The Black Madonna

Hazard Zet Forward

For a year when I was young, I attended a fine Catholic university, named after the first American saint. Though I never graduated from that institution, there are still times when I think myself an alumnus, at least in spirit.

I never graduated from Seton Hall because I was about to traverse the pitfalls of marriage and parenthood, and I needed to attend to the demands of supporting my new family. It struck me as ironic that I was leaving the university to live their motto: Hazard Zet Forward ("in spite of all hazards, go forward"). Through the travails of divorce and raising a family alone, I have tried to live that motto every day, both in the wake of good times and bad.

And so, now that the election has allowed me to breathe again, I think now is not the time to settle into a rut. Our sister blog, The Black Republican, must go on, pressing ever forward in its own mission, but I think I must take more time to reflect and ponder the mysteries beyond politics. Within the pages of TBR, I will continue to comment on Catholicism as it affects politics, where appropriate. But expect to see a more equal presentation of time and content devoted to Ex Parte Fide from here out.

At least that is my prayer and hope this fine Sunday.

The Square Deal

The former editors of Catholic? Kerry Watch have morphed their blog, post-election, into Catholics in the Public Square. I trust they will continue to stand ex parte Fide.

Our Lady of Victories

Pray for us.

(stovepipe hattip: Best of the Web)

UPDATE: Best of the Web has a followup, in the form of a comment, "from reader Richard Whitlock, a captain in the Texas Army National Guard".

I'm tired of people saying "hanging off of his gun" like it's dangling from a peashooter. The weapon system that the rosary is hanging off of is none other than a M242 25-millimeter Bushmaster, the primary direct-fire armament of the M2 Bradley, and it is technically a "cannon" and not a "gun."

In fact, the totally appalled lady you so hilariously quoted is totally missing the point in that the rosary was still hanging off the cannon, meaning the weapon hadn't been shot yet despite probably many chances to do so. The recoil from firing would have sent that rosary flying, meaning the photo shows that the careless/heartless/whatever soldier had actually decided to preserve life, not take it.