On the Role of Angels
"Let Us Call Upon Them Often"
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 1, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today before praying the midday Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter's Square.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Today is the First Sunday of Lent, and the Gospel, with the sober and concise style of St. Mark, introduces us to the climate of this liturgical season: "The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for 40 days, tempted by Satan" (Mark 1:12). In the Holy Land, west of the Jordan and the oasis of Jericho, there is the desert of Judah, which ascends to a height of over 1,000 meters through rocky valleys, stretching all the way to Jerusalem.
After having received baptism from John, Jesus enters that empty place, led by the Holy Spirit himself, which had descended upon him, consecrating him and revealing him as the Son of God. In the desert, the place of trial -- as the experience of the people of Israel shows -- there appears the dramatic reality of the "kenosis," the emptying of Christ, who is stripped of the form of God (cf. Philippians 2:6-7). He, who did not sin and cannot sin, submits himself to trial and thus can have compassion for our infirmities (cf. Hebrews 4:15). He lets himself be tempted by Satan, the adversary, who had opposed himself to God's salvific plan for men from the very beginning.
In the brevity of the account, in the face of this obscure and darksome figure who dares to tempt the Lord, the angels, luminous and mysterious figures, fleetingly appear. The Gospel says that the angels "serve" Jesus (Mark 1:13); they are the counterpoint to Satan. "Angel" means "one who is sent." We find these figures throughout the Old Testament who help and guide men in the name of God. Just consider the Book of Tobit, in which the figure of the angel Raphael appears to assist the protagonist through many vicissitudes. The reassuring presence of the angel of the Lord accompanies the people of Israel through every event, good and bad. On the threshold of the New Testament, Gabriel is sent to announce to Zachariah and Mary the joyous happenings that are the beginnings of our salvation; and an angel, whose name is not mentioned, warns Joseph, directing him in that moment of uncertainty. A chorus of angels reports the glad tidings of Jesus' birth to the shepherds, as the glad tidings of his resurrection will also be announced by angels to the women. At the end of time the angels will accompany Jesus in his glorious return (cf. Matthew 25:31).
The angels serve Jesus, who is certainly superior to them, and this dignity of his is proclaimed in a clear though discreet way here in the Gospel. Indeed, even in the situation of extreme poverty and humility, when he is tempted by Satan, he remains the Son of God, the Messiah, the Lord.
Dear brothers and sisters, we would take away a significant part of the Gospel if we left aside these beings sent by God to announce his presence among us and be a sign of that presence. Let us call upon them often, that they sustain us in the task of following Jesus to the point of identifying ourselves with him. Let us ask them, especially today, to watch over me and my co-workers in the Roman Curia as we begin our retreat this week, as we do every year. Mary, Queen of Angels, pray for us!
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[The Holy Father then greeted the people in several languages. In English, he said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking visitors present at today's Angelus prayer. On this First Sunday of Lent, the Gospel of Saint Mark speaks of Jesus being lead into the desert by the Holy Spirit, tempted by Satan and assisted by the angels. Let us pray that our Lenten journey will strengthen us in the struggle against all forms of temptation. Upon all of you I invoke God's abundant blessings, and I wish you a pleasant Sunday and a happy stay in Rome!
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Monday, March 02, 2009
B16: On the Role of Angels
Here you go Sarge, TERMINATOR: SALVATION Full Theatrical Trailer #2 (via AICN).
Edit. Hrm. Apparently the url doesn't link to the most recent trailer. I'll try to fix it again, but the link to the the trailer is at the top, #1, so click on that one. Or you can go here. (Stills at the bottom.)
Edit. Hrm. Apparently the url doesn't link to the most recent trailer. I'll try to fix it again, but the link to the the trailer is at the top, #1, so click on that one. Or you can go here. (Stills at the bottom.)
Sunday, March 01, 2009
John Robb, JOURNAL: The Stress Test
One useful way to look at D2 (the current global depression) is to view it as a stress test for nation-states. In other words: can nation-states adapt successfully to the twin pressures of the new global environment? Here's what I mean. Nation-states are now caught between two irresistible and strengthening forces:
1. A dominant, turbulent, and uncontrollable global super-network, that is pressuring/weakening/buffeting nation-states from above.
2. Super-empowered individuals/groups rising up from below that are ready to pounce on or exploit any demonstration of nation-state weakness.So far, the vast majority of thinking re: the response to the stress test has been a revival of early 20th Century methods/theories of activist government. I'm fairly sure that this is a sterile response to the challenge.
In contrast, decentralization that both improves resilience and accelerates (parallelizes) innovation offers a greater chance of success. Nation-states that ease the process of decentralization will likely have both the easiest transition to the new fluid environment and the best long term prospects (wealth creation).
Maximos, Liberalism, Abortion, and Natural Law - Following Up (He also links to this piece by John Zmirak: The Pentagon is a Money Toilet.)
Some info on the new Star Trek trailer
AICN: WonderCon: Quint has seen the new Trek Trailer, plus has pics and info from the panel, including tidbits on Cloverfield 2!
TrekMovie: Wondercon 09: Star Trek Panel Detailed Report & Pictures
Wondercon 09: New Star Trek Trailer Premieres - Full Description & Review
Wondercon 09: TrekMovie LiveBlogging Paramount Star Trek Panel
Wondercon 09: Our Star Trek Panel Kicks Things Off
New Star Trek Online ‘Path to 2409′ Provides Game Story Clues and Ties In To Movie Prequel Comics
(also at AICN: WonderCon: Quint on TERMINATOR panel, new footage and trailer! Info on Arnie and Robert Patrick! Plus the WATCHMEN panel! and Are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton Involved With May’s TERMINATOR SALVATION?? McG Speaks To The Issue At WonderCon!!)
TrekMovie: Wondercon 09: Star Trek Panel Detailed Report & Pictures
Wondercon 09: New Star Trek Trailer Premieres - Full Description & Review
Wondercon 09: TrekMovie LiveBlogging Paramount Star Trek Panel
Wondercon 09: Our Star Trek Panel Kicks Things Off
New Star Trek Online ‘Path to 2409′ Provides Game Story Clues and Ties In To Movie Prequel Comics
(also at AICN: WonderCon: Quint on TERMINATOR panel, new footage and trailer! Info on Arnie and Robert Patrick! Plus the WATCHMEN panel! and Are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton Involved With May’s TERMINATOR SALVATION?? McG Speaks To The Issue At WonderCon!!)
Via Fr. Finigan:
An interesting new blog is Chiral Capers (Observations of Japan in matters cultural, photographical and theological.)
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Cecilia Cheung interviews
張柏芝cen獨家專訪【上集】1/3 27.2.09
張柏芝cen獨家專訪【上集】2/3 27.2.09
張柏芝cen獨家專訪【上集】3/3 27.2.09
2009.01.27娛樂百分百～我家也有大明星精華版(2/5)
2009.01.27娛樂百分百～我家也有大明星精華版(3/5)
2009.01.27娛樂百分百～我家也有大明星精華版(4/5) (parts 3 and 4 for Cecilia)
2009.01.27娛樂百分百～我家也有大明星精華版(5/5)
2009.01.28娛樂百分百 ～我家也有大明星精華版(1/5 )
lilylovesjiro and fannyshowbb
張柏芝cen獨家專訪【上集】2/3 27.2.09
張柏芝cen獨家專訪【上集】3/3 27.2.09
2009.01.27娛樂百分百～我家也有大明星精華版(2/5)
2009.01.27娛樂百分百～我家也有大明星精華版(3/5)
2009.01.27娛樂百分百～我家也有大明星精華版(4/5) (parts 3 and 4 for Cecilia)
2009.01.27娛樂百分百～我家也有大明星精華版(5/5)
2009.01.28娛樂百分百 ～我家也有大明星精華版(1/5 )
lilylovesjiro and fannyshowbb
Local Courage apostolates (via California Catholic Daily):
Statewide - Courage, for those struggling with same-sex attraction, is a Vatican-approved apostolate and has chapters in the following areas of California: East Palo Alto, Fr. Lawrence Goode, 650-322-2152. Fallbrook, St. Peter’s Church, 760-728-7034. Los Angeles, Fr. Harrigan, 323-664-4723. Santa Ana, Fr. Enrique Sera, 714-751-5335. San Diego, Fr. Richard Huston, 858-271-0207. Escondido, Palm Springs, Indio, San Diego areas (prison ministry), Deacon Ken Finn, P.O. Box 2129, Escondido, CA 92033, e-mail: bendictus1@aol.com. San Francisco, Fr. Emmerich Vogt, 510-596-1800; Fr. Angel Jose de Heredia, 650-871-8944; Fr. Mark Taheny, 650-588-1455; confidential Courage hotline 650-450-2286. San Jose, George, 650-450-2286 or e-mail grc1254@sbcglobal.net. Santa Rosa, John Collins, 707-566-3363. Confidentiality strictly maintained.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Paul Gottfried on those rankings of U.S. presidents: National Bankruptcy. He has an oppinion about Lincoln as a rhetorician different from Fleming, Wilson, and Bradford:
This, mind you, is not an attempt to run down Lincoln. As a public speaker rather than as someone who steered this country into the bloodbath of the Civil War, out of what might have been a miscalculation about the costs of suppressing the Southern secession, Lincoln is a figure of Shakespearean proportions. I admire Lincoln as a speaker and as a tragic historic figure, but I doubt my affinity for to him is related to his present glorification.
Hanbok links
More photos from Min Sin Hong hanboks.
Yoon Hanbok
Some of the hanbok (한복) links I've visited in the past are dead, but I found this one today... 대장금 숙현한복. (Found this link at the Seoul Essence Wedding Fair site.) And so, I went on and did a search for more links. Hrm, I can't find the blog post with the hanbok links... maybe I never put one up. Oh well, here are some:
Hanbok.com
Hanbok Guide
어서오세요, 이성자한복 입니다!
한복의 명가 예당한복에 오신걸 환영합니다!
예인한복
한복을 참 잘 만드는집! 박술녀 한복입니다!
Hanboknet.com
MJ Hanbok
한지희 한복
Kim Ye Jin
Han Young Mi
Lee Sun Young
Lee In Young
Kim Hye Soon
Han Soon Rye
Ye Ji Won
Lee Yoo Jin
Kim Yeon Ok
Park Kyung Ja
Kang Eun Suk
Lee Hwa Jin
Hanbok21
Hanbok Arts
Green Hanbok
Ami Hanbok
한복웰컴
한복의 美
한복이야기
마음으로 옷을 짓는 조은이 한복입니다
Yedan.net
우리옷 베틀한복
분당한복미인
Minihanbok
Backhanbok
OKHanbok
이하은한복에 오신 것을 환영합니다.
BHanbok
ModenHanbok
AgaHanbok
한땀한땀의 정성이 담긴 - 윤희재 한복
고려 한복학원에 오신 것을 환영합니다
강종순 한복연구실
Gae Po Hanbok
Hanbok Club
Rosa Hanbok
Hanbok Academy (alt)
JM Hanbok
Hanbok97
Doong Ji Hanbok
MS Hanbok
Lee Ga Hanbok
Welcome to 한복.com
2008 한복사랑 Festival
유경한복문화원
최고의 아동한복을 찾으셨나요? ihb 해밀아이한복입니다.
단아한 한복
예당주단한복대여 홈페이지 방문을 환영합니다.
Happy Day Hanbok (alt?)
Hanbok Study
Agawon
LentHanbok
JoenHanbok
KoreanDress
이조한복
HanbokNara
가화한복
기민형 한복
Nice Hanbok
황진이한복 - 선이 아름다운 우리의 한복
DuoWedStyle
한복 - 혼례한복 사이트 - 웨딩플래너 웨딩스 - weddings.co.kr
EZHanbok
혼수준비
한복사랑
박미정의 한복이야기
이윤순 우리한복:
행복한복대여점'"′³ο
AeHyun
IdaHanbok
Hanbok House
GB Hanbok
Gung Hanbok
Ilsan Hanbok
Soon Hanbok
IdolHanbok
KJ Hanbok
Hanbok Sarang
I don't really get it either. Her website.
NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 25: Actress Gwyneth Paltrow attends the Bent On Learning Charity event at Stephen Weiss Studio on February 25, 2009 in New York City. (Getty)
Asia News: Beijing: police covering up news about three people setting themselves on fire
The identity of the three people is being withheld to avoid suggestions about possible motives, like an extreme attempt to protest against rights violations. Yesterday in Shenzhen worker set himself on fire after he was sacked without severance pay. The life of imprisoned human rights Wang Guilan is danger because prison authorities are denying her medical care.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)