Free Republic

Yeah, but that is sooooooooooooo 1999 / early 2000’s. We’re talking dial-up era.

Now, broadband is the future. In order to remain on the “Autobahn” that IS the Internet, you need a Lamborghini, NOT a Yugo.

With that being said, I would suggest that the powers-that-be here on FR move the site layout / format into the 2010 and beyond era. Put some of those donations toward upgrading the look / visual appeal / user friendliness / overall aesthetics of the site rather than having that $$$ go to archiving older posts / threads.

Just a thought and suggestion. Follow the innovators or get left behind.

Take care,

trollcrusher

;-)

They should keep this Turkish “turd” faaaaaaaaar away from the Vatican. Far, far, far away.

What a disturbed individual. Released from prison (should be serving a life sentence or have been executed) and drops a bombshell of a comment like this? Who signed off on this screwball’s walking papers?

Maybe Libya will take him into their fold.

01. The REALLY archaic (read: old) topic search / word search / post search engine that doesn't work more than half of the time. And the overall layout of the site / threads / and the size of these damn little "Your Reply" boxes. Like trying to type on the back of a grain of rice.

And oh, could the site move from a layout of oh ... circa 1999 to quite possibly, 2010? I mean, there are a ton of forums devoted to a lot of diverse subjects on the Internet today that have a much slicker and user friendly layout, customization tools, and posting abilities (learning HTML to enhance your posts is WAAAAAAY over the heads of most people ... including myself) by which Free Republic could model an updated appearance. Even the addition of personal avatars would be most welcome.

*End rant* ... I feel much better now. Thanks.

Take care,

trollcrusher

Salvation ...

Thank you for posting this.

I try to remember to pray for priests every day (sometimes multiple times throughout the day).

The Roman Catholic Church needs holy priests and men to heed that "inner call" from the Holy Ghost in possibly pursuing a priestly vocation or entry into a religious order. Discernment is the key here. May God and the Blessed Mother guide them and may our collective prayers buoy them on their path.

A custom prayer of mine:

Take care,

trollcrusher

I'm not sure if this article has been previously posted here on FR, but I figured that I'd post it just in case it hadn't. I don't endorse the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy or her "church" - the Church of Christ, Scientist ... however, I did find that this article posits some valid observations about the decline of L'Osservatore Romano's direction / focus with regard more important topics that the Roman Catholic Church and its adherents should be concerned with.

Not banalities and novelties such as endorsing TV garbage like "The Simpson's" or retro forgiveness of the Beatles' John Lennon for his March 1966 comments in the London paper Evening Standard: "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink… We're more popular than Jesus now—I don't know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity." This is mere drivel that would more commonly be found in a low-class tabloid and not fit for dissemination via the Vatican. As a Traditionalist Roman Catholic, I am befuddled by the rationale being shown by the powers-that-be at L’Osservatore Romano and am curious as to what other Freepers' opinions on this topic may be.

Thanks for your time everyone. Take care. trollcrusher

Original iconic image of the "Tank Man".


Rarely seen image of the "Tank Man" taken at ground level just prior to the iconic series of photos / video were captured. In this image, "Tank Man" can be viewed in the mid upper left portion of the photo, just to the right side of the left shoulder of the individual running directly at the camera with the light blue / light white button down shirt opened at the collar. "Tank Man" can be seen from the rear profile (wearing a white shirt / black pants with a satchel in each hand) standing in the middle of the boulevard as the tank column approaches (off to the upper right side of the photo).

I concur with you sargon ...

Very powerful image. Iconic. A lone wolf resisting a multi tank column. Certain death. Unwavering.

One of my favourite images of the “Human Spirit”. Sadly, in today’s times, the youth of China have all but downplayed the uprising back in the Spring of 1989. Money talks now. Not truth.

Google is doing the correct thing. Should have stuck to their guns and not compromised back when they dipped their metaphorical toe into the waters of Chinese geopolitical / Internet culture. Money won out then, now, it is just an outgoing poke in the eye to the Chinese regime.

Good for Google.

This is what occurred back on November 2009 during her appearance in New York City. Apparent meltdown. Sad really. Full article here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1231306/Susan-Boyle-took-America-storm-ended-talking-retreating-Scottish-council-house.html

Sorry folks ... this thread was just calling out for Helen to drop by and bestow her presence upon everyone.

;-)

screaminsunshine ...

I read and then re-read your POST #7 and POST #12 ...

Uh, no. Just no dude / dudette. No.

That type of commentary is not welcome here on this thread. The original poster put this thread up as a sort of a clarion call to fellow FR’s regarding the current plight of the Haitians in the wake of this tragedy.

To bring 0bama into it and bemoan what he may or may not do in this situation is only counterproductive. Quite frankly, it smacks of diversion to the situation at hand. Bitch, moan, and complain all you want to, but the fact of the matter is that there are scores of dead buried under tons of rubble RIGHT NOW as we interact on this thread.

Surely you could afford a little (just a wee bit) of human empathy / sympathy for your fellow brethren on this planet. You know, just a teeny tiny bit.

Take care, and I bid you PEACE.

trollcrusher

Sad to see this occur in THE poorest region in the Western Hemisphere.

I’m not sure as to what the overall feeling may be in the U.S.A. in relation to this tragedy (shock and sadness of course), but since it IS such a poor country, I fear that people will just dismiss it with an “Ah well, too bad ... we’ve done enough for them over the years - what did they ever contribute to us?” type of rationale.

This coming on the heels of the Duvalier’s (both “Papa Doc” and “Baby Doc”) reign of dictatorship,murder, and corruption; Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s similar path of malfeasance and downfall; the 2004 Haitian rebellion; Haiti’s whopping monetary debt owed to the IMF ($525 million plus - since forgiven through the HIPC initiative); its incredibly high HIV / AIDS infection and mortality rates; and a series of four back to back hurricanes in 2008, have all but left the region down and out for the count.

Who knows what may occur here in the wake of this tragedy. Maybe this will become a blessing to those affected by this disaster. A chance to literally and figuratively “rebuild”. Possibly see an influx of investment in the region by U.S. corporations, etc. The world can stand by and watch or offer its support by whatever means necessary.

May God have mercy upon the dead and all those who mourn.

Peace and prayers,

trollcrusher

Go here:

http://www.uticaod.com/news/x1820920165/Latin-Mass-a-more-reverent-experience

Received email. Thanks for the words of support. Will send you a more complete reply when I get a chance here.

Glad to hear about the Tridentine Mass “experiences / attendees” ;-)

Thanks for posting the new picture. You have a talent for capturing images. (ala the pics for your husband’s book, the images here, etc.). Gotta knack for it.

I’m off to speak Swahili like a Swede now. Just kidding.

O_o

Peace,

B.

Trying to stay warm here just south of St. Augustine, Florida ... cold here the last several days.

On the other hand, as a native Chicagoan, winter down here is a traipse in the park compared to what the North and Northwestern States have to deal with.

No snow as of yet though.

That was the first thing that I zeroed in on in this article. Massive injections of testosterone would leave him looking like a silverback gorilla. We’re talking hulk-like.

;-)

It is a G-O-O-D thing in which to be “hooked” upon when it comes to your desire to be able to serve at a Traditional Mass. The Holy Ghost is moving you to be with HIM.

Heed that “inner movement / inner thirst” (”I Thirst” as Jesus spoke upon the cross) and follow your heart.

I know only too well that the head and heart are [can be] in battle with each other a lot of the time over things like this, so you have to turn within [to the soul] to find what may not just be illuminated to you right now by focusing on God, prayer, contemplation, and what I like to do [as a suggestion to you] and that is find a quiet place [maybe a favourite place / hideaway of yours] and meditate on the phrase “Be Still And Know That I AM” and really be still and know that He IS. And take comfort in that stillness that tends to be suppressed in our everyday world.

He knows you more so than anyone else in this world. More so than yourself. So you can take satisfaction in knowing that He knows what you are going to do, say, think, and so on before you even do. All of this is under the gift of Free Will that he has given us unconditionally. So yes, I do think that you are being moved in some form or fashion to serve at the Traditional Mass there at St. John Cantius.

Go with it. Bring hubby and the kiddies as well. Cajole, nudge, or even ambush them into going [the kids that is]. For example, off the top of my head here ... “Hey guys, lets all go downtown to Water Tower Place for a day of shopping” and then make a diversion over to St. John’s for MASS. O_o (Take pic of their faces when you do).

Granted, still go to Water Tower Place or wherever you were going to go to, but after Mass. They don’t have to receive Holy Communion (but that would be good), but just have them be in the “presence” of honouring God in this manner as opposed to the Novus Ordo Missae.

They can just sit in the pew and observe if they feel moved to do so. Just so that they get the exposure (and the benefit of the Grace of being present at Mass) to maybe plant a seed there in their hearts / minds / souls. You never know. St. Augustine’s mother prayed many years for her son to turn from his wayward lifestyle and look what happened, both of them are honoured as Saints in the Church.

As God has said “My thoughts are ABOVE your thoughts. My ways are ABOVE your ways.” Our teeny tiny human brains are no match for His.

Keep going. It is inspiring to me that you are doing so.

OK, I am turning my personal didactic switch off now as I am running low on personal battery power. ;-)

*flips switch now*

I’ll drop you a reply with regard to your FR private message when I get a chance here. Thanks for taking the time to type all of the instructions up.

Peace,

trollcrusher

p.s. I like the most recent pic that you posted here. :-)

Yup ...

You hit the nail on the head regarding the “Catholic Knight” ... the first thing that I chose to focus in on was “who IS this guy” ... no name, no slogan, no ID, just advice / commentary, etc.

Now if I really wanted to befuddle a group of people, the best way to do it is to do it with the sweetness of honey rather than the putridness of crapola ... sort of indoctrinate them to MY way of thinking under the guise of being knowledgeable of the Faith, etc. I like to have an Imprimatur and / or a Nihil Obsat from a trusted source when it comes to info / teachings.

On a side note here ... I remember one time several years ago that the Diocese in which I reside in had a group meeting for interested Catholics that discussed topics that varied from meeting to meeting. I got invited to this one and didn’t really know what to expect. They held it in a basement of a convent and once everyone had arrived, they settled in on the topic ... Human Sexuality. There were about maybe two dozen people there ranging from teens to older adults. The group was overseen by a somewhat charismatic guy who was a little too friendly and came across as one of those Evangelical group leaders in Anabaptist churches. Well, they jumped into the main topic and as the discussion revolved around the circle, people put their two cents in, got a response, and then moved on to the next person / couple in sequence.

I sat there aghast as people were recounting their attempts at trying to conceive a child (they had adopted a child already) “We try MANY times a week” [*oof*] and so on and so forth. I thought to myself, where the bloody heck is a priest to be found to LEAD this group. I don’t want some bozo whose credentials I do not know or whom he was vetted by instructing me or others on tender (but needed) topics such as this. Call me paranoid or just oversensitive, but I had to go with what my intuition told me and never went back. Just kept on thinking “WHERE IS THE PRIEST? Couldn’t they find a priest to lead a late evening once-a-month group like this?” Bummer.

OK, enough of my whining (I’m known to do that). Yes, I do remember coach Ray Meyer from my days of living up in Chicago. I wasn’t a follower of sports / basketball, but I do remember him as being a passionate and well respected coach by not only his team, but the school, the city of Chicago, and other teams / schools that they played.

I was not aware of how devout Mr. Meyers was. Reading the snippet from your husband’s book, I was rather moved by his devotion to serving at Mass and to the Holy Rosary. Pretty cool.

Now if only we could get the head of Notre Dame University (I forget the name of the priest, but he is the top guy) to show a bit more backbone like Coach Meyers, then maybe, just maybe, they’d start turning the direction that they are heading around.

No more Vagina Monologues. No more Obammy accolades. No more arrests of 80-something priests who are carried away for protesting what the school should have been promoting to the modern-world-at-large [”Be in it, but not OF it”] -and- (i.e. Fruit of the 3rd Sorrowful Mystery, The Crowning with Thorns, “I desire MORAL courage”). Yes moral courage is in great need in our world.

In closing here, I do thank you for your kind comment on the prayer that I posted here. I am glad that you prayed it and that the inclusion of St. Joseph was to your liking. Very underrated Saint since we know very little about him, but a VERY honourable one indeed who is a prime role model for us to follow by his example. Imagine, to be entrusted with both the care of the Virgin Mother and the example / vocation of being a human father to Jesus. Oh, the graces that he must have had course through his soul. :-)

OK, gonna scoot. If you could (in a private reply), would it be possible for you to just briefly teach me how to post images here on FR? I noticed that you’ve got the process down pat, and I’d like to possibly post some pics that I have on my hard drive.

Mainly, I want to add some pics to my FR profile page. If it is too complicated, then don’t worry about it. I’ll try and find out one way or another ... I know that the HTML is like learning Swahili from a Swede, but once you get the hang of it, it falls into place. [No offense to the citizens of East Africa or to Sweden]. :-P

Take care,

trollcrusher

Thank you for the kind comment.

I’m glad that you found credence in my observation / opinion.

Oh, I forgot to mention in my previous post (probably just above this one), that with regard to your “inner locution” or “feeling” in which to pray for Priests following the young men sitting in the pew ahead of you at Mass, indeed that is a G-O-O-D thing. Accept it as a Grace.

The Church is in dire need of new, holy Priests.

Here is a small prayer that I pray every day (or multiple times throughout the day) for Priests. I’ve modified it from the original prayer that I heard years ago, so it is a bit more in tune with the situation going on right now in the Church:

God our Father,
Please send the Church, holy and faithful Priests.
All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.
All for the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In union with St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family and of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

Amen.

I like to think that it helps.

Take care,

trollcrusher

W-O-W.

O_o

Gotta love that Marian shade of Cobalt Blue. Reminds me of the ink used in medieval “Illuminated Manuscripts” (Divine Office / Missals / etc.).

I briefly did a quick perusal of your husband’s site / blog and will read it more in depth when I get a chance here. Looks interesting. By the way, nice photo of your children. Nice to see happy and smiling siblings. Indicator of good parenting (or possibly someone made a joke just prior to it being taken ... [kidding on my part] ). ;-)

Additionally, will take a look at the Latin Mass links that you posted as well. Same goes for the Catholic Knight link regarding the Novus Ordo Missae. Just briefly glanced at it and was slightly taken aback by the pro Anglican-use style of worship being espoused by the site’s founder.

Somewhat reserved on my part about it as I think that Anglicanism is what has contributed to the erosion of how Roman Catholics worship. The Church needs to copy NOBODY with regard to how to worship (even though as I have mentioned before, that Anglican places of worship currently often have more of the “bells and smells” in their services than what the Roman Catholic Church has presently endorsed). You know the background on it already. I will delve further into it as I am only making a quick opinion without more analyzation / investigation on my part. :-)

OK, gonna scoot here.

Take care,

trollcrusher

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!

The close up image of the Altar is amazing. Wow. Tenderly rendered by the gifted hands of artisans. Beautiful.

Thanks for posting.

:-)

trollcrusher