Jersey Shore

*warning another rant*
Every time I come home for break, I make it a tradition to spend one full day watching TV. I do this because our blessed Lord calls us “to be of this world but not part of the world”(Jn 17:11). Hence, I like to know what people are watching, especially the youth. As I browse through MTV and VHI, I come across 16 and Pregnant, I used to be Fat, Teen Mom, Celebrity Rehab, Basketball Wives, and Mario Lopez, Saved by the Baby. However, there is one show that directly and purposefully goes against the message of chastity and purity-Jersey Shore.

Not only does this show wrongfully play up every stereo typical Italian from New Jersey but it illustrates how sex is portrayed as a recreational activity. The point of Jersey Shore? To view these young people experience a right of passage as they indulge in everything the summer and the night life of Jersey Shore has to offer including parties, friendship, and love (This is the websites explanation not mine).On June 6, the producer of the reality show “Jersey Shore” admitted that she fed her promiscuous cast a steady diet of Valtrex in order to manage herpes outbreaks. I don’t think love means being on a Valtrex diet.This show suffocates any notion of true love, freedom, waiting till marriage, courtship, chastity, abstinence, purity, commitment, and Jesus Christ! No wait, they do represent Jesus Christ to some extent---they wear iced out rosaries around their neck! Sorry homeboy, but my Jesus Christ was nailed to a dirty, wooden, and bloody tree. He wasn’t gracefully laid out on some diamond cut, black slim, luxury lace! It’s pretty sad to see how a TV show celebrates and glamorize sin. It’s even sadder to see how many viewers are attracted to this nonsense.

Before you get the impression that I am condemning a specific cast member or those who watch it, I am not. I am not condemning the sinner but I hate the sin! Yes, I hate this show; therefore, I refuse to watch it. I am not giving up on these people, it might seem a bit weird and silly, but if we are ever going to turn this hedonistic sexual revolution around, then we must pray for them. We must be vigilant about promoting the Gospel message of true love: Sacrifice and commitment. We must pray that the Lord may have mercy on them, not just them, but for all of us. Mark Hart once said, “that God loves the Pope as much as He loves the prostitute.”

St. Andre, open the door for me!

Over the last three semesters in seminary formation at Old College Undergraduate Seminary, I have been gifted with the opportunity and tools such as daily Eucharist, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, self-discipline, spiritual direction, service placement, one-on-one meetings with formation staff, and weekly community gatherings to help me in my discernment of a priestly and religious vocation. This support, encouragement, and growth from the Congregation of Holy Cross were especially evident in the summer of 2010 when I decided to participate in the Summer Service Learning Program in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Throughout this summer experience of working first hand with the poor, I had the privilege of working alongside the Franciscans of the Primitive Observance and the Basillian Fathers of the Melkite Rite Catholic Church. They helped me recognize an intimacy with the Lord that brought overwhelming joy and peace. After much prayer and discernment, I came to realize that my journey with the Lord at this point in my life would call for leaving seminary formation in order to pursue stronger desires of my heart, namely marriage and the lay apostolate. Thank you all for your prayers. Please continue to pray for me as I finish out my last semester in college. Meanwhile, enjoy this short presentation of my seminary experience...

What's wrong with this picture?

I don't know about you but when was the last time you ever heard of a nun committing acts of terrorism? There is something daunting and outrageous about a Catholic nun being groped by a TSA worker. I wonder if this was a picture of a Muslim women in a hijab how many people would be outrage? Another story of Anti-Catholicism....Absolutely.

Shoot, my New Year's started a long time ago!

People have been asking me, “Ryan are you excited for New Years?” …My response? “Shoot my New Years started November 28, 2010-the beginning of Advent!” As I continue to grow deeper in love with Christ Crucified, I find myself yearning to enter more deeply in the mystery of the Incarnation. How blessed are we that God humbled Himself and took the form of a human being to save us from death. Isn’t beautiful, that the same wood that was used to build Jesus Christ's first crib would be the same wood that Jesus Christ would be crucified on!?

My friend told me that he just read a questionable posting from a Catholic institution on facebook, “Now that the three kings have left, the shepherds have gone back to the flock, the presents have been accepted, and the baby is sleeping. We can enjoy the true meaning of the season, peace!”…What!? As if we can capture the full essence of a transcendent God becoming human in one night? People are back to their busy lives, going back to work, taking down their Christmas lights and decorations, rescheduling appointments, and enjoying their Christmas presents. I hope they do not forget that next to the octave of Easter, the Christmas octave (which means eight, hence the eight days of Christmas) is one of the most important periods in the Roman Catholic Church. This means that we should not just honor Christ’s birth on December 25th but there is an eight day period of celebration and rejoicing! These eight days of commemoration which ends after the Solemnity of the Mother of God, Jan 1st should be a time of awe, wonder, and thanksgiving that the savior of the world has been born.

However, to give the secular calendar homage, this year has been one of the most amazing years of my entire life. I honestly believe it was because I rang in the New Years with Jesus Christ in adoration last New Year’s Eve. If you ever have the opportunity and know of a nearby parish, I encourage you to pray before the Blessed Sacrament on New Year’s Eve! If you are anything like me, it is kind of weird in a holy way?... I am so used to fireworks, people giving each other hugs, drinking champagne, gun shots (crazy AZ) and crazy Nicaraguan women (like my mom) running down the street in suitcases, purses and pennies yelling Happy New Year’s! Yet, as the countdown begins New Year’s feels a little different. The priest raises Jesus Christ aloft, in front of us the kneeling worshippers, and blesses us for the upcoming year. No blow horns or “snaps”, no yelling or hollering. Just stillness and silence with our Blessed Lord…What a great way to start off the New Year and what a great way to end the Christmas celebration. Have a Blessed New Year’s everyone.

As always…Stay Catholic!

Ryan

A Social Network Christmas...

Happy New Year!

Obama, Are You Listening?