*Shudder*

You know, it's amazing what people put on deviantART. It seems like the majority of the stuff has to do with 'pairings' (And those who are into anime/manga know Exactly what I'm talking about there) It's kinda sad, a bit disgusting, but it's probably representative of deviant art.It seems that the way to become popular there is to sell your characters, and we all know what sells. Those who don't give in to the principle are forced to live a life of mediocrity. I am consigned to this fate.

I was browsing the galleries of the people whose works I've favourited, and a lot of the stuff has inappropriate themes.Nothing graphic or explicit of course, because deviantART is strict and would'nt allow such things.But they are things that sit on the line of what's PG13 and what is'nt. I never really bothered to look in people galleries before,but now that I have, I'm a bit disappointed. I used to recommend my friends to visit these people's profiles for good art, and now I see what I sent them to.

Brought to a Happy End.

Mt.Calvary Joins the Ordinariate.

I'm a bit jealous. It's blindingly obvious that no parish here in Philly would ever dream of joining the ordinariate, save the now defunct St.James the less. (With whom my sympathy has always been.) My dreams of being able to go back to the worship I'm most comfortable with will just have to be unfulfilled for now.

Mary, Our holy foundress.

I have nothing against carmelites, but I think the promises that come with our scapular are a lot more clearer, and thus in my opinion, better.

And now,

A musical interlude.

<3

And on a more cheerful note,

[LINK].

Faith, Hope, and Charity.

I've been slowly reading the classic spiritual book This Tremendous Lover.
-Yeah I know, interesting title.

But it's wonderful.I haven't gotten very far, because honestly, I don't seem to have as much time for spiritual reading and reflection as I used to. But I'm slowly getting through it. Besides helping to show me how little I've gone down the path to spiritual perfection and showing me how terrible a sinner I am, the book has given me a lot of help that would do me some good if I could just put it into practice.

One thing that I've been trying is to simply, all day, try to keep in my mind those three words: Faith, Hope, and Charity. The three theological virtues. I'm hoping that if I do this, I can change my conduct between God and myself, and between myself and others more quickly. I'm hoping that I can use them to give myself an instant, unthinking evaluation of all my words, actions, and thoughts before I say,do, or think them. I need to know how such or such an action will show or fail to show faith and hope in God, and charity toward God and neighbor. It's a little practice, but I'll see how it goes.

Tomorrow night,

I start my annual novena for the holy souls, this year with a particular focus on my dad's soul. I'll try to post the novena meditations and prayers daily. And also, there will be a mass celebrated for the repose of my father's soul on October 31 at 7:30 AM. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone would'nt mind praying or joining themselves spiritually to the sacrifice of the mass on that day.

[depression]

Mom apparently got rid of Ginger, my cat, while I've been away. She says that there's always the two kittens, so I really don't have anything to get worked up over. But she's never been a pet person, so I wouldn't expect here to understand. I got Ginger when I was 12,and she was a young cat back then (Only two) She started showing signs of age this year, so I expected that she would get to live out last four or five years in the comfort of a familiar house and familiar people.

Now she's been shipped off to the SPCA where who knows what'll happen to her.

Yes, animals don't have immortal souls and all that, but you do get attached to pets. Especially when you've had them for years, and they've grown on you.

*Sigh*

*Sigh*

You know, sometimes I wonder if there's any real point in trying to be a tolerant conservative. Liberal Catholics will hate you for subscribing to everything in the catechism, the councils,and the fathers, and Conservatives will hate you for trying to present this acceptance of tradition in a tolerant, non-inflammatory, conciliatory manner.

But it really is true that you convince people more easily with sweetness and being an example than all the logical,philosophical and scriptural arguments in the world ever could.

Maybe some day I'll actually learn this and not just know it.


[If you can't tell, I've not had a good day today.]

I need glasses.

Just in case anyone had got the idea that I'm a mature and responsible guy, my glasses, which I do occasionally need (I'm near-sighted, but can usually manage without them) have been broken for almost nine months now. I broke them during the winter when I sat on them by accident. If I hold them up to face, I can still use them,because they are'nt broken in half, they just have no arms.

It was'nt till school that I really need them. I can't read the boards now, because in most of the clasrooms, even the front row of seats is too far from the board for me to read what the teacher writes. It's not as bad when they use Powerpoint presentations and such, where the text is large and on a bright background. But even then, things are bit blurry.

I'll just have to man up and go around looking like a nerd. *Sigh*

A AE AE AM A AE ARUM IS AS IS..

I O UM O I ORUM IS OS IS.

Those are the first and second declension endings. In other words, my Latin midterm is tomorrow.

Oh yes, and I've lost all my confidence in passing now, having found that of the pages of study material I went over and copied, the practice quizzes I did and re-did, and the chapters I read, none of that information was on the test.

ASDFJKLASDFJKL;!

Midterms.

They do not contribute to my happiness.

That is all.

I'm a bad Catholic.

Because, I don't see anything wrong with receiving communion only twice a week but going to mass every day. Yes, that means going to mass without receiving communion.
That's not the only reason though: I'm also a bad Catholic because I like to receive communion in both kinds.

But don't worry: I make up for it because I think it is a good and holy thing to prepare for one's communion the night before, or even a day before. I used to make my communion four times weekly, and I began my preparation the day before. (Except for Sundays, where, because I received communion on Saturday, I made my preparation starting the night before, after compline.)
Now I'm up to five times weekly. I expect to get reprimanded and told to stop going to mass without communion someday, once the word gets out that I only do it for pious devotional purpouses.
But, for me at least, it seems that my communions are a lot more fruitful and more reverently received when I make them a little less often and with a lot more preparation.

When attending the Holy Mass,

" As it would not be sufficient for thee if thou hadst all things except Me, even so whatsoever thou shalt give Me, if thou give Me not thyself, it cannot please Me. Offer thyself to Me, and give thyself altogether for God, so shall thy offering be accepted. Behold I offered Myself altogether to the Father for thee, I give also My whole body and blood for food, that thou mightest remain altogether Mine and I thine. But if thou stand in thyself, and offer not thyself freely to My will, thy oflering is not perfect, neither shall the union betwixt us be complete. Therefore ought the freewill offering of thyself into the hands of God to go before all thy works, if thou wilt attain liberty and grace. For this is the cause that so few are inwardly enlightened and made free, that they know not how to deny themselves entirely. My word standeth sure, Except a man forsake all, he cannot be My disciple. ' Thou therefore, if thou wilt be My disciple, offer thyself to Me with all thy affections."

-Imitation of Christ, book four, chapter eight.

And now,

A musical interlude.

<3