The CatholiCity Message
Volume XV, Number 10 – November 3, 2011
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
This may end up being the shortest CatholiCity Message in a while. We describe this as "quirky" to prospective subscribers, and, well, I think we delivered. Let's begin.
THEY HAVE YOUR BACK, AND, ANGELS
Sadly, it seems in the nature of things that few of us even know the names, much less any important details about our great, great grandparents. Surely many of our deceased relatives are enjoying the fruits of heaven. I believe there may be many thousands of my own Christian blood relatives, going back through the centuries, perhaps all the way back to the apostles, if not to the conversion of the Roman Empire in the early fourth century (for I am of Italian decent on my mother's side). For many years now I have prayed for them and their guardian angels to intercede with Jesus, especially on behalf of my own children and relatives, knowing they take a special interest in the details of the struggles and joys of my life. We should all be grateful to them, of course, and call to mind often, not just on All Souls Day, that we are their dreams come true.
SCRAMBLING, PART ONE
Lately I have been adding grated parmesan to the recipes of just about everything I cook, even burgers, pan-fried chicken, and scrambled eggs.
SCRAMBLING, PART TWO
In less than four weeks, you and your fellow CatholiCity Citizens have ordered over 100,000 copies of our first free Catholic booklet, "Seven Daily Habits for Faithful Catholics." Wow, to use the technical word, again: WOW! We had to scramble to get the second printing in on time. (See how we worked in "scramble" there? Smooth. Er, Fail.) That is the most we have shipped of any new product or title. Thank you. Want some? Go here:
https://secure.catholicity.com/
WHADDAYATHINK?
A few weeks ago I promised an article outlining the Catholic landscape in America over the next twenty to forty years. I have rewritten it a dozen times over, and it struck me that maybe, after a couple of more drafts, we should ask you to review it and send in editorial suggestions. So we will. In the next CatholiCity Message.
QUOTES
"A woman uses her intelligence to find reasons to support her intuition."
Gilbert K. Chesterton
"The only way I'm not playing tomorrow is if I wake up and I'm dead."
Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers
(After being asked by reporters if the injury he suffered during a crucial playoff game would prevent him from playing baseball the following day.)
"I am of Scottish, Italian, and Irish decent. Which makes me a cheap, romantic, Catholic. My notion of an ideal first date is to take her to Mass."
X. Lawrence Mascera
LAME JOKE? YOU DECIDE
A CCD teacher asked her children just before they were about to leave class for Mass, "And why is it necessary to be quiet during Mass?" One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."
BRAINWASH YOURSELF
Building good habits, Catholic or otherwise, can be frustrating. Here is an approach that may help you. Do whatever it is seventeen days in a row. If you go to Mass seventeen days in a row, your brain-soul-body will expect you to go for seventeen years. You could be a Daily Mass-Goer, not a Daily Mass-Skipper, just seventeen days from today. Mark your calendar seventeen days ahead, then start. By the way, the Seventeen Rule will work for flossing.
WHO IS THE MAN?
Saint Joseph is the Man. Let us ask him, tens of thousands of us together, to lead us in prayer...
"Dear Saint Joseph, we ask you to call Mary and Jesus to your table, and to call all of our relatives who have merited heaven to join you, along with their guardian angels, to provide for us what we need this month, even if the most astounding miracles are required to do so. Thank you. Amen."
And, that's it. Thanks for being a part of our work, generously, and faithfully, and for reading my scramblin ramblings. We remain, always,
With Mary,
Your Friends at CatholiCity
