Yay school!

Well, today is the first day of school us here in Arkansas, so please keep my students and I in your prayers today. Pray especially that their hearts will be open to all of our discussion of God and his majesty this year.

St. Joseph of Copertino - Pray for us!

It's a miracle!

Although I doubt that is supernatural, it is not a bad resemblance. Much better than most "sightings" of Jesus and Mary in everyday objects. At first glance it just looks like a small statue.

Paris Hilton: ‘I think I am a good role model’

I think we could probably have a field day with this!

Ender Petitions for Life

The Web site of Ms. Magazine--yes, it still exists--is calling on readers to sign a petition: "I have had an abortion. I publicly join the millions of women in the United States who have had an abortion in demanding a repeal of laws that restrict women's reproductive freedom."

Well, so much for the right to privacy. If Ms. readers hadn't had so many abortions, there might be more Ms. readers. As for the rest of us, here's a petition we could all sign: "I wasn't aborted."

Having narrowly escaped being aborted, I'd be the first in line. (full text here)

This article is a simple and poignant reminder of the self-defeating selfishness that characterizes the contraceptive mentality. Ms. Gorin's opinion column in today's Wall Street Journal highlights some tragic aspects of life in Soviet Russia that I had never heard of before, such as women with "double-digit abortion counts" being commonplace. Her protrayal of the dialogue between nurse and mother in Israel was especially enlightened for modern times.

The way she spoke of herself as a "second-born" reminded me of the sci-fi Ender's Game book series, a strong offering from Orson Scott Card. In the books Earth is facing a death struggle against possible alien invasion (the "Buggers") and couples are only allowed two children. Ender is a "Third," a pejorative conveying extreme disgust. In both the stories and this column, children who "should" have been aborted turned out to be great blessings to humanity - Ender defeats the Buggers and the men in Ms. Gorin's column become master violinists.

Wouldn't it be great if we could accept the children regardless of whether they were going to be world-savers or great musicians? Wouldn't it be something if we could look at the pregnancies that resulted in tyrants like Nero or Stalin and still say spare the knife? If we can't, we're still utilitarians, nothing more.

Happy Feast Day!



Today is kind of a big one for us:

It is our son's first feast day.

Maximilian is the patron of the church where my wife and I married.

We have both been to Auschwitz and seen the place of his martyrdom, and my wife has actually met Francis Gajowniczek, the man whose place Maximilian took on death row in the camp. Even with that great feat, for which he is so well known, there are many other less well known but equally amazing examples of his holiness, so read this article and pray to this great saint today on his feast!

“Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!”

I found the first reading at mass today to be very inspiring, especially for me as a young married man. My wife and I, while relatively poor and struggling with the pressures of our new life together, are in a remarkably blessed and easy state of life. We have simple needs and wants, no children to love and care for (yet), and a strong bond of love. While listening to this passage from Kings, it struck me that this will certainly not always be the case, hopefully the children part particularly. There is a special grace given to persons during any quiet time in their life, a grace of mending, strengthing, and healing; so that we can be ready for the tasks ahead of us. I hope I don't waste the graces or the time.

ND Here We Come!

My wife and I are packing with a revengence this weekend, getting ready for the big move out to Notre Dame on Tuesday. Hard to believe that I'm going to be joining those crazy Irish fans after a lifetime supporting the Miiiiiiiiichigan Wolverines.

I don't think Lloyd Carr will ever speak to me again.

A very interesting story.

Maybe you have already heard about this, but I just saw it on the Today show this morning. A Mennonite doctor in Pennsylvania refused to give a rape victim the Plan B morning after pill. The girl's mother was outraged. By the way she is Catholic. This article also states that:

"The Pennsylvania Catholic Health Association said the Catholic Church allows emergency contraception in the case of rape if tests for pregnancy and ovulation are negative."

To me this sounds like a complete crock. Besides the fact that this "Catholic" agency is obviously not in touch with the Church, it is also apparently not in touch with reason either. What exactly would be the point of administering "contraception" (abortafacia) to someone who is neither pregnant nor fertile?

It is such a sad thing to me when non-Catholics with correct beliefs are set in opposition to Catholics with incorrect beliefs. I am very proud of this doctor for standing up for his beliefs in a difficult situation. I am very sad for our faith and its overabundance of lukewarm members.

I guess I'm just a proud papa!

In case you haven't noticed, I like showing off my son. Here are a bunch more pictures of the world's cutest child! (And no, that is not up for debate.)

"A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever"

One of my favorite quotes expresses what I witnessed a few weeks ago in lovely Cincinnati, OH. Invited to visit a close friend's parents' house for the weekend with my friend and his wife, my wife and I were privileged to attend a 20th Anniversary party marking the opening of a Catholic medical group in that fair city. While we were surprised by the invitation (I had to borrow the neighbor's wingtips), we were blessed to find the event moving in ways beyond pleasant food and conversation.

I have known the Borts for four years now, and while I have come to admire the way they have raised six wonderful children and their incredible generosity, I had not been given a glimpse into Dr. Bort's professional life until that evening. What I saw was an inspiration. Dr. Bort and his "senior partner," whose name I regrettably cannot recall, began a medical practice in 1986 with only themselves and one assistant. They founded it on solid medical practices and the social and moral foundations of the Church; and now, twenty years later the fruits of their hard and righteous labors are plain for all to see. Their small practice has expanded to more than a dozen partners, a large number of nurses and physician's assistants, and a physical therapy center. They have given their patients ethical, wholesome advice for all that time, and, despite their success, remembered to give the main thanks to the Lord and to their patients for trusting them for all these years. They have kept foremost their duty to the Lord and their duty to their patients, and have managed to keep the bottom line ok too. Quite a feat in today's world, and as a law student who is looking to start his own practice in a few years, I have been strengthened and emboldened by the vision they presented.

For it is a vision, and their success goes beyond numbers. There was something more to the celebration than a simple corporate event. There were comrades, sharing old memories and struggles, you might find that anywhere. Beyond all that though, there was something...something impressive, intangible. Something that lingered just beyond the scent of fresh flowers, that hid on the fringe of candlelight, filling the spaces between "Hello" and "How are you," bridging the gap from words expressed to ideas shared. An easy laugh, a twinkling eye, and the comfortable silence shared by those who have toiled long together in a just cause. There was Love in that room, dancing amidst the fork and spoon, and I was blest to behold Him.

The feast that night was not that one promised at the wedding feast of the Lamb, but perhaps it was an appetizer. Such are the rewards for those who bring heaven, the joy that lasts forever, with them no matter where they go.

World Trade Center Movie



This is an outrage! We all need to stand up and protest this explicitly anti-Islamic movie! If this movie is allowed to be shown in theaters, there will be a great uprising of anti-Islamic ideologies and violence! For the sake of all persons of Islamic and/or Arab descent, we must boycott and stand against the spread of this film!

Now, wouldn't it be silly to stand in the way of a potentially beautiful movie, because some might miss the beauty and focus on something that I am sure is not even present in the movie?

Catholics in the headlines.

Someone pointed out today that they found it interesting that with all the things going on in the world right now, fighting in Israel and Lebanon, Castro's health, etc., that the story getting top billing in the news is Mel Gibson for his antics and his "anti-semitism."

I just wonder though, if he was a Methodist, Baptist, Adventist, etc., would he be getting the same attention?

What if he had made a controversial movie about the president rather than a "controversial" movie about Christ?

I don't think so. How about you?

"Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received."

I think yesterday's second reading is very poignant, for this story. How can someone with such a great talent make something as beautiful as The Passion of the Christ, and then fall this far? Well, as he showed us in that movie, he is not the Christ, but is the one driving the nail. What I pray for now is that as few people as possible will disavow the Passion, because of his mistakes. I know that some people will, but I pray that this does not weaken its effect in the hearts of many. Please pray for Mel and for the apostolate of his movie.

Citizen Kane

My wife and I watched Citizen Kane for the first time this weekend, and we both had the same reaction. How do people claim that this is the greatest movie ever? Can I get some help with this?

I realize that the story shows that the simple things in life are the ones we treasure, that family is greater than anything we can buy, but really, I just think that this movie was a lot of wasted time trying to give those simple points.

We're married!

On May 27th, my fiancee Meta became my wife Meta, and now we are living very happily in Buffalo, NY. It's called the "City of Good Neighbors," and it has certainly proved itself to be so. My beloved and I have enjoyed the hospitality of many neighbors, family and friends since we moved in, and I am sure that we will look back on our summer by Lake Erie as a time of great blessings.

I find myself to be so changed, and yet, still so very much the same person I was before we took our vows of lifelong fidelity. This ring on my finger, once so difficult to get used to, such an annoyance, has now become so comfortable I keep thinking I've lost it when it's right there on my finger. The Lord is indeed a good God, a God whose Mercy must always remember Justice, and whose Justice always remembers Mercy. He has been both Merciful and Just to me, but in this time of sweetness at the beginning of our lives together, Meta and I both think mostly of his Mercy.

Oh, the Internet is on computers now...

To all those who wondered why the headline of 40:20 said "two young newly married (not to each other) Catholic men," and yet only ever saw posts from one, well, I don't have a good answer. Call it a long honeymoon, or a lack of internet access, or something involving severely slothful behavior, or whatever you like, but now I hope to be back in the action. My thanks to Jason and those who have stayed with "us," and I hope that 40:20 will be here for a long time to come.

Our prayers are with you Cardinal George.



WGN's coverage of this has been excellent. The cancer of both Cardinal George and the Chicago mayor's wife were announced on the news last night. Cardinal George was the top story and got the first five minutes of the newscast compared to about a minute for the mayor's wife. Today they are having live coverage of how his surgery is going.

I think it is amazing how important the Catholic bishops are to their communities, and not just the Catholic community, but the whole area. I could be wrong, but it doesn't seem like you hear too much about the non-Catholic equivalents of the area. I think this, like the death of JPII, are just another way that God reaches out to the masses with great messages of hope, redemptive suffering, and his overabundant mercy and love.

Keep the Cardinal in your prayers and check WGN for updates today.

So I called the cops yesterday.

Yesterday I saw someone get of a vehicle who had an open beer can next to his seat, so when he got back in to drive away, I called the cops and told them which way he was headed.

I felt like I had a moral as well as civil responsibility to do this. I can't imagine how I would feel the rest of my life is someone (much less my wife or child) got killed by that driver, and I had not reported it. What do you think? Is there a moral obligation in situations like this?

Boys will be boys.

It's going to be so much fun to have a son. I'm not sure though if my wife it quite as ready though.

Wow, check out those bar stools!