The Lark Ascending

One of my favorite pieces. 

He rises and begins to round,

He drops the silver chain of sound,

Of many links without a break,

In chirrup, whistle, slur and shake.

For singing till his heaven fills,

‘Tis love of earth that he instils,

And ever winging up and up,

Our valley is his golden cup

And he the wine which overflows

to lift us with him as he goes.

Till lost on his aerial rings

In light, and then the fancy sings

30 May 2015

Ember Saturday 

The Veiling Issue

As a man, I find this whole veiling culture among traditonalists to be an interesting one.  As an Indian (Punjabi to be exact), I never really thought it would be such a controversial idea among many.  In my culture, women will wear the traditional Indian dress whenever they attend religious functions or when they go out to special events.

Even though sadly my beloved Punjab has been modernized over the last couple of years, a women covering her head outside or at a religious event is just the norm and not doing it would actually bring the ire of many people.  Plus, a beautiful woman looks even more beautiful when she is modestly dressed!

Nevertheless, as I have observed trends in the Catholic Church here in America, wearing a something simple as a veil can make many people unsettled.  Why is this?

The 1983 Code of Canon Law does not make this a requirement so a woman is free not to wear a head covering if she decides not to.  If she does not want to wear one then others should not judge her for it.  However, if you a woman who is debating whether to veil or not, I think (assuming it is for the right reasons) that one should try it out and see what it does for their spiritual life. 

Or better yet, go with traditional Indian dresses!

29 May 2015
Octave of Pentecost (Day VI)

There has to be more to life...

As I go about my daily duties, I often overhear conversations of people who might be speaking a bit too loud.  Very often, I will hear males speaking about unchaste things regarding their girlfriends or the latest party that is going to happen at John Doe's house.  Sometimes you hear two women gossiping about someone's marriage and speculating about things they should not even be thinking about.  Very rarely do I ever hear something insightful.   It seems like modern man is concerned simply with sex, alcohol, parties, gossiping, and acting like beasts in every way.

A Catholic should not despise those who perpetuate this beastly image of life for he knows in his heart that without the grace of God, he would act like a beast as well.  You see, modern man, with the spirit of liberation has actually become incredibly ensnared.  Man thinks that without the Church he is free to engage in his selfish desires but these desires do not truly content him and henceforth he is left in a state of slavery.  Slavery to Satan and slavery to himself.

The most common form we see now is in the vice of pornography.  Pornography is a very dangerous vice for it is so addicting and exhilarating for the soul that is in bondage.  In his mind, pornography is an outlet to satisfy his sexual needs however after the few minutes of pleasure, he is left is a worse condition than he was in before.  In order to feed this appetite, he needs to view more impure videos and pictures until he no longer finds them desirable yet, for some reason, he is still compelled to view them.  It is strange really.  The man addicted to this vice knows in his heart that this is destroying him yet he continues to engage in his dark practice.  Free?  No.  He is enslaved.

This whole trap has been prevalent in the whole sexual arena.  Honestly, this is one of the reasons why I am so tentative about finding a holy Catholic wife for they are so hard to find!  Most couples have freely accepted contraception, abortion, sex before marriage and other sins just to feed their pursuit of pleasure.  Life is more than pleasure!  There is virtue and the pursuit of the Good is the greatest of races.  The world cannot give you the Peace of Christ and the peace of a good conscience.

Go to Confession.  Stay in the state of grace.  Be holy!

28 May 2015
Octave of Pentecost (Day V)

Oh, how appealing are you, O' World

The world can be so enticing.  Drugs, sex, pornography, rock and roll music, dubstep, contraception, human respect, sports events, oh how you can be so appealing.  Even those who reject you with a firm resolution can fall to you in a brief second.  Whether it is a song from their past that gets played at the barber shop or an empty house which seems to whisper to them to view pornography, you always try to break down the Christian soldier.

No, world, we cannot bow our knee to you.  Yes, you promise many appealing things but they are lies.  The Devil, who is your Father, is a liar and a murderer from the beginning.  Even if it seems like everyone around us has bought your lies, we will not follow suit.

Keep your drugs, sex, pornography, rock and roll music, dubstep, contraception, human respect and sports events.  We shall conquer you with the Grace of God with the Weapons of the Holy Mass, The Divine Office and the Holy Rosary.

Onward Christian soldier!  Remember your last end!

25 May 2015

Pentecost Monday (Second Day in the Octave of Pentecost) 

Veni Creator Spiritus

Happy Feast (and beginning of the Octave) of Pentecost!

There were so many beautiful chants at Today's High Mass but the Veni Creator Spiritus that was sung by the choir after the Offertory Chant really hit home for me.  With the Holy Ghost we can complete the most significant tasks no matter if are timid or afraid of the culture.  The timidity comes from us but the Holy Ghost can fill us and help us proclaim the Truth in a world that is increasingly coming under the guidance of Satan.

Come Holy Ghost, come, and fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

24 May 2015
The Feast of Pentecost

Hell

If you go up to a random person and tell him that one day his life is going to end and henceforth he is going to die, you might get a quizzical look.  Everyone knows that they will die but many in today's world do not understand the implications of this.  As Catholics, we know that after we die, Our Lord Jesus Christ will judge us and we either go straight to Heaven, enter Purgatory for a time, or.....go to Hell.  Heaven is talked about often by the secular world and by many Catholics.  The thought process for most is that if you are a "good" person you will end up there.  I have heard often times at the news of someone passing a commentary from someone close to deceased saying something like "Uncle Robert is now in Heaven smiling on us" or even the more daring "Uncle Robert is playing baseball in Heaven."  Such a view is truly foolish for it neglects the possibilities of Purgatory and Hell.  Now, we certainly hope that Uncle Robert is in Heaven but Holy Mother Church advises us to pray for his soul and for the soul of all who have left this Valley of Tears.

Now, when one speaks about Purgatory, we can get a better context of death.  Even though many Catholics fall into the Uncle Robert is in Heaven syndrome, there are still many Catholics that are aware of Purgatory and that souls are there.  How wonderful is it when the month of November comes and we start to hear sermons and devotions towards the Poor Souls.  Even though the Catholic identity has suffered over the past few decades, the fact that Catholics still pray for the dead shows our unity with our ancestors.

Hell, however, is an interesting topic.  Souls go here and will be here for all eternity.  Holy Mother Church teaches us that if a soul dies in mortal sin, they will go to Hell.  Our Lord shows mercy on all the members of the Church but mercy is always near justice.  People do not like to talk about Hell.  Many in the Church would rather focus on Heaven and a little bit on Purgatory but they will get angry if you talk about Hell.  Why is this?  Is it because they know about own sins that they enjoy committing and have convinced themselves that these are not grave sins?  I do not know what the reason is but we Catholics cannot be silent about this end.  Hell, my friends, is the most putrid and dreaded place to be in.  The most horrifying tortures here do not compare to the torments of the souls that fall in this dreaded place.  The really terrifying thing about Hell is that not only are the pains indescribable but that it lasts for eternity.  Billions of years will have passed by and hell has only started for the souls condemned there.

I know that thinking about hell (especially after we have fallen from the state of grace) is not a pleasurable experience.  There is an idea that trads take pleasure at souls falling into Hell which I find to be false however we need to remind ourselves and others around us about this real place that souls enter and stay for all time.  Our Lady at Fatima remarked to the children that many souls do enter hell because of sins on impurity.  What is causing you to fall?  Is it pornography, impure acts, gossip, alcoholism, going to parties, homosexual activities, pre-martial sex?  Whatever you struggle with, fight to the death and conquer that vice before you die.  If we want enter Heaven we have to fight for it if we lay down our arms we will conquered by Satan and will go to Hell.  As Our Lord says in St. Matthew's Gospel:

"The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away."

May Our Lady guide and protect us.

20 May 2015
Feast of St. Bernardino of Siena 

The Dark Skies

One does not need to follow all the news regarding Holy Mother Church to know that the Barque of St. Peter is facing dangerous times She continues towards Her earthly journey. Dogmas regarding marriage and other issues are now being questioned by many Catholics and it so it easy to be fearful of what is happening/going to happen in the Vatican.

Nevertheless, we cannot let this fear dominate our lives.  We cannot spend too much reading the blogs that cause us so much anxiety because at the end of the day, such practices keep us away from prayer and doing our daily duties.  This plays in the Devil's hands because he always wants us to be worried and to be in fear. Even though the skies may be dark, we always know what the Church teaches regarding marriage, sex, and all other dogmatic issues.  The Holy Ghost will not allow anyone to change these teachings because they cannot be changed!  

What really baffles me is to see Catholics talking about converting to Orthodoxy.  It is usually those with a traditional bend who are not only dismayed by the liturgical life of the Church but are now doubting Our Lord's claim in St. Matthew 16:18.  This is incredibly ridiculous.  The Orthodox have already compromised on divorces and allow married couples to utilize contraception.  They fail to contain the full Truth precisely because of their lack of union with St. Peter.  Henceforth, becoming Orthodox would make no sense and to leave the One True Faith is to risk losing your eternal soul.

So what shall we do?  Limit our time reading things regarding the Church especially if we are prone to anger for the angry man falls into many sins.  Pray for the Holy Father and the Bishops that they will make the right and prudent choices.  

We must work on sanctifying ourselves and we must begin this task everyday with new fervor.  Let us analyze ourselves and root out the sins that cause us so much misery.  If we die in mortal sin, we will have all eternity regretting all the time wasted and the sins committed.  Do not be afraid to be harsh on yourself for if you are reading this that means the Good Lord has given you time to work out your salvation.  We must be harsh and practice urgency but it must be a patient urgency for we are frail and weak beings. 

I leave you with a devotion that is very dear to me and that is the Holy Rosary.  We would be foolish not to pray for the Rosary especially since Our Lady has told us to pray it everyday.  As we pray the Rosary daily, we will note the consolation that it brings to us.  We will be like the man who is waiting for his beloved at the airport, who, when he sees her, jumps for joy and runs to her arms.  If we are faithful to the Rosary, we will finally see Our Lady after we have died and our joys will not be contained!  

In the words of St. Pius X, 

"Let the storm rage and the sky darken - not for that shall we be dismayed. If we trust as we should in Mary, we shall recognize in her, the Virgin Most Powerful "who with virginal foot did crush the head of the serpent.""

15 May 2015

Feast of St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle