If you love life...

then enjoy it!


Baby Steps (English) from American Life League on Vimeo.

Pardon me for thinking like the Holy Father...

Quite awhile ago here at the parish I published an article in the bulletin about clapping at Mass. There was a bit of a "storm" because of it, and being concerned I had somehow spoken out of pride, I searched through the Church's teaching and found nothing that supports the idea. And, in fact, found that we are adding to the Liturgy that which is not called for.

I just read this today, as directed by a dear friend, and now I feel even more strengthened in my position. Now if only someone could point me to the document which says we should not wear flip-flops to Mass...

Don't get me wrong...

I mean, I really do like Frank and Dino - well there music anyway. I don't know if I would have liked them personally. I watched on Netflix, as I think I said, the Frank Sinatra show which was an hour long program in the late 50's (I think). Mostly it has a lot of Frank singing with Ella Fitzgerald joining him at the end.

Frank is Americana, isn't he? I mean can you argue that is not the case, so too with Dino. Especially in the glory of early television where sex and violence was not the norm for our "cultural barometer." My dad actually mentioned something about TV today I found quite striking. He had said that before he went to Korea the Navy showed him movies of people being killed in order to help them prepare for war - what he called "Training Videos." For my dad, modern TV is nothing less than "training videos" for war, or violence anyway.

That got me thinking, along with Frank and Dino - whose hometown I am hours from leaving for, and it made me think of a movie I have yet to see. I checked it out on Youtube, becuase I was wondering about how I heard so much about it. Consider this was in a movie in 1941 (wait for it, after the music):

The motion picture was called "Hellzapoppin," and I would love to see it. There is also a pretty incredible scene in the Marx Brothers movie "A Day at the Races," which I actually own.

All things considered, I think I have lost sight of how much I love Swing dance. I actually won a few contests as Franciscan University while I was there, and started a Swing Dancing Club. It has always struck me how much of a "folk dance" swing dancing is and yet no one promotes it this way.

As our country sinks further into consumerism, I for one will be sure to teach my kids the Great American Swing Dance! Why? Because I think it is one of those things that can be passed on without a bit of money, and you will always have fun once you learn how to do it! Dancing is a natural and integral part to most any society, and yet we are so busy in the United States we are forgetting our dances - I include in this Square Dancing too, which I always loved when I learned it in 3rd & 4th Grade [Thank you Mrs. Card!]

I mean, COME ON!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA! Let's get back to the business of enjoying ourselves without violence, shall we?

Was it a real "board?"

I have to admit: I have always liked Frank Sinatra. But I was thinking about my previous post and the article put together by Prof. Nicolosi. One wonders how would things have been different if the Chairman of the board were known for his Catholic way of life, as opposed to being the "swinging hepcat" that he is known to have been. Now please notice that I am making no judgement calls on Mr. Sinatra, I hardly know that much about him. But I was watching a late late night informercial about the Dean Martin's Celebrity Roasts. I think these seemed like really funny shows, and I am saddened that I never saw them and really don't want to spend the money to get them from Gunthy Renker to get them.

But it struck me how much Frank Sinatra was seen as the hipster old guy who was a so cool. It was very odd. I really began to wonder about why, as a Catholic, he never tried to promote the faith (or perhaps he did and one just never hears about it today with all the other things being promoted by other celebrities).

I leave next week for the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Steubenville, you may know - besides being, according to Cardinal Stafford, an instrumental part of the renewal of the Church in United States - also just happens to be the birth place of Dean Martin. Every time I go there I always enjoy going to Karaoke with a friend of mine and I always sing a Dean Martin song. But reading that article also has made me think about what legacy do these two men, Dean and Frank, have? For the world they were two beloved men who entertained and shared their lives with hundreds of thousands if not millions of people over the course of their lives. But how much did they promote their belief in Jesus. Perhaps they did, as I said, but I have never found anything about it (not that I have actually looked).

On the other hand, when you watch the Frank Sinatra show (which you can watch one episode if you have Netflix) it is awesome how moral it seems to be compared with the sex, violence, apathy and cynicism we have today on the airwaves of American radio and TV.

I guess, at the end of the day, what I am getting at here is that I hope that my life will somehow help others to know Jesus. I just finished teaching two classes at the Archdiocese of Denver for the Catechetical School and it was truly an incredible experience to help (hopefully) people to know the Catholic Faith a little better.

May each of us reassess what our legacy will be for the world. Particularly, one wonders what will become of our President - and I am not taking either political side here - but a "funny" thing happened on the way from the G8 summit! And please God may my legacy be to have helped to established the Reign of Christ! Please pray for me!

A Call to Arms!

There is nothing in this world that is not meant to be put at the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing. So I was working on a powerpoint presentation today when a friend of mine sent me this link.

It is quite challenging and I think we should encourage all of our children to take the Gospel into their chosen profession, but we should not be afraid to help our children to even consider whether the media arts are not a great way to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For each of us to do this, we must first understand why there is nothing more important in life than to follow after Jesus Christ, to "pick up our cross and follow him daily." This is not as hard as it sounds, to understand this; to live it, now that is a different story. But if we can't understand it first, and understand it fully then we can never begin to help our children find the joy of life and the true joy of living. Let us not give up on life ourselves, nor give up on our quest for holiness, nor fail to regain this journey in the Sacrament of confession.

UPDATE: The link appears to have failed above, but here it is again: http://www.cuf.org/Laywitness/LWonline/mj08nicolosi.asp I hope you can find it!

May not be for kids...

I have been laughing over this video for quite a few minutes. I know this has nothing to do with anything, but perhaps it may provide a laugh for those of you with an appreciation of dealing with major coporation call centers. It is quite funny, but perhaps may not be the most appropriate thing... depending on how you take the dialogue. I wrestled with whether I should put this one here, but oh when my friend sent it to me I have been laughing ever since... so here you go:

Compelling, I think so...

At first I couldn't figure out what the point of this was... then it struck me...

Sex, Lies and ... the Bible.

I have recently received an email-update from the website for the Population Research Institute. Though I am not sure how I got on their mailing list, I am thankful for some of the articles they send me. Today's article included this:

"Margaret Sanger is one of the pro-choice movement's iconic figures. She is extolled as a pioneering feminist, health worker, and woman's activist. Her quotes on these subject are treated as scripture. But she was also an outspoken supporter of eugenics, who wanted more children from the fit and sterilization, even segregation, for the unfit. The infamous Negro Project, which targeted Blacks for contraception and sterilization, was one outcome of this.

Planned Parenthood, of course, does not want you know these facts. So the organization works hard to burnish Sanger's reputation, and goes into damage control mode whenever questions are raised about her more unsavory views. At the same time, however, they continue to quietly practice what she preached."

I am struck by Margaret Sanger, who my wife has studied more extensively that I have. Ms. Sanger worked tirelessly to kill as many babies (or according to her thinking mere embryos) as she could and to leave a legacy that is sustained by her disciples. One wonders if each of us who call ourselves Christians will have such an impact?

The whole problem, of course, begins in the MZarital Act itself, of course. Without the virtue of chastity you have the problem of so-called "unwanted pregnancy." This is so striking because the problem of abortion begs the question of why does mankind feel the need to promote sex outside of a marriage where a baby would be wanted? I am also reading this month's This Rock magazine, in which there is an article entitled, "If you want Justice, work for Chastity." The basic premise of which is that the human body is not a mere instrument to be used for pleasure, but has our actions - especially our sexual actions - bear a more profound meaning of who we are as people. Particularly, the author notes, as regards our chastity. This is not something promoted or even mentioned in our modern culture - the virtue of chastity.

Chastity is seen as a hindrance to pleasure, when it is in fact the key to living a life of integrity. It is virtue that allows us to live more intensely and more intently. Chastity, however, is often reduced to mere control of lust which demeans the idea of it being a positive virtue. In other words, the virtue of chastity actually gives us more life, rather than merely restricting our sexuality. It is unfortunate that Ms. Sanger saw the world in terms of race and death, such that people were seen to be a hindrance to happiness, as Jean-Paul Sartre held.

For us Catholics, we must realize and strive to live the reality that sexuality is meant to be used in the appropriate avenues granted by God. Why? Because he is some mean guy who forces us to do things we don't want? No. It is because he is a loving Father who has revealed to us the truth about who we are, and how we can best come to fulfillment as human beings, but we must choose this narrow path. Jesus once said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many. For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Mt 7:13-14)." I think this is no where more clear than in the area of sexuality.

In our modern world, the lie that our bodies are a mere instrument of who we are has become the norm. Modern media promotes the idea that our body should be used as an instrument of our desire, when the wisdom of mankind - let alone the Catholic Faith for a second - tells us that we are more than mere desire. We have the ability to give ourselves to another with full purpose and intent, and the lessening of this makes us disintegrated and disheveled in our souls. Our Catholic Faith, however, fully helps us to appreciate the great gift of unity that God has revealed for us in Jesus Christ. That man and woman can unite fully in the Sacrament of Marriage is an incredible gift, and unfortunately, for those with homosexual desires, one which can not be fulfilled in same-sex relationships. God desires to consummate his love with our souls in the Holy Eucharist, similar to how a man and woman consummate their marriage and have the ability to bear children because of it. Our souls bear the gift of grace in the world however. Again, we must choose this narrow road. We must desire and seek Christ, and to live fully for him - even if this is an ongoing project.

May we never succumb entirely to the lie that the Catholic Church is outdated in her glorious teaching of our sexuality, for never will man be more fulfilled than in her sacred teachings which she has taught since the time of the apostles. Praise God that we should have such a rock to turn to! And finally, as I prepare to teach for the Catholic Biblical School here in Denver, I am struck by the incredible faithfulness of God which is revealed in the book of the Sacred Scripture. Just consider its been around for so long, and we have a chance to see God's heart by means of the writings there! May you seek him there!

Every hour of EVERY day...

At a time when so many people have gotten such a false impression of the Catholic Faith, one who loves Christ and the Holy Catholic Church must rejoice when good things are happening. Check this out, if you feel like you have been down on your Catholic Faith of late.

UPDATE: Shoot, well i guess I can't link to the video I was hoping you might check out, but you can find it at the above link and scroll down to the bottom where you see three pictures. Click on the one that says Epic. It is quite good!

Funny or True?

My sister is big on the email forwards. I personally don't like 'em. I think they are annoying and ususally I don't spend much time reading them. But then this one came today, which I must say I found quite funny!

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice!

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something,ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions,Switch to Espresso.

5. In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Marijuana."

6. Skip down the hall Rather Than Walk and see how many looks you get.

7. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

8. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go'.

9. Sing Along At The Opera.

10. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You have a headache.

11. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream 'I Won! I Won!'

12. When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot, Yelling "Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!"

13. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

14. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity

Send This E-mail To Someone To Make Them Smile.

It's Called ... THERAPY


Not everyone will appreciate this, and that is ok, but if at least one person got a chuckle that is already accomplishing a lot in these days. Anyway, I am sure at least one of these is probably illegal, and a couple of others will probably seriously cause some need for therapy for your kids!