Observations of a Mosquito #10

Loquacity, which is a vice and a form of sloth, is perhaps even more unknown as a vice than is curiousity, which is also a form of sloth; both, however, are very common, and shamelessly so.

Very often men hold fast to errors in matters of religion - as well as in other things - because they dislike the consequences of the opposite opinions; they have, however, exchanged certain inconveniences for far greater ones.

No one has ever been too humble, nor could anyone ever be.

It is far too easy to treat the Holy Eucharist with less care can one would give even to a mere million billion dollar cheque.

If the majority of any parish's budget is spent on things unrelated to Holy Mass, such as the vestments, the altar furnishings, the church's upkeep, and the music, then that parish's budget needs to be altered.

Observations of a Mosquito #9

"My life isn't going well, so I'm going to go to Mass less and avoid Confession," is really, really horrible and self-destructive logic.

At present,  it seems as though many, if not most, priests and religious eat well - some, very well; most if not all Saints ate poorly.

It is not a sin for a diocesan priest to own golf clubs or a good stereo system, but such luxury items, especially if they individually or in toto would be beyond the purchasing power of the median (single) member of his congregation, can spell trouble, and if care is not taken to avoid real attachment to them, his apostolate may be crippled.

Even knowledgeable Catholics tend to have a very limited understanding of the virtue of humility - and how many know that the virtue of religion, as explained by St. Thomas Aquinas, even exists?

In order to appropriate something secular (or pagan, or Protestant) for Catholic use, such as a philosophical construct or even a business or marketing plan, the appropriator(s) must come to understand exactly what of it is of the world and what is not, and, furthermore, what is Catholic (in the supernatural sense) and what it is to be such, and then the part from the world must be thoroughly removed; usually some part of this is not known or not done to the great detriment of the Church and its members... this is not infrequently related to Catholics not realizing that they are appropriating or have appropriated something with, originally, a non-Catholic character.

Daily Prayer for All Bloggers

The prayer you will find below was composed by Servant of God His Eminence, the Most Reverend Lord Rafael María José, Cardinal Merry del Val y de Zulueta, better known simply as Cardinal Merry del Val. The prayer itself is known as the "Litany of Humility", and it would be wise for every Catholic blogger (and commenter) to recite it at least daily. In truth, it would be good for every Catholic to pray every day.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being loved,

From the desire of being extolled,

From the desire of being honored,

From the desire of being praised,

From the desire of being preferred to others,

From the desire of being consulted,

From the desire of being approved,

From the fear of being humiliated,

From the fear of being despised,

From the fear of suffering rebukes,

From the fear of being calumniated,

From the fear of being forgotten,

From the fear of being ridiculed,

From the fear of being wronged,

From the fear of being suspected,

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I,

That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,

That others may be chosen and I set aside,

That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,

That others may be preferred to me in everything,

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,

Amen.

Observations of a Mosquito #6

It is be amazing how little energy is devoted toward the real sanctification of the spouses-to-be in marriage preparation classes.

How very few Catholic blog commenters, including 'orthodox' and 'traditionalist' Catholics, spend more time reading the Saints on how to save their own souls than blogs on how other people seemingly aren't saving theirs.

Generally speaking, those learned individuals who strive hardest to cause others to have an open mind also strive the hardest to fill it.

The proud man is a liar who even deceives himself.

Even once you have discerned that marriage is your true vocation, to pursue someone of the opposite sex who does not push you toward holiness is spiritual suicide.