The venerable "personal TV shrine" is now a thing of the past

Remember the old days when everybody thought they needed a TV in every room of the house? Now a laptop will do.

When even a TV exec is having trouble getting used to the fact that her daughter refuses to include a TV in her dorm room furnishings, you and I are also likely to be slow to the realization that now, more than ever, there is need for one less piece of furniture.

Time to replace that old electronic shrine with a real one: how about beginning with a statue or picture of your child's patron saint placed in a corner or on a tabletop as a focus for prayer together in the evenings before bed?

Caveat: Laptop use in private has just as many and more perils as personal TV use. Vigilance, please.

-- ((((..))))

Image: The Philips TX400 is said to be the first television. Source: Google images.

Priests and conflict resolution: "Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment"

Please pray for all priests, that they may prayerfully and carefully follow the proper steps for conflict resolution, as all of us are counseled to do.

"By recalling the commandment, 'You shall not kill,' our Lord asked for peace of heart and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral.

"Anger is a desire for revenge. 'To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit,' but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution 'to correct vices and maintain justice.' If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. The Lord says, 'Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.' "

-- CCC 2302

Remember there are ALWAYS two sides to every story and the person who jumps into the gossip on one side or the other may very soon end up with egg on face.

Repeating someone's faults is the sin of detraction and spreading falsehoods is the sin of calumny (cal - um - knee).

Oremus.

-- ((((..))))

Why is the Secret Service apologizing?

The powers that be and the WH social office made the decision to leave the SS alone at the gate to vet guests. It is very doubtful that those responsible for the Salahi WH security breach have yet taken responsibility.

In regard to bearing false witness, the Catechism has the following to say in paragraph 2476:

"False witness and perjury. When it is made publicly, a statement contrary to the truth takes on a particular gravity. In court it becomes false witness. When it is under oath, it is perjury. Acts such as these contribute to condemnation of the innocent, exoneration of the guilty, or the increased punishment of the accused. They gravely compromise the exercise of justice and the fairness of judicial decisions."

Sometimes people are quick to say "I'm sorry" when they did nothing wrong, a "condemnation of the innocent". If this leads to a confusion about the truth, is it a kind of "false witness"?

Sometimes silence is the most appropriate response.

PriestYear "Priest in Focus": Father Bill Stetson

Today's "Priest in Focus" is Father Bill Stetson. Take a look at his blog, Voice in the Areopagus, for a steady diet of Catholic teaching. You can also follow Father Bill on Twitter at frbills where he sends out what he calls daily "homilitweets", a short and pithy recap from the Scriptures for the Mass of the day.

Thanks, Fr Bill, and a blessed PriestYear to you.

Send your suggestions for PriestYear "Priest in Focus" to mcitl DOT blogspot DOT com AT gmail DOT com. Thank you.

On Advent: From the Holy Father

"Advent is the time of the presence and waiting for eternity. For just this reason it is, in a special way, the time of joy, of interiorized joy, that no suffering can take away."

-- Pope Benedict XVI
Homily for first Vespers
First Sunday of Advent

"Together toward the Lord" with Pope Benedict XVI

The Holy Father, while offering Mass in the Vatican's Pauline chapel for the International Theological Commission in Rome, opted to celebrate "facing the Lord" together with the congregation. Read more at The New Liturgical Movement.

Congregation for Divine Worship: "each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue"

Prot. N. 655/09/L

Rome, 24 July 2009

Dear _

This Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments wishes to acknoweldge receipt of your letter dated 22 June 2009 regarding the right of the faithful to receive Holy Communion on the tongue.

This Dicastery observes that its Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum (25 March 2004) clearly stipulates that "each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue" (n. 92, nor is it licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful who are not impeded by law from receiving the Holy Eucharist (cf. n. 91).

The Congregation thanks you for bringing this important matter to its attention. Be assured that the appropriate contacts will be made.

May you persevere in faith and love for Our Lord and his Holy Church, and in continued devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament.

With every good wish and kind regard, I am,

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

(Fr. Anthony Ward, S.M.)
Under-Secretary