Blog

I haven't posted in a while, but that's mostly because I've been on a week-long silent retreat at the King's House retreat center in Illinois. Since returning (and finishing the academic year!), I've posted pictures from the Cardinal Glennon College 2006 Graduation Mass and Reception (celebrated by Archbishop Raymond Burke). I will try to post a few pictures of birds and other natural sights from King's House sometime in the next week, but I have a few projects I'll be working on...

I attended a baseball game with a few other Seminarians at the new Busch Stadium yesterday; it was the first time I've ever entered the stadium, and I thought I'd share a few pictures and observations. (The game was awesome; Pujols' first at bat began the scoring with a home run in the top of the first inning!).

I arrived early so I could relax and see the stadium without tons of people walking everywhere, and while doing so, some birds perched nearby, so I took a few pictures of them. This one must've been angry that I was taking his picture...

I also snapped a picture of Pujols' home run in the top of the first. I love the way Pujols swings the bat; he has such a wide batting stance that his back foot is out of the batters' box!:

I've posted pictures on my Seminary website of the softball game played by the college men earlier today. It was a great way for us to release a bit of the pressure that's been building up coming into finals week, and it was a fun way to end our series of intramural games (including Soccer, Volleyball, Tag Football, Ultimate Frisbee, etc.).

During the game, one of the few hawks that are living in and around the Seminary caught a bird, and Charlie, a fellow college seminarian, took a picture of the hawk in a tree:

Many people who wish to reject the Catholic Church's teachings on sex and marriage (and women's equality and dignity) refer to chapter 5 of the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, where Paul writes, "Wives, be subject to your husbands," and say the Church's beliefs are founded upon years and years of patriarchal tradition. It is useful, then, to look at St. Paul's letter a little more closely, and to discuss what exactly the Catholic Church teaches concerning women in marriage.

The context of the above quote is important for a deeper understanding of what St. Paul actually means:

"Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.

While reading through many different Catholic works, certain ideas and words often make me say, "Wow! That's pretty cool!" I had a moment like this a few days ago when reading the following from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Number 275. So I thought to myself, "Why not post it on my blog? I'm sure other people would be interested in hearing this as well." And now I will post this on my blog for you:

A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them...

A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.

DeathRoe.com, a Pro-Life website I've previously mentioned, has gone live this past week. Check it out!

They have a wealth of useful Pro-Life facts, many cool parts of the site, and a forum where you can discuss all things Pro-Life.