Ask Cathy...

...because I CARE! I really do! *sob*

Q: Cathy, I want to spend some serious time at the Minneapolis beaches this summer. How do you look hot in a bathing suit?
A: I decided a few years ago that it would be a tremendous act of mercy for me not to appear in public in a bathing suit. However, when I feel like I must, I go with my bodyguards to the North Beach of Lake Calhoun. Here's how it's done: stand on that beach in the sand around 1:00 p.m. on a 90+F day and I guarantee that you will be HOT!

Q: Cathy, how can I get you to go out with me?
A: Pay for the meal. Additional considerations: live Catholic, respect me, respect your momma and your daddy.

Q: Cathy, where can I get some good bacon in the Twin Cities?
A: Now here's a serious question-worthy of deep thought.
My house.
Ok, but if you must go elsewhere, Key's on Raymond in St. Paul (forget the imposter other locations, go straight to the original). A SIDE of bacon is seriously 1/2 pound of perfectly cooked and thick cut MEAT. It doesn't look like and taste like flattened plastic.

Argent Gave Me Something To Do

Argent tagged me and I'm currently waiting for a database that takes 40 minutes to open to re-open after a crash. I need the database for work. Grrrrrr...Mercifully, I did not lose what I'd already done...

I'm still on hiatus!!!!! I mean that now!!!!!

10 Honest Things About Myself

1) This blog

2) I'm terrified that someone may see me at Mass looking less than my best! I brought this upon myself by my rantings about appropriate attire at Mass. I mean it, but I hope the Catholic Mr. Blackwell is not making the rounds. Good thing John Paul (Sonnen) is still in Rome! LOL!

3) I am a clown. Really. Total goofball.

4) It takes about 10 seconds to tick me off and about 5 days for me to calm down. Prayer and my reversion have helped me immensely but the older I get the shorter my tolerance for the dumb----s and inconsiderate among us is getting. Cranky.

5) I don't drink coffee after 11:00 a.m. I can, actually, do without it when I have to!

6) I hate canadian bacon. Cyril "Rock the Casbah" Koob still can't believe that.

7) I enjoy getting together with and meeting other bloggers.

8) I look forward to my weekly standing hour of Adoration: 6 p.m. on Tuesday!

9) I've been known to bum rush the Confessional! Really, I almost knocked a guy over in my zeal. The door was open and no one was in there. I did not see the guy who was walking towards it and I beat him there and closed the door. I apologized when I got out and he was standing there looking stunned and told me what'd I'd done. Maybe that was an evangelization moment illustrating how some people really LIKE to go to Confession? Me.

10) I'm fast. I type fast. I drive TOO fast. I walk fast. I bike fast. I read fast. My brain is quick. My tongue is even quicker.

I tag everyone! But no one will do it! LOL!

Hiatus

Yes, I'm still around! Sorry, my enemies!

I've been really busy this week. Work. Also, the neighborhood is organizing to force the landlord to do something about the problem property next door. I've been meeting and calling neighbors in the evenings-so there goes my blog composition time.

And, I'm preparing for the celebration of the summer: the Quantitative Methathesis Bride of Christ shower to send her off with prayers (and goodies) as she enters her period of Aspirancy with the Passionists!

I'm not sure when I'll be back blogging and ruining everyone's summer; maybe next week, so enjoy the peace while it lasts!

New Blog in Town!

Father GJ (Nels Gjendahl) has a blog! It's called Voice of the Vicar. Check it out. He has some candids from the recent Presbyteral Assembly in Rochester.

Happy Birthday, America! A Call Out

Happy Birthday, America!

Thank you to all of our veterans serving and who have served. A special thank you to our allies. I'm thinking in a special way of Angela's son: our Canadian friends.

After I finished my grueling gutter cleaning episode this morning, in which I sucessfully killed a maple tree trying to root in my gutter, I decided to call Terry because he's usually around.

[Phone ringing....and ringing....and ringing...and ringing]

Terry [answers]: Who died?
Me: It's me!
Terry: Cath! Whew! I thought for a minute there it was my family!
Me: I know.
Terry: I almost didn't answer the phone [pause and laughs]! Well, I almost didn't answer the phone anyway!
Me: I know
Terry: Not because it was you!
Me: I know
Terry: I don't have caller ID anyway
Me: I know
Terry: What's going on? What's Ray done now?
Me: [laughing] Nothing, that I know of. Oh, I mean Ray! [laughing]
Terry: Ray's always in trouble, you know.
Me: [laughing] I was wondering if you wanted to go to a movie today?
Terry: With you?
Me: No, with Mrs. Rabitowitz and I'll buy! [pause] Yes, ME, dope! [said with love]
Terry: What movie?
Me: Star Trek
Terry: Are there any priests behaving inappropriately or any rampant homosexuality? Because you know I'm always looking for blog material
Me: Uh, no, I doubt it.
Terry: Well, no, thanks. [pause] But, you knew I'd say "no" before you even asked, didn't you?
Me: Yes, but I don't want it said that I don't ask
Terry: [laughing] You and I and Ray need to go out again!
Me: Sure, Ter
Terry: I mean it!
Me: Sure
Terry: Please pray for me. I'll pray for you.
Me: I always do.
Terry: Thanks for calling! It's always great to hear from you!
Me: Same. 'bye! Give Mrs. Rabitowitz my regards.
Terry: Will do. 'bye!
[click]

Just Because...

....you can do a thing should you?

Gentle Reader: Whenever I post about Mass gripes, violations, idiocy (depending upon your POV), I get into almost as hot water as I do when I post about appropriate attire at Mass. Oh, yes, and bad music, don't forget that too...Oh, and that time I griped about flip-flops on altar servers...ok, ok...

Anyway, I maintain that we should follow the rules of our faith. I know some of you hate that word: rules. There are rules for being a Catholic and there are rules for Mass.

However, just because something is not codified somewhere does that mean we can use our creativity and just do what we want?

Just because the GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) does not explicitely state: "Priest should not process in to celebrate Mass wearing his special Superman cape while playing an accordian and chanting "Dust in the Wind"" does not mean that at the next Mass Father should feel free to do that. Just because the GIRM does not explicitely state: "everyone should shut the **** up (see what they do with that in the new translations!) during the Mass except at the appropriate moments calling for singing and responses" means everyone should feel free to speak out at inappropriate times.

I maintain that there is a point where our well-informed Catholic mind recognizes as illogical and wrong that which is. I still maintain that leaving the consecrated Host at the altar and roaming around greeting everyone is not something the priest should be doing. It's the Lord for crying out loud (really, I'm crying out loud). How in the world can we expect to teach the Faithful that we are not Lutherans? That really IS the Lord in the consecrated Host is a doctrine that is harder to believe if Father is doing a meet and greet in the middle of the Mass.

I still stand by my belief that the day we start(ed) watering things down and making them more personable to supposedly "reach and meet the people" is (was) the day we start(ed) losing them. When you lower the bar, people jump over it.

My Word on Our Word

Friends: I have a new post on Our Word and Welcome to It about the Franken seat. While you are there, scroll around and read some of the other thought provoking posts-including a related post by Bobby.

Shake My Hand *!@*^&!

Probably a Cranky Cathy post....

Recently, I attended Mass celebrated by a priest that I'd never seen or heard of before. I do know his name but don't bother to ask me (Ray!).

Terry may fear people crossing 15 pews to get to his hand during the Sign of Peace, I fear the priest crossing 5 pews, 10 pews, the entire length of the Church during the Sign of Peace.

I couldn't care less about Father shaking my hand during Mass. But, I do care about Father turning his back on the Consecrated Host, leaving it entirely unattended while he wanders about collecting hands. Most parishes have social time after Mass or Father shakes hands again in the porch after Mass. How many times do we need to shake each others hands? How many times do we need to hug each other? Honestly, is this forced affection supposed to equate peace? It makes me cranky. Not the human contact; the Lord ignored and disrespected makes me truly cranky.

I know I have a reputation for being an outspoken trad activist. Seriously, I have only ever written letters of admonishment (for want of a better word) directly to Pastors twice. Both times involved the priest ignoring the Consecrated Lord while he made nice with the studio audience. Did anything change? No. But, I can't bear to not try.

Some Churches eliminate the Sign of Peace. Frankly, I can do without it. I love everyone and I love to socialize; but, during Mass? No.

At this same recent incident the priest (Fr. Social) shook my hand after Mass and, I kid you not, said: "Thank you for staying" I can't remember being so speechless. Yes, I was wearing my mantilla so I tend to stand out. I was floored. I'm not at Mass to see Father or even my friendly neighborhood parishioners. At what point, did the Mass become about us? I know I've asked that question before. I still don't have an answer. I never cease to be astounded at human arrogance.

Random

Whatever happened to the rock flute? One of the most (only) hilarious scenes in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy was the rock flute parody scene in the bar. I almost _____ myself laughing.

That's all.

In the Heart of the Savior

Gentle Reader: This weekend is Bishop-elect Lee Piche's last as a parish priest before his Ordination Mass to the office of Auxiliary Bishop tomorrow afternoon.

Below is Bishop-elect Piche's last bulletin column for the Church of St. Andrew, my parish. I want you all to see what kind of a man he is and realize how blessed we truly are to have him, not only as Bishop, but also and forever, as priest.

I did not ask His Excellency for permission to reprint his column and post it online. Let this be his first experience of being talked about online. Oh, wait, ok it's not his first, but whatever... LOL!

I will not be able to be at the events on Monday. But, I've been kissing his hand for some time now so I beat you all to it! LOL! Ask him. LOL!

"Never did I think that I would be writing my final bulletin article at Saint Andrew's after such a short time. There were so many things yet to say, so much territory yet to explore with you. I was just getting warmed up! I hope that the reflections I did write have helped you a little on your pigrimage of faith.

I write this on Sunday evening, June 21, having just returned from my retreat. During those quiet hours, my mind turned often to thoughts of you. At first, I was remembering with gratitude the many blessings I have experienced here at St. Andrew's parish.

But gradually my thoughts turned from "what has been" to "what might have been"-which I suppose is only natural when one is engaged in retrospective thinking. I thought of all the home visits I could have made, the parish events I could have promoted, the pastoral initiatives and ideas I could have introduced.

I regretted not making more time to meet with our small but dedicated parish staff, and not taking more opportunities to socialize with parishioners or to offer some overdue recognition and support to our many volunteers. I was hoping to take our altar servers on a fun outing this summer, and I had formed some thoughts for renewal and spiritual nourishment for our liturgical ministers.

These realizations led my mind in turn to the impulse to ask your forgiveness for any of the ways that I may have slighted or neglected anyone at any time during this past year.

While mulling on these things, I came upon a reading in the Liturgy of the Hours for the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In one of his sermons, Saint Lawrence Justinian said, "God places more value on good will in all we do than on the works themselves." I read this sentence over several times; it was wonderfully consoling.

One thing I have found in this faith-filled community is a likeness to God in so many parishioners. Since God places more value on good will than on the works themselves, I have good reason to hope that you also will see the good will in my meager efforts, and will pardon the shortcomings.

The good will in your hearts has really been evident to me from the beginning. I shall be eternally grateful for your prayerful support, your words of encouragement, and your example of faith, hope and love in generous service.

And so I leave you. When I feel sadness for having to be away from the people I love, one though gives me comfort. Wherever they may happen to be, I imagine them living inside the heart of Christ-for, after all, isn't that what he promised us when he told that He loves us even as the Father loves us?

As I leave, I know that I will often go to the heart of the Savior, and in the heart I will find all those whom I love. Moreover, it is in that best and safest of all places that I look forward to spending all eternity with the people who have met so much to me on earth."--+LEP

Please remember Bishop-elect Piche in your prayers.

"Be Not Afraid"