30 September, 2014
Ten Thousand Places: The Leaves That Are Green Turn to Gold
Ten Thousand Places: The Leaves That Are Green Turn to Gold: Margaret, are you grieving Over Goldengrove unleaving? Leaves, like the things of man, you With your fresh thoughts care for, can you...
29 September, 2014
28 September, 2014
27 September, 2014
26 September, 2014
First ISIS, Now Winter Threatens Christians in Kurdistan | Daily News | NCRegister.com
The members of our three small rural parishes have been busily working raising funds, collecting clothing and supplies to aid in the sheltering of refugees fleeing the wars in Iraq, Syria, and other places around the globe where religious persecution is running rampant. These initiatives I am please to say have not come to fruition by my hand or suggestion, but have been initiatives started and sustained by parishioners in the wake of seeing news stories such as this one. There are numerous organizations who are willing to transport these goods to countries where they are most needed... all they need is the support and efforts of people of good will to join with them in reaching out to those in need.
So if three small parishes in a tucked away corner of Québec can do their part to aid these unfortunate souls who've been stripped of even the essentials of life by living in war torn regions of the world, are you willing to step up and search for ways that you or your religious community can do the same? It's often said in churches that 'many hands make light work'. Encourage your clergy and fellow parishioners to join in and discover ways to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters around the globe. Doing so is little more than obeying the Gospel command to love our neighbour, especially those most in need.
Fr. Tim
(proud pastor of the Catholic Parishes of the Upper Pontiac)
First ISIS, Now Winter Threatens Christians in Kurdistan | Daily News | NCRegister.com
Fr. Tim
(proud pastor of the Catholic Parishes of the Upper Pontiac)
First ISIS, Now Winter Threatens Christians in Kurdistan | Daily News | NCRegister.com
25 September, 2014
24 September, 2014
A little humour for a serious message
What's inappropriate you might ask?
Top of the list would be people who post accident pictures et al and announce to the world that someone has been seriously injured or killed before the family finds out about. This has happened WAY TOO MANY times in recent years to the shock and detriment of family members. It doesn't matter if you were a 'close friend' or even present when the accident or death occurred. It is WRONG for the news to be released to the public before the family is notified and makes it public themselves.
Next on the list would be personal and/or defamatory comments posted to embarrass people. While I have never been the object of such an attack I know people who have - and they never appreciate having their own 'dirty laundry' aired in such a public forum. So if you have a fight with a friend or neighbour, keep it between yourselves. No one looks good when a private spat spills out into a public forum.
One other example would be any post, no matter how humourous that is self-deprecating or filled with inappropriate language. People should soon come to realize that things posted online lives forever and that something posted while drunk, stoned, or during a fit of rage will come back to hurt them when they go to apply for a job etc. One of the first things that a potential employer will do these days is Google search a prospective employee. If they find material that reflects poorly upon the judgement of the applicant it is not likely that they will be offered a position of employment.
Got any other example that should make my list? Feel free to post them in the comments. Just remember that the reason these comments are moderated is to keep just such types of offensive nonsense from public view. So mind your manners! (smile)
Fr. Tim
23 September, 2014
An answer to the question: What is faith?
For me, faith is a conviction arrived at
when all the evidence has been examined, assessed, or studied. It is far from
something that is opposed to the dictates of reason as some suggest, but is
ultimately the fruit of the application of reason that apprehends the truth of
something when not all of the evidence can be studied, gathered, or known to
provide a definitive answer. After all, if we can know something completely
then there is no need to have faith in it. Complete knowledge negates the need
for faith. Put in a religious context, if God revealed himself in such
self-evident manner that doubt in his existence could not be refuted there
would be no need of faith since we would all know that He exists. Since this is
not the case, faith and belief are required if one holds to the proposition
that God is indeed real. But this does not mean that it is impossible to
rationally support a belief in his existence.
For example, my faith in the existence of
God is founded upon my acceptance of the logical
deductive reasoning of theologians such as Thomas Aquinas as well the
modern arguments of scholars such as Fr. Robert Spitzer
who recently published a series of books examining the question from the
perspective of scientific discoveries in physics of the last century. Such
argumentation leads me to rationally conclude that there had to be a ‘first
mover, unmoved’ or a ‘first cause, uncaused’. In other words, for creation to
exist requires that there first had to be a Creator who established it with the
requisite rules to sustain its continued existence. David Bentley
Hart, in a recent book, ‘The Experience of God’ explores in some depth the
ubiquitous theistic convictions in exists within cultures and religions the
world over. The totality of all these arguments can bring me to the starting
point of believing in the reality of Gods’ existence.
In fact, were I to believe in the absence
of rationally sustainable reasons in the existence of God, I would be guilty of
committing a heresy, namely ‘fideism’.
This was declared a heresy by the Church and condemned even by the early Church
fathers. Simply put, fideism maintains that faith is independent of reason, or that reason and faith are hostile
to each other and faith is superior at arriving at particular truths. In
the Christian tradition, faith and reason are both essential for all believers.
Another definition of faith that appeals to me,
albeit in a more Christian sense of the word, is as follows: Faith is the
‘substance of hope’. Substance here carries its original Greek meaning, which
is to say it’s something that ‘stands under’ or supports the Christian virtue
of hope. To clarify even further, ‘hope’ stands for more than just one’s wish
or desire for something. Hope
is defined in the Catholic Catechism as the theological virtue by which we desire the
kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in
Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the
grace of the Holy Spirit. Thus faith for Christians is seen then as the
structure that lifts up and sustains our trust that the promises of Christ will
be fulfilled for us as individuals and for the greater world in general.
So the question needs to be asked… How do
we obtain faith? The answer to this is
both simple and complex.
While Catholics hold that faith is a gift
from God, it would be wrong to say that it comes directly from God and thus is
possessed by all who are created in His image and likeness. While it is true
that God desires for all to believe and offers sufficient grace for us to
accomplish this end, it is necessary for us to do our part to bring this gift
to fruition. We must be open to using the gifts we’ve been given, gifts such as
our rationality, logic, and intellect as well as the spiritual gifts of prayer,
an openness to grace and a steadfastness of spirit to develop and sustain that
life-giving faith that undergird our hope and desire. It is something that not
everyone will be successful in attaining, but this is not indicative of some
failing on God’s part. If we do not do our part in apprehending faith for
ourselves, it will not likely take root and grow as an integral part of our
life. God opens the door for us, but it is up to us to accept his invitation
and to enter into a relationship with him… a relationship of faith, hope, and
love. Faith thus is sustained and
nurtured through the practice of a religious life, one that is fed by the grace
of the sacraments, prayer, and the merits of living as a disciple of Christ.
22 September, 2014
21 September, 2014
20 September, 2014
Editorial: A universal synod
Editorial: A universal synod What’s often overlooked is that the bishops at the synod will be addressing family challenges through a worldwide lens.
Editorial: A universal synod
19 September, 2014
15 Tips for Surviving Mass With Little Ones - Catholic Stand : Catholic Stand
15 Tips for Surviving Mass With Little Ones - Catholic Stand : Catholic Stand
18 September, 2014
Catholic women's conference refreshes moms, forges friendships :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)
Did you know that there is a Canadian conference with the same goal? Google 'Dynamic Women of Faith Conference' to find out more or check it out here on Facebook. This annual conference is held in the GTA and is organized by Dorothy Pilarski, an exceptional Catholic speaker and author in her own right. Catholic women's conference refreshes moms, forges friendships :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)
17 September, 2014
16 September, 2014
15 September, 2014
Would Atheists and Believers both be successful in fundraising for the same cause? A fascinating video that explores this question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YROimcT_4bk&feature=youtu.be
14 September, 2014
13 September, 2014
12 September, 2014
Woman born without a cerebellum baffles doctors | CTV News
I'm not so impressed with her not having a cerebellum... I'm blown away that the headline writers at CTV think that she was born a 'woman'!! Wow!! That's awesome! No puberty or awkward adolescence to suffer through. Although one would have to naturally pity her poor mother. Can you imagine giving birth to a fully grown woman? One would think that in itself would baffle the entire medical community!
Woman born without a cerebellum baffles doctors | CTV News
Woman born without a cerebellum baffles doctors | CTV News
11 September, 2014
10 September, 2014
09 September, 2014
Are changes in American culture pushing out Catholics? | Crux
I don't know if this is happening in the States, but it certainly is in Canada. We only need to look at Justin Trudeau's decision to bar pro-life candidates from the Liberal party to see this clearly. This means that two out of three political parties have now turfed out practicing Catholics. (The NDP did this before the Liberals.) Given that Catholics have traditionally found a home in these centre-left parties, it leads one to wonder if they will follow their pro-life convictions and vote for the Conservative Party or whether their historic political allegiances will trump their faith. I know that as a Catholic priest, I now find it impossible to support either the Liberals or the NDP since they have slammed the door shut on my pro-life convictions.
Are changes in American culture pushing out Catholics? | Crux
Are changes in American culture pushing out Catholics? | Crux
08 September, 2014
A request for prayers for a woman who provides a great service for our Catholic Church in Canada
I would like to ask the readers of my blog to please keep Sylvia of Sylvia's Site fame in your prayers. Not only is her husband facing some significant medical challenges in the next few days, but she recently fell and broke her arm, injured her leg as well as her foot. Sylvia published a post earlier today on her blog if you are interested in reading the gory details.
I do not always agree with some of her positions but I have never doubted the sincerity of her convictions when it comes to working towards the protection of all children within the Catholic Church, as well as helping to rid the church of predatory clergy who abuse them. The work she does on her blog in this regard has been called by some a national treasure and it's hard to disagree with that.
Get well soon Sylvia and Michael. You are in the prayers of many people who appreciate your good work.
I do not always agree with some of her positions but I have never doubted the sincerity of her convictions when it comes to working towards the protection of all children within the Catholic Church, as well as helping to rid the church of predatory clergy who abuse them. The work she does on her blog in this regard has been called by some a national treasure and it's hard to disagree with that.
Get well soon Sylvia and Michael. You are in the prayers of many people who appreciate your good work.
Francis: “Insulting is not Christian! Even words kill” - Vatican Insider
Here's a column that anyone who participates in online comment threads should read!
Francis: “Insulting is not Christian! Even words kill” - Vatican Insider
Francis: “Insulting is not Christian! Even words kill” - Vatican Insider
07 September, 2014
06 September, 2014
05 September, 2014
Book Review: Descartes' Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict between Faith and Reason
(This is the first and what I hope will be
a series of short book reviews of material that I have read over the past few
months. I will rate each book on a scale of 1 to 5 lightbulbs depending upon
how illuminating the work.)
Author: Russell Shorto
Publisher: Doubleday
Copyright: 2008
Descartes’s Bones, written by Russell
Shorto examines the impact of a man who is arguably the most influential
philosopher in the modern age. He was
seen by many of his contemporaries as someone who laid the intellectual
foundation for the entire modern program which grounds everything from morality
to law, politics and social organization on reason and the individual. Man
became the truth agent of discovery instead of god as the revealer of truth.
Instead of seeing creation as an example of God’s handiwork it became an object
of study unto itself. His “I think therefore I am” revolutionized not only the
study of philosophy which until that time was founded upon the Aristotelian
categories, and replaced it with the rational method.
This change, though
seemingly insignificant or self evident to us today, led to an explosion of new
knowledge in the fields of science, philosophy, politics, and theology. Alas it
lead to the expulsion of God as the first and final cause of creation and
replaced it with the edicts of pure physicalism or materialism, systems of
thought that leave no place for supernatural or teleological ends. Lost was the
belief that creation worked towards a higher purpose of revealing God and we
were left with the conviction that the material world was little more than the
random amalgamation of smaller parts
evolving on it’s own to greater and greater complexity.
By following the path of Descartes’s
remains from Sweden where it was first interred in 1650 to their translation to
France during the French Revolution Shorto demonstrates the implications of
Descartes’s radical new philosophy using the philosophers bones as a metaphor
for its promulgation throughout the world.
One of the interesting facets of this
corporeal journey is the fact that Descartes’s remains became separated over
the years with the skull and at least one finger failing to make the journey
from Sweden to France with the rest of his bones. The skull, which today held
in the Musée de l’homme in Paris, has had a particularly unique journey. It has
been inscribed with the names of its various owners who ranged from the
pedantic (a bar owner) to the learned and powerful who each desired to possess
part of ‘le grand philosophe’. What’s more appropriate Icon of the founder of
rationalism could they possess other than the skull which encapsulated the
brain of the man who launched such a profound revolution that today he is
credited as the inspiration for everything from modern technology, medical
science, and indeed democracy itself.
A must read for anyone interested in
philosophy and its impact on our society.
Rating: five bulbs!
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