Two prayers....

God's will be done and may He have mercy upon us all.

About Me

My photo
A Catholic who follows Rome & the Magisterium. I'm against gay "marriage", abortion, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, human cloning. Altar girls, Communion in the hand, Eucharistic Ministers and "Protestant" music in the Church doesn't bother me at all. A proud American retired submarine sailor. Our borders should be secured with a 10 ft. high fence topped by concertina wire with minefields out to 20 yards on both sides and an additional 10 yards filled with warning signs outside of that Let's get energy independent NOW! Back Israel to the max, stop appeasing followers of the Pedophile Prophet. Pro 2nd Amendment, pro death penalty, Repeal all hate crime legislation. Back the police unless you'd rather call a hippie when everything hits the fan. Get government out of dealing with education, childhood obesity and the enviornment. Stop using the military for sociological experiments and if we're in a war don't micromanage their every move. Kill your television, limit time on the computer and pick up a book. God's will be done and may He have mercy upon us all.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Faith of the martyrs.

I found this on the Catholic Military website. It's part of a story related to a reporter's visit to his son's unit there. This isn't so much a Catholic rant, it's something I'm turning around in my own mind. Basically I wonder if our moral decline and current culture of corruption aren't tied into the ease with which we put on and take off our religious beliefs. One of my recent coworkers related a tale of how he'd let his wife know his priorities, "I can get another wife or another church, good dogs are hard to find." Yeah, he spent some time sleeping on the couch after that also.

But how many of us would honestly identify with the woman in this story? I know I would have a difficult time.

"........As Fr. Bautista continued speaking with us, he described the fascinating story of a young Muslim woman who was entering the Church under his guidance through the RCIA process. Her story was moving. While working with Americans, this woman, who must remain anonymous, was touched deeply when she realized that the U.S. medical personnel not only treated wounded Americans and Iraqi civilians, but also treated wounded enemy combatants, including one who was known for having killed U.S. Marines. As she put it, “This cannot happen with us.”

This dramatic extension of mercy even to enemy soldiers caused her to take the next cautious step. She asked Father Bautista to “tell me more about Jesus.” As Father described Jesus and his life in the Gospels, one thing stood out among the rest for the Muslim woman he called “Fatima” (not her real name) and that was how kindly Jesus had related to, as she put it, “the two Mary’s.” Fatima was moved to see how Jesus deeply loved Mary, his mother, who was sinless, but also how Jesus deeply loved Mary Magdalene, who was “a great sinner.” As these discussions continued, Fatima reached a point where she said to Father Bautista, “I want to become a Christian.”

Since Father Bautista sees himself as a chaplain for all troops, not just Catholics, he decided to introduce Fatima to other chaplains from Protestant and Orthodox backgrounds. After some time had passed, Fatima returned to Father Bautista and said, “I want to become a Catholic like you.” When Father asked her the reason for her decision, she said, “You were the only one who told me about the other Christians, so you left me free to decide for myself. That’s how I knew this was the right decision.”

As their catechetical lessons developed over time, Fatima’s family discovered her plan and was warned sternly by her father that if she continued on this path, she would be disowned by the entire family and would never have contact with them again. At this point, Father Bautista became concerned for Fatima’s well-being and cautioned her to look carefully at the consequences of her decision and to think seriously before continuing her path into the Church.

Fatima paused for a moment and then looking intently at Father Bautista asked, “Do you give up so easily on Jesus?”......... "

I recall hearing of the martyr's lives when I was a kid going to Our Lady of Perpetual Payments. How facing certain death they'd nevertheless keep their faith. Now contrast that with the story a couple of years back where a Fox News photographer and his assistant were kidnapped by the terrrorists in Iraq and forced to convert to Islam. Maybe these two guys were athiests or agnostics. Maybe the whole deal meant little to them, just a way to safely get home. In all honesty, who amongst us wouldn't jump at the chance in the same circumstances? With a wife and three little ones waiting for me I know I would. Damned straight!

But have we lost some of our soul in being so easily led from sticking to what we profess to believe? I wondered that at the time of the photographer's incident. I wonder about it after reading this story.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought those two reporters were craven cowards. Even if they didn't believe in anything, they should've had the courage of their convictions to not be coerced into agreeing to the terrorists demands to bow to Mecca. It's just another example of the wussification of the West.

ignorant redneck said...

You know the phrase "uncomon valour was a common virtue"? Well, nowadays it seems like uncommonly pusillanimous in commonly found.

Glenn B said...

How brave, and firmly in touch with our beliefs, indeed all are we who sit here warm and comfortable at home without the worry of our hheads being lopped off in the next moment by raving madmen. I don't believ eit worthwhile for me to lose my head as opposed to saying yowza, dowza doody doooo, I love Allah. After they freed me, maybe I would give them a little surprise, I live revenge. My beliefs are surving for as long as I can, doing so morally as a good man(which does not include committing suicide in the name of your god or theirs, and screwing over the evil bastards of the world as much as I can within my, and a generally accepted, morality.

All the best,
Glenn B

MightyMom said...

I'm kinda with Glenn...kinda.

I do think it harsh to judge people who are in unimaginable circumstances.

I also think that were I faced with such circumstances I would be in constant prayer and will not say that God's plan may or may not include my survival....even if it meant denying Him.

Remember Peter??

Subvet said...

I'm not criticizing the photographer and his assistant. My point was that in these "go-along-to-get-along" times when relativism seems to be seen as a virtue we may have lost something in the way of courage & backbone.

Anonymous said...

Ok- Glenn was right on...if I were unsaved. But to deny my God?

Now I must say this...I believe that the reporters were wussies to the highest. And remember this, yes it is easy way across the ocean away from those lopping off heads but...real men are timeless...as those who would not get in the rescue boats on Titanic...Pat Tillman leaving money for honor, nearly all first responders who on a daily basis stand up and often risk their own lives for another.

So I do change the channel when I see Steve Centani on Fox News...he has nothing to say that would ever grasp my attention.

Jennifer
penofjen.blogspot.com

Blog Archive

THIS is depressing!!

THIS is depressing!!
Our education system must have REAL problems!

Proper Care of The Koran

Proper Care of The Koran
A place for everything and everything in it's place

Our Lady of America, pray for us (we need it!)

St. Gabriel Possenti, (unofficial) patron saint of handgun owners, pray for us.

Humane blogger award

Humane blogger award