Not All Doves Are White

I was at a Latin-speaking convention with a very Anglican faculty member of Westminster seminary, and now am involved with an evangelical woman to whom I had to explain that Catholic schools do not require one to become monks or even think deeply about it. Such divergent opinions brought to my mind the diversity of the army of Christ. The generals of the army ought to be the bishops, although human frailty is all too evident. The danger, however, of generalship is that the combination of greater influence and misanalysis of what needs doing can lead to defeat as easily as victory. It seems to me, therefore, that one must be careful how and on what grounds one criticizes the bishop unless one has surveyed the topography previously. Certainly, no man lacks faults; but if one wishes to make a critique of the actions of a general, it would prove useful to lead forth a well-disciplined argument concerning whither the army has wandered and the general has erred. It is fully understandable that the Nigerian bishop, surveying the shattered hopes of his native land, would decry particular forms of moral decay while other bishops in other countries would face other challenges.

“O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but hear and answer me”

This prayer goes out to my father in California. God hear the prayers of Mary, and grant our petitions through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

R. Who is she, arising like the dawn,
as fair as the moon,
as bright as the sun,
as majestic as a sweeping army with billowing banners?

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

R. Who is she, arising like the dawn,
as fair as the moon,
as bright as the sun,
as majestic as a sweeping army with billowing banners?

He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

R. Who is she, arising like the dawn,
as fair as the moon,
as bright as the sun,
as majestic as a sweeping army with billowing banners?

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.

R. Who is she, arising like the dawn,
as fair as the moon,
as bright as the sun,
as majestic as a sweeping army with billowing banners?

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

R. Who is she, arising like the dawn,
as fair as the moon,
as bright as the sun,
as majestic as a sweeping army with billowing banners?

V. Blessed be the Mother of God, Mary most holy.
R. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.

Hail powerful Queen, Mother of Courage,
our life, our strength, our hope.
To you we protest, your oppressed children,
raging and weeping,
on this treacherous mountain.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your blessings of courage upon us,
and break this bondage of silence, our slavery;
after this our exile,
show to us the power the nurtures
the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O fearless, O mighty, O invincible Virgin Mary.
Amen.¹

_____________________________________

¹Mananzan, Osb, Sr. Mary John, ed. Manila: Institute of Women's Studies, St. Scholastica's College, 1988.

Rose steps out

Well, I suppose I should introduce myself. In the blogosphere, I'm Rose Maniple. I was raised in a Roman Catholic family, and for many years found sustenance in that tradition. At the apex of my adherence, I was a member of Una Voce (for the Traditional Latin Mass) and was preparing to offer my vocation to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. However, several events, including the passage of the Civil Marriage Act, and the promulgation of the Instruction on gay priests forced me to reluctanctly swim the Thames. I was received into the Anglican Communion at the Easter Vigil in 2006, and since then have been able to combine my liberal social justice values with traditional creedal orthodoxy and a fondness for the ceremonial of the traditional Roman Rite.

I look forward to bonding virtually with everyone here and I thank Josh for his invitation to be a part of this project.

Quick Introduction

I'm Fr Rob Laws- sometimes known as PadreRob. I am the Canterbury Chaplain at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va and the part-time Assistant Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church, across the street from the university. I also blog at a priest's musings on the journey.

I was raised in the Pentecostal Tradition, since my grandfather- who was my pastor as a child- converted to the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) after he had an experience at a prayer meeting in which he was "baptized in the Holy Spirit" and received glossolalia.
I became attracted to the Episcopal Church while studying at Duke Divinity. After worshiping in my first High Church Mass, I knew I had found a spiritual home.

Although I appreciate the Pentecostal tradition, I am not a charismatic. I am one of those progressive catholic types: an affirming catholic who believes part of the baptismal covenant asks us to welcome all who seek to follow Christ and to embrace the gifts and callings of God in all people- including the calls to holy orders- regardless of gender, race, and sexual orientation.

Want to know anything else? Just ask :)

Peace to all. Be at peace and embraced by the Love that created you and sustains you.

And when you thought you just recovered from breaking up...

...another fishie comes popping out of the sea.

See, things happen when you see least expect them, or even at the 'eleventh hour'. I think that's one thing really cool with Almighty God. Sometimes we wallow so much in despair that we fail to see the miracle right in front of your eyes. In my case, I wasn't expecting a miracle or anything at all, but it's downright humourous when suddenly BAM, you got flowers, a keg of beer, and a Scottish guy from Inverness. Badda-bing, badda-boom. There's truth to the saying 'let go and let God'.

Hebrews 11.1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen." When we place our trust in God, things get set into motion because we are out of the way. After all, how can God work his marvels when we are obstructing his plans? It takes simple trust and faith that brings out a hope for those who love him. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8.28 NIV) Whatever happens, God will take care of you- in life, in death, in sickness, in health, in love, and in sorrow... "All ages and times belong to him; by his holy wounds Christ guard our souls" as we say at the Paschal Vigil. We work on his time, not ours, and it is our impatience that deters us from experiencing God's work at hand.

Heck, I really didn't expect this to happen, but I'm glad I didn't even try.

So are Bible studies cover-ups for meet-ups?

*tickles with laughter*

"To the virgins, make much of time" by Robert Herrick

GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may go marry:
For having lost but once your prime
You may for ever tarry.

Okay, Master Herrick. We get your point. We're trying,

Heck, who knew dating could be such an evangelisitic activity?

My Introduction

Alright, I'm Mitrethief here (love those hats), but my main blogs are Anglican Avenger (in English) and De Rerum Scriptura (in Latin). I still haven't figured out how to do linking here. I'm a cradle Episcopalian, baptised by an openly gay priest, currently under two women priests (awkward phrasing, I know, but I can't say priestess), ping-ponging between high and progressive branches. But I'm disappearing for a week for Latin Immersion Camp, so I'll comment more when I return. I would just like to thank Josh for inviting me to join.