Spiritual Health Care

Imagine a man with breathing issues going to his doctor. The doctor prescribes medication to soothe the man's irritated throat and lungs, an inhaler, and maybe a CPAP machine. The doctor mentions in passing, but fails to really address the fact that the man is overweight, does not exercise, and smokes two packs a day. The doctor does not want to face complaints or criticisms, does not want to upset the man, and does not want the man to get mad and quit seeing him, and, of course, end his payments.

Now, turn to the subject of homilies and spiritual health ...

Pax et bonum

Reacting to a pop poet (rk)

there are no superficial thoughts nor are there superficial poems just superficial readers with money. - rupee craver

i love self love but much as i love self love i love being loved for writing about my self love - rupee craver

i scour social media and writers' works for shallow thoughts to share as my own because i've learned plagiarism pays. - rupee craver

i rely on crafted revelations and supposed honesty to conceal and carefully avoid the emptiness i often feel inside - rupee craver

Pax et bonum

The Shape Shifter (Hillerman)

My latest read mystery book  - the 11th this year already! - was the last book by one of my favorite mystery writers, Tony Hillerman: The Shape Shifter.  

It was typical Hillerman. A well-crafted story involving his Navajo protagonists Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Believable dialogue. Interesting characters. Native American histroy and spirituality skillfully mixed in.

It was a Leaphorn book primarily, with just a little of Chee and Chee's new wife Bernie. That's my only quibble - Chee is my favorite character in the Navajo series, but he only played a peripheral role here.

Ah well. 

Quibble aside, good read. Not the best of the series, but still better than a lost of other mystery books I've read.

I'm sad this is the last of the series of 18 novel about the Leaphorn, and a few books in, Chee. I read a few of the earlier books years ago, and I read the last six this year. In those final books, Lieutenant Leaphorn retires but continues to work occasionally as a private investigator, Sergeant Chee breaks up with his old girlfriend, then courts and marries Officer Bernie Manuelito. I enjoyed their romance. I enjoyed Che's internal conflicts about love, remaining true to his Navajo roots, and his spiritual quest. At least by this point Chee is happy, and the future looks great for him.

I'll go back eventually to read some of the earlier books in the series that I haven't read yet.

As for this one, it was a fitting last book by a good writer.

There was even a bit of probably unintentional irony in the last lines of the book.

The now retired Joe Leaphorn finally was able to reimburse a Navajo woman for some goods stolen years before at the start of his career. He said, "'Well, I finally got the job done.' And she said, 'Well young man, it sure took you a long time to do it.'"

Hillerman got the job done. It only took him 36 years of these wonderful books to do it. 

Pax et bonum

Joni Mitchell - House Of The Rising Sun (Official Audio)

Amazing to hear her so young - yet still wonderful.

The declarations of BSM activist Mjinga Asiyejua

"It's not looting, it's redistribution of wealth."

"White collar jobs are inherently racist."

"Whitening toothpaste is racist."

"Winter is such a racist season. All that white snow."

"Baseball is a racist sport. The ball is white."

"Breakfast cereal is racist. You pour white milk on it. And if the cereal is chocolate, you get miscegenation."

"Morality means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less." BSM activist Mjinga Asiyejua

Pax et bonum

Spencer Tracy's Statement - Judgment at Nuremberg

Judgment at Nuremberg was on this morning. I watched part of it - including the statement of Judge Hay wood - Spencer Tracy - at the sentencing. Some of what he said reminded me of the current genocide of abortion.

During the trial, the Nazi defense included claims of not knowing what was happening, or the full extent of it. There were also claims that some of the guilty acted in evil ways because they feared some greater evil.

How many people claim they don't know the truth about abortion? How many say it's a better choice than, say, interfering with school or a career? How many argue that the child have poor prospects due to poverty or health, and so it was more merciful to kill the infant? (Then there was Nancy Pelosi who argued that abortion reduced the number of people on public assistance!) 

Some lines in the statement in particular reminded me of current justifications/arguments/excuses given by pro-choicers, and of responses to those attempts to support this genocidal practice. 

Simple murders and atrocities do not constitute the gravamen of the charges in this indictment. Rather, the charge is that of conscious participation in a nationwide, government organized system of cruelty and injustice in violation of every moral and legal principle known to all civilized nations.

The principle of criminal law in every civilized society has this in common: Any person who sways another to commit murder, any person who furnishes the lethal weapon for the purpose of the crime, any person who is an accessory to the crime -- is guilty.

But this trial has shown that under a national crisis, ordinary -- even able and extraordinary -- men can delude themselves into the commission of crimes so vast and heinous that they beggar the imagination. No one who has sat through the trial can ever forget them: men sterilized because of political belief; a mockery made of friendship and faith; the murder of children. How easily it can happen. 

Then, it seems that the only way to survive is to use the means of the enemy, to rest survival upon what is expedient -- to look the other way.

Do the ends justify the means - and looking the other way? No. As the judge notes:

... A country isn't a rock. It's not an extension of one's self. It's what it stands for. It's what it stands for when standing for something is the most difficult!

Before the people of the world, let it now be noted that here, in our decision, this is what we stand for: justice, truth, and the value of a single human being.

What is abortion but the killing of a "single human being"? Or hundreds of thousands a year?

.

Here's the text of the full speech.

Judge Haywood: The trial conducted before this Tribunal began over eight months ago. The record of evidence is more than ten thousand pages long, and final arguments of counsel have been concluded.

Simple murders and atrocities do not constitute the gravamen of the charges in this indictment. Rather, the charge is that of conscious participation in a nationwide, government organized system of cruelty and injustice in violation of every moral and legal principle known to all civilized nations. The Tribunal has carefully studied the record and found therein abundant evidence to support beyond a reasonable doubt the charges against these defendants.

Heir Rolfe, in his very skillful defense, has asserted that there are others who must share the ultimate responsibility for what happened here in Germany. There is truth in this. The real complaining party at the bar in this courtroom is civilization. But the Tribunal does say that the men in the dock are responsible for their actions, men who sat in black robes in judgment on other men, men who took part in the enactment of laws and decrees, the purpose of which was the extermination of human beings, men who in executive positions actively participated in the enforcement of these laws -- illegal even under German law. The principle of criminal law in every civilized society has this in common: Any person who sways another to commit murder, any person who furnishes the lethal weapon for the purpose of the crime, any person who is an accessory to the crime -- is guilty.

Heir Rolfe further asserts that the defendant, Janning, was an extraordinary jurist and acted in what he thought was the best interest of this country. There is truth in this also. Janning, to be sure, is a tragic figure. We believe he loathed the evil he did. But compassion for the present torture of his soul must not beget forgetfulness of the torture and the death of millions by the Government of which he was a part. Janning's record and his fate illuminate the most shattering truth that has emerged from this trial: If he and all of the other defendants had been degraded perverts, if all of the leaders of the Third Reich had been sadistic monsters and maniacs, then these events would have no more moral significance than an earthquake, or any other natural catastrophe. But this trial has shown that under a national crisis, ordinary -- even able and extraordinary -- men can delude themselves into the commission of crimes so vast and heinous that they beggar the imagination. No one who has sat through the trial can ever forget them: men sterilized because of political belief; a mockery made of friendship and faith; the murder of children. How easily it can happen.

There are those in our own country too who today speak of the "protection of country" -- of "survival." A decision must be made in the life of every nation at the very moment when the grasp of the enemy is at its throat. Then, it seems that the only way to survive is to use the means of the enemy, to rest survival upon what is expedient -- to look the other way.

Well, the answer to that is "survival as what?" A country isn't a rock. It's not an extension of one's self. It's what it stands for. It's what it stands for when standing for something is the most difficult!

Before the people of the world, let it now be noted that here, in our decision, this is what we stand for: justice, truth, and the value of a single human being.

The judge was right about the Holocaust.

His words fit the current genocide as well.

 Pax et bonum

Mulling

Fraternity elections are coming up this fall. I'm currently the fraternity's Minister - I didn't want to be in the first place, but I said let what happens happen and I got elected.

After 2 1/2 years as Minister, I really don't want to do it again.

I have my own flaws - arrogant, opinionated, argumentative - that are less than Franciscan. And though I've done an okay job given the age of the average fraternity member and the whole Covid-19 disaster over the last year, the fraternity has dwindled, not grown under my leadership. We need someone who can inspire and draw people.

There's also a level of frustration. I have tried some new things, but they have not always gotten support. And it seems as if everything gets thrown on the shoulders of the Council - and my wife and me in particular. For example, a woman volunteered to find some material for tomorrow's gathering. Then she went out of town, and nothing got done. Knowing we needed something, I searched on line and pulled together materials. Given the history of this woman, I wasn't surprised - I anticipated it, in fact. At least she does offer to volunteer - and sometimes follows through. And our former Minister always carries out what she says she will do. There are others who try to volunteer, but due to family issues, illnesses, and age, they can't always do what they would like to do, or even show up. But too many other folks tend not to volunteer at all.

I'm burned out.

Again, not very Franciscan on my part.

Meanwhile, the office involves taking part in regional meetings. I don't really like to travel much, particularly when I feel an obligation to do so and when it involves large groups I really don't know. I'm a hermit sort. Then, when Covid hit, the meetings turned into Zoom meetings. I hate Zoom meetings - on pro-life grounds, and because of their impersonal nature - and my old laptop does not work well with Zoom. Last night I could not even vote on one measure being discussed because due to the erratic sound I could not follow the discussion even after trying repeatedly, rebooting, and so on. 

For a conference I ultimately could not attend due to the sound issues, I gave up two events - the regular prayer group I join outside Planned Parenthood, and a rally at the Federal Building in support of keeping the Hyde Amendment in force. I would much rather have taken part in them.

Getting back to the elections. people are already assuming I will run for a second term. But if they asked me right now, I'd say, "No, I am not running. For any office."

Let's see what happens as we get closer to the nominations.

Sigh.

Pax et bonum

I'd Rather Have Jesus // Her Heart Sings

The Divine Mercy Message of St. Francis of Assisi

The Divine Mercy Message of St. Francis of Assisi: One of the principal intentions of St. Francis's own prayers should sound familiar to Divine Mercy apostles. This is no surprise.

after rereading

after rereading

all my haiku from last year

I ask forgiveness

Pax et bonum

More photos

Pax et bonum

Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America (David Horowitz)

I had seen Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America by David Horowitz hyped on a number of talk shows.

I should have taken that as a warning. 

The book is not terrible. It does compile and link together information, trends, and incidents. That's fine. The problem for me is that I was already aware of much of this information and many of these trends, and I had already made many of the connections. I have been addressing some of the same issues he raises for years now. So for me, the book served as a reminder and as a confirmation, but it was hardly "eye-opening."

Overall, I found the book somewhat superficial, and padded. I think it would have been far more effective and compelling if it were compressed into a solid essay.

But then, Horowitz would have made less money.

For those who haven't been paying attention or are ill-informed, which, to be honest, means most people (just look at how many people allegedly voted for Biden!), this book is worth reading.

However, once the hype is over and people move on to some other shiny objects, I suspect we'll see a lot of copies of this book on remainder tables at used book sales.

Pax et bonum

Baseball Been Berry Berry Bad ...

I've been a baseball fan since the 1960s. I had baseball cards. I remember sneaking a transistor radio with an ear bud into school to listen to the World Series. 

Remember when World Series games were played during the day?

And I've been a Mets fan since 1969. I remember during the 1986 National League Championship series against Houston when one of the games was being played during a mini schedule night at the school where I taught and the History Department set up a television in the hall so parents (and teachers) could watch. I was one of those who watched.

I bought baseball magazines every year to help assess players and teams. I've even had fantasy teams over the years, winning my leagues a couple of times.

Last year's Covid shutdown was torture. I rejoiced when baseball started up with a shortened season.

Then all the kowtowing to the BLM movement came into play. Players refusing to play, sometimes walking off the field.

Including, one night, even the Mets.

I stopped watching. I stopped following. 

This spring, I was thinking of giving baseball a chance again.

But in the wake of the false stories about the new Georgia election law, baseball pulled the All Star Game from Atlanta.

I watch sports to enjoy athletic excellence and to celebrate healthy competition, not to witness capitulating to fear and greed.

I watch sports to relax, to escape all the political insanity and the outright lies out there.

I guess even on the diamond I can't get away from the nonsense.

I won't be watching this season.

Maybe never again.

Pax et bonum

The Chosen - Opening Song (Extended version)

Trent's Last Case (Bentley)

I've been hearing for years that E.C. Bentley wrote a highly regarded mystery novel. I had known him as a friend of G. K. Chesterton, and the creator of clerihews, the four-line humorous verse form I write, and which was named after him (his middle name is Clerihew).

I got ahold of a copy Trent's Last Case and decided to read it, because of its reputed quality, and one of my dozen mystery books for the year. (It's the 10th one already, by the way).

Two great mysteries in a row! (I had just finished The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey.)   

Bentley did indeed add a twist to the traditional "great detective" stereotype - so the ending was a surprise. The detective remained appealing, though. The writing overall was more literary that is typical of many mystery books these day, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I highly recommend this book.

Pax et bonum

Good Friday Pro-Life Stations of the Cross

One of my Good Friday traditions has been taking part in a prayer service at the local high school, then a Stations of the Cross for Life procession from the high school to a site where abortions are performed. The annual event has drawn as many as 300 participants.  

Last year would have marked the 21st year of the event, but Covid lockdowns led to its cancellation. It was also cancelled for this year.

But instead, local pro-lifers organized a Stations of the Cross/Divine Mercy Chaplet procession around Planned Parenthood's Rochester headquarters.

Considering the last-minute nature of the event, and the ongoing Covid concerns, the numbers were great. As was the opportunity to pray together for life again. 

And, after all, all we need are two or three gathered in His name! 

Pax et bonum

Biden Gets WaPo 4 Pinocchios - in other words, he blatantly lied

From the Washington Examiner - 

The Washington Post fact-checker gave President Joe Biden a rating of “Four Pinocchios” in response to a claim he made about an election integrity law recently passed in Georgia.

“What I’m worried about is how un-American this whole initiative is,” Biden said about the Georgia law that many on the Left have characterized as an attempt to “limit voting.” “It’s sick. It’s sick … deciding that you’re going to end voting at five o’clock when working people are just getting off work.”

“Among the outrageous parts of this new state law, it ends voting hours early so working people can’t cast their vote after their shift is over,” Biden added.

The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler responded to those two claims and pointed out that nowhere in the law are voting hours limited and early voting was, in fact, expanded.

“On Election Day in Georgia, polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and if you are in line by 7 p.m., you are allowed to cast your ballot. Nothing in the new law changes those rules,” he wrote. 

“However, the law did make some changes to early voting. But experts say the net effect was to expand the opportunities to vote for most Georgians, not limit them.”

Kessler’s article included comments from several election experts who disagreed with Biden’s characterization of the bill.

“So where would Biden get this perception that ordinary workers were getting the shaft because the state would ‘end voting at five o’clock’?” Kessler wrote. “We have one clue.”

He continues: "The law used to say early 'voting shall be conducted during normal business hours.' Experts said that generally means 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new law makes it specific — 'beginning at 9:00 AM and ending at 5:00 PM.' A Georgia election official said the change was made in part because some rural county election offices only worked part-time during the week, not a full eight-hour day, so the shift to more specific times makes it clear they must be open every weekday for at least eight hours."

The article also pointed out that Biden’s home state of Delaware did not allow any in-person early voting last November.

Biden, along with fellow Democrats, has been urging Congress to pass a massive voting rights bill that is currently being weighed in the Senate after being approved by the House.

The bill, known as H.R. 1 or the For The People Act, would significantly erode voter ID and voter registration laws in a move that Democrats say is necessary to expand access to voting and Republicans have labeled as a power grab.

Recent polling on the issue shows that the public overwhelmingly supports voter ID laws, including 69% of the black community, which Democrats have argued are prevented from voting because of voter ID laws. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-gets-four-pinocchios-from-washington-post-over-claim-georgia-voting-law-slashes-poll-hours-and-early-voting/ar-BB1f8dLV?ocid=uxbndlbin

Pax et bonum