving priority to the holiness we are called to. It is a sharp counterpoint to American wedding culture and a homily without words.

JOSEPH'S LATEST ARTICLE IS UP

at FrontPage.

I confess I don't know who is right in the Mid-East, but I suspect that both sides are wrong some of the time, and the argument for righteousness from both sides has some merit as well.

Mostly what I'd like to see happen is for them to keep on disagreeing with each other verbally if they must, and be too busy with the words to have time to think about using the weapons.

A RETREAT, HUH ?

Joseph and Lee are right. I should put the warlocks away till after Christmas.

If I do that, I will have to start thinking about what I'm trying to avoid.

I haven't liked Christmas for a long time. Mostly because it was the last day I spent with my father who died when I was a child. The day after Christmas he went to the hospital. He didn't come home. My mother and I knew on that Christmas long ago what was coming the next day. My mother must have known there was a good chance he would not return, but I knew he would. I saw him one more time only briefly in the hospital between Christmas and New Year's.

Every year at this time the memories come rushing back. The memory of what I was wearing the last time I saw him--a black felt skirt with owls on it. I can still see the owls and the hospital corridor, and my dad in his hospital bed. The memory of the snow shovel that my aunt and uncle gave him, and of Christmas at their house with fire in the fireplace and an aluminum tree. I remember them wishing him good luck as we left at the end of the day. And then I remember sitting in that same livingroom a week later when my mother told me he had died.

Then come the memories of the funeral--of sitting in a back room at the funeral home watching the cukoo clock and escaping all those grown-ups. Of my older cousin going home with me and building a snowman. Of memorizing my aunt's door combination because there wouldn't be any grown-ups around to let us in the house. Of my grandfather, who I rarely saw because he lived too far away, and of his concern that I was crying when I had my face in my hands, only to learn that I was playing hide-n-seek with my cousins and counting. That was the last time I saw my grandfather.

I remember the morning of the funeral wanting to kiss my dad goodbye and trying to pick up his hand, only to discover that it wouldn't move, and then bending over the casket to kiss him. I remember walking down the aisle at church behind the casket--the blue coat I was wearing with the dark velvet trim, the squishy sound of my boots on the stone floor, discovering that my classmates were there in the pews. I remember coming back to our house after the funeral and all the commotion of the funeral meal. Then there was the first day back at school when my teacher made me put my rosary away and get back to the business of study.

There have been many deaths and many funerals since then, but none of them have had the same impact. We face death. We cry over it. Then we move on. But there is a nine-year-old inside of me that never moved on. Losing a parent in childhood is not like losing one in the normal course of events. My father had been the center of my world, and that world was shattered one Christmas season long ago.

Sometimes I wonder who I would be if he had lived. I would not be the person I became. The child who went to sleep on that Christmas night never woke up again, and the little adult that emerged has never fully trusted anyone she loved to hang around.

This year the memories are especially vivid. Two of the neighbor ladies I've been close to are moving away--one tomorrow, the other next July. My last living relative in my parents generation died recently, and this is the first year my daughter is not home for Christmas. She lives nearby now and will be here Christmas day, but it's not the same. The house is too quiet and there seems to be no point to the decorations. I'm not busy enough with Christmas preparations because I started early this year. There is too much time to think.

None of that, though, is a valid excuse for ignoring Christmas. We have to take our lumps in life and avoid giving in to self-pity, which is sometimes more of a struggle. I should put some Christmas music on. I should sing some carols. I should stay out of websites dedicated to the enemy of the baby in the straw. I should forget about a pope with new ideas about how to get along. I should. And I will, but first I guess it's necessary to take the time to remember and shed a tear or two for what might have been if life had not been what it was. And to exorcise the memories by writing them in a blog.

HOUSECLEANING

I'm happy to report that half of the dust kitties now have a new home. Tomorrow the rest will join them. Even better, I can see the top of my computer desk again. Nearly all the papers have been put away. A small miracle in itself.

When I was dusting and moved the stuff on my nightstand, there was the "Confessions of St. Augustine" waiting for me to read it. Underneath "The Apocalypse Explained" which is started, but alas... Guess I should have asked Santa for a speed reading course instead of another nutcracker.

Anyway, I'm fresh out of words so it's time to turn this thing off for the night.

Before I do, though, did you see this picture of Benedict in the red hat? I have a picture like that too--on my driver's license. The hat is supposed to be a joke, isn't it? Yeah, I know, it has a proper purpose, but it's nearly Christmas and he looks like Santa's mischievous helper planning some fiendishly clever trick. Crazy glue on the seat of the sleigh or an empty underware drawer in Santa's dresser, or even worse, Mrs. Claus in menopause.

It's past time for me to hang up the keyboard, isn't it?

Goodnight, St. Blogs.

THE SCHEDULE

I've just spent some time reading through and printing some papal encyclicals that address the heated discussion going on between Dom and me. Which means that the house that needs to be cleaned before Christmas company arrives is still dirty. The cooking that will soon need to be done for that Christmas company has not been planned.

Bottom line, I don't have time to do a lot of blogging this morning, and I don't have time to read the news either.

All you wives know how this works, and you husbands and single folks will just have to take my word for it.

Maybe later tonight I can get to the blog, but right now I'd better get to the dust kitties.

CO-REDEMTRIX AND MEDIATRIX

Since some of you have expressed a desire to discuss this topic, I'm opening up a thread for it. I don't have anything to contribute at this time, but fell free to make your own contributions.

CONTINUING TO FUME

A trip to the mall and the grocery store to buy myself a Christmas present and get the Christmas ham has not been sufficient to dispell the cloying annoyance yesterday's debate generated. The cashier who said Merry Christmas instead of the politically correct Happy Holidays was not sufficient. And I suspect that the scotch and water I'm currently sipping will not be sufficient either.

For 2 cents I'd sweep all the Christmas decorations into the trash can...I'm that angry.

The argument given to defend the current teaching claims that a pope can rewrite the faith. The part of the faith being rewritten here is the very definition of who Jesus Christ--who the Trinity--is...the very heart and soul of Catholicism. We are not talking about discipline here. We are not talking doctrine. We are talking dogma.

Would those who defend this teaching also defend a pope who proposed that there is a fourth person of the Trinity named Sophia? From what I can see in the way of outrageous apology, I think they would. Prepare yourself for the new teaching of Co-Redemtrix. It's coming. You can find its advent in the occult websites. If the rest can be embraced, this will be no problem either.

So, today out goes the nature of the Trinity, of Christ and the Church He founded. Tomorrow we can incorporate a goddess. If a pope does it, there will be no arguing with those who aren't willing to read and think.

This Protestant Catholic is not buying it. Not for a moment.

'TIS THE SEASON...

I woke up in a foul mood this morning, thinking still about yesterday's interchange.

It would seem that we have gone from a holy pope who wrote so profoundly that no one could understand what he said, to a holy pope who writes clearly but can't read. Meanwhile the newest qualification on the job description of the Catholic journalist is the ability to read the word "no" and understand it to mean "yes with bells on." (I'm referring specifically to Mirari Vos 13 and 14 here, but there are other examples.)

Lacking in the new magical ability, this low class "Protestant" Catholic considers the "Protestant" epitaph to be a badge of integrity and clear evidence that I have gotten past the Dick and Jane series, something that I regretfully observe seems to be lacking in others.

Periodically I wander over to Catholic and Enjoying It for the sole purpose of putting "Carrie" into the "find" window and seeing what it turns up. Yesterday it turned up "Witchhunt Central". Twice. I see that someone has taken note of that fact in a combox below as well. I guess this is the new Catholic charity that is making the rounds, but I should know better than to expect to find charity where I was surfing. Hey, I can take lessons in this new charity too. How's this blog for a start?

So, readers, so as not to misinform you, I want you to know that when you surf here, you are reading the Protestant Catholic Witchhunt Central Blog. Formerly known as Roman Catholic and still Roman Catholic in the eyes of some, including this blogger.

And now from the mailbox a little lighter fare to get back into the mood of the season, if that were possible...

INTER-OFFICE MEMO
BYWAYS BLUE FREIGHT

FROM: Ruby Phillips, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 01, 2005
RE: Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take
Place on December 23, starting at noon in the private function room at the
Grill House.

There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a
small band playing traditional carols...feel free to sing along.
And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A
Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 pm. Exchange of gifts among
employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to
make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only
for employees! Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time!

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Ruby

----------------------

INTER-OFFICE MEMO
BYWAYS BLUE FREIGHT

FROM: Ruby Phillips, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 02, 2005
RE: Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish
employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday, which often
coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to any
other employees who are not Christians or those still celebrating
Reconciliation Day.

There will be no Christmas tree present. No Christmas carols sung.
We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Ruby
------------------

INTER-OFFICE MEMO
BYWAYS BLUE FREIGHT

FROM: Ruby Phillips, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 03, 2005
RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous
requesting a non-drinking table ... you didn't sign your name. I'm
happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads,
"AA Only", you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody?

Forget about the gifts exchange, no gift exchange will be allowed since
the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and executives believe
$10.00 is a little chintzy.

NO GIFT EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.

Ruby
-----------------------------

INTER-OFFICE MEMO
BYWAYS BLUE FREIGHT

FROM: Ruby Phillips, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 04, 2005
RE: Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are!

I had no idea that December 20 begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party!

Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party, or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy bags. Will that work?

Meanwhile, I've arranged for the members of Weight Watchers to sit
farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table
closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each will have their own table. Yes, there will be a flower arrangement for the Gay men's table. To the person asking permission to cross dress, no cross-dressing allowed, though.

We will have booster seats for short people. Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet. We cannot control the salt used in the food. We suggest for those people with high blood pressure to taste first.

There will be fresh fruits as dessert for diabetics. The restaurant cannot
supply "No Sugar" desserts. Sorry!

Did I miss anything?!?!?

Ruby
--------------------------

INTER-OFFICE MEMO
BYWAYS BLUE FREIGHT

FROM: Ruby Phillips, Human Resources Director
TO: All Fucking Employees
DATE: October 05, 2005
RE: The Fucking Holiday Party

Vegetarian pricks I've had it with you people!!! We're going to keep
This party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit
quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put
it, and you'll get your fucking salad bar, including organic tomatoes.

But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them.
I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW!

I hope you all have a rotten holiday! Drive drunk and die.

The Bitch from HELL!!!!!!!!

------------------------

INTER-OFFICE MEMO
BYWAYS BLUE FREIGHT

FROM: Patty Lutz, Acting Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 06, 2005
RE: Ruby Phillips and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Ruby Phillips a speedy recovery
and I'll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime,
management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party.

Patty
------------------

You can laugh now.

I HOPE you can laugh now.

BETTNET

Interesting discussion over at Bettnet.

Apparently I've been blocked since my response to Dom will not post in that thread in spite of two attempts, so I'll put my response here:

"Ok. Fine. Let's just say that since I'm capable of reading and taking note that what was anathema in the past has become the Catholic path of truth today, I'm a Protestant and have set up my own magisterium."

Is this what passes for Catholic honesty? More like another example of the blogger out of arguments and so choosing to shoot the messenger when he doesn't like the message. There sure is a lot of this going around Catholic blogdom.

It used to be that the left took potshots at the right. These days the right has dismissed the left and is contenting itself with taking potshots at the other Catholics on the right.

I believe the occultists call this "chaos magick".

Merry Christmas!

THE SUBJECT OF CHRISTMAS

My Red Hat Society group got together for their Christmas luncheon last Saturday. We are a diverse bunch of ladies, some of whom know each other well since the chapter was started at one company and contains several members who still work there. Others of us are just getting to know each other. Two of my neighbors belong, and it is really through the group luncheons that I have gotten to know them.

Conversation varies widely when 19 or 20 women gather around a big table. We discuss what we have done since last meeting, what's going on at the company where a buyout has made life unpleasant for those who still work there, what our husbands are doing, which new part-time job our Queen Mum has quit now that she is "retired" and only interested in working to get out of the house and earn some fun money. What we don't usually discuss is stories in the news.

Last Saturday was our Christmas luncheon, and last Saturday was an exception.

"Merry Christmas!" one of our members shouted out. "People are telling us we can't say it, so I'm saying it." The rest chimed in, and for a few minutes that was the hot topic that the entire table took up. Whose idea is it that we should stop saying Merry Christmas?

The Christmas fundraiser letters have been arriving in the mail here. Today one arrived from Tal Brooke, President and Chairman of the Spiritual Counterfeits Project. "When I was a boy," he wrote, "and before my family moved overseas, I recall singing Christmas carols in the local public elementary school. Though I came from a self-consciously agnostic family that never went to church, I will never forget feeling a tangible presence of good during those moments of Christian celebration in school."

Today he is a Christian apologist working to expose new religious movements and cultural trends that oppose Christianity. He writes:

"Recently, however, the very freedom of Christians to celebrate Christmas has been under attack. We never asked for this conflict, but as our backs are pinned against the wall we will have no other recourse than to stand and fight. Yet this will require us to look beyond the smoke and mirrors at who is attacking us to identify the source of this growing hostility. So far, many of us have been politely averting our eyes rather than name the source, a highly favored and protected minority that is disproportionately influential. It is like the elephant in the living room that everyone pretends is not there. It is pushing to be seen, pressing us to the wall.

Now the nation's courts are being used against the very America and its majority that embraced these once needy immigrants seeking protection in our Christian land, indeed who now oppose America's Christian heritage."

Instead of naming the source that he believes is attacking Christianity, he quotes Burt Prelutsky's column in Townhall.com titled "The Jewish Grinch who stole Christmas." Instead of quoting it, I'll let you go read it yourself. When you read it, take note of the fact that Prelutsky is Jewish, and yet that doesn't stop him from saying "When it comes to pushing the multicultural, anti-Christian, agenda, you find Jewish judges, Jewish journalists, and the ACLU, at the forefront."

Brooke closes his Christmas letter with this:

"If the present war on Christmas isn't faced with courage, we may lose every freedom for public Christian expression that is left. It's only a matter of time. Yet I fear that the majority of present day Christians are so cowed by being accused of intolerance or hate, and so devoid of any real backbone, that they might simply wilt at the challenge of standing up for something so pivotal as Christmas. Otherwise Christmas will become a distant memory and America will enter a perpetual Christless winter like Narnia under the curse. How sad for America to die not with a bang but a whimper."

THE BODY AND MIND SPA

Sure, they still give facials and hot-stone massages. But a growing number of spas are dipping their pedicured toes in the supernatural, hoping for more client loyalty in a market that's become increasingly crowded.

At Juve The Spa in Alpharetta, Ga., patrons can get a metaphysical add-on to any spa service, such as a $100 tarot card reading or a $175 one-hour astrological consultation.

For $200 an hour, you can talk to an American Indian shaman at Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, Calif. Or try Soul Regression Therapy, a guided tour through past lives, for $90 an hour at Ruby Room in Chicago, a spa that also touts sessions on Dream Therapy and Energy Healing For Pets.

The spiritual offerings, once unheard-of at day spas outside California or New York, are catching on everywhere. Adamo Day Spa in Cohasset, Mass., has an on-staff astrologist. Vitality Unlimited spa near St. Louis, Mo., will schedule tarot readings at spa parties. Whispering Waters Day Spa in San Antonio, Texas, offers $70 Polarity Therapy sessions, where patrons work with a healer to align life energies.

To some, it may sound like a bunch of high-priced hooey. But Julie Sinclair, editor of American Spa Magazine, a trade publication for spa owners, says it's going mainstream.

"Everyone's incorporating this stuff in their spa menus. People are still coming for traditional massages and facials, but they're ready to explore something deeper," Sinclair said.

Continue reading...

Blogger credit to Spirit Daily.

JOHN PAUL I ASSASSINATED

LISBON: Pope John Paul I, who died from an apparent heart attack just 33 days after becoming pontiff in 1978, was assassinated because of his plans to radically reform the Catholic church, according to a novel to be published next year.

Portuguese author and scriptwriter Luis Miguel Rocha said he based The Last Pope on documents he obtained through an undisclosed Vatican source, which he will make public when the novel is published in April.

The novel puts the theory that John Paul I had become a threat because he was aware of money-laundering involving the Vatican Bank and also because of his plans to liberalise aspects of centuries-old church doctrine.

"He wanted to be the last wealthy pope. John Paul I wanted to redistribute the riches of the church, open the church to women and authorise the use of contraceptives," said Rocha, 29, in a weekend interview.

Continue reading...

Blogger credit to Spirit Daily.

F.U.D.O.S.I.

I'm attempting to read my way through the entire study, between doing Christmas and doing family things. I still have a lot to read. Apparently I may have been wrong about that quote about the Mystical Rose coming from the last convention of F.U.D.O.S.I. It came from the 5th convention in 1946, but there may have been additional conventions, though whether they were meetings of the whole original group or meetings of a splintered group I still haven't determined.

One of the problems with any research into the proceedings of the esoteric orders is that they were secret, which means that all information about them was held clandestinely and stored in unpredictable places. Information may reflect the personal opinion of the member doing the writing, and may simply be inaccurate. One given is that the verifiable information available is fragmentary. When the Church rules the nation in cooperation with the monarchy, and what you are doing is opposed by the Church and/or the government, everything must be done in secret and recorded in secret. We often read that the secret societies opposed the Church. It has not yet become clear how they opposed the Church nor why they did so.

In any case Milko Bogaard's F.U.D.O.S.I. study offers this bit of information:

"GROUPE DE THÈBES / CERCLE d' ALEXANDRIE"

Out of the "Arc-en-ciel" came the "Groupe de Thèbes", founded on June 3, 1990. This federation was ment for a smaller, and presumably higher, group of Initiates. The group was founded around 15 members, made up exclusively of leaders of various Orders and Societies.The "Groupe de Thèbes / Group of Thèbes" also met at the French Grand Oriënt .

According to one source the main goal of this federation was to study the teachings of Sar Mérodack (Péladan), Sar Hieronymus (Dantinne), Or-Zam (Rombauts) and other initiates of the movement around Josephín Peladan and the later initiates of the F.U.D.O.S.I. In reality the federation represented many Orders and Societies coming from all kind of traditional teachings, including organizations without a Rosicrucian/Martinist background."In the end the ideas are all the same, they show us different paths all leading to the same Royal road ", thus Remi Boyer, "OMNIA AB UNO". The group did not dedicate itself to "ritual practises", but to theoretical studies, "such as forming a collection". Apparently the "Groupe de Thebes" changed its name into "Cercle d' Alexandrie" (in 1990). Koenig (source) states that it is not entirely clear whether both groups were identical to each other, "although the same members appear in both".

According to French journalist Serge Faubert ("Le vrai visage des sectes", c)1993) Boyer was one of the fifteen founding members of the "Group de Thebes". "The tiny group included quite an interesting variety of individuals": Apart from Remi Boyer (co-leader of the "ORDER OF HERMES & ORPHEUS", Grand Master of the French Grand-Lodge of the Martinist Order OMCC etc.)we find such personalities in this group as

Massimo Introvigne , who attended the very first meeting of this lodge on June 3, 1990. Introvigne presents himself as a "sociologist" who leads a "Centre for the Study of New Religions" a.k.a. CESNUR. CESNUR enjoys great credit among academics, journalists and politicians "all over the world". The organization is seated in Italy, Introvigne's native country. The History-teacher Massimo Introvigne presents himself also as "one of the greatest experts in the world on new religious movements". Besides being a teacher and a "sociologist" Introvigne is one of the leaders of the radical right-wing "counter-revolutionary" movement called 'Alleanza Cattolica' , the italian "sister"of a Brazilian cult called 'Tradition, Family and Property' , a.k.a "TFP". His opponents state that CESNUR's "research" is carried out "in such a way as to deliberately promote the policies and ideological goals of CESNUR". CESNUR is an organization led by a catholic right-wing teacher under the authority of the Vatican. The organization has close relationships with organizations like "Legionnaires du Christ" and, indirectly (TPF) , Opus Dei and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (emphasis mine)

CESNUR is a reference source on new religious movements that is often quoted. I don't know what to make of it or whose side Introvigne is on. Bogaard goes on to list other members of the "Group de Thebes" who head up esoteric orders including:

Order of Myriam (A "Luciferian" Obedience)
Order of Memphis-Misraim
Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose-Croix
Templars of Circes
A.M.O.R.C
Order of Hermes & Orpheus
Ordre Martiniste des Chevealiers du Christ
Martinist Order of the Knights of Christ
Memphis-Misraim
Eglise Syrienne (Syrian Church)
Golden Dawn (Rosicrucian Command of Alpha Omega)
Confederatio Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis
Ordo Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis - R.R. et A.C.
Stella Matutina
Ordo Rosae Crucis
Alpha et Omega
Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega
Holy Order of the Golden Dawn
Fellowship of the (True) Rosy Cross
Order of the Sacred Word
Milii Angel (led by Alexander Dugin, co-leader of the Russian "Front National")Brigata Rossa
Ordo Templi Orientis Antiqua

and more. One man can and often does easily hold the highest ranking position in several orders at a time.

Bogaard states "The 'Groupe de Thebes/Cercle d'Alexandrie" was formed to unite various organizations under the same roof. Some of the "dignitaries" of the "Cercle d' Alexandrie" are, to put it mildly, quite questionable as members!"

Bogaard may be wrong. His source is Peter Koenig, currently the best source for the history of the esoteric orders, who has an extensive website detailing the information he uncovers. If Bogaard is correct, Introvigne, Opus Dei, TPF, and SMOM are keeping some very odd company. That could be explained away as research if it were only Introvigne who was a member, but how to explain away the involvement of the other Catholic organizations? Something is very odd here.

Two other items in the study:

According to Spenncer Lewis in an article called "True Mysticism" the Rosicrucians were descendants of the Essenes, which "created" and conserved the original Christian Mysteries, assisted by the adepts of the Great White Brotherhood and (later on) the Templars. All the Adepts belonged to the ancient rite of Memphis-Misraim...

The Essenes were Jewish. Some sources place John the Baptist among the Essenes. Others claim that the Essene "Teacher of Righteousness" was Jesus Christ. In any case, were the Essenes the Desposyni?

Another curious item in the study:

'ORDRE DE LA ROSE-CROIX CATHOLIQUE ET ESTHETIQUE DU TEMPLE ET DU GRAAL'. Next to the differences of opinion, which one can find in any biography of Peladan, between Peladan, Stanislas de Guaita and especially Papus, Peladan was also a convinced Catholic and strong defender of the Catholic Church. His loyalty to the Catholic Church gave him much credit by the Church. His writings and his Order were never condemned by the Church, unlike the Kabbalistic Order of the Rose-Cross and personalities such as Papus.

Peladan headed up the Martinists.

Then there is this curiosity:

In 1952, after the F.U.D.O.S.I. dissolved ('51), Cordonnier returns to France. After staying in Paris for a short time, he became a catholic priest of a small parish at the river "Loire". After his death in 1960, the French authorities discovered Cordonnier's true identity ...

Cordonnier was "Sar Gregorius (Assistant)"--a "Member of the Supreme Council and co-Imperator of the F.U.D.O.S.I."

Dantine is also quoted as stating:

A final revelation designated us, the Knights of Christ, as the restorers of the spiritual world who'll bring into realization the great reconciliation of all children of God ......"A Benedict monk, R. P. Cordonnier, will play a very important and significant role in the near future as the one and future King of France".

If you know anything about Catholic prophecy, you probably know that at the end of the world a king of France is supposed to rise to rule the world along with the Angelic Pastor who is Christ returned. The prophecy can be read in Yves DuPont's book published by TAN titled CATHOLIC PROPHECY: THE COMING CHASTISEMENT. Is the prophecy Rosicrucian? Is Rosicrucianism a variety of Catholicism that has been supressed because the world turned to scientific rationalism, or is it the work of hell? And who at the Vatican is working with Massimo Introgivne?

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

EMAIL FROM DR. BOND

Dear Friends,

The former Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton, James C. Timlin, has been accused once again of concealing homosexual clerical abuse. Those of you who followed closely the Society of St. John scandal will remember that we long ago established a connection between Bishop Timlin's handling of the SSJ homosexual predators and his handling of an earlier infamous abuse case involving Rev. Robert Caparelli. (See http://www.saintjustinmartyr.org/news/BishopTimlinOpenLetter4.html.) Caparelli, a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, was the first priest in the United States diagnosed as being HIV-positive who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing altar boys. He died of AIDS in the Lackawanna Correctional Facility in December 1994.

The Diocese of Scranton is now being sued by another victim of Caparelli. Speaking on behalf of his client, retired navy officer, David Irvin, Attorney Joseph Saunders has rightly accused Timlin as follows:

"Then Monsignor Timlin, who became Bishop Timlin, knew about father Caparelli's proclivity to engage in sexual conduct with children, concealed it, and allowed this to go on. Bishop Timlin knew about his before Mr. Irvin was molested in 1969."

This latest lawsuit may be the one that finally compels the Diocese of Scranton to reveal the sordid truth about Timlin's history of concealing homosexual abuse, for this lawsuit cannot be dismissed under Pennsylvania's strict statute of limitations laws. You can learn the details of the case from the articles linked below:

http://www.wyou.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=5335


http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15750765&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=8


http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-12132005-583727.html


Pax vobiscum,

Dr. Jeffrey M. Bond