Meditatio

Once in a blue moon I have a good idea. I'm sure about a million people have had the same idea, but this is the first time I have heard about this meditation.

I have been told a melancholic must view all things from the perspective of the Foot of the Cross. I was viewing the Joyful Mysteries from said vantage point and came to a very simple realization.

What horror would it be to take a whip to an infants back! Scourging a baby is one of the most despicable, nauseating thoughts I can come up with. Yet, it is basically what happened 2000 years ago. Let me ask you, what difference was there in the man, Christ Jesus, and the little baby born in Bethlehem.
Was it okay to whip Christ because he learned how to talk? Was it because he grew facial hair that allowed the Romans to gasp for air in between lashings? No. Well then what was different? The answer is really nothing.

Not one thing was different between the man and the child Jesus, but age! He never merrited the whip. Not for one instance in His life did He transgress. It would be okay to punish any other man by the whip, but not Our Lord. I have earned this punishment. Not He who did nothing wrong. Justice is rendering to God what is His due. This act was unjust! Never did God need to shed His blood. He should not have had to go through the torment. A convict must make reparation for his past faults. I convict myself of sin. A baby who grows up and sins just once owes Almighty God penance. But He was a Lamb, pure and white. The Lamb that made us, and we slayed the Victim in a humiliating, hot, red sacrifice.

He was equally as mild as the bambino in swaddle. Christ was equally as obedient as the baby presented in the temple for circumcision. He was as innocent as the infant who nursed on Our Lady's breast. He was as forgiving as the Lord who knew Peter would deny him thrice. Literally, nothing but growth changed in Our Lord on his way to Mount Calvary.

It is haneous to think of the crimes against Our Lord after one comes to this understanding. And we did that to Him. We woke a toddler up, took him out of his crib, took his pajamas and diaper off, and lashed his back to the bone with nine-tails. Spit on his opened body, and crowned his once adorable, now unrecognizable head with thorns.

Jesus Christ, crucified, have mercy on us.
Our Lady, refuge of sinners, pray for us.

Pray the Rosary. It helps!

Receive ye the Habit

I have blogged about numbers 4 & 6 on my "playing catch-up list." Now to hit on 1.

For a little over a month, I have been trying to keep the Rule of St. Dominic. Two others and I (the novice on the left) were incorporated into the folds of the ancient brotherhood that started in Spain and set flame to world. We are called the Order of Penance; the Militia of Jesus Christ; Order of Friars Preachers. I now wear the same habit that our Holy Father Dominic received from Our Lady. St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Rose of Lima, Pope St. Pius V, St. Vincent Ferrer, the list of holy men and women goes on and on. I just hope I do not bring any shame to the good names who proceed me.

Why in the world would a Dominican brother take St. Francis, founder of the Franciscans as his name? Well, it so happens that the two founders bumped into each other at the Fourth Lateran Council. Thats Right! What a small world, but it is not surprising to me. Both orders honor the other Holy Father as a founder of their own order.

I think I can learn a lot from both of my Patrons. I pray to repent like St. Francis, and to spread the Truth and zeal for God like St. Dominic. I don't think either of them had beds. Maybe that will go next. They both liked walking. There is a soup kitchen under the patronage of St. Francis that I checked out. That was pretty cool. St. Dominic always kept his conversation with God, or about God. I ask for his intercession to trim the fat, so to speak.

I am so blessed to have been exposed to truly Catholic teachings. Teachings that are older than 45 years old. At the Dominican meetings we go over the Summa and encyclicals that the New Order probably doesn't want you to see. Taking these books off the shelf and blowing dust off is not worth many peoples time anymore. Does the Church not have these problems anymore? Is the Church really in "Spring Time?" Mass attendance down, next to empty seminaries, tradition is the ugly step child. I do see some promise. Some of the youth want strict Catholicism more than the hierarchy. But the problem is the youth have been subjected to nothing but "feel-good" Catholicism. Guitar Mass has replaced Gregorian Chant. Obedience has turned into the blind leading the blind... I just feel that the Church is being married to the world and other religions, which for hundreds and hundreds of years was the opposite goal.

At these meetings we do not get any of this feel good nonsense. What happens when things don't feel good anymore. If everything is based on feelings, St. John of the Cross would warn you to get ready for a very dark, dark night. There is comfort in knowing you walk away from a group meeting intellectually stimulated and not just warm and fuzzy.
Let us pray for people who will teach, preach, and stand up for Dominican Spirituality and Catholicism.

The Name Game

The Four Temperaments are quite a useful tool in squeezing the most out of life. They help you win over others, they show you the strengths and weaknesses in your self, they give insight to the way the world goes 'round. It is a sneaky way to cut at some ones being. A great way to continue a conversation (and a light way of judging people) To conquer your own shows who is boss.

The Choleric gets stuff done. All of the dictators and conquers of history were cholerics. If you're not first, you're last, and its their way or the highway. They can be the greatest saints, or the worst sinners. They get excited easily, and it will make a lasting impression. Pride is their downfall, but there is not a better temperament to get others to Heaven.

The Sanguine is carefree and not the deepest group of people. Mirrors are their best friend and they get exited easily, too. However, after something looses its novelty, the Sanguine is ready to move on to something newer and more shiny. They talk just to talk (to hear their own beautiful voice) and forget why they started talking. They help others because they can be very empathetic, but first, they must help themselves. Quite the active temperament.

The Melancholic can be characterized as serious and careful. They are slow to get excited, but after they process the person, place, thing or idea, the impression is lasting. When put on the spot, they know what they want to say, but can not make it sound just right. The old saying "the glass is half empty" applies to melancholic outlook, but they make up (I dare say) the mojority of the saints.

The Phlegmatic is a passive type and needs encouraging. They don't excite very easily and are more forgiving. A wrong first impression with this temperament, and you're not totally dead just yet. Spanking Plegmatics as kids is more acceptable, because the emotional scares are not deep. This temperament is almost like the absence of the above three. Phlegmatics just have to work a little harder than most.

I find myself to be Melancholic. A couple of examples why. Friday was my birthday and I had people over. I knew it was going to rain, and sure enough it did (monsoon like.) I used too much power from the single outlet in the garage, and it blew. It did not surprise me. I will remember why I do not like people and it sticks for no reason. I get tongue tied all the time, etc.

A matter of interest... I get along with Choleric Catholics, but can not stand them if there is no God in a Choleric. I have a really hard time with Sanguine Catholics, but I get the carefreeness of a non-Christian sanguine, and find it amusing and a curiously disgusting. I now have a little better understanding for Catholic Melancholics. We are a little hard on ourselves, but we need to be. But what I dont understand is the non-believing Melancholic. Why be hard on yourself if you there is no God. Why not eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow may never come? I think I would agree with the plegmatic outlook if I didn't have hope for an eternal life. What would be the point of being powerful or popular?

The Temperaments were studied so that we may overcome the shortfalls of our own. The saints embraced the intrinsic good built into their style, and strove for the goods in the others. We should do the same. I have many more thoughts, but want to hear everybody else's!

All's well that ends well

I have wanted to blog about 84 times since the last one, and here are a few updates for you (to be blogs).
1) I became a Dominican Third Order member! Brother Francis, T.O.P.
2) I had a pretty obvious thought pop into my head while meditating on the mysteries.
3) My diocese is very serious, sometimes.
4) I'm a big fan of the Four Temperaments.
5) I have felt like I failed pointing people in the right direction.
6) There was a concert for the priests of our diocese, and my thoughts.

I think I will tackle number 6.
Yesterday, I was asked if I went to a concert held at my university sponsored by a Catholic entertainment company. The concert entitled "Song of Praise" was to show appreciation for all of our priests and what they do. I was asked (ironically enough in front of my priest, who failed to get the invite... if you know what I mean) if I went to the concert. What a shame. I would have no problem going there, showing my support for the men in black, if that was what was really going on. I know folks who put it on meant well, but if the diocese was really bent on getting the souls of its flock to heaven, they could honor** my priest by letting him do what he was created to do.

**Reverend Father does not want honor for the sake of honor, but isn't it Saint Paul who says if one member glories, then the whole rejoices with it.
Its no surprise what happened, but sad that this diocese has an absolute gold mine located in the heart of its biggest city. But no one will take advantage of him. I can't think of a better priest to train other priests in the Tridentine Rite. No one could preach a more traditional (silent) retreat. He knows more about the New Code of Canon Law better than a lot of priests I know, and could hear confessions in a couple of languages. He is a storehouse of knowledge, and would benefit the diocese in many, many ways. But will this diocese ever grow a backbone and tap this font of knowledge? Probably not, because, as Bishop Williamson puts it "as long as we stand up for the old fashion doctrine, we are raining on their parade."

They admit he is a Priest of God, ordained in a Catholic Rite, with the power to share in the Hypostatic Union and make bread Flesh, and wine Blood. But because he cares about the salvation of souls and claims there is a higher authority than the Local Ordinary, he and the chapel where Tradition lives on is worse than my fingers will let me type.
But where is Christ in all of this? Is Christ going to ease judgment of the soul of a priest because he was honored at "Songs of Praise" the night before last? Will Our Lord, the final judge, let the shepherds slide because they are praised in this world? There is a problem there. Priests are not supposed to be popular. St. John of the Cross would tell you that. I see too many priests striving for an approval rating. The more they say "yes," the more the kids like them. Yes to Ecumenism, yes to Life Teen, yes to the feel-good-cafeteria-Catholicism that leaves little kids like me not knowing the simplest of Catechism. Priests in the New Order do know how to say "No." No to fast and penance, no to the reality of Hell, no to the past teachings of Holy Mother Church...

When Christ comes down at the Consecration does He like what He sees in the Kum-biah picture above? Is a rock concert an appropriate place for the Second Person of the Trinity to dwell? (Yes that white table is the altar.)
Our poor Lord mistreated... our poor Lady shedding tear after tear for priests whom she loves so much. Do we have to take part in this, or at least this mindset? Would the saints attend?

***

In truth, I can bet the concert was, as I was told, amazing. I'm sure the pianist and vocalist were exceptional. I can think of no other group of men who deserve to be treated to a nice night. The servants of God are not to be taken for granted! It is time we put our pride aside and see our problems as problems that we are either okay with, or problems that can be remedied.

As usual, I would like to end with a short prayer. O, Most holy Lord, we give Thee praise, due and fit! Please make us patient, grant us obedience, form us into soldiers for Christ. Give us the strength we need to fight the good fight, and although it may seem like David and Goliath all over again, we know how that turned out! O, most merciful Mary, refuge of sinners, intercede for us. Ask your Creator, Son, and Spouse to make us whole, and may we never compromise the Truth. Amen.

We do not know the future. But we do know that the gates of Hell will never prevail against His Church. All is well that ends well...

Up next, the Four Temperaments