A Saintly Salmagundi: November 2004 Archives

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November 30, 2004

Eucharistic Reflection no. 7

In the Eucharist we receive the Body of Christ. As Catholics we refer to the Church as the Body of Christ. Indeed, throughout history the great saints and theologians have discerned a mystical relationship between the Eucharist and the Church, both being referred to as the Body of Christ. What this means for us practically is that was our devotion to the Body of Christ in the Eucharist increases so should our devotion to the Body of the Christ in the Holy Catholic Church. One cannot love the Eucharist and at the same time hate the Church for both are the Body of Christ. As the flame of our love for the Eucharist grows so should our love for the Church grow! Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist will always lead us to a greater obedience and fidelity to his body present in the Church.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 07:53 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Chrismukkuh

Make up your mind already!

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:54 AM | Comments (29) | TrackBack

November 29, 2004

Just Plain Strange

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 10:30 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

Best Albums of the Year...

This list of course cannot be comprehensive since there is a lot I have not heard. But here is what I have so far...

1. Hot Fuss - The Killers
2. Impossible Dream - Patty Griffin
3. Tambourine - Tift Merritt
4. There Will Be A Light - Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 08:06 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

Don Camillo - My Type of Priest

Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching "The Little World of Don Camillo" the first in a series of six comedies based on the books by Guareschi about a tough-spirited parish priest named Don Camillo who constantly does battle in a small post-war Italian village with his "sometimes friend-sometimes enemy" Communist Mayor named Peppone.

This was a great show and Don Camillo is my kind of priest. Here are just a few of the things from the show I liked about him:

- There are several scenes of him carrying a gun (in one of these he is pointing a machine gun at a group of Communist villagers).
- He gets in several fist-fights, including two brawls.
- He is not afraid to call Peppone names like idiot or fool or senseless.
- The best scene though is when he is called into the bishop of beating up 15 people and the bishop wants to see if he is as strong as everyone claims. So he tells him to pick up a large table and to throw it, which Don Camillo does easily, to which the Bishop responds, "You will never be a bishop..."

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 07:55 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

Martha Stewart in Prison with a Religious Sister

Carol Gilbert, 57, a Catholic nun serving time with the domestic diva at the Federal Correction Camp in Alderson, W.Va., says she enjoys eating with Stewart, although the setting could be better.

We've actually written about Sr. Gilbert before in these pages.

Prison is the closest thing to a cloister Sister has seen in a long time.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 06:34 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 27, 2004

Funny...

Although I know some have complained about it's nihilistic lack of meaning, I am thoroughly enjoying re-living all the laughs I had in the early 90's with the Seinfeld DVD Boxed Set.

What I am noticing the most is how generally good and funny of a mood I have been in over the past week since I have been watching it. I've always like comedy, but it has been awhile since I have watched or read a lot of it, as a result I've noticed myself being in a curt and grumpy mood. So, all the laughing has put me in a much better and mote humorous mood. I'm feeling very eutrepalious!

One more thing, although there were a few episodes that dealt with sex and sexuality, most of the humor was about ordinary events. This is in direct opposition to today's sitcoms where 90% of the humor is innuendo.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 01:56 PM | Comments (25) | TrackBack

November 24, 2004

Thanksgiving in Cajun Country Means...

Fried Turkey!

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 09:49 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

No Doubt About "Doubt"

"This play is dedicated to the many orders of Catholic nuns who devoted their lives to serving others in hospitals, schools and retirement homes. Though they have been much maligned and ridiculed, who among us has been so generous?"

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 09:46 PM | Comments (16) | TrackBack

November 23, 2004

Tickets for Sold-Out Philly Pixies Show

Anyone interested in tickets (or a ticket) to the sold-out Pixies show in Philly on December 4, a reader will offer one to you for a reasoable price. If you are a priest or religious, he will give it you you for free. If you are interested, please contact him.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 06:29 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Liberals Are Aborting Their Future...

Literally.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 06:26 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Surgical Sex

Without any fixed position on what is given in human nature, any manipulation of it can be defended as legitimate. A practice that appears to give people what they want�and what some of them are prepared to clamor for�turns out to be difficult to combat with ordinary professional experience and wisdom. Even controlled trials or careful follow-up studies to ensure that the practice itself is not damaging are often resisted and the results rejected.

A fine article which illustrates well one of the impacts most dangerous post-modern ideas about sexuality/gender - that it is nothing more than a biological trait which can be manipulated by science and technology.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 06:19 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Tim Drake's New Blog (and Book)

Young and Catholic - check it out.

Anyone read the book? What do you think of it?

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:33 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

No More Church Candles?

Scientists from Maastricht University found that burning candles and incense in church can release dangerous levels of potentially carcinogenic particles, according to research published this week in the European Respiratory Journal.

Are they advocating the use of electric candles?

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 10:07 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

November 22, 2004

Eucharistic Reflection #6

The Eucharist as gift � in it Christ gives himself to his Church to sanctify us and to bring us into deeper union with Him. But we must realize that this profound gift flows from Christ, who is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity. He who from all eternity receives his existence as gift from the Father, gives himself back to the Father, and from this eternal exchange the Holy Spirit is breathed forth as gift and love share between them. So, the Eucharist flows as gift from the eternal gift shared between the persons of the Trinity. It is a sign of that gift and a means for us to participate in that supreme gift by means of the Body and Blood of Christ. And it gives us to strength to live our lives as gift since we are created in the image and likeness of God who is Eternal and Divine Gift.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 08:03 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

November 21, 2004

Notre Dame du Rugby

There is a Chapel in Larriviere, France called Notre Dame du Rugby. There are several stained glass windows wherein Our Lady is engaged in a supervisory role over a rugby game, e.g. Our Lady is holding the Christ Child who is throwing out the ball to a lineup, and one of Our Lady elevated over a scrum.

This is the PODdest thing I have heard in a long time!

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 10:12 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

November 20, 2004

Sister's Into Reflexology

On this night, McGinnis is teaching a reflexology class at the Center for Human Integration, a modest holistic health center at the sisters' North American headquarters in the Fox Chase section of Northeast Philadelphia. Reflexology, an ancient art, holds that points on the hands and feet correspond to other parts of the body, and that applying pressure to the former benefits the latter.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:15 PM | Comments (12) | TrackBack

When Bernard Lewis Speaks...

SELDOM HAS THE COURSE of European history been changed by a non-politician's throwaway remark in a German-language newspaper on a Wednesday in the dead of the summer doldrums. But on July 28, Princeton historian Bernard Lewis told the conservative Hamburg-based daily Die Welt that Europe would be Islamic by the end of this century "at the very latest," and continental politics has not been the same since.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:09 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Stalking the Divine...

Coming soon in paperback.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 03:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Creationists Meet the Grand Canyon

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:42 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

November 19, 2004

Halo 2 Clan

For anyone out there who is interested, I am forming a Halo 2 Clan (on Xbox Live) called "The Holy League." If you are interested in joining, send me an e-mail with your gamertag and I will sign you up!

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 08:25 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

Saint Method Man?

I had a parent of one of the male Confirmation students tell me that his son wanted to take the rapper Method Man as his Confirmation name. His father told him that this would not be an acceptable name, but trying to meet his son on his level suggested St. Methodius.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 06:29 AM | Comments (15) | TrackBack

eBay is Paying the Price Now

I must admit, this is comic genius.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 06:23 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

November 18, 2004

Why Didn't I Know About This?

Peter Kreeft has a logic textbook!

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 12:03 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

I'm Back in the News

So, in that vein, the Rev. Bryce Sibley has argued in the conservative Crisis magazine that "it is President Bush who has the ultimate responsibility and authority to make a prudential decision applying the just-war theory to the specific situation with Iraq."

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:29 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Good News From the Church in Boston

A Catholic priest at St. Augustine Parish in Andover has asked state Representative Barbara A. L'Italien to step down as cantor and leader of the children's choir because of the legislator's support for abortion rights and gay marriage.

''I'm trying to be a good Catholic," L'Italien said. ''But this should be a separate issue. Church should be a sanctuary for me and my faith and not have anything to do with my work."

Way to go Fr. Cleary!

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:22 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

Picnicacle

Here is the entire page.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:15 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

Pusillum

Recently, in digging through old books around the parish I stumbled upon the four volume set entitled Pusillum: Vademecum of Sacerdotal Virtue in Brief Meditations. I've been doing the daily meditations for a week - and they are solid stuff (as you would suspect for something written in 1945 by a man named Fr. Athanasius Bierbaum). They would make great gifts for any othodox priest you know!

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:12 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

November 17, 2004

Eucharistic Reflection no. 5

In the Eucharist, Christ�s Body and Blood are sacramentally present under the appearance of bread and wine. In order for the sacrament to be present, the priest must consecrate the proper �matter� � that is wheat bread and wine. To put it in simpler terms, matter matters. Of course Christ�s true sacramental presence is the most important, but we cannot disregard the matter that is needed to bring forth the gift of the Eucharist. I think however, we can make an application to our attitude and devotion to the Eucharist as Catholics. While what matters the most is our interior disposition and devotion to the Eucharist, we cannot disregard the �matter� of our own physical presence before the Eucharist. We are created body and soul; therefore our bodily posture and demeanor have meaning. We worship Christ�s body and blood present in the Eucharist in our own bodies, and that the Lord considers the �matter� of this sacrament important, so too should we consider our bodies important when it comes to worshipping the Eucharist. Our physical posture, the way we compose ourselves, signs of reverence, focusing our eyes on the Lord � all have meaning along with our interior disposition because both the spiritual and the physical are significant in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 10:27 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

November 16, 2004

eBay Pulls "Virgin Mary Sandwich"

The people at eBay were no believers in this cheesy miracle: half of a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich whose owner claimed it bore the image of the Virgin Mary.

Update: Sandwich is back on eBay for bidding.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:21 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

Saint Trivia

I got 14/15 - although I might contest the one I got wrong as a bit misleading.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:13 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

The Pixies and Warren Zevon

The Pixies have released a new song - a cover of Warren Zevon's "Ain't That Pretty at All" on Enjoy Every Sandwich, an album of Zevon covers.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:09 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

November 14, 2004

Strange

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 08:57 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Lego Church

Check out the model church built totally out of LEGOS!

It is easy to tell that this is NOT a Catholic Church. Not because of the architechture, not because of the corpus on the cross, but because all of the people are sitting towards the FRONT of the Church!

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 10:25 AM | Comments (17) | TrackBack

November 13, 2004

The Peterson Trial

In reading about the verdict of the Scott Peterson trial, this line from the AP story really struck me:

"Peterson, 32, was convicted of one count of first-degree murder for killing his wife and one count of second-degree murder in the death of the son she was carrying - crimes that prosecutors said were part of a cold-blooded plot to escape marriage and fatherhood for the freewheeling single life."

Am I nuts, or does this not seem to be a perfect embodiment of the tristed fruits of contraception and the contraceptive mentality? Young man gets his wife pregnant and then wanting to escape responsibility and "to escape marriage and fatherhood for the freewheeling single life" murders her and his unborn child.

Does anyone know is the Peterson's used contraception?

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 12:48 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

Today is the Memorial of St. Bryce

Click here for everything you have ever wanted to know about St. Bryce.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 09:37 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

November 11, 2004

POD Exhibit at JPII Cultural Center in DC

God's Women: Nuns In America

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 06:41 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Brave New World Update

A contraceptive shot for men. If this works it will spell out nearly unlimited sex without a lick of responsibility.

Let us remind ourselves of the words of Humane Vitae no. 17:

Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings�and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation�need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 06:36 PM | Comments (17) | TrackBack

Sister Helps In Election Coverage

Sister Sharon Rambin wasn't hard to pick out earlier this week among the hordes of news media at the U.S. Senate victory party for U.S. Rep. David Vitter, R-Metairie.

She was the one with the black nun's habit and headset.

The nun and former television producer was recalled to duty by TV station KTBS of Shreveport to help with broadcasting election coverage.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 09:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 10, 2004

Anybody?

Did anybody go to one of the Soulforce protests at chanceries across the USA yesterday? If so, give us a report.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 08:15 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

November 09, 2004

The Man

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 09:29 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

November 08, 2004

Ex-Nun Likes Cats...

A little too much, it seems.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 09:29 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

November 07, 2004

Eucharistic Reflection #4

In referring to reception of the Holy Eucharist, St. Ephrem writes, �He called the bread his living body and he filled it with himself and his Spirit... He who eats it with faith, eats Fire and Spirit.� When we receive the Eucharist we receive �Fire and Spirit� � what powerful words! John Paul II reminds us of this truth when he cites this quote in his document Ecclesia de Eucharistia reminding us that, �Through our communion in his body and blood, Christ also grants us his Spirit� (no. 17). St. Ephrem, the Holy Father, and the entire Church can say this because when we partake of the Eucharist we receive the resurrected body of Christ � the body resurrected and now filled with the Holy Spirit. And through the reception of the Spirit-filled resurrected flesh of Christ in the Eucharist we are empowered by the same Holy Spirit to live lives of true holiness. At each Holy Mass as we prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, let us not fail not to pray with the ancient refrain: Veni Sancte Spiritus - Come Holy Spirit!

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 10:57 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

I Have An Idea

Of course this is all depending on his orthodoxy, but why not bring back "Padre Pistolas" and make him "Obispo Pistolas."

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 04:56 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 06, 2004

End Times?

I usually laugh stuff like this off, but really folks it is getting bad out there. Fine, the Episcopalians ordain homosexaul - but now some of them are performing Druid ceremonies?

When will the insanity end?

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 01:37 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

Radical Contrast

From the religion section of our local paper yesterday:

POD habit-wearing sisters come to local University. (These are the same sisters who taught my CCD program this summer).

Nutty local Jesuits hold Reiki training and retreats.

Don't you just love "diversity."

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 12:04 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

November 05, 2004

This "Jesus" Likes Firearms

Some Moss Road residents were evacuated from their homes early today after a man claiming to be Jesus fired gunshots at random, law officers said.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 01:42 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Thank You Ann Coulter!

Seventy percent to 80 percent of Americans oppose gay marriage and partial-birth abortion. Far from appealing exclusively to a narrow Republican base, opposition to gay marriage is strongest among the Democratic base: blacks, Hispanics, blue-collar workers and the elderly. There were marriage amendments on the ballot in Michigan and Ohio. Bush won Ohio narrowly and lost Michigan by only 2 points. How different might that have been if Bush hadn't run from the issue.

But Rove concluded Bush should stay mum on gay marriage and partial-birth abortion � contravening the politicians' rule of thumb: Talk about your positions that are wildly popular with voters. "Boy Genius" Rove decided Bush shouldn't even run radio ads on gay marriage, and at the last minute, Bush started claiming he was in favor of civil unions, just like John Kerry.

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 12:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Get in the Ring... With Jesus

Ah, Christian Art...

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 11:51 AM | Comments (14) | TrackBack

Sr. Karol Jackowski

A parisioner told me yesterday that she saw an interview on CNN on Wednesday with Sr. Karol Jackowski, author of The Silence we Keep, and Jerry Falwell. It was about the presidential election and Falwell was happy with the outcome and Sister was not. Anyhow, Falwell decided to ask her if she was pro-choice, and Sister reluctantly admitted that she was for a woman's "right to choose." Falwell then launched into her asking how should could call herself a Catholic with the Pope and the Church being against abortion. Sister Jackowski could not respond adequately. It is a sad day (although not an uncommon one) when Jerry Falwell is a better Catholic than a Catholic Sister.

Oh wait though, it gets even better! It seems that "Sister" has written other books, including Sister Karol's Book of Spells and Blessings. Here is the index with some of the spells. She also has a book called Ten Fun Things to Do Before You Die - I hope that have an abortion and cast a spell are not on that list.

Anyone know anything else about Sr. Karol? To what order does she belong? Have any canonical censures been imposed on her?

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 08:25 AM | Comments (19) | TrackBack

November 04, 2004

New Blog

Ponderings of Adam

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 04:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 03, 2004

My Post-Election Reflections

1. Division? - Excuse me Senator Kerry, President Bush tried working for unity among the parties after 9-11, and look where it got him. The time for Conservatives having to reach out work for unity with Liberals is over. It is your type that is going to have to get in line or get left behind. I'd prefer the latter.

2. Firebomb Fallujah - Get the citizens and non-coms out first, then bomb Fallujah off the face of the earth. Bush has been playing games with these insurgents over the past year during the lead-up to the election, now that he is in, the rebels in Fallujah (and elsewhere in Iraq must be dealt a swift and crushing blow). Fortunately, it looks like it is coming.

3. The Power of Non-Mainstream Media - The Internet, the Blogosphere, Fox News and Talk Radio have really come into their own since the 2000 election, and we have seen the power they have to connect and allow the average American to remain informed without the Mainstream Liberal Media. As their power and influence spread I think (or I hope) we will see more people informed and great triumphs of conservative values in future elections.

4. Moral Issues - Bush won because of them, I just hope he leads guided by them. The victory gives me great hope that Americans' moral compasses are not that far askew after all. I hope this also makes others realize that ideally (and in reality) moral issues will and should trump socio-economic issues.

5. The Youth - That the youth went for Bush is no surprise to me. Not just that P. Diddy is an idiot, but I have seen how so many young people are waking up to the importance of life issues when faced with the moral vacuum the left leaves in its wake. Listen to this quote "Abortion is the issue that's really bringing a lot of people out -- and even access to contraception,'' Rachel Greathouse, president of the San Jose State student body, told me before she voted. "We've had discussions about scenarios like having to order birth control pills from Canada.''

Posted by Fr. Bryce Sibley at 08:57 PM | Comments (15) | TrackBack

Eucharistic Reflection #3

�This is my body.� These are the words heard at the moment of consecration in Holy Mass when the bread becomes the Body of Christ. These same words are also the refrain of many who support abortion as a woman�s right. Noting this similarity, I think it is safe to argue that just as the Eucharist is the central Sacrament of the Church abortion is the �sacrament� of those forces opposed to the Church. In fact in the early nineties a book was written by a French woman entitled The Sacrament of Abortion which argued that abortion is sacred decision which involves life, death, love, motherhood, sexuality and the origins of each person�s existence on earth. In commenting on this book, Fr. Frank Pavone writes, �The fact that some defend abortion as a sacred act should alert us to the depth of the spiritual warfare that is going on. Abortion has never been merely or even primarily a political issue. It is a false religion. When pro-life Christians, for example, pray in front of an abortion mill, it is not simply a matter of pro-life people opposing false medicine. It is the true Church in conflict with a false Church. One former clinic security guard, after being converted, admitted why he was angry at pro-life sidewalk counselors: "You were coming to protest in front of our church. That clinic was where we conducted our worship." Make no mistake about it, Satan is behind the atrocity of abortion and the assult being waged agaisnt human life, and only a strong faith in the Sacrament of the Eucharist will give us the strength and wisdom to win this battle.

Various ruminations on Catholicism, satire, esoterica, hagiography, nuttiness, culture, etc.