The Petrine Claims by Richard Frederick Littledale

Recommended through a post at The Continuum, this book is available through Google books as a PDF download. It has taken a top place on my reading list. When I am done with Staley's The Catholic Religion (also available through Google books) and Scupoli's Unseen Warfare I will dig in.

Special on iPods at Calumet

Yes, a blatant plug. Full disclosure - I (through my company, Camera Collectors, Inc.) am an affiliate of Calumet Photographic. A new relationship, I hope they can supply items my customers may want, but that I cannot supply. With luck, I may make a buck or two as well. Enough to pay for seminary? Well....

That said, they are offering free shipping on iPods. My older daughter loves hers, and I was sufficiently impressed I may replace my MP3 player with an iPod (I have some Scot blood in me, so I won't do it until the MP3 player breathes it's last breath).

How does this apply to the deaconate? Please, if you haven't already, check out iTunes University. My MP3 player does not have any music. I have iTunes U college lectures on the Epistles, I have lessons on Biblical Greek (these lectures are downloaded free of charge), and a few audio books from Audible.com. I load Jack Benny's radio programs to listen to while traveling - driving at night, kids and wife asleep, and I'm laughing out loud.

Anyway - here is the link. If it looks like a good deal, try them out. I buy hard-to-find photographic gear from Calumet, and have always been pleased by their prices and service.

Free Shipping on ALL iPods at Calumet Photographic! while supplies last. no code necessary

Not to get political...

...but I find it very hard to listen to Senator Obama's answer to Rick Warren on the question of when a human being has rights.

During the recent candidate meeting, Sen. Obama had a... well, nuanced is the term some are using, nonsensical is the term I prefer, answer to this question. Not what one would expect from an experienced politician, and most assuredly less than one might expect from a Christian. I cannot reconcile what amounts to infanticide through neglect (being as charitable as I can) with the Christian faith.

Sermons for Layreaders

This is from Kay Lewis, through the ACCMembers Yahoo group. Ed Pacht from New Hampshire is producing a series of booklets that include morning and evening prayer lessons, and homilies he has written that are suitable for use by lay readers in the ACC (and elsewhere, presumably). He has so far received permission and a recommendation from Bishop Hutchens, Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of New Orleans and Vicar Capitular of the Diocese of the Holy Trinity. These booklet homilies may be found here.

And many thanks to Mr. Pacht for the effort.

Loss

Our Parish has been experiencing the devastating consequences of poor financial decisions - decisions made over a decade ago, even longer. One consequence is that Parish property is being sold, including the house where our retired Canon Emeritus and his wife lived for many years.

Unfortunately, while trying to deal with the loss of property, the loss of the Mass the way it "used to be", and the loss of membership over an unrelated (at least, not directly related) matter, some long-time members are complaining that this Parish no longer practices the catholic faith.

What they have confused, in my opinion, is faith and practice with form and music. The Mass music and hymns are not what these parishioners are used to. Personally, I enjoyed the Gregorian chant used for much of the Mass, but it was very difficult for newcomers to learn. The hymn selection was generally identical from year to year - beautiful hymns, but the 1940 hymnal contains a great selection of music.

The basic catholic faith, and the practice of that faith in our Parish, has not changed. Some of the external adornments of that practice have changed. How does one convince a person that the faith is intact, even if the presentation is different from that which he remembers from his youth? I suspect that few can be swayed; especially if they have the mistaken conviction that they are defending the church from heresy.