Musings of a Catholic Convert

So my father-in-law was odained into the Permanent Diaconate on Saturday.  Isn't that awesome?  Sacrament of Holy Orders!  I'm real excited for him as I know he's been preparing for this day for the past five years.  So much prayer, study, and preparation went into this weekend for 22 men.  Now, God has opened the door for ministry even wider in their lives and in the lives of their parishes.  I had to miss most of the ordination because my youngest wanted to talk.  What did I expect?  She's a one-year-old, and we were on the first pew.  Hey, but you know what?  Ordination still went on, even without me.  Amazing, I know, but totally true.  I'm glad I got to celebration this ordination with my family and I look forward to seeing what this latest group of Deacons is going to do.  

Think I'll ever become a Deacon?  Not up to me of course, but if God were to call, I'd sure like to think I'd say yes.  Time will have to tell I suppose.  

I also want to say that riverboat rides are a lot of fun when you have friends and family with you. I learned that Friday night when we took a - wait for it - riverboat ride on the Mississippi River.  Loads of fun to celebrate our new Deacon.               

I had a great time on EWTN as a guest on The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi.  I've always enjoyed public speaking, and having the opportunity to work with Marcus was a treat for me.  Hanging out at EWTN was a lot of fun too.  This was the first time I had been able to speak with Fr. Mitch Pacwa also.  Let me tell you all something.  Mother Angelica has top notch people working with her in ministry with EWTN.  Amazing men and women all over that place.  

Thanks to everybody for the prayers and well wishes.  I think everything went well and I had the opportunity to talk with members of the studio audience after the program.  I had a lot of fun, and I'd be happy to do it again anytime. 

Today I make my appearance on The Journey Home on EWTN (8pm Eastern).  I've been looking forward to this appearance for a long time.  Let me tell you something.  When opportunities for ministry like this present themselves, SOMEBODY is not going to like it.  I've been under spiritual attack for at least two weeks now.  It's not like there wasn't already spiritual warfare going on, but it is palatable these last two weeks.  Around every turn there is an adversary for me to face or a challenge to overcome.  Needless to say I'm tired from all the struggles and I can't claim that all battles have been won.  I trust in God's grace to get me through, knowing also that this appearance must be pretty important for the Gospel or else I don't think I would be attacked this hard.  I'm anxious to see what God chooses to do tonight and I'm happy to be the weak earthen vessel for His purpose. 

I appreciate your prayers.  If you happen to be offering rosaries today, please consider adding me to your intentions.

Thanks.

I found this site via my buddy over at Legal Law.   

Catholic Super Heroes and Catholic Super Villains #1

Many thanks to the good folks at adherents.com for compiling all this data.  I'll try to post the rest later.

I was thinking about the number of Catholic convert websites I've seen over the past 10 years.  Most Catholic convert sites have come and gone, leaving the roaming web visitor with a dead site that hasn't been updated in years.  Or worse, instead of a Catholic convert story, they find a 404 error page.  

Even my original blog space is no longer updated.  I migrated Musings of a Catholic Convert as soon as this Catholic Social Network went live.  I wanted to be one of the first.  I was the 3rd Catholic blog to be added (after the Admin/HomePage and our King of Catholic Media).  Now I have to hope that my readers from "the old days" of Musings of a Catholic Convert will venture over via the links I left to my new Musings of a Catholic Convert blog here at CatholicDestination.com.  

I'm looking forward to seeing more Catholic converts join this community and hearing their conversion stories.  It is always so encouraging to hear, or read, in someone's own words how God brought them into the Catholic Church.  I know what it is like to be investigating the claims of the Catholic Church or to ask "How do I join the Catholic Church?" & "How does somebody become Catholic?"  Other people want to know about Catholic apologetics or how to defend the Catholic Faith.  It's good to know that the people at CatholicDestination.com are dedicated to bringing as many resources as possible under one roof so that seekers and "cradle Catholics" alike can find information and spiritual help.  

You know, while I'm thinking about it, I want to encourage other Catholic converts to consider posting their story by creating a free Catholic blog here in our Catholic social network and blog community.  Your testimony of God's work in your life WILL make a difference in someone's life.  There's no doubt about it. 

Karl Kohlhase is more than just one of my favorite Contemporary Christian music artists, he’s also one of my best friends. We are both Catholic converts, meeting online through the Coming Home Network. We even worked together for about 4 years before Karl moved closer to his hometown.

He created this song, Give Me a Chance, on his first album. He told me this week about the video he had made for the song so I’m sharing it with you. It’s one of my favorites. You can watch the video in the player embedded in this post or at Karl’s site. Karl’s music is his ministry and he gives it away for the glory and honor of God. Please drop by his site and download free Catholic music and learn more about his music ministry.

http://www.k4communications.com

One last thing. The file below is a Flash video. You’ll need the free Adobe Flash Player for your web browser. Secondly, since it’s flash, the video will loop. When you’re ready to close the file, click “hide player” just below the video window.

Honestly, I have no idea what that song means, but isn't the beat catchy?  Yup.  Now you have the tune in your head for the rest of the day.

You're welcome.

So what is going on in my neck of the woods?  Work, that's what.  Taking a week's vacation has a heavy price tag.  It's Wednesday and I'm only now beginning to see things clear up a bit.  Whew!

Know what I'm reading now?  Little booklet from Archbishop Fulton Sheen called Way to Happiness.  I started reading it yesterday, and I do not expect that I'll be disappointed.  Archbishop Sheen is such a good preacher.  I need to look into the cause for canonization of Archbishop Fulton Sheen.  Hang on a second.

Here's what the official cause site says:

Status of the Cause
Posted on March 20, 2008

Last February 3rd, 2008, a very special Mass was held at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois, celebrating the end of the diocesan phase of the inquiry into the life and works of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

During the public ceremony known by the Latin name of Postrema Sessio or “next stage”, all documents, books and personal testimonies that had been collected for the cause were certified and forwarded to Rome, where they are now being examined by the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

The documents that were certified included all reviews of Archbishop Sheen’s books done by the cause’s Theological Commission, all materials gathered by the Historical Commission, and the personal testimonies about the sanctity of the Archbishop given by more than 100 witnesses.

Wanna know about the canonization process?  Got that too:

The Canonization Process

VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1997 (VIS) - Today the Holy See Press Office made public the following note on canonical procedure for causes of beatification and canonization:

1. Canon norms regarding the procedure to be followed for causes of saints are contained in the Apostolic Constitution 'Divinus Perfectionis Magister, promulgated by John Paul II on January 25, 1983.

2. To begin a cause it is necessary for at least 5 years to have passed since the death of the candidate. This is to allow greater balance and objectivity in evaluating the case and to let the emotions of the moment dissipate.

3. The bishop of the diocese in which the person whose beatification is being requested is responsible for beginning the investigation. The promoter group (Actor Causae): diocese, parish, religious congregation, association, asks the bishop through the postulator for the opening of the investigation. The bishop, once the nulla osta of the Holy See is obtained, forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose. Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount concrete facts on the exercise of Christian virtues considered heroic, that is, the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity, and the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude, and others specific to his state in life. In addition, all documents regarding the candidate must be gathered. At this point he is entitled to the title of Servant of God.

4. Once the diocesan investigation is finished, the acts and documentation are passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The public copy used for further work is put together here. The postulator, resident in Rome, follows the preparation of the Positio, or summary of the documentation that proves the heroic exercise of virtue, under the direction of a relator of the Congregation. The Positio undergoes an examination (theological) by nine theologians who give their vote. If the majority of the theologians are in favour, the cause is passed on for examination by cardinals and bishops who are members of the congregation. They hold meetings twice a month. If their judgment is favourable, the prefect of the congregation presents the results of the entire course of the cause to the Holy Father, who gives his approval and authorizes the congregation to draft the relative decree. The public reading and promulgation of the decree follows.

5. For the beatification of a confessor, a miracle attributed to the Servant of God, verified after his death, is necessary. The required miracle must be proven through the appropriate canonical investigation, following a procedure analogous to that for heroic virtues. This one too is concluded with the relative decree. Once the two decrees are promulgated (regarding the heroic virtues and the miracle) the Holy Father decides on beatification, which is the concession of public worship, limited to a particular sphere. With beatification the candidate receives the title of Blessed.

6. For canonization another miracle is needed, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after his beatification. The methods for ascertainment of the affirmed miracle are the same as those followed for beatification. Canonization is understood as the concession of public worship in the Universal Church. Pontifical infallibility is involved. With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint.

Vatican Information Service. Canonization Process. Catholic-Pages.com. 1997. 19 Apr.
2007.

So now you know….

Oh, c'mon! 

You're supposed to say "…and knowing is half the battle."   Then. . . .

Wait for it . . . .

I've been on vacation all week.  Did you notice?  Did any of you bother to write me out of concern for my absence?  

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?

I'm just messing with ya.  Vacation has been enjoyable.  The only downside is the long drive.  Oh, we went to San Antonio, Tejas.  Loads of things to do down there.  Maybe - if you're very good - I'll post some pictures later.

Okay, I'm going to bed.  All this driving has drained me.  I just wanted to put to rest all those horrible email forwards about my demise.

False - Andy McNutt died from eating Pop Rocks and Coke

False - Andy McNutt died while fighting in Vietnam

False - Andy McNutt is Marilyn Manson

True - Andy McNutt is a bit "off" sometimes

False - Andy McNutt once built a barn entirely of Popsicle sticks 

Pending Verification - Andy McNutt is made entirely of Popsicle sticks. 

I love good food.  I love grilled or roasted food.  I love good grilled food that is grilled good.  Mmmmm.  So last night we had dinner with the RCIA team, candidates, and all their respective families.  We gathered to look at the traditional Seder meal that our Jewish friends celebrate each year.  Now, our meal was not an actual Seder, but we did take time to look at the elements of the Seder and their significance both with regard to Passover, and with regard to the Christian life.  

I would very much like one of these days to be invited to a real live Seder.  It would be good to hear from the source what the Seder means and the role Passover plays in their life of faith.  Maybe one day this will happen. 

For now, this was our dinner.  And you know what?  I didn't spaz out.  My kids were their normal young selves, but I didn't get agitated with their antics.  I did not sit nervously waiting on it to be over so I could escort them to the car feeling embarrassed at their behavior.  I enjoyed my dinner, and I watched them enjoy theirs.  Did they stay in their seats the whole time?  Nope.  Did they attempt to throw food?  Oh, yes.  But I did good.  Hooray for Andy this time.  Not being nervous was HUGE!  I can control my temper almost always.  There are only a couple of people in this world who can push my buttons.  But I get nervous with my children in public.  Last night though, no nervous.  No, I was not high.  I was able to keep it together, and I'm pretty happy about that.  

Now, let's see if I can keep that streak going.  We're leaving for a brief vacation tonight.  Let the test begin. 

One more thing:  Murray, you are the GRILL MASTER!  Hats off to you, good man!!!!   !!!!!!!!

The best way to treat ingrown nails is to not get them in the first place.  If I've read it once, I've read it a thousand times, CUT YOUR NAILS STRAIGHT ACROSS!  Now have I EVER listened to that advice?  Yes and no. 

I got this monster ingrown nail about 10 years ago.  It got so bad that I was afraid it would get infected and kill me, so I reluctantly went to see a doctor.  I hate going to the doctor.  He looked at it and said, "Ughhh!"  Then he asked, "Do you cut your nails straight across?"  After getting a million shots in my big toe and watching him DIG TOENAIL out of my foot for what seemed like hours, I was thinking that the straight across method would be a good thing to do. 

Did I follow his advice?  Yup.  Well, most of the time.  Every now and then I have performed the old "home surgery" of cutting a nail out that is digging into the sides a bit.  Who wants to go to the doctor for something easy like that, right?  So I had such a situation a few weeks ago.  I cut and when I was pulling the ingrown part out, the nail broke so everything did not come out.  I couldn't get at the rest without digging into my toe so I had to leave it alone.

I let it grow and I didn't mess with it that much.  I looked to make sure it wasn't getting red and puffy or that stuff wasn't coming out.  I bathed it in peroxide every night to keep stuff out.  Ooooh it was sore for days and I could feel in my toe where it the nail grew under the skin.   After a nice long time I could not take the pain anymore, so I put on my scrubs and went into surgery mode.

Let me tell you something, brother.  I got it all out in one cut and pull.  That dude was HUGE!  I should have taken a picture to show you the crooked growing mess that was dwelling under my toe surface.  It looked like a giant shark tooth that was pulled out at the root.  Maybe it WAS a shark tooth.  I don't know.  I just know that the thing was out.  What followed?  Instant relief.  No more pain, no more crooked nail. I felt like a million bucks after I extracted that monster.

And you better believe that I am cutting ALL my nails straight across now.