Catholic surfing again...

  My insomnia strikes again and I find myself randomly surfing the Internet and reading email that usually fills my spam file when I should be sleeping. 

Realizing I haven't done a "Catholic surfing" post in nearly a year, I thought I'd put my annoying insomnia to use and write a post about the crap I find when I'm bored and online. Most of its terrible (perhaps this explains some of my insomnia?), but sometimes I find a gem among the rubble that sets things right again.

First up...the sad reality of a family who has decided to have a "non-first Holy Communion" celebration because the parents no longer believe in God, but don't want their child to feel left out of the celebration of all the children who are celebrating their First Holy Communion. 

There is nothing "wonderful" about an "Irish granny" (or any granny) laughing that her grandchild is skipping First Holy Communion to go to an adventure park while his friends are celebrating their First Holy Communion with Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist.  

This is the First Holy Communion card that was altered to remove "God" and "Lord" by the "Irish Granny" and grandfather then sent to their grandchild...

This is a tragic story, but this media outlet and Facebook find it hilarious and "just wonderful". Idiots. 

***

Now this IS "just wonderful"!  An Irish girl uses her First Holy Communion money to feed the homeless... 

For her full story go HERE. 

***

God help me with this next story...

Pope Francis recently met with "influential Youtubers". 

quote: "The conversation with Pope Francis... is the latest example of creators coming together to passionately advocate for issues they believe in, such as creating a more tolerant, empathetic and diverse web. During the meeting with the Pope, these creators raised topics they hope to continue exploring as YouTube role models, including how to counter online hate through tolerance, empathy and education."

Here are a few of the "influential Youtubers" Pope Francis met with who are considered "role models" for youth...

me going insane

This first video is not in English, but giving the finger is a universal language that I am sure even Pope Francis understands. Perhaps Pope Francis will explain how this guy is a "role model" for our youth?

This woman provides videos on how she takes a bath, moisturizes and applies make-up and dresses. Role-model for youth? "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" maybe? 

and a couples first attempt at a music video entitled "Cheap Thrills"...

 Ok, that's enough of that.

***

Moving on to Poland.  
When a Catholic priest said he supported a ban on abortion (that is he actually believes Catholic teaching and mentions it in his homilies), Catholic women got up and walked out of Mass during the priests homily. 

Guess they want their abortions more than they want Jesus.  Thus, making abortion their god by placing it before God and breaking the First Commandment along with the 5th Commandment [thou shall not commit murder]. 

***
That's it for now, I need a refill of black English tea. 


God bless and keep you.
In Christ and trying to sleep,  


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 


Sources: 

http://www.dailyedge.ie/granny-non-first-holy-communion-card-2797243-May2016/

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/kindhearted-irish-angel-spends-communion-money-on-food-for-homeless-in-dublin-34760694.html

http://www.teenvogue.com/story/pope-youtube

http://crooksandliars.com/2016/05/polish-women-stage-walk-out-catholic-mass

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/command.htm

What about Joe?

In a recent (and wonderful) interview, Cardinal Raymond Burke made it perfectly clear (I just love when our clergy speak in no uncertain terms) that Nancy Pelosi could NOT have Holy Communion at Mass because of her support and work on behalf of child killing- abortion.

Cardinal Burke said in his interview regarding Nancy Pelosi, Holy Communion and Canon Law 915: “Certainly this is a case when Canon 915 must be applied. This is a person who obstinately, after repeated admonitions, persists in a grave sin — cooperating with the crime of procured abortion — and still professes to be a devout Catholic. This is a prime example of what Blessed John Paul II referred to as the situation of Catholics who have divorced their faith from their public life and therefore are not serving their brothers and sisters in the way that they must — in safeguarding and promoting the life of the innocent and defenseless unborn, in safeguarding and promoting the integrity of marriage and the family.

Let's all pretend we don't see this.

What Congresswoman Pelosi is speaking of is not particular confessional beliefs or practices of the Catholic Church. It belongs to the natural moral law which is written on every human heart and which the Catholic Church obviously also teaches: that natural moral law which is so wonderfully illumined for us by Our Lord Jesus Christ by His saving teaching, but most of all by His Passion and death.
To say that these are simply questions of Catholic Faith which have no part in politics is just false and wrong. I fear for Congresswoman Pelosi if she does not come to understand how gravely in error she is. I invite her to reflect upon the example of St. Thomas More who acted rightly in a similar situation even at the cost of his life." [End]

Wonderful! 

Thank you Cardinal Burke!

But…umm… what about Joe Biden?

He’s still pretending to be Catholic isn’t he?

How about taking on the Vice President who is guilty of the EXACT same thing as Nancy Pelosi?

Why didn’t anyone put their foot down to the Kennedy boys?

If you are going to put your foot down (and you should), let it come down on ALL the guilty parties.  And don’t forget the mental midgets calling themselves “nuns” riding buses and waving rainbow flags in support of “gay marriage”. 

Let the Church REALLY enforce Canon Law 915 with an across the world excommunication for Catholics who do what Pelosi does?  Let's not single one out one from among the hordes, lets apply it to all who are guilty.  

The Church had no problem (for a day) excommunicating the ENTIRE NATION of wayward Catholic lawmakers and voters in Uruguay…

Quote: “Bishop Heriberto Bodeant, secretary for the Uruguayan bishops’ conference, said the lawmakers essentially excommunicated themselves by voting for abortion.
“Automatic excommunication is for those who collaborate in the execution of an abortion in a direct way,” he said. “If a Catholic votes…with the manifest intention that he thinks the Church is wrong about this, he separates himself from the communion of the Church.”[End]

Ooops! *another case of Catholic whiplash*

That’s right, you publicly called them excommunicated, then the media went crazy and the next day it was all a terrible “misunderstanding” and the Church backpedaled and the media "updated" the story.

Update quote:  “The Uruguayan bishops’ conference has explained recent statements regarding Catholic lawmakers who voted to legalize abortion in the country, saying they are not excommunicated if they voted in favor of abortion.“Excommunication applies to Catholics who have acted directly in carrying out an abortion, which does not include those who vote for a law that allows it,” Bishop Heriberto Bodeant, secretary general of the conference said.”[End]

We get a lot of these explanations when someone in the Church says something.  We hear something said, we hold our breath waiting for the explanation to come for fear to believe what we hear the first time around.

How about we stop playing games, end the Catholic whiplash from our Bishops and enforce what Church Canon Laws say to enforce?  If you don’t… what’s the point in writing Canon Law?

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

                                                                                      

Canon Law Can.  #915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Links to quotes:

Source: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P39.HTM

Source: http://www.thewandererpress.com/ee/wandererpress/index.php?pSetup=wandererpress&curDate=20130905

Source: http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/23/uruguay-bishops-excommunicate-lawmakers-who-legalized-abortion/

Source: http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Americas.php?id=6408#ixzz2AFv6fJDm

Wake up Catholics! The Eucharist is NOT "symbolic"!

Recent polls show that nearly half of all Catholics don't believe the Catholic teaching about the Eucharist. Wake up Catholics! The Eucharist is not "symbolic". How do we know that? Because Jesus Christ said so that's why. Who are you to tell God He's wrong? Don't be so prideful you send yourself to hell in a handbasket as the saying goes. Proverbs 16:18 "Prides goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Jesus said He is the Bread of Life and that those who eat His Flesh and drink His Blood abide in Him and have everlasting life. What part of that don't you get? Look at our Lord and Saviors words in John 6:
Verse 53 "Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."
Let's stop here for a minute. How clear is that? What does "unless" mean here? If it's only symbolic then why is it so vital for eternal life? Think people and read what your Savior said.
Verse 54 "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
Again, nothing symbolic here. Jesus is making a clear statement and telling us what to do to abide in Him. He says "eat my flesh" and "drink my blood". No symbolism here.
Verse 55 "For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink."
Here Jesus makes it crystal clear by saying "real" - "my flesh is REAL food" and "my blood is REAL drink". Nothing symbolic there. Jesus does NOT say "my flesh is SYMBOLIC food" nor "my blood is SYMBOLIC drink". Jesus said REAL and He meant it. When God speaks do you believe Him or tell him "You can't mean that God, you've got it wrong, let me tell you what you really meant to say"? Are you that prideful (and ignorant) as to think you know more than God himself? Wake up Catholics! You don't know it all, but Jesus does and He's telling you the Eucharist is REAL, NOT symbolic as some would like you to believe. Who's the Great Deceiver? Who loves to twist things and get believers to doubt their faith and question their beliefs? Satan of course. Here's an interesting (to some) tidbit about scripture. In Revelation the number of the Beast is given to be "666". In scripture all those who refused to believe in the Eucharist are found in John 6:66. Strange how those things work out. Don't fall for the Deceiver who's working hard among those who call themselves Christians- be they Catholic or non-Catholic. If you don't know your Catholic faith, you are doomed to fall for deception. If you don't know why the Catholic Church believes what it does ASK! Or get a Catholic catechism and read it for yourself. Don't let anyone talk you out of your faith because they know scripture better than you or seem to know more about theology. Know your faith! Teach your faith to your children so they can stand up to deception and untruths about our Catholic faith. Jesus told the disciples He was sending them out among wolves and that they had to be "shrewd as snakes, but innocent as doves" (Matt.10:16). Be shrewd Catholics or the wolves will make a buffet out of you. Jesus Christ said the Eucharist is "real", not "symbolic" and that is exactly what the Catholic Church teaches. If you're Catholic and you don't believe this, you need to start believing it. Talk to your priest, join your parishes RCIA class to 'refresh' your knowledge of your faith. There are many people in my parish who do this and are already Catholics but wish to know their faith better. Educate yourselves so you don't fall for deception. The Eucharist IS REAL. Jesus Christ said so. That's all we need to know. Trust in God. Here's something else to consider. If Jesus isn't real in the Eucharist and you are just kneeling to bread you are committing idolatry. If you are Catholic and don't believe you are kneeling to our Lord in the Eucharist then just what is it you think you are kneeling to? Freihofer's bread? Think Catholics and wake up!

Abiding in Christ

We've all heard that Jesus is the Vine and believers are the branches and that we must 'abide' in the vine. How does a person "abide" in the vine; that is to say, how do Christians abide in Jesus Christ our Savior? Do we abide by having faith? We all need faith in our daily journey towards our heavenly reward but that's not it. Do you abide by prayer? Prayer is important, no doubt about it. We need prayer but that's not exactly it either. Do we abide by participating in our faith? Now we're getting closer to the answer. In John 15 Jesus tells us He is The Vine and that we are the branches and that we must bear good fruit (good works) to remain part of The Vine. If we fail in this, holy scripture says the branch will be cut out and tossed into the fire. In Matt. 25:31-46 Jesus talks about the Sheep & the Goats. What separated the Sheep from the Goats was their works. The Sheep did good works, they fed the hungry and clothed the naked and visited those in prison and gave water to those who were thirsty. The Goats did none of these things, they were devoid of good works and Jesus said to them "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."-(Matt.31:45-46). Clearly we need not only to have faith but to act out our faith with good deeds. Jesus is saying you can't sit in the boat and say you have faith, you need to take action and show your faith as Peter did when he stepped out of the boat onto the water. When Peter wavered in his faith, his actions began to sink him but Jesus was there beside him. Jesus is still here beside us now, offering us support when we waver and fall short. One place to find this support is in our sacraments, namely Penance (Confession). If you fall, go to Confession and make things right again. We need to hold tight to our faith and bear good fruit so that we are not cut off and tossed into the fire. We should desire to abide in Christ above all things and live our lives pleasing to God. Not just our words but also by our actions (deeds or works). Jesus says the way to abide in him is by Holy Communion (John 6:56). If we eat His Flesh and drink His Blood we abide in Christ. This is the very core of our Catholic mass. This is why attending mass is so very important for Catholics. The sacraments are vital to us abiding in Jesus Christ. These are not to be taken lightly or treated as valueless 'options' to take or leave. For Catholics they are essential. Attending mass is essential. Going to Confession is essential. We need to understand the sacraments and their importance to us and our Lord. If we fail to abide in Christ we will have put our very salvation in jeopardy. He is The Vine and we are the Branches only if we abide in Him.

John 15
The True Vine
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

----

John 6:50 "This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me."