Didn't get those Christmas Cards out this year? Want to still give a greeting that celebrates the birth of our Savior? Email me -- use the "email Kelly" link -- and get a PDF file of a card celebrating the Epiphany of Our Lord. Print it off, fold it twice, stick it in an invitation envelope if you'd like, and you're good to go! The inside of the card contains the antiphon of the Magnificat for the Feast of the Epiphany.
For those of you who already got it last year (or the years before) nothing's changed...although you might've accidentally deleted it. :-)
God bless,
Kelly <------no Wise Men were destroyed in the making o' this card..
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thank you Dr. Horatio Robinson Storer
Although largely forgotten today, Dr. Horatio Robinson Storer (1830-1922) was one of the most influential figures of the 19th century. He made large contributions to gynecology and abdominal surgery and substantial contributions to natural history, sanitation, and numismatics. However, the accomplishments of Dr. Storer that are remembered today, and the ones for which he most wished to be remembered, were related to the suppression of unnecessary intentional abortion.
Read the amazing article by Frederick N. Dyer, Ph.D., here.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Me? A Christmas Gift? Okay, I'll tell you what I'd like...
I live in an African American neighborhood. For Christmas, I'd like to see an end to the "N" word. I don't care if you're black. You're not entitled to us it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have been hurt by that very, very, ugly word? No? Well, learn about it and shut the bleep up before using it.
I often walk through "gay" neighborhoods. (Boston, in fact, is a very small town.) For Christmas, I'd like to see an end to the "Q" word. I don't care if you're attracted to the same gender as yourself. You're not entitled to use it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have been hurt by that very, very, ugly word? No? Well, learn about it and shut the bleep up before using it.
Italian neighborhoods are great. But for Christmas, I'd like to see the end of the "D" word. I don't care if you're Italian. You're not entitled to use it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have been hurt by that very, very, ugly word? No? Well, learn about it and shut the bleep up before using it.
I'm a heterosexual, and as such, I would greatly appreciate NOT being called—even in jest—a "breeder" by friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. I don't care if you think it's funny. You're not entitled to use it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have tried to have babies and could not, and have therefore been very, very hurt by that word? No? Well, think about it and shut the bleep up before using it.
I'm a Catholic. And while I would rather you didn't trash my religion? I can take it. In fact, my religion helps me forgive all of the above.
Merry Christmas!
I often walk through "gay" neighborhoods. (Boston, in fact, is a very small town.) For Christmas, I'd like to see an end to the "Q" word. I don't care if you're attracted to the same gender as yourself. You're not entitled to use it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have been hurt by that very, very, ugly word? No? Well, learn about it and shut the bleep up before using it.
Italian neighborhoods are great. But for Christmas, I'd like to see the end of the "D" word. I don't care if you're Italian. You're not entitled to use it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have been hurt by that very, very, ugly word? No? Well, learn about it and shut the bleep up before using it.
I'm a heterosexual, and as such, I would greatly appreciate NOT being called—even in jest—a "breeder" by friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. I don't care if you think it's funny. You're not entitled to use it and I hope you stop. Do you realize how many people have tried to have babies and could not, and have therefore been very, very hurt by that word? No? Well, think about it and shut the bleep up before using it.
I'm a Catholic. And while I would rather you didn't trash my religion? I can take it. In fact, my religion helps me forgive all of the above.
Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 19, 2011
We make great websites!
At the risk o' sounding crassly commercial, especially during this holy season, here's a crassly commercial post.
Check out Alden's latest website created for Marina Martin, accountant, here:
And just to assure you that I'm not totally crass, it might be a good time for you, um, well endowed folks to consider consulting an accounting firm before the year closes...you know, like, yeah, like charitable donations and such...yeah, that's right! :-)
Check out Alden's latest website created for Marina Martin, accountant, here:
And just to assure you that I'm not totally crass, it might be a good time for you, um, well endowed folks to consider consulting an accounting firm before the year closes...you know, like, yeah, like charitable donations and such...yeah, that's right! :-)
Monday, December 05, 2011
Bring a Catholic back: a hopeful help to the Archdiocese of Boston's "streamlining" plans
Today our Cardinal Archbishop presumably outlined a way for Boston parishes to "streamline"...to become, evidently, more efficient by sharing resources.
This is a good thing, don't get me wrong. To anyone who's been at Mass on Sundays during the last few years, there's an earthly problem, and it's called Not Enough Money, Not Enough Priests.
Or, as I like to call it, the NEM-NEP Syndrome.
Now, NEM-NEP is real. Parishes are already sharing priests. In the past, parishes have simply closed down. Everybody's exhausted, it's a real problem, etc., etc., etc.
But wait! Uh...something in the mix is missing here and it's pretty much the elephant in your living room and my parlor, and that is:
MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH!
Sorry for the yelling, but I did feel the need to wake some folks up. Now I'm talking about the Archdiocese of Boston here, yet I've a feeling this is true throughout the Roman Catholic Church. Again:
MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH!
Yes, indeed, they're baptized in Catholic churches, married in Catholic churches, and, may they rest in peace, buried out of Catholic churches.
But most Catholics don't participate—not one iota—in the Sunday celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
(Which—pssst—is a deadly, read "mortal" sin. Got that? Sure? Then say it with me: "deliberately eschewing Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is a mortal sin." Now then, what happens when one dies with the stain of mortal sin on his or her soul? You already know what happens.)
What has this do with the NEM-NEP syndrome?
Well, pretty much everything, or nearly so. If there's only a few folks in the pews, there's only a few bucks in the collection plate. That's the earthly reality. I mean, you don't expect folks who think nothing of dissing their Sunday and Holy Day obligations to—what?—send their contributions via Western Union or PayPal, do you?
And if there's a shortage of priests, then what are you expecting? Father Whosis to come to your bedside when you're sick and anoint you? Or to your deathbed to hear your confession?
Those days are gone, my friend. 'Course, most priests will drive themselves ragged to do just that…but the word "most" means "many" and there aren't many priests. It's that simple. Why is that, do you suppose? My guess?
MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH!
Which means their children don't either, more than likely. And how does one expect a child to discern a possible vocation when he's deprived of the glorious experience of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?
Anyway, screw the NEM-NEP syndrome for a moment and reflect on this horrible situation—far more horrible than a lack of finances or manpower:
MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH…and, ergo, most Catholics are endangering their souls.
Here's my point:
("Thank goodness, Kelly, it took you long enough!")
My weakness, and I apologize. And I also beg you, while the powers that be at the Archdiocese of Boston and their counterparts throughout the world struggle to manage the earthly affairs of their parishes:
Pray a Catholic back to the Church.
Adopt one, spiritually. At random, or a particular one you've got in mind. Devote your morning and evening prayers to the reconciliation of a fallen Catholic—yep, that's a phrase you can still use—and, even better, include this reconciliation in your Mass intentions.
And spread the word!
Ask your friends and family members to "adopt-a-fallen-Catholic" via prayer. Sheesh, I get at least six or seven email notes a day asking me to forward some wacky joke. Surely, it's within the realm of possibility to personally ask your spouse, your best friend, your sibling, your parish priest, your favorite nun (nuns are a really good bet, trust me) or anyone in your circle to participate in this project. God, I assure you, listens to prayers far more than He listens to the minutes of a Committee Meeting. (Meaning no disrespect to those who Sit On Committees or Those Who Submit Minutes of same.)
So c'mon! While the folks running the earthly Church do whatever it is they're doing to combat the NEM-NEP syndrome, let's do ours.
Pray a fallen Catholic back to the Church!
May God continue to bless you.
This is a good thing, don't get me wrong. To anyone who's been at Mass on Sundays during the last few years, there's an earthly problem, and it's called Not Enough Money, Not Enough Priests.
Or, as I like to call it, the NEM-NEP Syndrome.
Now, NEM-NEP is real. Parishes are already sharing priests. In the past, parishes have simply closed down. Everybody's exhausted, it's a real problem, etc., etc., etc.
But wait! Uh...something in the mix is missing here and it's pretty much the elephant in your living room and my parlor, and that is:
MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH!
Sorry for the yelling, but I did feel the need to wake some folks up. Now I'm talking about the Archdiocese of Boston here, yet I've a feeling this is true throughout the Roman Catholic Church. Again:
MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH!
Yes, indeed, they're baptized in Catholic churches, married in Catholic churches, and, may they rest in peace, buried out of Catholic churches.
But most Catholics don't participate—not one iota—in the Sunday celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
(Which—pssst—is a deadly, read "mortal" sin. Got that? Sure? Then say it with me: "deliberately eschewing Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is a mortal sin." Now then, what happens when one dies with the stain of mortal sin on his or her soul? You already know what happens.)
What has this do with the NEM-NEP syndrome?
Well, pretty much everything, or nearly so. If there's only a few folks in the pews, there's only a few bucks in the collection plate. That's the earthly reality. I mean, you don't expect folks who think nothing of dissing their Sunday and Holy Day obligations to—what?—send their contributions via Western Union or PayPal, do you?
And if there's a shortage of priests, then what are you expecting? Father Whosis to come to your bedside when you're sick and anoint you? Or to your deathbed to hear your confession?
Those days are gone, my friend. 'Course, most priests will drive themselves ragged to do just that…but the word "most" means "many" and there aren't many priests. It's that simple. Why is that, do you suppose? My guess?
MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH!
Which means their children don't either, more than likely. And how does one expect a child to discern a possible vocation when he's deprived of the glorious experience of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?
Anyway, screw the NEM-NEP syndrome for a moment and reflect on this horrible situation—far more horrible than a lack of finances or manpower:
MOST CATHOLICS DON'T GO TO CHURCH…and, ergo, most Catholics are endangering their souls.
Here's my point:
("Thank goodness, Kelly, it took you long enough!")
My weakness, and I apologize. And I also beg you, while the powers that be at the Archdiocese of Boston and their counterparts throughout the world struggle to manage the earthly affairs of their parishes:
Pray a Catholic back to the Church.
Adopt one, spiritually. At random, or a particular one you've got in mind. Devote your morning and evening prayers to the reconciliation of a fallen Catholic—yep, that's a phrase you can still use—and, even better, include this reconciliation in your Mass intentions.
And spread the word!
Ask your friends and family members to "adopt-a-fallen-Catholic" via prayer. Sheesh, I get at least six or seven email notes a day asking me to forward some wacky joke. Surely, it's within the realm of possibility to personally ask your spouse, your best friend, your sibling, your parish priest, your favorite nun (nuns are a really good bet, trust me) or anyone in your circle to participate in this project. God, I assure you, listens to prayers far more than He listens to the minutes of a Committee Meeting. (Meaning no disrespect to those who Sit On Committees or Those Who Submit Minutes of same.)
So c'mon! While the folks running the earthly Church do whatever it is they're doing to combat the NEM-NEP syndrome, let's do ours.
Pray a fallen Catholic back to the Church!
May God continue to bless you.
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