Rejoice! The Lord is risen! Alleluia!

"The Resurrection" by Titian
Happy Easter! After the Easter Vigil I am always reminded of the phrase I would hear my Hungarian Cistercian friends say after their Easter Vigil: "Rejoice! The Lord is risen! Alleluia!" Part of it was in the delivery, which was what made it so amusing.

Anyway, I want to thank all of you readers who have been praying for me. Not only has the Lord been resurrected, but also "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum" the "resurrection" of my vocation. The three months of intense vocational discernment was spent at the Benedictine Monastery in Norcia, Italy as an "observer." I am happy to say that I will be returning there this summer to enter the monastery.

Basilica and Monastery of Saint Benedict in Norcia, Italy.
So, I would ask for continued prayers as I try to get things taken care of so I can return. I feel a bit overwhelmed with all things to get done, but I guess I'll just need to chip away at it with God's grace.

I was also thrilled to see that the monks have been posting the audio and pictures from their Tenebrae services this year on their website at http://www.osbnorcia.org

So, once again, happy Easter.

RS

Election Results

Hmmm. I just wonder. Did the Democrats really win, or did the Republicans just really lose? I almost consider that there was a "liking" vacuum. I really wonder what the results would have been had those people who only voted against the Republicans because they hate Bush (even though he wasn't even running) hadn't voted. I often got the feeling that even some of the most vocal Obama supporters just needed someone to like and since Obama wasn't Bush, he was the guy.

I think the Republican party, and all conservatives, need to wake up and start being clearer about their views and more intelligent in their arguments. Well, I kind of take that back, not Republicans in general, but the Republicans who are actually running for office. They need to be more direct in addressing and forcing issues and more intelligent and direct in their explanation of the issues.

It's also disturbing to see that so many people voted in a racist or sexist way too. Not only people voting for Obama only because he's Black, but also people voting for McCain only because he chose a woman as a running mate. That's frustrating to me that people would not vote on issues but only on accidental appearances. Sad.

In my opinion this could be an odd blessing in disguise. I think this country has had some dangerous curiosity about socialism. I think even if McCain had been elected, it would have only delayed an inevitable Obama or Obama-like election. Maybe this will be the time where America will hopefully see that socialism is not good for the country, not good for the States, and not good for the individuals. I pray that the American people will see the bad fruit they have wrought, and realize that we need to stop this country from heading into a socialistic society based on our hedonistic desires. We weren't made to be slaves to our passions, and our society is already on that slippery slope. But, I'm not going to gloom and doom, I still think this country has the ability to open it's eyes and see just where our society is headed. I pray we can also have the fortitude as individuals to stop being selfish and to turn the country around.

Pleasure is the new opiate of the masses, and the Democrats promise and use that quite a bit. Sadly though, it does not lead to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but already to leading to death (abortion and euthanasia), slavery (to the passions in sex, homosexual activity, dependance on welfare and social programs, entertainment), and purusit of pleasures (at any cost, even life and liberty).

Well, life goes on, and so we must prepare to fight against anything that will hurt our country no matter which political "side" it comes from. I'd start with the Republican party getting it's act together over these next four years.

RS

White suprimacists against Obama?

I saw an article in the news yesterday, which honestly surprised me.

Alleged white supremacist plot to kill Obama is foiled

I do not support racism, so my thoughts are just imagining what a white suprimacist would think. My conclusion was that if anything, white suprimacists should love to have Obama as president. Obama has the potential to kill more Blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities than the KKK has done in the last 100 years. Obama supports abortion "rights" so vehemently. And that support means lots and lots of funding for Planned Parenthood. I don't think it's any surprise that abortions are highest among poor minorities, and with Obama's push of things like the "Freedom of Choice Act" it will only increase how many abortions are being done, especially on poor minorities.

Many unborn girls will also be more likely to be aborted by those who hold "values" that they should have more boys than girls. Certain extremist Hindu and extremist Muslim sects, as well as some seculars, hold these views.

I just find it odd that given the views of white suprimacists, they would be against Obama. Because of his proposed legislation, millions of Blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities will die, which puts Obama's agenda of the legalization and encouragement of the killing of minorites in line with those of white supremacists.

For me, I refuse to support Obama's agenda to legalize abortion which hurts and ends human lives especially those of minorites and women. You don't think it does? Hang out in front of an abortion clinic sometime and see how happy all the people are who go in. See who goes in and see how they act. Everyone knows what is going on in there, they just refuse to face the truth.

May God have mercy on all their souls.

RS

Pray for unity.

I haven't commented on the recent Anglican church's situation because I am rather ignorant of the entire Church of England/Anglican/Episcopalian/etc ordering.

So, I'm referring to Fr. Dwight Longnecker's blog since he has a great deal of knowledge and experience in Anglicanism, Catholicism, and the conversion from the former to the latter.

But seeing the Providential situation within the Church of England, let us pray that those who still hold the Christian faith will leave the continually self-destructing situation they are in and seek unity with Rome.

RS

Requéscat in pace Dom Gerard Calvet

I am a couple of days late on this only because I just found out.

Please pray for the soul of Dom Gerard Calvet, OSB. He is the founder of the community that is now Le Barroux in France.

Dom Gerard during the Canon of his jubilee Mass
I had the opportunity to meet him while on retreat at Le Barroux during Lent of 2002. He was an extremely warm and humble man, very devout and traditional, but never "rigid" or cold as many people tend to stereotype traditional Catholics.

He was also very involved in the pro-life movement in France, as evidenced here:

Renowned French Pro-Life Abbott Dies at Age 80

He has definitely been a great instrument of God's grace. Please remember him in your prayers.

Requéscat in pace.

RS