Anything that exists is either God or created by God. Now every creature of God is good, says St. Paul. And God himself is supremely good. So everything that exists is good (Ia, 5, 3, sed contra).

Saint Thomas Aquinas says

Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.

Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.

Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will.

Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church.

Here is a good article. It takes a little time and little thinking, but it is worth it.

Day of fasting and abstinence

Remember that Friday January 22 is a day of fasting and abstinence for the promotion of the sanctity of human life. Treat it like Good Friday

Designer God

Here is an excellent article.

“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day."

Sunday's Gospel

Free poinsettias

There are several poinsettias in the back of Church. They are in good condition but drying out quickly. Please feel free to take one.

New Building

This is the first post from my desk while setting in our new school. Praise the Lord! He has been good to us and enabled our parish to carry out this work.

Benedict XVI

VATICAN, Jan. 6, 2009-- An insensitive, hardened heart, over-confidence and world-weary smugness keep people from experiencing the true joy and love found in Jesus Christ, said Pope Benedict XVI.

While the Christ child born in Bethlehem seems weak and fragile, in reality "he has the power to give the human heart the greatest and most profound joy" in the world, he said.

The babe in the manger, he said, represents "the stupendous reality that God knows us and is near, that his grandeur and strength do not follow the logic of the world, but the logic of a defenseless baby whose only strength is the love he entrusts to us."

The pope made his remarks at a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany, which marks the manifestation of Jesus as savior to the world.

In his homily, he asked people to reflect upon why there always seem to be so few people who believe in Jesus Christ.

Just as after Christ's birth many people witnessed the star of Bethlehem, but only few -- like the Wise Men or Magi -- actually responded to God's invitation to follow a new path that would change the world, he said.

"What is the reason that some see and find (Christ) and others don't? What opens one's eyes and heart? What is lacking in those who remain indifferent, those who know the way, but do not take it?" he asked.

People do not accept Christ's invitation to come to him when they are too self-assured and display the "pretentiousness of understanding reality perfectly well and the presumption of already having come to a definite judgment about things, which makes their hearts closed and insensitive to the novelty of God," he said.

People need to let themselves be completely bowled over by "the adventure of a God that wants to come to them," he said.

What is missing in the world, he said, is authentic humility and courage, which allow people to recognize and put their trust in what is truly great, "even if it is manifested in a defenseless baby."

The capacity to be surprised, to be a child at heart, is missing, said the pope. Only when people use that sense of wonder to come out of their shell can they "follow the way indicated by the star, the way of God."

The pope said by bringing gifts fit for a king and prostrating in adoration, the Magi demonstrated their willingness to submit to the authority of the Christ child -- the king of the Jews -- and renounce their allegiance to the cruel and powerful sovereignty of King Herod.

"They were led to also follow the way of the child, which would make them ignore the great and powerful of this world and would bring them to the one waiting among the poor, to the path of love, which is the only thing that can transform the world," he said.

After the Mass, Pope Benedict gave his noonday Angelus address from his studio window to those gathered in St. Peter's Square. He dedicated his remarks to the Magi who were guided to Bethlehem by a star and who were the first to come and adore Jesus.

He said the three men of learning and science are excellent examples of "authentic seekers of the truth" and of "the unity between intelligence and faith."

Far from believing that the knowledge gleaned from books and scientific research was sufficient, they were "open to further revelations and divine summons. In fact they were not ashamed to ask for guidance from Jewish religious leaders," he said.

They could have, but didn't, exhibit the fear evident today of any "'contamination' between science and the word of God," said the pope.

They listened and welcomed divine prophecies and embodied "a perfect harmony between human research and divine truth, a harmony that filled the hearts of the authentically wise men with joy."

Pope Benedict asked that people let themselves be open to Christ and strike an even greater harmony in their lives between "reason and faith, science and revelation."

The pope also extended a Christmas greeting to Eastern Christians who follow the Julian calendar and were preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ Jan. 7. (CNS)

Ok, here's some real breast cancer awareness: Taking birth control pills increases a woman's chance of developing breast cancer. Of course, this controversial fact is buried in the media under "conflicting reports" but honestly: Men, why would you take that chance with the health of your wives? Go with NFP. Safe, loving, effective.

An excellent article

Go here for a good article on the Liturgy.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem, On the Christian Sacraments.

O strange and inconceivable thing! We did not really die, we were
not really buried, we were not really crucified and raised again,
but our imitation was but a figure, while our salvation is in
reality. Christ was actually crucified, and actually buried, and
truly rose again; and all these things have been vouchsafed to us,
that we, by imitation communicating in His sufferings, might gain
salvation in reality. O surpassing loving-kindness! Christ
received the nails in His undefiled hands and feet, and endured
anguish; while to me without suffering or toil, by the fellowship
of His pain He vouchsafed salvation.

Pope's prayer intentions for January 2010

The Vatican has released the prayer intentions of Poep Benedict XVI for January 2010. The Pope’s general intention is: "That young people may learn to use modern means of social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare themselves to serve society.”
His missionary intention is: “That every believer in Christ may be conscious that unity among all Christians is a condition for more effective proclamation of the Gospel.”