George Weigel hits it on the head

From an article at The-Tidings.com What Benedict XVI means

"Conventional wisdom notwithstanding, the great divide in world Catholicism these past several decades has not been between 'liberals' and 'conservatives,' 'reformers' and 'integrists.' It's been between bishops, priests, religious and laity who see the church primarily in terms of its evangelical mission, and bishops, priests, religious and laity who see the church primarily in terms of institutional maintenance and the exercise of intra-institutional power. The conclave of 2005 was a rout for the latter and a smashing triumph for the former."

The Church stands for Humanity not the State

I thought this article was interesting (The Church, the State, and the Degradation of the Human Person). This paragraph summed it up pretty well I think.

"... this is the century that the Statemongers among us tell us is the century of progress and enlightenment and reason. Owing to the triumph of messianic ideologies of social gospels and what Pope Benedict XVI calls the 'do-it-yourself paradise' ushered in by the State, Americans have been taught to believe that society is progressing toward some kind of ever-improving world of equality and freedom. John Paul II found this idea dangerous at best and totalitarian at worst. If human society is progressing so well, why is it that we find nothing in the annals of ancient or medieval history to compare with the atrocities of the 20th century? The concentration camps, the gulags, the wars, the nuclear wastelands, and the mountains of human corpses – where is the enlightenment and the reason? The truth for John Paul was that as the modern world progressed toward the 20th century, Western civilization was actually regressing toward a degradation of the value of the human person."

For Benedict XVI the reform of the reform has begun

From Romanitas, an excellent read.

Romanitas: Rerform of the Reform has begun....

He quotes this article The “Reform of the Reform” Has Already Begun.

The rebirth of a cradle Catholic

I didn't understand until I watched John Paul the Great's funeral. The thought that more than 4 million people could show up to witness and pay their respects just boggles my mind. The world has never seen the likes of it, ever.

Although I only saw the last hour I was overwhelmed by the grace and pagentry. The feeling of how old and traditional the service was. Without even being aware I realized I was crying. I wasn't crying for JPII he was in a far better place than I was. But, I was crying for me. I was crying for all Catholics everywhere who may not have realized until that day how great he was, how great he was for our church and how necessary he was for it's future. Something inside me awoke, a small nagging voice urging me to become more, urging me to a deeper faith.

I have since that day begun reading, saying devotional prayers (I never realized daily rosary could feel so good), I've even changed my radio to the local Catholic station. My role as a father has become clearer, my role as a husband is less of a burden. My role as a Christian Catholic is growing. I thank God because it feels so good!

I humbly ask for your prayers. I still have a ways to go I think.

My hopes for Benedict XVI

Will his pontificate move the Church closer to its more traditional roots? I’m a cradle Catholic who has known nothing but the post Second Vatican Council church. I don’t know the answer to that question.

But I have over the past couple of years become very concerned for my church. I have had uncomfortable feelings of a church more concerned with not offending anyone, more concerned with loving the sinner but ignoring the sin. As the father of two children I have been pained by the lukewarm passion for the beauty and reverence of the Mass. Our churches social institutions have been co-opted by the state. Our dioceses schools are no better than public schools with a crucifix on the wall.

My hope for this pontificate is that our Church can be healed from within. I don’t want to see the dissenters leave, but I cannot understand why they believe that the Church needs to modernize. I am not convinced that modernization has given us much to look forward too.

Habemus Papem

As a way of introduction ...

My profile has the particulars, at least those that I want to make public at this time.

I work as a software engineer in Rochester New York. I’m married, my dear wife and I will celebrate 16 years in 2005. We have a son, a daughter and one stupid dog. We live in a middle sized house in the suburbs. We regularly attend church, we like camping and I occasionally hunt and fish.

I hope others will read my blog and maybe once in a while get something out of it. But if not so be it. I am not sure which direction my writing might take, but I feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to do this.

Therefore, if you are so inclined pray that the Holy Spirit guide me.

Opening a Blog

I've been reading quite a collection of blogs for a some time. After witnessing the emotional and life changing events of the past few weeks it is now time for me to try my hand at blogging.

I hope to be able to put into words what has changing in me.

From the title of my blog you may be able to guess for yourself.