(Scene: Somewhere over South Bend, Indiana, yesterday, 2:25 CDT)
broodwar maphack inhaleMMG: Son, I was hoping we could have a little talk.
JC: Sure Mom, what's up?
MMG: Well, there's this big game today, and I was wondering if...
JC: Mmmmmmmom, you aren't making promises again, are you?
MMG: You know I never promise, Son. But they named their school after me, what am I supposed to say when they ask?
JC: Mom, you know I'm not supposed to -
MMG: Oh, I know, Son, it's just that the boys here have their heart set on...
JC: Mom, I know you like to ask me these favors, like, a million times a day -
MMG: You'd better take another look Son, they're multiplying pretty fast down there. It's more like a billion times an hour, lately.
JC: ...but Dad's got this thing about Free Will, and -
MMG: Oh, I know he does, Son, and I know you're always trying to keep him happy, you being his favorite and all...
JC: <sheepishly> Mom, I'm his ONLY begotten -
MMG: Of course you are, dear, but -
JC: <sternly - but with respect> I can't, Mom!
MMG: Sure you can, Son. Don't you remember that time at the wedding?
JC: C'mon Mom, that was different.
MMG: You said it wasn't Your time...
JC: That was different. Dad said I was supposed to listen to you that time, to show -
MMG: Son, I'm sorry. But it's almost kickoff.
JC: <sighs> Alright, Mom. Listen... when they lose -
MMG: Oh, dear...
JC: I mean - I mean, IF they lose... IF they lose, I'll try to make things go so that the other boys aren't picking on them so much any more - at least for awhile. Is that enough? 'Cause I'm really not supposed to get involved...
MMG: I suppose that'll have to be enough, Son. You've got to do what your Father says, even if I disagree with it.
JC: MOM! When did you ever disagree with Dad?!
MMG: Well, I'm only human, Son. Just because I know not to argue with Him, doesn't mean I always understand.
JC: Well then... good. I'm glad you... respect... where I'm coming from.
MMG: Of course, Son.
JC: Good.
MMG: <pauses> Now, about those Angels...
JC: MOM!
Bloggers around the country were inspired by a call from Hugh Hewitt to "set a day for a unified blog beg" to help those effected by Hurricane Katrina and the resulting floods. Blogging ecosystem tracker NZBear has risen to the occasion and organized the Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Day Weekend fundraiser for Thursday September 1, 2005 through Monday September 5, 2005. As of this writing, over 300 500 600 800 blogs are participating from three eight 11 countries, and each blogger is encouraged to adopt a charity. Self-reported contributions reach well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Over at The Black Republican, we've chosen to support the American Red Cross. But as a Catholic blog, it should be no surprise that The Black Madonna asks you to support Catholic Charities USA, which has dedicated a page just for information regarding their Katrina relief efforts.
As Hurricane Katrina continues to make her trek northward, Catholic Charities agencies from around the region, such as agencies in Florida and Baton Rouge, are poised to send technical assistance teams to help the local Catholic Charities in the impacted areas with their response efforts. Once the all clear is given that it is safe to return to those communities hit by the devastating hurricane, the damage and needs assessment will begin.To help out Catholic Charities USA, please mail checks to:While local agencies along the Gulf Coast anticipate that they will be provide some type of emergency assistance in their communities, Catholic Charities' niche in disaster relief is to provide long-term recovery work. In fact, Catholic Charities agencies in Florida are still providing services to help people recover from last year's devastating hurricanes.
Catholic Charities USA
2005 Hurricane Relief Fund
PO Box 25168
Alexandria, VA 22313-9788
or call (800) 919-9338. You can also use the link above to go directly to CatholicCharitiesUSA.org, where you can make a donation by credit card online.
If you'd rather donate to another organization, Glenn Reynolds has a comprehensive list of other charities you can choose from. If unable to provide financial assistance for Katrina victims, please consider giving blood at your local blood bank, or check with your local chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Hugh Hewitt also made a specific plea for Catholics to support our sister parishes in the stricken area:
Longer term, I hope my own congregation finds a partner church with the idea of staying the rebuilding course with that church, offering much more personal care over the long haul, and that Catholic parishes from far off states do the same for Catholic parishes throughout the region, West LA synagogues for synagogues in the Gulf region hit by the storm, etc etc. The student body president of a Catholic high school wrote me last night to say that his school was hoping to partner with a Catholic high school they had identified but could not contact. From such connections long term commitments will spring.This is a great idea, and I encourage my fellow Catholic bloggers to get out there and make some connections between parishes. Any parishes sending information to me about needing or offering help will certainly be introduced to one another.
One last request: pray for the people in the Gulf States. Pray the Holy Rosary, especially. Catholics around America and all over the world should be praying daily, offering the fear and suffering to Jesus and asking Our Lady for her intercession in this most desperate hour for so many. Hard work and money are needed more than I can express, but only through prayer can we be sure that God will provide for all those who need the most help, and that everyone can come through this disaster with faith, hope, and love in tact.
*Updated 7:30am, 9/1
It was not long after I clicked the "Post" button on my last entry, when the thought popped into my head: "Oooh, I'd better change that to say, 'Say a prayer to Saint Agatha... for her intercession with Our Lord.'" A few minutes later, I wanted to smack myself for "being PC". A few minutes after that, I wondered if my justifiable caution isn't simply good evangelism. Now I'm just confused.
I remember a time, long ago, when my mother's prompting, "Say a prayer to Saint Jude," would bring a feeling of hope that some lost cause might yet have a happy ending. Now this kind of a phrase causes me anxiety that someone, somewhere might believe I'm raising a human being - saintly, residing with Jesus in heaven, a reasonable candidate for intercession - to the level of the Almighty.
Does anyone else have this problem? Am I being cautious for the sake of apologetics, or shamed into unnecessary apologies?
I've just read that radio personality, political pundit, and recent convert to Catholicism, Laura Ingraham, is being treated for breast cancer. Please say a prayer to Saint Agatha for her speedy recovery.