By John 6:54
Catechism 2181 states, “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”
I think a serious reason should be defined as any reason we are willing to give Jesus on Judgment Day. The questions I have surrounding our Sundary obligation are;
- Isn’t missing Mass mentally just as bad as missing Mass physically?
- If we are only at Mass due to “obligation” aren’t we missing the point? and
- Does God want us in Mass when our mind is on the golf course?
As I ponder these questions I keep coming back to the answers of “Yes, Yes, & Yes”
1. Missing Mass mentally is definitely on par with missing Mass physically.
2. If we are only at Mass due to our obligation we are missing the point. Jesus’ sacrific on the cross is made present to us at every Mass. He died for our sins so that we could be with him in Heaven. Jesus did nothing out of obligation; Jesus did everything for us out of His love for us. He is our model and we need to follow him by doing everything we do out of love as well, especially attending Sunday Mass.
3. If our mind isn’t at Mass then should we be there? The reason I keep coming back to the answer of yes is because there is no better place for us to be. Our mind maybe else where but God will work with what is there. He loves us too much not to poor his graces upon us.
Lord Jesus keep my mind focused on You. Let my actions be according to Your will. Amen
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Continue reading Sunday Obligation
By John 6:54
 According to an article in USA Today earlier this year more than 624,000 computers in the United States have traded child porn in the past two and half years. But due to limited resources it is estimated that government agencies are pursuing less than 1% of the leads. How are we even in this situation? How could we fill up six Rose Bowl stadiums with child porn traders?
I’m sure this question can be answered in many ways but I would suggest it should be answered by our society’s lack of response and fight of the pornography issue for the past 50 years. Society has let pornography continually progress giving up or compromising on every fight along the way. In the 1960s we tolerated porn in magazines. We could turned our head the other way as long as those magazines were on the top shelf and in plastic wrap as if somehow that would contain the evil. Then we tolerated x-rated theaters in the 1970s as long as they were in that one part of town that no one cared about and that no respectful citizen supposedly went. Then we tolerated it behind closed doors in the home next to us on the VCR in the 1980s as long as they kept their tapes hidden in their dresser or closet. And then before we even knew it we had allowed porn to explode via the internet in the late 1990s and past decade. Arguably the greatest tool of our time was built with pornography as its backbone. We have over the past 50 years allow this evil to proliferate right in our midst. We allowed the evil of porn to grow in the name of “tolerance” although history had shown us that we should never tolerate evil. The standard porn pattern occurred, starting out seemingly small and then growing by leaps and bounds over two generations, and now to our supposed surprise it is affecting our children. We have internet predators who’s porn appetite is no longer fulfilled by society’s tolerated porn. These predators now want the real thing, even to the degree of abusing a child. We seem to be so shell shocked by this hideous evil that some will refer to it as “kiddy porn”, as if calling it by another name helps take the edge off such an abomination.
I do not want to cast judgment on those who use porn or have used it, as I too have been subject to its evils. I only cast judgment on the evil of porn itself. We are to hate the sin and not the sinner. America was founded on the principles of freedom and tolerance, but we have allowed our principle of freedom to be skewed by our tolerance of evil. As direr as the situation seems it is one that we all need to fight, and every fight for good should start with prayer, which is something we can all do. I urge you to help with this fight. 11,000 offerings is no small task, yet with the power of the internet it can easily be accomplished. I ask you to please work with your families to say a rosary, or maybe talk to them about using their Mass intentions on Sunday to go towards this fight. I would bet your average Catholic these days is not fully utilizing their Mass intentions each Sunday. Lastly I encourage you to let other know about this fight. The more that know, and participate, the better. The key to winning every fight usually comes down to having the right numbers on your side, and shouldn’t we all be on the side of fighting evil. Pray the rosary, give up a meal, get to Mass with this intention, and spend an hour with our Lord and spread the word and track you and your family’s offerings. Thank You & God Bless
Lord forgive us our sins, please accept our offerings for the purpose of fighting pornography in our world. Rain down your graces upon the world you created and strength us, your faithful. Amen.
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Continue reading Stop the Tolerance
By John 6:54
 In further research on the topic of pornography and its scourge on our world I ran across some articles on a book called “Pornified” by Pamela Paul. The book was started prior to the Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl halftime debacle and the Paris Hilton tapes and she said that before writing the book and she said she didn’t think that pornography was that big of a deal. She said that she was shocked by what she found. Even people who didn’t develop an “addiction” to porn still faced issues of divorce and job loss because of pornography.
Ms. Paul states that she was surprised that so many men and women said porn was fun and harmless even while admitting that their marriages and sex lives were damaged. Ms. Paul shows in her book how even the most “innocent porn use”, which I believe to be an oxymoron, goes through an all too familiar pattern of desensitization and increased use, which models the pattern of those with the worst addictions to pornography.
According to Pamela’s research there is no typical consumer of pornography. Pornography is not just a “guy-thing”. Its use crossed all gender, age, educational, income, occupational, religious and non-religious demographics.
With that said the scourge of pornography must be fought. We must take a stand against evil and so I call you to make an offering of your prayers, fasting, and Mass intentions this summer. Pray with your family and increase your offering. Remember we are trying to keep track of the effort and you can enter your offerings by clicking on the links at the top of the left hand column.
Again please let others know and spread the word help us in this endeavor.
Dear Lord Jesus help us answer your call to make an offering of ourselves and our prayers to help fight a great evil in our world. Please put it upon our hearts and minds to respond to your call. Amen
By John 6:54
 Every year in the United States it is estimated that more than 11,000 pornographic movies are produced. This does not take into consideration additional internet videos and websites devoted to pornography. Pornography is an estimated $10 Billion business which is bigger than all the professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, and more) combined.
In addition it is incalculable to determine the devastating affect pornography has on the souls of this world. With something so big and so evil how can I even think we can fight it? Isn’t it too big of a battle to undertake? To mere mortals that answer is Yes, but if we rely on help of Our Lord and his Mother the answer is No.
So how do we fight? The answer I have come to is: one rosary, one meal fasted, one Mass intention, and one hour of Eucharistic Adoration at a time. Please join me in this battle and in letting others know this weekend about this fight. At the bottom of this post is a link to a table where you can enter and track your offerings. I also ask you to come back periodically and update your offerings. It is my desire to offer to Our Lord and Our Lady more than 11,000 offerings by the end of the summer.
Every rosary, meal, and Mass intention offered for the purpose of battling the scourge of pornography will count as one offering to Our Lord and Our Lady.
If you have any questions please let me know at sruyle@yahoo.com. No email addresses will be collected and users will be able to update the table without registering provided we don’t run into any unforeseen issues. I will leave links to the table on the front page for your convenience.
Instructions:
- Please go to the table by clicking here or via the Devotions Menu / Fight Porn Menu Item
- If you have not entered your info before you will need to pick a blank line to edit by clicking pencil & paper icon. You will update this line whenever you have additional offerings.
- If it is your first time visiting and no lines are empty please contact me, and more will be added. Or if you info is missing or has been modified by someone other than you please let me know.
- Please come back periodically and update your offerings along with modifying the date of your visit.
- And Lastly – Pray, Fast, & Pray some more
Lord help us fight the scourge of pornography one rosary, one fast, one Mass at a time. Amen
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Continue reading A New Battle Fight Pornography
By John 6:54
On the evening of March 14th 2005, a few days before the removal of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube, I was saying a rosary before going to bed for Terri. During the first mystery I heard God’s voice “Fast For Terri”. I didn’t hear the words with my ears but I KNEW them in my heart, mind, and soul. With God’s voice I knew to set up a website for Terri Schaivo to request people to fast on bread and water if her feeding tube was removed. The whole thing is difficult to explain but when God calls, you answer the best you can. I’m sure many will question my story, as many did then, as to whether or not it was God speaking to me. I myself wondered but figured if the request was from God I would be able to accomplish the task.
At the time I was very new at setting up websites but to my surprise I was able to reserve a web address (FastForTerri.com) and get an initial webpage setup in less than 30 minutes. This quick setup gave me confidence that the request was indeed from God. The initial website had my story and a brief request asking people to submit their name and location if they were willing to fast on bread and water for whatever duration Terri Schiavo would have to go without her feeding tube. After setting the site up I returned to bed to finish my rosary and asked who had requested this undertaking; God the Father? God the Son? or God the Holy Spirit? The response I received floored me… “I AM”.
To get people to take a look at the site I sent emails out to Catholic blogs and radio personalities. Within a few days I had a few people sign up and Terri’s feeding tube was removed. The fast had started and I kept pushing the website via internet chat rooms and emails. A link to my sight was put on SpiritDaily.com and I got a decent amount of traffic coming my way. After the 6th day of fasting the fast actually became somewhat easy to do. At the end of Terri’s life on March 31st 2005, more than 13 days without food and water, more than 70 people had put their name on the list and were fasting for Terri and people all over the world had come to the website. That day I received an email from a nun telling me that even though Terri’s life was not saved here on earth there was a purpose for what I had done even if I would never come to know why. A helpful comment to what I had felt was a failed battle.
With that all said I have prayed over a new endeavor, a new battle, which I will put forward to my readers and the entire internet in my post tomorrow. It will be a daunting fight but one in which I feel needs to be undertaken. All is possible with God’s help.
Until tomorrow, God Bless!
PS: FastForTerri.com is no longer in service and I lost 13lbs during the fast.
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Continue reading A Look Back
By John 6:54
If you had to guess when the photo above was taken you might guess the 1960s during a Tridentine Mass since the photo is in color. But maybe to your surprise and certainly to mine the above photo was taken last week (May 29th 2008) in Chicago during an ordination Mass offered in the Ordinary Form although in Latin. The celebrant elevating Christ in the picture above is none other than Cardinal Francis George. You can read more about the Mass pictured above and see additional photos at WDTPRS.com
As much as I love my Novus Ordo Mass spoken in my native language I seem to have a deep urge within me to want the Novus Ordo celebrated "ad orientem" which means facing God instead of "versus populum" which means facing the people. Just look at the photo above, how awesome is that photo? It’s the definition of Catholic is it not?
By no means do I want to attend the Tridentine Mass instead of the Novus Ordo on a daily basis but I do appreciate the reverence the Tridentine provides. After all it’s Christ in that Host. The photo above matches what is actually going on. Thankfully every new priest and deacon I’ve seen ordained in my dioceses has the reverence piece down. This is not to say older priests don’t have reverence but I’ve come across a few too many that are a bit nonchalant in their celebration. Making the Mass appear more as a meal than a sacrifice. The Novus Ordo can be as reverent as the Tridentine Mass but I think celebrating the Mass in the "ad orientem" style would help people focus on who is truly present in their midst.
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Continue reading The Elevation of Christ
By John 6:54
 I always new there was something extra I liked about Pope Benedict XVI. I bet there is nothing like sharing a fine Bavarian beverage with the Vicar of Christ. I believe this photo must have been taken in Ratzinger’s earlier days possibly at a “Theology on Tap” event 
I pray that the Holy Father still gets to enjoy a tasty beverage on occasion.
PS. Möchten Sie etwas trinken? is German for "Would you like a drink?"
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Continue reading Möchten Sie etwas trinken?
By John 6:54
 You may be wondered to yourself why do I do what? Well the answer to that question is why do I pay so much for cable TV when the vast majority of what is shown is absolute crap. Actually that is an insult to crap, crap smells and looks better than most of what is shown on television these days.
This week CBS is premiering a show that I guess would be its answer to ABC’s Desperate Housewife’s, which is quite a fitting title considering the shows content. While I rarely watch TV these days especially anything on the major networks, other than sports, it seems that the vast majority of Television has been completely overtaken by the evil one.
Even watching something as innocuous as a home improvement show on HGTV or DIY these days one is often subjected to watch a pair of overt homosexuals or non-married cohabitating heterosexuals have their house redone. Should I be watching this? Does my participation in the viewing of these shows desensitize me to the easily assumed sinful setting in which the show resides?
Honestly I’m just tired of having it put before me by my own doing. I’m the one who pays that cable bill, I’m the one who can turn the channel or turn the TV off entirely. But part of me looks at that option as being akin to sticking my head in the sand and ignoring what is going on around me. Didn’t that approach get us to where we are today? Certainly I can write a letter to my cable company, to the TV station, and to the advertisers but honestly where & what does that get me?
The Word of the Lord tells me to gouge my eye out if it causes me to sin. I think it would be much easier for me to gouge the Cable TV out of my house. Scripture re-written for modern time would say that is better for me to enter the kingdom of heaven without Cable TV than to pay for it monthly only to be thrown into the fire of hell.
I long the day when we can watch what we want, when we want, via the internet, it thankfully isn’t that far away. After all isn’t that how the business model works with books? I choose what I want to read, and when I want to read it.
With that being said I thank you for taking the time to read my published thoughts maybe someday people will even want to pay me for them, but for now, the best things in life are still free 
Lord keep a correct sense of right and wrong within me. May I only watch what you want see and read what you want me to learn. Amen
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Continue reading Why Do I Do It?
By John 6:54
 “Gay marriage”, which I’m pretty sure the term is now an oxymoron by the redefining of the word gay over the past 50 years, has been in the news quite a bit lately. The California Supreme court has recently stated, in a 4 to 3 decision (Thank You Lord for the 3), that the California state constitution protection of the “fundamental right to marry” extends equally to homosexuals. In less than 24 hours the Governor of New York issued a directive to his state agencies that they must recognize these homosexual “marriages” as they would any other “legally” performed union. In this case both the governor and justice are truly blind.
The homosexual agenda has over taken our country like a California wild fire. For too long our country has ignored the mortal sin of homosexual acts like expanding dead underbrush of a great, but ignored forest. In the name of tolerance we have allowed homosexuality to persist and expand within our world. Now the evil one has come to light this underbrush in the name of equality and flames are arising across our country. Small fires of this homosexual agenda started popping up years ago and most people assumed that they would quickly be put out; unfortunately that has not been the case. Because of our countries religious apathy and ignorance these homosexual fires have expanded and have shown extremely difficult to snuff out. The amount of dead underbrush this fire has to burn off of is now great because with have not tended our religious forest properly, and if we aren’t careful it appears the whole forest could be burnt. If we do not act now we will provide our future generations with a scorched earth.
The homosexual agenda is attempting to duplicate the playbook used by Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1960s civil rights effort by trying to make us think that homosexual acts are somehow on par of one’s civil rights. Due to our countries warped sense of logic people are buying into the argument. You’ll hear people constantly defend homosexual acts by saying that homosexuals did not choose their sexual orientation but were born with an attraction to people of the same sex. Is this not the same argument that a pedophile uses to justify his mortal sin?
We are all given crosses to bare in our life, and I thank the Lord that mine at this point in time are not as heavy as the cross of same sex attraction, but we must all bare our own crosses and not set them aside for what if Christ had set aside His Cross?
Let us offer our Mass intentions today for our country, for marriage between a man and a woman, and for those with the cross of same sex attraction.
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