Category: courage

  • Reformat then Reboot

    The Readings for the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (B2) Isaiah 35:4-7James 2:1-5Mark 7:31-37 Et adducunt ei surdum, et mutum. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment. (NABRE) OK. We need to look at some Greek. The word rendered “deaf” here means deaf. Not “hard of hearing” or “Had to…

  • Fellowship of St Mary of Egypt

    I am a member of Courage, and while I find their ministry in my life a great blessing, I’m struggling with my presence there. I have trouble with the 12 Step Model when we’re not trying to address an addiction (there is some overlap with the SA groups in town). It does provide a forum…

  • Not According To

    I’ve been thinking about rule books today, viz sex and the church. There’s only two books: The Church’s Rules and Not the Church’s Rules, although the latter comes in several various, often unique editions. Many people outside the Church use their favorite version of the Not the Church’s Rules. And I’m ok with that: I…

  • Joyous Mysteries: Addiction

    The Angel came to Mary. Most of us won’t ever get there. But our conscience calls out to us. That comes from Latin works meaning “with knowledge” and St Paul says we have the law of God written in our hearts… When that voice calls out we can listen like Mary. It never calls us…

  • Dolorous Mysteries: Addiction

    When Christ is praying in the garden he faces the darkness. He knows the reality of sin, the hardness of the world. The fear is real. He is at rock bottom. Everything he thought he had, all that he is, all that he has said and done is over. There is only one way out.…

  • Book Meditation: Why I Don’t Call Myself Gay (Part 2)

    This is part 2, thinking about Daniel C. Mattson’s Why I Don’t Call Myself Gay. For part 1, now see here. Parts 3, 4 and 5 of Mattson’s book move in a wide arc from theology to friendship, from love to loneliness. There are ample quotes from his journals, and there are odd moments where I…

  • Book Meditation: Why I Don’t Call Myself Gay (Part 1)

    TL;DR – Good book. Although I’ve some style issues in Part 2 and 4, all the parts are all engaging and thought provoking. All parts, too, are educational both in a spiritual way (if you want to be a faithful RCC) and in a “getting inside the mind of” way if you don’t want to…

  • Relating in Courage

    Today’s readings: 1 John 5:5-13 Mark 1:7-11 In the Douay, the RSV, or the NABRE with other Mass texts. Quoniam tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in cælo: Pater, Verbum, et Spiritus Sanctus: et hi tres unum sunt.Thus we have a threefold warrant in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, three who are…