the-waking-dreamer

[the-waking-dreamer]

Hi Daniel: How are you doing these days? I don't know why, but I was thinking about you and remembering how you. Last time you wrote, you were asked to pray about God's will before the Blessed Sacrament, during that retreat. I hope you are well and blessed, Fr. Angel

Hi Daniel, You sent this a long time ago, when you had questions about what a priest said to you during a retreat. I never answered because I wasn’t sure if it was more of a comment or a question, but I would say now that prayer during vocational discernment is partially pragmatic (seeing if one has the practical means for carrying through on formation and becoming a priest), but also has an element of “inspiration.” Prayer, during vocations discernment (IMO) is to also help us see if we are in love enough (inspired enough), with the Lord and the Church, to give seminary a try. Anyway, I think of you from time to time and pray that you are doing well. You wrote once that your sister was pregnant and getting married. Did she have her baby? Is she alright these days. God bless you very much! Fr. Angel

Father, I heard that God took you away recently, so I logged in, and it grieved me to see this message in my box. It looks to be six years unanswered now. I am moved that you would think of me and give consideration to all my little trifles. Even though you will not read my response on this Earth, I wish to answer you all the same.

I'm doing well right now. My heart was never large enough to give serious consideration to the priesthood, but you never thought that was a big problem in your previous answers. I married my girlfriend from college, who I spent several years fawning over, several years dating, then several years engaged. We've been married for three years now, and though we have not yet been blessed with children, I couldn't imagine life without her (and I can hardly remember my life before!)

After college, I went on to grad school for my MFA and taught at a high school those same two years before being let go due to downsizing in the English department. It was a temporary certificate to teach, so I never went back to it. It stressed me out terribly, besides. I wasn't able to find work teaching at college so I worked at a printshop, and now, I'm at an assistive tech company answering the telephone. It's not as interesting as teaching was, but it pays the bills. The same year I was fired, I was married, and also disowned by my own family--a long story I won't get into here. I'm looking forward to my hundredfold.

I've been pursuing publication with my thesis from my MFA, a collection of short fiction. Nothing has taken yet save for one of my stories, which has been delayed for a year now. I still submit to magazines at least once a month to keep up the pace. I've been submitting seriously for a year and only one piece has received a personal note on the rejection. That's supposed to be a good sign! Still, the lack of success kills my motivation to write any further. It's hard to perform without an audience.

My wife is a realistic artist, and she also submits to shows and contests. Maybe it's the subject matter or just the area we live in, but she's having similar trouble getting recognition. Right now, she's working on getting her master's at the Florence Academy. We hope that the new skills push her over the to and that this program helps her get the connections she needs.

My sister, whom you advised to pursue convalidation, did end up receiving convalidation. She re-entered the Church along with her husband and their three little girls when they were all baptized some years ago. It was a big hassle, but they pulled through. The priest my brother-in-law was doing RCIA with ended up passing away, and because of military, they had to move parishes--basically losing all their progress. It wasn't until he was out of the military that they were finally able to get it done. I know my sister was put off by her priest previously and saw no way forward. Through your advice and encouragement, she was able to become right with God again. We owe much to you, Father.

Now, she's had her fourth baby--a little boy named Abram. She lives on a farm with her husband where they have chickens, cows, a couple dogs, and a donkey. Right now, she is pursuing training to be a sonogram technician so that she can support the pro-life community where she lives. She's very much an inspiration to me--humble, loving, and strong.

I regret that I haven't been on Tumblr lately, particularly to respond to you here and see your wit at work. Life became busy, and I switched to other sites to evangelize, Facebook and Reddit mainly, though I'm mostly just on Facebook now. I hope you continue to think about me from time to time and pray for my little troubles in Paradise, too.

Pax tecum,

Daniel J Dupuy

[the-waking-dreamer]

Catholic Answers has a Tumblr now! Show them some love!

[the-waking-dreamer]

Abortion is the greatest victory the devil has achieved since Original Sin.

Alice von Hildebrand (via twocrowns)

[the-waking-dreamer]

Hey Friends

So I’ve been away and lots of things have happened. I’m in my senior year of college as an English major. I’m currently working in a Students for Life Media Fellowship (working with LifeSiteNews) which means I get to learn how to write pro-life news articles. I’m the president of Students for Life at UCF now also! We don’t have many members but I’m trying to get something big going for us. Getting to spend a lot of time with my wonderful girlfriend and her awesome roommate! Other than that, I’m getting to make use of all this Catholic knowledge I’ve been building up! I got to teach a couple of my siblings and one of my friends about the function of indulgences and why they are still relevant in the Church today. Whew! Anyways, hope you guys are doing well! Shoot me a message if you’re still active and want to say hello! :)

[the-waking-dreamer]

[the-waking-dreamer]

I’m not angry, America.

I’m just disappointed.

[the-waking-dreamer]

[the-waking-dreamer]

Divine Giovanni Gasparro Paintings in L’Aquila

“Most of us have a soft spot for Joseph the devoted carpenter who married pregnant Mary and who is barely mentioned in the gospels. In Il Sogno di san Giuseppe, he is portrayed reacting to a nocturnal visit from a heavenly messenger calling him to partner up with the soon- to -be mother of the son of God. Gasparro gives us a lot to ponder – Joseph’s surprise, anxiety and consent.”

[the-waking-dreamer]

Hello Father, What are your views on gender equality? My cousins think that since Adam was created first and that since Jesus was a man, males are the superior gender. What do you think? Thank you :)

Some men can act like pigs. They are aggressive, grasping, greedy, selfish, stingy, and very difficult to control and civilize. This is why Adam was first. God had to make the experiment first, and work out its defects, before He made the finished product with the qualities which best suited our human nature. And Jesus was a man because men were in much more need of redemption and example, to get away from their piggishness. 

Women by nature are giving, open, receptive, flexible, loving, nurturing, perceptive, and ordered to generosity and the building of the family and community. Plus they are pretty and smell better than men.

Some women, unfortunately, act like pigs too, or sows, but that is because they have been watching men and have copied our behavior very well, losing the genius and finer qualities of their gender.

Thus, I do not believe in gender equality. Women are the superior of the two genders, which is why the Creator trusts them with carrying life and giving birth to it. Oh, and they bear pain with far more endurance. When a man loses his woman, he usually withers and starts to die unless another woman comes along and props him up. When a woman loses her man, she is sad and heartbroken, and then she is able to move on. I don’t know how, but she does it.

I know this sounds shocking, but as the years go by and you get older, you will understand that my words are very wise. God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

[the-waking-dreamer]

“above all shadows rides the sun” 

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

[the-waking-dreamer]

privacy PSA

[the-waking-dreamer]

From "Know Your Mass" - the well-known classic, a beautiful book of cartoons by Fr. Demetrius Manousos, bearing a 1954 imprimatur by Cardinal Spellman. It was designed for children, but is recommended for all Catholics, especially at a time when authentic catechesis is at an all-time low.

[the-waking-dreamer]

[the-waking-dreamer]

Father, I read recently that the Holy Mass is the liturgy that goes on with saints and angels in heaven, constantly around God's Throne. or something. Something about the Mass being ethereal, and happening in heaven and earth, (maybe it was just the Passion memorial specifically, idk), eternally occurring, I don't know. Does this ring any bells? It's super confusing and I don't understand what all of it means. Thank you!

Hello,

What you have written above, which is common when you read liturgical authors, is another way of saying that we are always surrounded by God, and by invisible beings who love us (the saints, angels).

“Heavenly liturgy” however is not something to take in a literal sense, as if God has to put up an altar, a floor, lighting, sound system, and get ready for “church” in heaven. We are dealing with a metaphor, because as Christians, we have no idea how the saints and angels “pass their time.” 

We do not know what our deceased loved ones are “doing” to keep busy. We do not even have a clue or understand how they can be “up in heaven” enjoying themselves and at the same time know about us or be concerned with our lives here on earth. Terms like “heavenly liturgy” or “heavenly worship” are phrases that express that God is praised and worshiped by His angels and saints, who also love each other in joy and peace. 

In some mysterious way, Scripture describes that we are united with them, or that they, indeed, are connected to us spiritually and still worry about us here on earth. And yet, there is this great wall, or divide, between the physical world we live in and the spirit world of eternity where the communion of saints dwells. They can somehow “see us” and follow us, without us being able to know this or detect this.

The book of Revelation describes that when Christians worship God here on earth, in their earthly liturgy, they are spiritually entering that mind and heart of worship which the angels and saints have in heaven. Between the physical world where Christians offer true worship to God, and the spirit world where angels and saints do the same, there is some unity or joining together.

The central key that unlocks the gate between the two worlds is the Lord Jesus. Part of Jesus is here on earth, in the sacrament of the liturgy, and part of Jesus is in heaven. During the liturgy or worship, I guess we could say, Jesus has two crowds of folks surrounding Him. He has the physical and earthly crowd of the Church Militant, and He has the spiritual crowd of the Church Suffering and the Church Triumphant. 

In earthly liturgy, we get to meet and be in closeness to that heavenly cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1). I would like to think that our friends and loved ones come to meet us in a special way when we are before the altar. How that can happen, only God could describe. But that is what is basically taking place when we speak of earthly liturgy “being a participation in” the heavenly liturgy. Two crowds gather together and the Lord Jesus presides in between. Only they can see us, but we cannot see them. God bless and take care, Fr. Angel

[the-waking-dreamer]

I was watching Parks and Rec today and…

[the-waking-dreamer]

[the-waking-dreamer]

Alistair and Wynne discuss the Warden’s booty